Longwood Faculty, Staff, Boosters, Alumni and Fans,The Athletic Department would first like to thank you for your support of Longwood Athletics. As you continue to be involved with Longwood Athletics and the success we are embarking on at the Division I level there are several important things you should know with regard to prospective as well as current student-athletes. As a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Longwood University is responsible for the actions of all persons and organizations engaged in activities that promote Longwood’s athletic interests.
We need your cooperation to ensure full compliance with NCAA rules. Violations of NCAA rules could affect the eligibility of prospects or current Longwood student-athletes, result in penalties being imposed on Longwood by the NCAA, and lead to restrictions on your involvement with Longwood’s athletics programs.
This website has been developed to provide Lancer faculty, staff, boosters, alumni and fans with an overview of NCAA rules that we must abide by. We hope you find this site useful and we appreciate and look forward to your continued support of Longwood Athletics. Go Lancers!
If you ever have a question regarding your involvement with Longwood Athletics, a student-athlete or a prospective student-athlete please do not hesitate to call me 434-395-2429 or email me at meadowsme@longwood.edu.
Sincerely,
Michelle Meadows
Assistant Athletic Director/SWA
Important Terms You Should Know
Representative of Athletics Interest (a.k.a Booster) – An individual, independent agency, corporate entity or other organization who is known (or should be known) by a member institution’s executive or athletic administrator to:
1. Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program
2. Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution
3. Be assisting or to have been requested to assist in the recruitment of prospects
4. Be assisting or have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families
5. Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution’s athletics program.
Once you become a booster, you remain a booster indefinitely. Under NCAA rules, Longwood is responsible for all the actions of its boosters, those known to the institution or those who should be known to the institution.
If any of those definitions apply to you, you are a representative of Longwood’s athletics interests. Therefore, there are several issues you should be aware of.
Only coaches and authorized Longwood staff can be involved in the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete. So, what is the definition of a prospective student-athlete?
Prospective Student-Athlete – A prospective student-athlete is defined as a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individual’s relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students in general.
Aiding in the recruiting process can involve several areas that are as follows:
- A booster may not make in-person recruiting contact with a prospect at any site, including on the Longwood campus.
- A booster may not provide any financial or other benefit, such as gifts, loans, clothing, etc. to a prospect or his/her family
- A booster may observe a prospect in competition, but may not make any contact with the prospects, his/her parents, coach, or high school official to determine athletic or academic ability
- A booster may not arrange employment for a prospect prior to the completion of the prospect’s senior year. After graduation, a booster may employ a prospect as long as the prospect is paid for work actually performed and paid at a rate commensurate with experience.
- A booster may not telephone a prospect.
- A booster may not encourage transfer for a student-athlete who is already enrolled at another two-year or four-year college.
- A booster may not evaluate prospects on behalf or at the direction of a Longwood coach or staff member.
If there is a prospective student-athlete that you believe should attend Longwood University, please contact the head coach for that sport.
In addition, boosters are not allowed to provide extra benefits to current Longwood student-athletes that are not available to the general student or public. So, what is the definition of an extra benefit?
Extra Benefit – An extra benefit is any award, gift, benefit or expense that is prohibited by NCAA rules.
Examples of impermissible benefits:
- Cash or gifts (e.g., food, clothing, or equipment)
- The use of personal property (e.g., boats, summer houses/condos, automobiles)
- A special discount arrangement or credit on a purchase (e.g., airline tickets, clothing)
- Professional services for which a fee would normally be charged (e.g., free dental or medical services, haircuts, automotive services, laundry)
- The use of a telephone or telephone credit card for free long distance calls
- Entertainment or the purchase of meals or services at commercial establishments
- An invitation to play on your country club’s golf course or to eat a meal there
- A benefit connected with off-campus housing (e.g., television sets, electronic equipment, room furnishings, specialized recreational facilities)
- Room, board, or transportation costs (including a stay in your home or transportation to or from a job)
- A direct loan of money in any amount or facilitating a loan by signing or co-signing a note
- Typing or incurring other costs associated with school projects, reports or resumes
- Financial rewards for athletic performance
- An honorarium or fee for a speaking engagement or other appearance
- A guarantee of a bond
- Giving tickets to a student-athlete to a Longwood or community athletic event (e.g., state high school basketball tournament, high school games or events in general, professional basketball, football, or baseball tickets)
- A benefit derived by a student-athlete who sells complimentary tickets to a Longwood event
Here are some frequently asked questions from boosters to provide additional clarification.
Q: Can a booster entertain a prospective student-athlete and his or her family at a site off campus?
A: No, this conduct would constitute recruitment.
Q: During an official visit, is it permissible to provide complimentary tickets or meals to prospective student-athletes and his/her family?
A: No, during an official visit, entertainment and meals can only be provided by the Athletic Department.
Q: Can a representative of athletics interests be involved when a prospect is on an official or unofficial visit?
A: No. Representatives of athletics interests are precluded from all recruiting activities, including face to face contacts with a prospect or his/her relatives.
Q: May a student-athlete's name or picture be used to directly or indirectly to advertise, recommend, or promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service?
A: No. Such activities would jeopardize the eligibility of the student-athlete. Student-athletes may not be involved in the promotion of commercial products.
Q: May a booster attend a public event (e.g., high school awards banquet or dinner) at which prospects are in attendance?
A: Yes. However, contact with a prospect or a prospect's parents/legal guardians/ relatives may not occur. No attempt may be made to recruit the prospect.
Q: May a student-athlete make a public appearance at a business establishment for any purpose such as signing autographs, etc.?
A: No. Such appearances are considered a direct or indirect endorsement of the commercial establishment, thus jeopardizing the eligibility of the student-athlete.
Here are a few things you can do to support Longwood Athletics:
• You may send newspaper clippings and other information to our coaches and staff about prospects you think may contribute to our athletics program.
• You may attend high school or community college athletic events.
• You may continue established family friendships with friends and neighbors who have children within the prospect age or those who are presently student-athletes, as long as no recruitment takes place.
• You may help if contacted by our athletics staff to secure summer employment for our recruits who have signed a National Letter of Intent or current student-athletes.
• You may feel free to invite a student-athlete to your home for a home cooked meal, but only infrequently (no more than once or twice a semester) or on special occasions (i.e., birthday or holiday).
• You may continue to contribute to the Lancer Club to help support Longwood University Athletics!
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call me at 434-395-2429 or email me at meadowsme@longwood.edu. And please remember, Always ask before you act!
