Coaches Compliance Resources | Student-Athlete Compliance Resources | Prospective Student-Athletes Compliance Resources | Booster Compliance Resources
Austin Peay State University's Athletics Compliance Office is committed to promoting an environment of integrity, which includes adherence to NCAA, ASUN Conference and University rules and regulations governing intercollegiate athletics. Using a shared responsibility approach, we will assist our coaches, staff, student-athletes and friends of the athletics program by providing education and enforcement efforts to protect the institution and promote high standards of compliance.
Many times the NCAA rules and regulations may seem complex and difficult to understand. Below we've tried to identify and define some of the most frequently used terms.
Prospective Student-Athlete (Prospect)
A prospective student-athlete (prospect) is any student who has started classes for the ninth grade.
Student-Athlete
A student-athlete is a student who is currently participating in the intercollegiate athletics program.
Booster or Representative of Institution's Athletic Interests
A booster includes anyone who has:
- purchased game or season tickets for any sport at APSU
- participated or been a member of any organization promoting APSU's athletics programs
- made financial contributions to the athletic department or a booster organization (Governors Club, Monocle Society, etc)
Once an individual becomes a booster, they retain that identity forever.
Recruiting
Recruiting involves any solicitation of a prospect (or family members) by the APSU Athletics staff to encourage him/her to enroll at Austin Peay State University and participate in the its intercollegiate athletic programs. Only coaches who are certified by the APSU Compliance Office may be involved in recruiting prospects. Boosters are prohibited from becoming involved in recruiting activities. The only exception for a booster to have contact with a prospect is in the case of an established relationship with family friends or neighbors. In that instance contact may not be made for recruiting purposes and may not be initiated by an APSU coaching staff member. (See the booster section for more details)
Contact
A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or the prospect's parents, relatives or legal guardian(s) and an institutional staff member or athletics representative during which any conversation in excess of a greeting occurs. Any face-to-face meeting that is prearranged or takes place on the grounds of the prospect's school or competition site is considered a contact, regardless of the conversation that occurs.
Extra Benefit
An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a booster to provide a student-athlete, or that athlete's friends or relatives, a benefit not authorized by the NCAA. Extra benefits a student-athlete may NOT receive include, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
- money, special discount, payment or arrangement of credit on a purchase (airline ticket, clothing) or service (dry cleaning, laundry);
- a professional service without charge or at a reduced cost (legal, photography, etc);
- use of a telephone, cell phone or credit card for personal reasons without charge or at a reduced rate;
- services (movie tickets, dinners, use of a car) from commercial agencies (theaters, restaurants, car dealers) without charge or at a reduced rate;
- free or reduced-cost admission to professional athletic contests from professional sports organizations as well as admission into premium seating areas at APSU home events (mobile suites, club and suite level areas);
- a loan of money;
- use of an automobile;
- signing or co-signing a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan;
- preferential treatment, benefits or services (loans on a deferred pay-back basis because of athletic reputation or skill or pay-back potential as a future professional athlete);
- rent-free or reduced rate housing during the academic year OR during the summer;
- use of personal property (boats, summer homes, cars, computers);
- holiday or other presents (Christmas, birthday, flowers);
- anything given because an individual is a student-athlete.
