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georgia tech athletics
georgia tech athletics
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Information for Fans, Friends, Boosters and Former Students

Introduction

Georgia Tech's reputation is one of upholding the highest degree of academic and athletic integrity. This tradition can only continue if the alumni, boosters and friends of the Institute are well informed about the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules and regulations for "Representatives of Athletics Interests."

The NCAA has explicit guidelines for what Representatives of Athletics Interest, "traditionally known as boosters," can and cannot do. The Georgia Tech Athletic Association is providing you with this information to assist with any questions you may have regarding the recruitment of prospective student-athletes and contact with currently enrolled student-athletes.

Any intentional violation of NCAA legislation involving a booster organization may lead to disassociation from the Georgia Tech Athletic Association. Disassociation would result in a loss of any benefits or privileges related to the Athletics Department.

Representative of Athletics Interest

A Representative of Athletics Interest (booster) is anyone who is known (or should be known) by a member of the institution's executive or athletic administration to:

  • Participate in or have been a member of a sport support group or a booster club.
  • Provide or have helped arrange employment for student-athletes or provided benefits to enrolled student-athletes.
  • Have been involved, in any way in the promotion of Georgia Tech's athletics program.
  • Participated as a varsity athlete at Georgia Tech.
  • Make or have made a donation to Georgia Tech or a Georgia Tech booster club.
  • Assist with recruitment.
  • Has been requested by the athletics department staff to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes or is assisting in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes.

Note: Once an individual or organization is identified as a Representative of the Institution's Athletics Interest, the person or organization retains that identity forever.

Remember: Once a booster, ALWAYS a booster.

Institutional Control and Compliance

  • Institutional Control of athletics is a fundamental requirement of NCAA Legislation. Specifically, the NCAA Constitution provides that each institution shall be responsible for:
  • Controlling its intercollegiate athletics program in compliance with the rules and regulations of the NCAA.
  • Monitoring its program to insure compliance, identifying and reporting to the NCAA instances in which compliance has not been achieved and taking appropriate corrective actions.
  • Ensuring that members of the institution's staff, student-athletes and other individuals or groups representing the institutions athletics interests comply with NCAA rules.
  • Georgia Tech and the GTAA will make you aware of and ask that you abide by the NCAA regulations concerning your actions in support of our programs. Georgia Tech must be aware of and have control over any booster organizations of Yellow Jacket teams. If you are aware of any booster organizations, please contact the Georgia Tech Athletic Association so that these organizations may be informed of the rules governing their operations.

Rules Governing the Recruitment of Prospective Student-Athletes (Prospects)

You are prohibited from:

  • Contacting a prospect in person on or off our campus.
  • Writing or telephoning a prospect or a member of the prospect's family.
  • Making arrangements for a prospect or the prospect's relatives or friends, to receive money or financial aid of any kind.
  • Posting information on your website that is NOT available to the general public.
  • Providing transportation for a prospect or the prospect's relatives or friends to visit our campus.
  • Providing free tickets or tickets at a reduced cost for prospects or the prospects relatives or friends to attend an athletic event.
  • Entertaining high school, prep school or community college coaches.
  • Visiting a prospect's educational institutions to pick up films or transcripts pertaining to the athletic or athletic eligibility of a prospect.
  • Visiting the prospect's coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospect.

As a representative of the institution's athletics interest, you are permitted to:

  • Notify our coaches about prospects in your area that may be strong additions to our teams.
  • Attend high school or two-year college athletic contests or other events where prospects may compete, however, you may not contact the prospect or the prospect's relatives.
  • Continue existing friendships with families of prospects, but you may not attempt to recruit the prospect.
  • Report public recruiting information on your website.
  • Make a financial donation.
  • You MAY make a financial donation to a high school athletics program in your locale provided:

    • You make the donation of your own accord,

    • Your donation is distributed through the normal channels established by the high school,

    • Your donation is not earmarked for a specific prospect, and

    • Your donation is not an item that Georgia Tech would not have been able to provide to the high school or its athletics program. (You cannot serve as a second-party donor.)

Guidance for Website Postings

Georgia Tech is responsible for the actions of boosters; therefore, be aware that you may be unintentionally causing Georgia Tech to commit an NCAA violation.

What would make you a booster?

YOU ARE A BOOSTER IF YOU:

  • Participate in or have been a member of any of Georgia Tech's various clubs (Tee Club, Yellow Jacket Club, etc.)
  • Make or have made a donation to any of Georgia Tech's athletic programs or the Alexander-Tharpe Fund.
  • Provide or have helped arrange summer employment for student-athletes.
  • Have been involved in promoting Georgia Tech Athletics in any way.
  • Are the parent(s) or guardian(s) of an enrolled student-athlete.
  • Participated as a varsity athlete at Georgia Tech.
  • Assist with recruitment.
  • Have been requested by the athletics department staff to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes or is assisting in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes.

