and IUPUI
GUIDE TO RULES COMPLIANCE
- 5.1 Definition of a "Rep"
- 5.2 "Reps" and Recruiting
- 5.3 "Reps" and Extra Benefits for Enrolled Student-Athletes
- 5.4 Spouses of Coaches as "Reps"
- 5.5 Parents of Currently Enrolled Student-Athletes as "Reps"
- 5.6 Rules Education for "Reps"
- 5.7 Representatives of Athletics Interests Forms
5.1 Definition of a "Rep"
NCAA rules define a "rep" as an individual who is known (or should have been known) by a member of IUPUI's executive or athletics administration to:
(1) Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting IUPUI's athletics program;
(2) Have made financial contributions to the IUPUI Department of Athletics or to an IUPUI athletics booster organization;
(3) Be assisting or to have been requested (by the IUPUI Department of Athletics staff) to
assist in the recruitment of prospects;
(4) Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families, or
(5) Have been involved otherwise in promoting the IUPUI athletics program.
...Once an individual is identified as such a representative, the person retains that identity indefinitely.
[NOTE: By NCAA interpretation the spouse of an institution's coach is presumed to be a "rep." Parents of currently enrolled student-athletes are also considered "reps".]
5.2 "Reps" and Recruiting
NCAA regulations state, "In Division I, representatives of an institution's athletics interests are prohibited from making in-person, on- or off-campus recruiting contacts, or written or telephonic communications with a prospect or the prospect's relatives or legal guardians.
Basically, a "rep is to have absolutely no involvement in the recruitment of a prospect". The one exception to this basic rule is that a "rep" may have a conversation with a prospective about summer employment after the prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent.
(1) A "rep" of an institution is prohibited from making in-person, on- or off- campus recruiting contact with a prospect and his or her parents or legal guardians.
(2) A "rep" of an institution is prohibited from writing or telephoning a prospect and his or her parents or legal guardians.
(3) A "rep" is prohibited from contacting a prospect's coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate a prospect.
5.3 "Reps" and Extra Benefits for Enrolled Student-Athletes
The NCAA has specific regulations regarding the receipt of extra benefits or special arrangements by currently enrolled student-athletes or the relatives or friends of student-athletes. An extra benefit is any special arrangement to provide a student-athlete (or relatives or friends) a benefit not authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of an extra benefit by a student-athlete may result in that student-athlete being declared ineligible for competition.
Examples of non-permissible extra benefits or special arrangements "reps" may not provide to student-athletes include, but are not limited to:
(1) Room, board or transportation costs (including a stay in a rep's home or transportation to or from a job).
(2) A loan of money in any amount or signing or cosigning a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan.
(3) Cash or gifts.
(4) Typing or other costs associated with school projects or reports.
(5) Professional services for which a fee would normally be charged, e.g., free dental or medical services, haircuts, automotive services, laundry or dry cleaning, etc.
(6) Entertainment or the purchase of meals or services at commercial establishments (this includes a soft drink or popcorn at an athletics event).
(7) The use of a telephone or telephone credit card for free long distance calls.
(8) Awards for athletic performance.
(9) An honorarium or fee for a speaking engagement or other appearance.
(10) A special discount payment arrangement or credit on a purchase, e.g., airline ticket, clothing, etc.
(11) A guarantee of bond.
(12) A benefit connected with off-campus housing, e.g., television sets, electronic equipment, room furnishings, specialized recreational facilities, etc.
(13) Selling or giving tickets to an athletics, institution or community event, e.g., state high school tournament tickets, professional basketball or football game tickets, etc.
(14) The use of personal properties, e.g., boats, summer homes, automobiles, etc.
The only permissible benefit which may be provided to a student-athlete by a "rep" is an "occasional" home meal for a student-athlete or the entire team under the following conditions:
(1) The meal must be provided in the home (as opposed to a restaurant);
(2) Meals must be restricted to infrequent and special occasions (no more than once per month), and
(3) Institutional staff members may provide transportation to student-athletes to attend such meals. A "rep" may not provide transportation to a student-athlete to attend the meal function unless the meal function is at the home of that "rep"
Other than a permissible occasional home meal as identified above, a "rep" (or anyone else) may not provide any extra benefit or special arrangement to a student-athlete.
5.4 Spouses of Coaches as "Reps"
As per the NCAA interpretation noted above, the spouse of a coach is presumed to be a representative of the institution's athletics interests. NCAA regulations prohibit a "rep" from making face-to-face contact, written correspondence or telephone contact with a prospective student-athlete. Therefore, a coach's spouse is prohibited from being involved in the recruiting process, e.g., a spouse may not call or write a prospective student-athlete after his/her official visit to campus. There are some limited exceptions to this which permit a spouse to be involved in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes in the following ways:
(1) A spouse may accompany the coach to evaluate a prospective student-athlete off-campus, e.g., high school basketball game, provided the spouse does not attend the event for evaluation purposes, receives no expenses from the institution, makes no contact with the prospective student-athlete and does not act as a recruiter for the institution.
(2) A spouse may have off-campus face-to-face contact with a prospective student-athlete who is on an official visit within a 30 mile radius of the campus, even when the spouse is not in the presence of the coach.
There are no exceptions for a spouse of a coach to provide an extra benefit or special arrangement to an enrolled student-athlete. Other than the permissible occasional home meal as defined in section 5.3, a coach's spouse may not provide anything to a student-athlete.
5.5 Parents of Currently Enrolled Student-Athletes as "Reps"
Parents of currently enrolled student-athletes are considered "reps". Therefore, they may not be involved in the recruiting process either on- or off-campus. if a parent of a PSA should contact the parent of a currently enrolled student-athlete, he/she may answer general questions about IUPUI, but may not discuss athletes or enter into a recruiting conversation. If the parent of a student-athlete is a family friend of the parent of a PSA, they may maintain their normal prior relationship, however no recruiting activities may take place.
5.6 Rules Education for "Reps"
The Compliance Coordinator has a guide (available August 1998) for "reps" that is available upon request, and will continue to make efforts to educate "reps" through University publications which are circulated to alumni and "reps".
It is the responsibility of everyone within the Department of Athletics to take every opportunity to educate potential IUPUI "reps" about applicable NCAA regulations.
5.7 Representatives of Athletics Interests Forms
FORM 5A - Identification of Representatives of Athletics Interests
To be used by coaches and other Department of Athletics staff members to identify "reps" to whom they would like a "rep" rules education guide sent.
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