Am I a Representative of Pitt's Athletic Interests?

The NCAA defines a "representative of the institution's athletic interests", or "booster" as any individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g. apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization who:

• Is a current or former member of any Pitt Booster Club, such as the Panther Club.
• Has made financial contributions to the Panther Club or the Athletic Department.
• Has ever assisted in the recruitment of any prospective student-athlete.
• Has ever helped to arrange employment for or provided any benefits to prospective or enrolled student-athletes.
• Has ever been a Pitt season ticket holder in any sport.
• Has otherwise ever promoted the athletics programs at Pitt.

Once a person, agency, business or other organization is identified as a "representative of athletics interests," that person/entity retains that title forever.

Current Student-Athletes Definition

A current or "enrolled" student-athlete is any Pitt student who is a member of a varsity athletics team.

• NCAA regulations apply to all student-athletes, not just those who were recruited or who receive an athletics scholarship.
• NCAA regulations that pertain to current student-athletes remain in effect throughout the entire year, including breaks such as summer vacation.

As a Representative of Pitt's Athletics Interests you may:

• Provide employment to a Pitt student-athlete, provided the student-athlete is paid the going rate for actual services rendered, and the employment has been approved in writing in advance by the Head Coach, Athletic Director, and the Pitt Office of Student Life and Compliance.
• Endow an athletic scholarship or athletics award through the University's regular procedures.

As a Representative of Pitt's Athletics Interests you may not:

• Provide any type of inducement or benefit to a current student-athlete, their parents, relatives and/or friends--please review the list of Extra Benefits below!
• Use the name, picture or appearance of a current student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote sales of any commercial product.
• Provide an award or gift to a student-athlete for any reason.
• Pay for all or part of a current student-athlete's meal at a restaurant.
• Provide any payment of expense or loan of an automobile for a student-athlete for any reason.
• Pay for, or arrange for the payment of, any expenses incurred by the family and friends to visit a current student-athlete.

What is an Extra Benefit?

An extra benefit is considered to be any special arrangement to a prospect or enrolled student-athlete, their family/relatives, and/or their friends that is not expressly authorized by NCAA regulations.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Cash or loan of money in any amount
• Special discount, payment arrangements or co-signing of a loan
• The purchase of meals or services at commercial establishments
• Involvement in arrangement for free or reduced charges for meals, merchandise, tickets, services, products or rent
• Use of an automobile or other personal property (i.e. boats, houses, motorcycles, etc.)
• Gift items (i.e. cars, jewelry, electronics, clothes, holiday gifts, long distance phone cards, gift certificates, etc.)
• Any financial aid other than that administered by the institution
• Free or reduced cost housing arrangements
• The payment of registration fees for athletic camps
• Promise of employment after college graduation
• Employment of friends or relatives

THESE BENEFITS ARE PROHIBITED!

Prospective Student-Athletes "Prospects" Defined

A prospective student-athlete or, "prospect" can be defined as:

• Any student who has begun classes for the ninth grade.
• Any student younger than ninth grade who has received any benefits from an institution or representative of an institution's athletics interests.
• Student-athletes enrolled in preparatory school and/or two-year colleges.

A prospect remains a prospect--regardless of whether or not they have signed a National letter of Intent-- until they enroll at Pitt and attend the first day of classes, or report for practice (whichever happens earlier). All NCAA rules in regards to contact with prospects are applicable until this time.

As an Athletics Representative you may:

• Attend high school and community college athletics events, although you may not have any in-person recruiting contacts with a prospect, their parents, or their relatives.
• Continue to maintain friendships previously developed with prospects before they reached the 9th grade.
• Send the Pitt coaching staff newspaper clippings or other information about prospects that you think might be of interest.
• Assist in the arrangement of employment for a prospective student-athlete, provided the employment does not begin prior to the completion of the prospective student-athlete's senior year in high school.

As an Athletics Representative you may not:

• Make any on or off campus contact--including telephone calls, emails and letters--to a prospect or the prospect's family.
• Contact a prospect's coach, principal or guidance counselor in an attempt to recruit or evaluate the prospect.
• Contact or greet a prospect on an unofficial or official visit to campus.
• Contact a prospect to congratulate him/her on signing a National Letter of Intent to Pitt.
• Visit the prospect's school in an attempt to assist in the recruitment of a prospect.
• Provide any type of inducement or extra benefit to a prospect, a prospect's family or friends.
• Pay for prospect's registration fees for athletics camps at any time.
• Provide transportation or provide any other costs related to a prospect's visit to campus.
• Have any contact with a student who is enrolled at another institution about his/her interest in transferring to Pitt.

In what way do the NCAA Rules affect me?

Penalties resulting from violations of NCAA Rules have a negative affect on the prospective or enrolled student-athlete and their family, the student-athlete's athletic program, and the University as a whole. Violations of NCAA Rules have lead to:

• A prospective student-athlete being declared ineligible to compete.
• The eligibility of current student-athletes to be jeopardized.
• Penalties and sanctions placed upon an entire University athletic team or athletic department.
• Revocation of ticket privileges and/or the University's permanent disaffiliation with a representative of its athletics interests.

Promotional Activities Approval Process

The NCAA has strict guidelines regarding the use of a student-athlete's name picture or likeness to promote any commercial entity or product. A student-athlete's involvement in any promotional event must be approved in advance by the Office of Student Life and Compliance, even if the activity is conducted by an institutional, educational, charitable or non-profit organization.

Student-Athletes at the University of Pittsburgh are recognized as representatives of the University of Pittsburgh, both on and off campus. During their athletic careers at Pitt, they may be asked to participate in a variety of promotional activities (if deemed permissible) on behalf of:

• Pitt Athletics;
• Other entities of the University community, such as fraternities, sororities and various campus groups and/or Departments;
• Nonprofit and charitable organizations;
• Local schools and educational centers; and
• City of Pittsburgh community service initiatives.

It is important to note that Pitt student-athletes may NOT endorse or promote in any manner (explicitly or implicitly) any commercial product or service. Doing so will immediately jeopardize their eligibility.

The following policy is in place to review/monitor promotional activities for nonprofit, charitable and University of Pittsburgh entities that student-athletes may be involved in:

1. Written Permission: The student-athlete must get written permission to participate from the Office of Student Life and Compliance, using the "Promotional Activities Approval Form."
2. Written Release: The student-athlete and an authorized representative of the charitable or educational agency must sign a release statement, included on the approval form, ensuring that the student-athlete's name, image or appearance is used in a manner consistent with NCAA rules.
3. No commercial involvement: The specific activity or project in which the student-athlete participates must not have any commercial involvement other than a logo appearing on material, such as pictures, posters or calendars. For example, the student-athlete could not wear any apparel (e.g., t-shirt) with a corporation's logo, which would imply your endorsement of that entity/product.
4. No payment to student-athlete except for normal expenses: All monies derived from the activity or project goes directly to the member institution or the charitable/educational agency. The student-athlete may accept legitimate or normal expenses, such as a meal, mileage and/or parking, as long as the benefit is approved in advance by the Office of Student Life and Compliance.
5. Classes: The student-athlete must not miss any classes to participate in the activity.

In addition, participation by a student-athlete in any outside activities/competitions that are related to their sport (e.g., charity basketball tournament, softball games, etc.), both during the academic year and vacation periods (e.g., summer, holidays), must first be reviewed and approved by the Pitt Department of Athletics. In an effort to ensure that your eligibility will not be affected by participating in these types of events, please contact the Office of Student Life and Compliance.