ONCE A BOOSTER, ALWAYS A BOOSTER. Therefore, you remain subject to the restrictions on Georgia Tech, even when you no longer actively support Tech.

Please consider the impact on Georgia Tech, when you post recruiting-related information on the Web. We would hope that you would not want to post anything that would have an adverse effect on Georgia Tech's athletics programs. Your cooperation in helping Georgia Tech stay clean is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please call the compliance office at (404)894-8792.

Websites Established by Individuals Independent of the Institution

  • Establishing a Website in and of itself does not categorize an individual as a media entry. Therefore, individuals who establish Websites independent of the institution continue to be subject to all applicable restrictions related to contacting prospects for a recruiting purpose.
  • Recruiting information that is not available to the general public may not be posted on Websites established by individuals independent of the independent of the institution.
  • Individuals operating independently of the institution may not contact prospects to obtain recruiting information.

Noninstitutional Publications May Be Considered Boosters

A noninstitutional athletics recruiting publication (dedicated solely to reporting on a single institution's athletics program) that engages in activities related to the recruitment of prospective student-athletes may in some instances, be considered a representative of the institution's athletics interests. (Reference: Former NCAA Interpretations Committee 10/01/01, Item No. 6)

Taken from the 2000-01 NCAA GTRC: The Use of the Internet in Recruiting Division I, page 6.

Rules Governing Contacts and Benefits for Student-Athletes

In addition to regulating contact of our representatives of athletics interest with prospects, the NCAA also regulates contact with current Georgia Tech student-athletes, as well as their relatives and friends.

An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of athletics interest to provide a student-athlete, prospect, or their relatives or friends a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.

In general, you may not provide anything or make special arrangements for student-athletes and prospective student-athletes that are not available to the general student population.

Examples of prohibited extra benefits not allowed by NCAA rules, but are not limited to, are as follows:

  • Providing cash or loans in any amount, or signing or co-signing for a loan.
  • Providing gifts of any kind, including birthday cards and holiday gifts.
  • Providing special discounts for goods and services (e.g., car repairs, legal services, meals).
  • Providing free rent or reduced rent, housing.
  • Purchasing complimentary admissions from a student-athlete.
  • Providing an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement.
  • Providing loans based on earnings potential as a professional athlete.

As a representative of the institution's athletics interest, you are permitted to:

  • Invite a student-athlete or entire team into your home for an occasional meal (once a semester), but please coordinate such activity with the Compliance Office and the respective Head Coach.
  • Provide summer employment for enrolled student-athletes (see information regarding employment below).
  • Provide tickets to a professional sports contest to an institution for entertainment of student-athletes involved in an away-from-home athletics contest.
  • Provide an occasional meal in your home to a student-athlete or an entire team.
  • Provide transportation to your home for a student-athlete who will be receiving an occasional meal there.
  • Provide a summer job to a student-athlete as long as it is at a normal rate of pay for that position and the student-athlete is paid for work actually performed, but remember to check with the compliance office at Georgia Tech before doing so.

Consequences to Boosters for NCAA Violations

Institutions are required by the NCAA to notify boosters of consequences regarding rules violations. Boosters found in violation of NCAA rules are subject to losing benefits and privileges, including season tickets.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions has processed cases in which penalties have included both the disassociation of boosters with the institution and the loss of season ticket privileges.

Rules Governing Student-Athlete Employment

As of August 1, 1998, student-athletes receiving grant-in-aid are eligible for employment during the regular academic year as well as during official vacation periods (Christmas and spring break) and the summer.

In reference to this legislation regarding employment during the academic year, student-athletes may earn up to the cost of attendance provided:

  • The student-athlete has spent one academic year in residence at the institution.
  • The student-athlete is academically eligible to compete at the institution.
  • The Compliance Office must keep written records verifying all student-athlete employment records.

The following rules are applicable to student-athlete employment:

  • Employers must receive prior approval before hiring any student-athletes.
  • The student-athlete is compensated only for work actually performed at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services.
  • The student-athlete has not been hired based on his or her athletics ability.
  • Transportation to work for student-athletes is not provided unless transportation is provided for all other employees.

Rules Governing Promotional Activities for Student-Athletes

All charitable, educational and nonprofit promotional activities involving student-athletes must have prior approval from the Director of Athletics. If you have questions, please call the Compliance Office (404)894-8792 for the appropriate forms.

Student-Athletes are not permitted to be involved in the advertisement, recommendation or promotion of sales or use of a commercial product or service of any kind.

