Athletics Risk Management and Compliance Services: Fans and Boosters — Recruiting

TERMS TO KNOW

• Prospective Student-Athlete: Any individual who attends classes in the ninth grade and above.
• Student-Athlete: An individual who is an amateur and represents any collegiate institution in athletics competition.
• Recruiter: Anyone who directly or indirectly solicits a prospective student-athlete or their family for the purpose of securing his/her enrollment and participation in UT athletics.

RULES OF THE GAME FOR ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVES/BOOSTERS

• NO on- or off-campus in-person contact with a prospect or his/her parents.
• NO written or telephone correspondence may be made with a prospect or his/her parents.
• NO contact with a coach or any individual associated with the prospect to assist in the recruitment of a prospect.
• NO contact at the prospect's high school or junior college is permitted.
• Boosters may NOT pick up videos or transcripts of prospects for UT coaches.
• Boosters may NOT provide/pay a prospect's transportation/camp expenses to attend a Texas athletic camp.

EXTRA POINTS

• Established relationships between athletic representatives and prospects or student-athletes, their parents, and relatives MAY meet an exception to the extra benefit rules. CONTACT the compliance office immediately to verify if you meet the exception and ensure the prospect's eligibility at UT is not jeopardized.
• An athletic representative MAY employ a prospective student-athlete.
• The prospect MUST be hired in the same manner as the general public and be a qualified candidate for the position.
• Compensation MUST be based on work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in the locality for similar services.
• Prospects may NOT receive/accept benefits (e.g. transportation, bonuses) unless provided for all other employees.
• Unavoidable, incidental contact between an athletics representative and a prospect is allowable, as long as it is not prearranged and no recruitment occurs. This prohibits any conversation past initial introductions.