Boosters play a role in providing student-athletes with a positive athletics experience through their enthusiastic efforts. They can support teams and athletics departments through donations of time and financial resources which help student-athletes succeed on and off the playing field.
Boosters, referred to by the NCAA as “representatives of the institution’s athletic interests,” include anyone who has:
- provided a donation in order to obtain season tickets for any sport at the university.
- participated in or has been a member of an organization promoting the university’s athletics programs.
- made financial contributions to the athletic department or to a university booster organization.
- arranged for or provided employment for enrolled student-athletes.
- assisted or has been requested by university staff to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes.
- assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student athletes or their families.
- otherwise been involved in promoting university athletics.
Once an individual is identified as a “representative of the institution’s athletics interests,” the person retains that identity indefinitely.
Only institutional staff members are permitted to recruit prospective student-athletes. Generally, NCAA rules prohibit anyone else from contacting (calling, writing or in-person contact) prospects or their relatives or guardian for recruiting purposes.
Students are still considered prospects even if they have signed a National Letter of Intent or any other financial aid agreement with a university.
Boosters are not precluded from continuing established friendships with families who have prospective student-athletes. However, boosters may not encourage a prospect’s participation in university athletics or provide benefits to prospects that were not previously provided.
If a violation occurs, it may jeopardize a student-athlete’s eligibility for intercollegiate competition, jeopardize a school’s membership status with the NCAA, or cause a booster to lose access to all booster benefits.
