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Cameron University Athletics

Official Website of Cameron University Athletics

COMPLIANCE

 

Booster Education for Aggie Alumni and Friends

Cameron University is responsible for the actions of its coaches, student-athletes and staff, as well as its alumni, boosters and fans. The following information is intended to help educate athletic boosters and organizations, so they can best support Cameron University athletes without putting the institution or the individual student-athletes at risk. If you have any questions or would like to seek clarification regarding your actions as a supporter of Cameron University athletics, please call the athletic department offices at (580) 581-2462 or email Cameron's NCAA Compliance Coordinator, Ashton Howard (ahoward@cameron.edu).

Boosters

What is a booster? You are a Booster or Representative of Athletic Interests, if you:

  • Have participated in, or ever have been, a member of a booster organization that supports Cameron University athletics;
  • Have made any financial contribution to the Cameron University athletic department or any athletic organization of the University;
  • Have been involved in the recruitment of a prospect or have been asked to assist in the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete;
  • Have provided or are providing benefits to an enrolled student-athlete or his or her relatives or friends;
  • Have otherwise been involved in promoting the Cameron University athletic program;
  • Have helped arrange employment for student-athletes;
  • Are a parent or guardian of an enrolled student-athlete;
  • Are or have ever been a season-ticket holder.
NOTE: Once someone has been identified as a Booster, they will retain that identity forever.
 

Recruiting

What is a prospective student-athlete?

A prospective student-athlete is any person who has begun classes in the ninth grade. A prospective student-athlete remains so even after signing a National Letter of Intent or accepting financial aid and until they report for the first day of classes.

What are Boosters prohibited from doing?
  • Contacting a prospect in person on or off campus
  • Writing or telephoning a prospect or member of the prospect's family
  • Making arrangements for the prospect or the prospect's relatives or friends to receive money or financial aid
  • Providing transportation for a prospect or the prospect's family or friends to visit the campus
  • Providing free tickets or reduced priced tickets to attend an athletic event to the prospect or the prospect's family or friends
  • Entertaining coaches of prospects

What are Boosters permitted to do?
  • Notify coaches about prospects in your area
  • Attend athletic contests where prospects compete, but may not contact the prospect or the prospect's relatives
  • Continue existing friendships with families of prospects, but not attempt to recruit
  • Participate with prospects in organized institutional community engagement activities when prospects reside within 100-mile radius of location (Effective 8/1/07)

Enrolled Student-Athletes

What contact can Boosters have with currently enrolled student-athletes?

A booster may not provide a student-athlete any benefit or special arrangement that would not be offered to the rest of the general student population. This would include:

  • May not entertain student-athletes or their friends or family;
  • May not use the name or picture of an enrolled student-athlete to advertise, recommend, or promote any product or service;
  • May not provide awards or gifts to student-athletes;
  • May not allow a student-athlete to use a telephone to make free calls, or allow use of a free or discounted automobile;
  • May not provide a student-athlete free or reduced cost goods or services;


NOTE: An enrolled student-athlete may be invited to a booster's home for an occasional home-cooked meal, but may not be taken to a restaurant.

Employment

A student-athlete may be employed so long as compensation is only for work actually performed, at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar work, and the student-athlete was not hired based on athletics ability.


NOTE: Employment may be arranged for a prospect provided the employment does not begin before the completion of the prospect's senior year of high school.

Institutional Control

Cameron University is responsible for the actions of its boosters and booster support groups. Boosters are regulated by the same NCAA rules and regulations placed upon all institutional athletics staff members.

Consequences

If a booster provides an impermissible benefit to a prospect, a student-athlete, or their relatives or friends, institutions may be subject to penalties, even if the student-athlete has completed his or her eligibility. A prospect or student-athlete who accepts an impermissible benefit faces the loss of eligibility.