Rules Governing Requests for Donations and Autographed Items

Georgia Tech is not allowed to participate directly or indirectly in fundraising that will benefit a high school athletics program. Therefore, regarding a donated item or an item that includes the original signature of either an eligible student-athlete or a coach at Georgia Tech (e.g. pictures, helmets, posters, game balls):

  • All requests for donations/autographed items must be submitted in writing (via mail or fax) to the Georgia Tech Athletic Association Marketing Office or Compliance Office;
  • The item shall not be provided to a high school or to a high school staff member (e.g. coach, athletics director, principal), especially for the purpose of fundraising;
  • The item shall not be provided to a high school athlete (prospect) or to the parent of a high school athlete;
  • The item shall not be sold to another person without the written consent of Georgia Tech.

Rules Governing Agents and Amateurism

A student-athlete loses their amateur status and shall not be eligible for intercollegiate competition in a particular sport if:

  • The student-athlete or family member negotiate, sign or enters into any written or oral agreement with an agent.
  • The student-athlete or family member accepts or receives any extra benefits from an agent or anyone who wishes to represent the student-athlete.
  • The student-athlete competes with a professional sports team or competes as a professional in an individual sport and receives any compensation for participation.
  • The student-athlete uses his or her athletic skills for pay or promise of pay.

Rules Governing Gambling

Student-athletes, coaches and/or employees of the Georgia Tech Athletic Association may not provide information to individuals involved in any type of organized gambling concerning sporting events. In addition, student-athletes, coaches and staff of the Georgia Tech Athletic Association may not solicit or accept any wager on any intercollegiate or professional athletics contest.

Alumni Organizations

Prospective student-athletes may attend luncheons or dinners in their immediate locale that are sponsored by bona fide alumni organizations of an institution. These alumni organizations must meet specific criteria to be considered as such. Please check with Georgia Tech's compliance office for more specific information.

Basic Rules to Remember

  • Do not do anything for a prospective student-athlete or an enrolled student-athlete without specific permission from Georgia Tech's athletic department to avoid violations of the extra benefit regulations.

  • Only coaches and athletic department staff members may be involved in the recruiting process. Neither alumni, friends of Georgia Tech, nor other athletics representatives who are not employed by Georgia Tech may contact a prospect (or his/her family or guardian) via written correspondence, telephone, or in-person (either on or off campus) for the purpose of soliciting their participation in the Georgia Tech athletic program.

  • A prospective student-athlete remains a prospective student-athlete until he/she enrolls (e.g., begins classes) full-time at an institution or he/she begins official team practice immediately prior to the start of classes. Even if the prospect signs a National Letter of Intent or financial aid agreement to attend an institution, he/she remains a prospect until one of the above occurs.

  • An enrolled student-athlete risks losing his/her athletics eligibility if he/she accepts any benefit based on his/her status as a athlete or because of his/her athletic skill, or a benefit not generally afforded to other students.

  • NCAA rules applicable to enrolled student-athletes are not only applicable during the academic year, but they are also applicable during the summer months. Enrolled student-athletes are bound by NCAA rules until the end of the academic year in which their athletics eligibility is exhausted.

Additional Guidelines for Atlanta-area Hotels Providing Accommodations for Georgia Tech Recruits

In addition to the guidelines listed above for supporters of Georgia Tech Athletics, the following apply specifically to Atlanta-area hotels as they relate to the recruitment of prospects (recruits).

Restrictions on Hotel Accommodations

  • As a rule, any portion of a meal (i.e. fruit basket, bottle of wine) provided by the hotel to the prospect or his/her parents or legal guardians counts as one of their permissible meals. A prospect cannot receive meals from both the hotel and Georgia Tech. Since we cannot keep track of what they are being fed at the Institute and at the hotel, we ask that these gifts not be provided.

  • Coaches are allowed to hold a dinner or brunch at their houses, which you MAY cater, as long as the meal is comparable to that of normal student life and not excessive.

  • Hotel staff are considered boosters along with the hotel. As such, they are not allowed to speak to the prospects about sports or provide any tangible recruiting aids (posters, schedule cards, etc.) or gifts with Georgia Tech's insignia (souvenirs, sweatshirts, etc.) to the prospect.

  • Treat our prospects as you would any guest of the hotel, other than discussing Georgia Tech's outstanding sports programs. You may tout our athletics prowess to other guests as much as you like.

Most Commonly Asked Questions

Q: Is it permissible to contact a prospective student-athlete or his/her parents or legal guardians?

A: No. An athletics representative may not contact a prospect or his/her parents in-person, by telephone or in writing. Contact may not be made with a prospect or his/her parents on or off the campus of Georgia Tech.

