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Bowling Green State University Athletics
A Guide to NCAA Rules and Regulations
Introduction
As a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), Bowling Green State University must abide by the rules and regulations established by these organizations in the conduct of its athletic programs. In addition to ensuring that all coaches, administrators, students, faculty and staff act in accordance with these rules, BGSU is also responsible for the actions of any individual or organization that promotes the athletic interests of the institution.
Representatives of Athletics Interests
Individuals or organizations that promote the athletic interests of the institution are considered "representatives of athletics interests" under NCAA regulations. This designation includes, but is not limited to, alumni, fans and boosters. Under the NCAA definition, you are a "representative of athletics interests" if you have:
Participated in an organization promoting BGSU athletics; or
Held season tickets to BGSU athletic events; or
Made financial contributions to Bowling Green State University, the athletic department or to any BGSU athletic booster organization (e.g., Falcon Club); or
Assisted in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes; or
Been involved in otherwise promoting the athletics programs or interests of Bowling Green State University.
Important: Once you have been identified as a representative of athletics interests, NCAA rules dictate that you retain that status indefinitely, even if you discontinue your contributions or affiliation with Bowling Green State University.
Prospective Student-Athletes
A prospective student-athlete (i.e., prospect, PSA, recruit) is any student who has started classes for the ninth grade but has yet to enroll at a four-year collegiate institution. In addition, a student who has not yet started classes for the ninth grade may be classified as a prospective student-athlete if an institution or a representative of athletics interests provides the individual (or his/her relatives or friends) with financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not generally provide to other prospective students.
Junior College Prospects
The same recruiting rules that apply to high school prospects also apply to junior college prospects.
Four-Year College Prospects
An athletics department staff member or a representative of athletics interests may not contact a student at another four-year college regarding a potential transfer to BGSU (directly or indirectly) without first obtaining written permission from the other institution's athletics director, regardless of who makes the initial contact. If permission is granted, all recruiting rules that apply to high school and junior college prospects also apply to four-year college prospects.
Recruiting
Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect (or the prospect's family or legal guardian) by a member of the institution's staff or a representative of athletics interests for the purpose of securing the prospect's enrollment and ultimate participation inan institution's intercollegiate athletics program.
As a representative of Falcon athletics, you may NOT make in-person, on- or off-campus recruiting contacts, send written correspondence or telephone a prospect (or his/her parents) on behalf of BGSU for the purpose of soliciting the prospect's enrollment at Bowling Green State University. Only coaches and BGSU staff members may be involved in the recruiting process.
Electronic communication is treated in the same manner as written correspondence and telephone calls. Representatives of athletics interests may not send text and e-mail messages or communicate via the internet with prospective student-athletes (e.g. chat room, message board, social networking sites).
Non-Permissible Recruiting Inducements and Activities
In addition, you may NOT DIRECTLY or INDIRECTLY:
Give a prospect cash or other tangible items such as clothes, jewelry, merchandise, equipment or any like items to a prospect;
Co-sign a loan of any kind or provide a loan to a prospect's relatives or friends;
Provide a prospect with use of a vehicle or transportation of any kind;
Employ and/or entertain a prospect's relatives or friends;
Arrange for free or reduced charges for professional or personal services;
Promise a prospect employment after college;
Provide free or reduced-cost services, rentals, purchasing or housing;
Arrange for the use of the institution's athletic equipment (i.e. for high school all-star games);
Sponsor or arrange an awards banquet for high school, preparatory school or two-year college athletes;
Contact a prospect's coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to gain information that would allow you to evaluate the prospect's value to the BGSUintercollegiate athletics program;
Visit a prospect's educational institution to pick up film, tape or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect's academic or athletic eligibility.
Permissible Activities
As a representative of Falcon athletics, you are permitted to:
Continue established family relationships with friends and neighbors who have prospective student-athletes in their family provided you engage in normal activities with these friends and do not attempt to recruit the prospect;
Offer assistance to members of the BGSU coaching staff that are recruiting in your community by sending the information (i.e. newspaper clippings) about prospects you think may be of interest;
Speak to a prospect via telephone only if the prospect initiates the phone call and the call is not for recruiting purposes. Any inquiry regarding the BGSU athletics program must be referred to the athletics department;
Observe a prospect's athletics contest on your own initiative, but you may NOT contact a prospect on any such occasion;
Discuss summer employment arrangements with a prospect after he/she has signed a National Letter of Intent. The prospect may not begin employment until after his or her high school graduation;
Make financial donations to a high school athletics program in your hometown's immediate locale provided:
a.) You make a donation on your own accord (i.e, without direction from a BGSU staff member);
b.) Your donation is distributed through the normal channels established by the high school.
c.) Your donation is not earmarked for a specific prospect.
Enrolled Student-Athletes
Representatives of Falcon athletics may not provide "extra benefits" to enrolled student-athletes (or their family or friends). This term includes any benefit or arrangement not available to the general public and/or the general student body.
Extra Benefits
Examples of extra benefits include, but are not limited to:
Cash or loans in any amount;
Co-signing or arranging a loan;
Transportation or use of a vehicle;
A special discount or credit arrangement;
Providing holiday or birthday gifts;
Free or reduced rent or housing;
Use of a phone and/or payment of telephone bills;
Financial aid for a post-graduate education;
Tickets to an athletics, institutional or community event;
Employment of a student-athlete at a higher rate than wages paid to other employees for similar work;
Providing expenses for family/friends to visit an enrolled student-athlete;
Gifts or free services (e.g., airline tickets, cash, restaurant meals, summer storage space);
Providing gift or award to a student-athlete for his/her athletic performance.
Permissible Activities
As representative of Falcon athletics" you may:
With prior approval from the Bowling Green State University compliance office, provide an occasional meal in your home (as opposed to a restaurant) for a student-athlete or a team;
Provide a job to a student-athlete as long as you and the student-athlete sign an Employment Verification Form before employment begins. The student-athlete must be compensated for work actually performed at a normal rate of pay that is not based on the student-athlete's value because of his/her reputation or fame;
NCAA regulations strictly govern the benefits a student-athlete may receive. Before you provide any student-athlete with a meal, a ride, or any other benefit not available to all students, please contact the BGSU Athletic Compliance Office at (419) 372-7237.
Penalties for Improper Actions
Violations for NCAA rules are a serious matter! Participation in any impermissible activities could result in any of the following penalties:
A prospect being declared ineligible to represent BGSU;
A student-athlete being declared ineligible to compete;
An entire team being declared ineligible to compete in conference or NCAA competition;
Fines or NCAA sanctions being imposed on the institution;
Forfeiture of competitions;
An enrolled student-athlete being required to sit out competitions for a limited period of time;
A coach being prohibited from recruiting off-campus for a period of time;
A reduction in the number of expense-paid recruiting visits that an institution may provide;
A coach being suspended from one or more competitions;
Your involvement with the athletic program being restricted or revoked;
A reduction of the number of scholarships an institution may award in sport(s).
Conclusion
Bowling Green State University is committed to complete compliance with all applicable NCAA and Conference rules without exception. Compliance is expected in all situations regardless of a violation's perceived significance, the reasonableness of a rule, or whether or not compliance will result in a competitive disadvantage. Lack of attention to these rules or lack of knowledge is not an acceptable explanation for involvement in a violation. Due to the complexity of MAC, CCHA and NCAA rules, this brochure should NOT be relied on exclusively. If you have any questions, please contact Mark Shook, Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and Student-Athlete Services, at 419-372-7237 or via email at mshook@bgsu.edu.