Booster GuidelinesLoyola University Chicago prides itself on the principle that the pursuit of excellence in intercollegiate athletics must be accomplished within the framework of an academic community dedicated to firm institutional control of athletics and unquestioned integrity. This tradition can only continue if the alumni, boosters and friends of the University foster and maintain the values and goals of the University and the athletic program. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules and regulations explicitly outline what actions are permissible by a "Representative of Athletics Interests." Commonly referred to as boosters, representatives of athletics interests can play a key role within the athletic department when they act within the guidelines of the NCAA rules. Any intentional violation of NCAA legislation involving a booster or booster organization may lead to severe sanctions against the University by the NCAA. Athletics representatives found in violation of NCAA rules are subject to disassociation from the Loyola University Chicago Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and loss of any benefits or privileges related to the Athletics Department. Should you have specific questions do not hesitate to contact the Compliance Staff at (773) 508-2560. However, we will attempt to answer some questions here. Who is a Representative of Athletics Interests? You are a Representative of Athletics Interests if you:
According to NCAA rules, once an individual has been identified as an institutional "representative of athletics interests" the individual retains the title for life. Loyola University Chicago is ultimately responsible for the actions of its athletics representatives in regard to NCAA rules and regulations. If you are aware of any infractions of Horizon League or NCAA rules please report it to the Compliance Office immediately. Even if a violation is unintentional, the eligibility of a prospect or enrolled student-athlete could be in jeopardy. Who is a prospective student-athlete? A prospective student-athlete is any student who has started classes for the ninth grade. A student who has not yet started ninth grade may become a prospect if Loyola or a booster provided the student, their relatives or friends, with financial assistance or benefits not generally provided to other students. In addition, student-athletes enrolled in preparatory school or two-year colleges, or those who have officially withdrawn from a four-year school, are considered prospects. A prospective student-athlete remains a prospect even after he/she has signed a National Letter of Intent or accepted an offer of admission or financial aid to attend Loyola University Chicago. A prospect becomes a current student-athlete only when he/she reports for preseason practice or the first day of classes, whichever occurs first. Who is a current student-athlete? A student-athlete is any Loyola University Chicago student who is presently a member of a varsity athletics team, who is receiving athletically related financial aid, or who has completed his/her eligibility but is still enrolled in the institution. NCAA regulations apply to all student-athletes, not just those student-athletes who were recruited or who receive an athletics scholarship. What is an extra benefit? Members of the athletics staff and representatives of athletics interests are prohibited from providing an extra benefit to a prospective or current student-athlete. An extra benefit is any gift or arrangement provided to a prospective or current student-athlete or their relative or friend, that is not expressly permitted by the NCAA. An extra benefit would include the provision of any transportation, housing, meals, clothes, entertainment, preferential loan terms or other such benefits. What is recruiting? Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or the prospect's parent/legal guardian by a Loyola staff member for the purpose of securing the prospect's enrollment at Loyola and/or participation in Loyola's athletic program. Recruiting activities include correspondence, e-mail, faxes, telephone conversations and in-person contacts (on and off campus). Who may recruit? Only Loyola University Chicago coaches who successfully complete the NCAA Recruiting Rules Examination on an annual basis may recruit off campus for the athletic program. Representatives of Athletics Interests are prohibited from engaging in any recruiting activities either on or off-campus. An alumnus of the institution may receive phone calls from prospects to discuss the University in general, but may not discuss athletics. Faculty and staff members are not permitted to recruit off-campus, but they may have on-campus contact with prospects. In general, faculty and staff members may not telephone a prospect until July 1 following the completion of his or her junior year in high school. In most instances, a call by a faculty or staff member counts as the prospects one call that they may receive from the institution each week. Therefore it is imperative that calls from faculty and staff are coordinated through the coach. Faculty and staff members may write to prospects after September 1 of their junior year. Athletics Department staff members may have recruiting contacts with prospects on campus only. A spouse of a coach or staff member may have contact with a prospect on-campus. Additionally, he or she may make an off-campus contact during the prospect's official visit, as long as it is within a 30-mile radius of the institution's main campus. The spouse may not however, correspond in writing (follow-up letter after visit, etc.) with the prospect. A member of the Board of Trustees may not make on or off-campus recruiting contact with a prospect. Enrolled student-athletes and other enrolled students are not considered to be boosters as long as any contact with a prospect is incidental and does not occur at the direction of a member of the athletics department. Enrolled students should be aware that they:
Permissible activities with prospective student-athletes:
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