Guidelines for Boosters
A Guide for Owl Boosters
Kennesaw State Intercollegiate Athletics
WHO IS A BOOSTER?
A booster is a representative of the institution’s athletics interest. A booster can be an individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g., apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization who is known (or who should have been known) by a member of the institution’s executive or athletics administration to: (a) have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program; (b) have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of the institution; (c) be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletic department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospects; (d) be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student athletes or their families; or (e) have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution’s athletics program. Once an individual, independent agency, corporate entity or other organization is identified as such a representative, that person retains that identity indefinitely.
WHO IS A PROSPECT?
A prospect is a student who started classes for the ninth grade. The prospect retains that status until: (a) they officially register and enroll in a minimum full-time program of study and attends classes in any term of a four-year collegiate institution’s regular academic year (excluding summer); or (b) the individual participates in a regular squad practice or competition at a four-year collegiate institution that occurs before the beginning of any term.
CONTACT WITH PROSPECTS
Only coaches and athletic department members can be involved in the recruiting process. All boosters who are not employed by KSU are prohibited from contacting a prospect or member of the prospect’s family. A booster cannot contact a prospect regarding participation in athletics at KSU either by phone, letter or in person (on or off campus). This does not prohibit you from attending any high school or community college athletic events. If you identify a prospect who would be of potential benefit to Kennesaw Athletics, report the information to the appropriate Owls coaching staff member.
THINGS A BOOSTER CANNOT DO
An athletics representative may not contact a prospect’s coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate a prospect. An athletics representative may not visit a prospect’s educational institution to pick up film/videotape or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect’s academic eligibility or athletics eligibility. An athletics representatives may not directly or indirectly provide, arrange for the provision of, or offer any financial aid or other benefits to a prospect, prospect’s relatives, guardian or friends. Specifically prohibited items include, but are not limited to:
• Arranging employment for a prospect’s relatives
• A gift of clothing or equipment
• Co-signing of a loan
• Providing a loan to a prospect’s relatives 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 if 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, preparatory school or two-year college athletes by an institution, its athletics representatives, or its alumni groups or booster groups.
EXTRA BENEFITS
An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institution employee or athletics representative to provide a student-athlete (or his/her relatives, guardian, or friends) a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by a student-athlete (or his/her relatives, guardian or friends) is not considered a violation of NCAA legislation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution’s students (or their relatives, guardian or friends) not on a basis related to their athletics ability. Extra benefits include, but are not limited to:
• Cash or loans in any amount
• Co-signing or arranging a loan
• Gifts or free services (e.g., airline tickets, cash, restaurant meals, clothing, movie tickets, etc…)
• Use of an automobile
• Rent free or reduced cost housing
• Money for, or a guarantee of, bail or bond
• Employment of a student-athlete at a higher rate than the wages paid for similar work
• Payment to a student-athlete for work not performed
• Transportation (aside from transportation related to an occasional home meal)
• Tickets to an athletics, institutional or community event
• Financial aid for a post-graduate education
• Promise of employment after college graduation
• Invitations to your home or summer home for purposes other than an occasional meal
THINGS A BOOSTER CAN DO
You may provide tickets to a professional sports contest to an institution for entertainment of student-athletes involved in an away-from-home athletics contest.
You may provide an occasional meal in your home to a student-athlete or an entire team.
You may provide transportation to your home for a student-athlete who will be receiving an occassional meal there.
You may provide a summer job to a student-athlete during the school year after they have spent one year at Kennesaw State provided:
• the student-athlete is academically eligible
• the student-athlete is not hired based on their athletic reputation
• the student-athlete is paid a normal rate of hire and they are paid for work actually performed
• that prior to start of employment (during any part of the academic year), the student-athlete and the employer must sign a written statement attesting to the above restrictions that is kept on file in the Kennesaw StateCompliance Office
You may make a financial donation to a high school athletics program in your locale provided:
• you make the donation of your own accord
• your donation is distributed through the normal channels established by the high school, and
• your donation is not earmarked for a specific prospect
HOW TO BE A PRODUCTIVE KSU BOOSTER
• Be active in booster and support group organizations
• Encourage family and friends from the community to attend Owl events and contribute to scholarship funds
• Contact the athletic department with any employment opportunities for current KSU student-athletes and graduates
• Notify the appropriate coaching staffs of prospects
Feel free to call the KSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics if you have any questions regarding being a booster.
Identification of Potential Student-Athletes
If you know of an athlete who might want to attend Kennesaw State, DO NOT contact him/her directly. Instead, notify the appropriote team office listed below:
Men's
Baseball 770-423-6256
Basketball 770-423-3688
Cross Country/Track & Field 770-423-6376
Golf 770-345-5557
Women's
Basketball 770-423-6413
Cross Country/Track & Field 770-423-6376
Golf 770-42306970
Soccer 7709-423-6615
Softball 770-423-6387
Tennis 678-797-2181
Volleyball 678-797-2189
If you have any questions regarding NCAA and kennesaw State athletics rules and regulations, particularly those relating to contact between boosters and prospective student-athletes or enrolled athletes, please contact the KSU Compliance office at 678-797-2290.
