University of South Carolina Aiken Athletics

Boosters And Recruiting Student-Athletes

WHAT IS A BOOSTER?
A representative of USC Aiken's athletics interests, or a “booster,” is an individual, business, or organization who is known (or who should have been known) by a member of the institution's executive or athletics administration to:
• Have participated in or have been a member of an agency, group, or organizations, including corporate entities (e.g., apparel and equipment companies), that promotes USC Aiken's athletics program.
• Have made a financial and/or in-kind donation to the Pacer Club, the Department of Athletics, and/or Development Office.
• Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families.
• Have been involved, in any way promoting USC Aiken athletics.
• Any USC Aiken faculty or staff member is typically viewed as a representative of athletics interests even if they do not have any tie to Pacer Athletics.

SOME EXAMPLES OF IMPERMISSIBLE RECRUITING ACTIVITIES:
As a booster, you may not:
• Contact a prospect in-person on campus or off campus.
• Contact a prospect by telephone, email, Internet or letter.
• Provide gifts or free or reduced-cost services to a prospect or the prospect’s relatives or guardian.
• Employ relatives, guardians or friends of a prospect as an inducement for the prospect’s enrollment and athletics participation at a university.
• Become directly or indirectly involved in making arrangements for a prospect or the prospect’s relatives or guardian to receive money or financial aid of any kind.
• Provide transportation for a prospect or the prospect’s relatives or guardian.
• Provide free or reduced-cost tickets for a prospect or the prospect’s relatives or guardian to attend an athletic event.
• Provide any material benefit (e.g., meals, cash) to the coach of a prospect, including high school, two-year college,
AAU, and summer team coaches.

SOME EXAMPLES OF PERMISSIBLE RECRUITING ACTIVITIES:
As a booster you may:
• Notify university coaching staff members about noteworthy prospects in the area.
• Attend high school or two-year college athletic contests or other events where prospects may compete, provided no contact occurs.
• Continue existing friendships. (If you have a prior relationship with a potential student athlete before they enter their freshmen year of high school, you do not have to end that relationship.)

Boosters Benefitting Enrolled Student Athletes

SOME EXAMPLES OF IMPERMISSIBLE EXTRA BENEFITS FOR ENROLLED STUDENT ATHLETES:
As a booster you may not provide a student-athlete or a student-athlete’s friends, relatives, or guardians:
• Tickets to college or professional sporting events.
• A special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase or service.
• Cash or loan or signing or co-signing of a loan.
• Transportation, payment of expense or loan of any automobile.
• Benefits or gifts (this includes meals) based upon the student-athlete’s athletic performance.
• Free or reduced rent or housing.

SOME EXAMPLES OF PERMISSIBLE BENEFITS FOR ENROLLED STUDENT ATHLETES:
Boosters may:
• Make contributions to university programs and other gift-in-kind arrangements.
• Attend university athletic events and show student athletes you support their hard work and dedication to the university.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO ME?
By cooperating with these guidelines, you will play a key role in ensuring the eligibility of the student athletes at the University of South Carolina Aiken stays in compliance with the guidelines set forth by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It is important that all of Pacer Nation works together to do their part in helping to maintain the eligibility of all of out student athletes.