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DO'S & DON'TS FOR DONORS/CONTRIBUTORS
What Donors/Contributors (Boosters) Need to Know
If you want to do anything with or for student-athletes or prospects, contact the NC State Compliance staff for answers to your questions. If you have doubts, ASK BEFORE YOU ACT!
If you wish to learn more about NIL, please visit the Alpha NIL Program page. Please send all questions on NCAA legislation to the NC State Compliance office.
Please view the NC State Booster Guide for education on NCAA legislation.
The NCAA calls an athletics booster a "Representative of the Institution's Athletics Interest."
Interaction with Prospects
Since coaches must be certified to recruit and are the only permissible off-campus recruiters, a representative of the institution's athletic interest:
- MAY NOTÂ make in-person, on-campus or off-campus recruiting contacts with prospective student-athletes, their relatives or legal guardians. This prohibition includes written, text, email, IM, social media and telephone communications.
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- MAY click but DON'T type on social media - please do not contact or direct posts, messages, or comments to any prospective student-athlete or their family members through social media
- MAY NOTÂ contact prospective student-athlete's coaches, principals or counselors in an attempt to evaluate the prospective student-athletes.
- MAY NOTÂ visit the prospective student-athlete's school to acquire film or transcripts for purposes of evaluating their athletic or academic eligibility.
- MAY NOTÂ entertain, provide tickets or gifts and other benefits to a junior or senior in high school, prep school, or two-year college coaches, athletic director or for any other individual responsible for teaching or directing an activity in which a prospective student-athlete is involved.
- MAY NOTÂ contribute to the payment of registration fees for prospective student-athletes to attend summer sports camps.
- MAY NOTÂ mail anything, including newspapers, posters, programs, media guides, clippings, etc. to prospective student-athletes.
- MAY NOTÂ contribute to the payment of transportation costs for prospective student-athletes or their relatives or friends to visit the campus. This includes commercial or private transportation by car, train, or plane.
- MAY NOTÂ contact enrolled student-athletes at other four-year colleges to explore the possibilities of them transferring to the university and its athletic programs.
As a representative of the institution's athletic interest, you:
- MAYÂ notify our coaches about prospects in your area that may be strong additions to our teams.
- MAYÂ Attend high school, two year college athletic contests, or other events where prospects may compete, however, you may NOT contact the prospect or the prospect's relatives.
- MAYÂ continue existing friendships with families of prospects, but you may NOT attempt to recruit the prospect.
- MAY employ prospective student-athletes provided the employment does not begin prior to the completion of the prospect's senior year of high school (more specific information about employing prospects & student-athletes below).
As a representative of the university's athletic interests, you may NOT:
Provide a student-athlete with extra benefits or services including, but not limited to:
- signing or co-signing a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan
- Make services available to a student-athlete (e.g., movie tickets, dinners, use of a car) from commercial agencies (e.g., movie theaters, restaurants, car dealers) without charge or at reduced rates
- Provide a student-athlete with a special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase or service
- Provide a student-athlete with professional services without charge or at a reduced cost
- Allow a student-athlete to use a telephone or credit card without charge or at a reduced cost; or
- Serve as a "sponsor" or "family" for enrolled student-athletes.
For an enrolled student-athlete, a booster may:
Invite a student-athlete(s) or an entire team to any location for a meal. The meal may be catered. Boosters are permitted to give a student-athlete(s) transportation on these occasions (local transportation only).
NCAA Criteria for Specific Employment Situations
Compensation may be paid to a student-athlete:
- only for work actually performed
- at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services
Use of the Athletic Reputation of a Student-Athlete: Student-athletes may not receive compensation for the value or utility of their reputation, fame, or publicity resulting from their athletic ability by an employer.
Camp/Clinic Employment:Â A student-athlete may be employed by their institution, by another institution, or by a private organization to work a camp or a clinic as a counselor, unless otherwise restricted by NCAA legislation.
Employing Student-Athletes for Private Lessons:Â Parents may employ student-athletes to conduct private lessons. Student-athletes may engage in fee-for-lesson instruction, per NCAA Bylaw 12.4.2.1, provided they abide by employment rules and the following additional NCAA restrictions:
- Institutional facilities are not used;
- Playing lessons shall not be permitted (e.g., playing a game of golf or tennis);
- The institution obtains and keeps on file documentation of the recipient of the lesson(s) and the fee for the lesson(s) provided during any time of the year;
- The compensation is paid by the lesson recipient (or the recipient's family) and not another individual or entity;
- Instruction to each individual is comparable to the instruction that would be provided during a private lesson when the instruction involves more than one individual at a time
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