Q: After a prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent, is it permissible to contact the prospective student-athlete or his/her parents or legal guardians?

A: No. Subsequent to signing a National Letter of Intent, a student-athlete is still considered a prospective student-athlete. Thus, an athletic representative may not contact a prospect or his/her parents in-person, by telephone or in writing. Contact may not be made with a prospect or his/her parents on or off the campus of Georgia Tech.

Q. Is this contact rule applicable to "established family friends" or neighbors?

A: No. However, it must be understood that such contacts cannot be made for recruiting purposes and cannot be initiated or arranged by Georgia Tech coaching staff members. In addition, the established relationship between the booster and the prospect must have occurred prior to the friend or neighbor becoming a prospect.

Q: What if a prospect knows that an athletics representative is a Georgia Tech graduate and contacts him/her to ask questions about Georgia Tech?

A: If a prospect contacts an athletics representative, he/she may answer questions regarding various aspects of Georgia Tech as long as NO discussion takes place regarding the Georgia Tech athletics program. If a prospect asks about Georgia Tech athletics, refer him/her to the appropriate coaching staff.

Q: Is it permissible for an athletics representative to bring to Georgia Tech's attention outstanding prospects from the representative's local area?

A: Yes. An athletics representative may not, however, get involved in the actual evaluation of the talent of a prospect. In other words, an athletics representative may not contact a prospect's coach, principal, or counselor nor visit the prospect's educational institution to pick up film or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect's athletics or academic abilities. In addition, an athletics representative cannot contact the prospect for purposes of soliciting the prospect's enrollment at Georgia Tech and ultimate participation in athletics.

Q: Is it permissible for an athletics representative to provide transportation to or from campus or free admission to an athletics event on or off Georgia Tech's campus to prospects, their friends or relatives?

A: No. NCAA legislation does not allow an athletics representative to provide any transportation to prospective student-athletes.

Q: Can an athletics representative be involved in any way when a prospect is on an official or unofficial visit?

A: No. Athletics representatives are precluded from all recruiting activities.

Q: Is it permissible for an athletics representative to provide summer employment for student-athletes?

A: Yes. Please remember that compensation must be paid only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for services of like character. Such employment should be arranged through the athletic association.

Q: May a student-athlete's name or picture be used to directly or indirectly advertise, recommend, or promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service?

A: No. Such activity would jeopardize the eligibility of the student-athlete. The NCAA membership has always maintained that student-athletes not be involved in the promotion of a commercial product.

Q: Is it permissible for a booster to reimburse the coach of a prospect for expenses incurred in transporting a prospect to visit the campus?

A: No.

Q: Is it permissible for a booster to pay in whole or in part registration fees associated with sport camps?

A: No.

Q: Is the contact rule applicable to established family, friends, and neighbors?

A: No. However, it must be understood that such contacts may not be made for recruiting purposes and are not initiated by a member of the institutions coaching staff.

Q: May a booster attend a public event (e.g., high school award banquet or dinner) at which prospects are in attendance?

A: Yes. Please remember that contact with a prospect may not be prearranged by an athletics department staff member, and no attempt may be made to recruit the prospect.

Q: Is it permissible for an athletics representative to provide enrolled student-athletes a home cooked meal?

A: Yes. Provided it is on an "occasional" basis and any such meal is not at a restaurant.

Please note: All requests must receive prior approval from the athletics department.

Q: Is Georgia Tech responsible for the acts of boosters and booster support groups?

A: Yes. Boosters are governed by the same NCAA and institutional rules and regulations as those placed upon all institutional athletics staff members.

Q: When does a prospect become considered a student-athlete?

A: A prospect becomes a student-athlete when he or she reports for regular squad practice or attends classes in any term.

Q: Is it permissible for a booster to provide an enrolled student-athlete with professional services (for which a fee would normally be charged) for personal reasons?

A: No. Professional services provided at a fee less than the normal rate or at no expense to a student-athlete are considered extra benefits.

Q: May a student-athlete make a public appearance at a business establishment for any purpose such as signing autographs etc.?

A: No. Such appearances can be construed as a direct or indirect endorsement of the commercial establishment, thus jeopardizing the eligibility of the student-athlete. It should be noted that student-athletes may make appearances at schools, hospitals, or other non-profit or charitable organizations provided they do not receive compensation (other than expenses) and such activities are authorized by the athletic department.

Q: Is it permissible for a booster to provide gifts or awards to a student-athlete for his or her athletics performance?

A: No. All awards must conform to NCAA awards legislation and must be approved by Georgia Tech University.

Remember, Ask Before You Act.

Thank you again for your continued support of Georgia Tech Athletics.