Who is a representative of Southern Utah's Athletic Interests?
Any individual who has ever:
- Participated in or have been a member of any group that promotes Southern Utah' s intercollegiate athletic program.
- Made any type of contribution to the athletics department or to a booster club, or joined the institution's booster club or any sport specific support group.
- Provided or helped arrange employment for a student-athlete or provided benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families.
- Assisted in any manner in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes.
- Parents and legal guardians of an enrolled student-athlete are considered representatives of athletics interest.
You become a representative by any action on your part to assist or promote Thunderbird Athletics in any manner. Once you become a representative of Southern Utah's Athletics Interest, you maintain this status indefinitely.
Definitions You Should Know
Enrolled Student-Athlete: A student who is presently participating in athletics or has completed his/her eligibility, but is still enrolled at Southern Utah University.
Prospective Student-Athlete: A prospective student-athlete or prospect is any student who has started the ninth grade.
Recruiting Contact: Any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or a prospect's parent or legal guardian and a Southern Utah staff member of athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in excess of a greeting.
Extra Benefits: Any special arrangement to provide a student-athlete or his/her family with a gift or benefit which is not available to the general student population.
Examples of prohibited extra benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Cash or loans in any amount, co-signing for a loan, guarantee of bond. This includes providing loans to friends and relatives.
- Use of an automobile
- Gifts of any kind including birthday cards, flowers, and holiday gifts. Furthermore, any gifts of clothing or equipment are considered an extra-benefit.
- Free or reduced-cost housing, services, rentals, or purchases including special discounts for goods and services
- Purchasing complimentary admissions from a student-athlete.
- Providing an Honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement.
Six Rules of Thumb for Boosters
- Do not provide any extra benefits or make special arrangements for prospects or enrolled student-athletes.
- Remember only coaches and athletic department staff members can be involved in the recruiting process.
- One way to get involved is to notify members of the athletic department or coaching staffs of a summer employment opportunity.
- You can assist the coaching staff in the recruiting process by notifying them of any student you think would be a strong addition to the institution's athletic program. Then the coach can make the appropriate contact with the prospect.
- Athletics representatives are not prohibited from continuing friendships with families of prospective or enrolled student-athletes. However, you simply cannot encourage a prospect's participation in a specific sport program sponsored by the institution or provide benefits to student athletes that you were not providing before they became prospects or enrolled student-athletes.
- When it comes to intercollegiate athletics, the golden rule is...
ASK BEFORE YOU ACT!
