Clemson Compliance Corner

Clemson Compliance Corner - NCAA Rules Covering Recruiting Inducements & Preexisting Relationships

As an IPTAY member, you are considered a representative of an institution’s athletics interests (i.e., booster) for Clemson University. Accordingly, the NCAA has strict guidelines concerning boosters and their relationships with prospective student-athletes (i.e., generally 9^th – 12^th graders and any other unofficial visitors, prep school students, and junior college student-athletes). Under NCAA rules, generally boosters should not be providing any type of benefit or service to prospective student-athletes. Examples of these types of benefits and services are as follows (not exhaustive list) and are applicable to prospective student-athletes, their family members, and their friends:

• Employment arrangement for a prospective student-athlete’s family members
• Gift of clothing or equipment
• Co-signing of loans
• Providing loans to a prospective student-athlete’s family members or friends
• Cash or like items
• Any tangible items, including merchandise
• Free or reduced-cost services, rentals, or purchases of any type
• Free or reduced-cost housing
• Use of an institution’s athletics equipment (e.g., for a high school all-star game)
• Sponsorship of or arrangement for an awards banquet for high school, prep school, or two-year college athletes
• Expenses for academic services (e.g., tutoring, test preparation) to assist in completion of initial-eligibility or transfer-eligibility requirements or improvement of prospective student-athlete’s academic profile in conjunction with waiver request

However, there is certain flexibility afforded by NCAA rules to boosters if they have a preexisting relationship with a prospective student-athlete. To meet the NCAA standard for a preexisting relationship, at a minimum, the following must be met:

• Relationship predates prospective student-athlete’s athletics participation
• Relationship predates the recruit’s status as a prospective student-athlete (i.e., generally 9^th – 12^th graders and any other unofficial visitors, prep school students, and junior college student-athletes)
• Relationship predates prospective student-athlete’s status achieved as a result of athletics ability or reputation

If the preexisting relationship test is passed, there may be flexibility afforded to the IPTAY member. However, there is massive risk in this area that could affect the eligibility of prospective student-athletes if they were to enroll at Clemson, so it is imperative we all do nothing to run contrary to NCAA rules in this area.

Please continue to Ask Before You Act and always feel free to contact Clemson University Athletic Compliance Services at cuacs@clemson.edu. Thank you for your continued support of Clemson Athletics!