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Activities for the University of Minnesota Women's Gymnastics program
comply with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules. As
booster club members, we have a material interest in the Women's
Gymnastics program and are subject to these rules to make sure our team,
coaches and staff don't have any compliance issues that might negatively
affect the eligibility, integrity or reputation of our student-athletes
or gymnastics program.
The
University of Minnesota provides on-going communication about NCAA rules
and booster club interactions.
CLICK HERE to visit that booster club information site on
www.GopherSports.com, and
CLICK HERE to view a special publication entitled NCAA
Rules for Alumni, Fans and Friends of Golden Gopher Athletics
(PDF document).
In an ongoing effort to communicate some
of the
NCAA rules, we've put together a short list of frequently asked
questions about actions concerning NCAA compliance. However, a simple
guideline for booster club members is when in
doubt, ask first! You ask... U wins!
Any questions about compliance rules and
procedures should be directed to the Women's Gymnastics coaches first,
but you are always welcome to contact the university Compliance Office
if necessary. Do not jeopardize the
eligibility of our student-athletes by doing something you think is easy
and not particularly important that might not meet compliance rules
(e.g., giving student-athletes an inappropriate gift... even a birthday
card).
Here are some frequently asked questions
and answers about NCAA Compliance for booster club members.
Who is a "booster?" How long do I
retain my "booster" status?
An individual is a booster if
he/she meets any of the following conditions:
-
Have
ever been a member of any organization that promotes University of
Minnesota athletics (e.g., 10.0 Club, Goal line Club, Fast Break
Club, etc.)
-
Have made a financial contribution to the University of Minnesota
athletics department or one of its booster organizations.
-
Former University of Minnesota coach or student-athlete.
-
Have
provided benefits (e.g., summer jobs or occasional family meals) to
enrolled student-athletes.
-
Have
ever, in any way, promoted the athletics program at the University
of Minnesota.
-
A University of
Minnesota Season Ticket holder.
A booster
can be an individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g.,
apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization who is known to
have met the above conditions.
Once an
individual or any other entity has been identified as a booster, they
retain that identity indefinitely.
Can 10.0
Club members offer a student-athlete a gift?
No. Booster
club members are forbidden from offering extra benefits (including greeting
cards, food, cash, or even rides in your car) to student-athletes.
An extra benefit is any item or
service not available to the general public or general student body
provided to a student-athlete, or his/her friends or relatives. Some
examples include, but are not limited to:
-
cash, special discount or
payment arrangements;
-
free or reduced price on any
item (e.g., clothing, etc.) or service (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning,
etc.);
-
use of a telephone, pager or
credit card for personal reasons without charge or at a reduced
rate;
-
entertainment services (movie
tickets, dinners, use of car) from commercial agencies (theaters,
restaurants, car dealers) without charge or at reduced rates, or
free or reduced-cost;
-
signing or co-signing a note
with an outside agency to arrange a loan;
-
preferential treatment,
benefits or services based on his/her athletics reputation or skill
or pay-back potential as a future professional;
-
free or reduced-cost athletics
equipment, supplies or clothing directly from a manufacturer or
commercial enterprise;
-
free or reduced cost of
tuition, room and/or board;
-
payment or other compensation
for work not performed or limited work performed;
-
employment arrangements for a
student-athlete or prospect's relatives or friends;
-
use of personal property
(boats, summer homes, cars, computers, stereos);
-
holiday or birthday presents;
-
promise of employment after
college graduation;
-
purchase of items or services
from a prospect/student-athlete or their relatives at inflated
prices;
-
payment or arrangements for
payment of transportation costs incurred by a student-athlete or
prospect's relatives or friends; or
-
anything given because an individual is a student-athlete.
As a parent,
may I offer my child a gift, ride or coffee?
Yes. Parents of
student-athletes may interact with their own child as you normally
would. This means that a parent may give gifts to your own child.
Can
10.0 Club members talk with recruits or their parents?
No. NCAA rules prohibit
boosters from having contact with prospects. Prospects
are those potential student-athletes in Grades 9 through 12 of secondary
school. Booster club members should never engage in recruiting
activities on behalf of the University of Minnesota. This rule
applies to Home and Away meets, and in any other venue where 10.0 Club
members may encounter eligible prospective student-athletes... including
your local gymnastics clubs.
May a booster have in-person, off-campus contact with a prospect who has
signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI), but has not yet taken any
classes at the university?
No. Boosters may not
have any contact with prospects until he/she has begun classes as a
full-time student at the university. Additionally, if the prospect
is attending summer classes, they are still considered prospects and a
booster may not have contact with that student-athlete until the fall
semester begins.
Can 10.0 Club members talk and interact with the 2010 Golden Gopher Women's
Gymnastics team after-student-athletes return to campus and school
begins?
Yes! We want you to
interact and enjoy watching, cheering and congratulating the
Gophers! During your interactions you may not offer any
inappropriate gifts. Offer your praise and encouragement and
celebrate Golden Gopher success!
Remember, when in doubt,
ask first! You ask... U wins! Help maintain and protect
the Compliance of our student-athletes and the University of Minnesota
Athletics Department. |
