Indiana University Athletics
Compliance - Boosters & Fans
The Department of Athletics at Indiana University holds itself to the highest of ethical standards. In return, we ask that our Hoosier student-athletes and representatives of athletics interest (commonly known as “boosters”) play by the rules. The NCAA and Big Ten Conference regulations not only pertain to coaches, staff, student-athletes and future Hoosier student-athletes, but also our loyal fans. At Indiana University, we are all able people of integrity who play by the rules.
This informative section will provide IU boosters with appropriate resources needed to ensure all NCAA and Big Ten Conference regulations are followed. If there are specific questions that are not answered in the Frequently Asked Questions section below, please be sure to contact any member of the Office of Compliance Services.
Always remember…ASK BEFORE YOU ACT!
Appearance & Donation Requests
Boosters, Fans, & Friends Education
The Office of Compliance Services is committed to educating our alumni, fans and boosters. Below are some of the more frequently asked questions posed by boosters about the various rules that affect them the most. In addition, the OCS staff are available to address specific questions and concerns.
1. What is a representative of IU’s athletic interest (commonly known as a "Booster”)?
An individual is deemed a "booster" if they have made a donation to the Indiana University Department of Athletics, have been a member of a booster organization associated with the Indiana University Department of Athletics, or have been involved in any way with promoting IU's athletic programs (this includes purchasing season tickets). It is also important to point out that booster status does not solely apply to an individual; businesses, outside organizations, and agencies all could trigger booster status and would then be required to adhere to NCAA and Big Ten regulations. Once an individual, business, organization or agency is identified as booster, the person/group retains that identity forever! If you are unsure about whether you have triggered booster status, please reach out to the Office of Compliance Services to check your status.
2. Who is a prospect?
A prospect is a student who is in the ninth grade and above (Men's Basketball = seventh grade and above), including students in prep schools, junior colleges, and individuals who have officially withdrawn from four-year schools. In addition, a student who has not yet started ninth grade may become a prospect if Indiana University or a booster provides the student, or the student's relatives or friends, with financial assistance or benefits not generally provided to other students.
3. What is considered recruiting?
Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or the prospect's parent/legal guardian by an Indiana University staff member for the purpose of securing the prospect's enrollment at IU and/or participation in and IU athletic program. Recruiting activities include written correspondence, e-mail, text messages, social media correspondence, faxes, telephone conversations and in-person contacts (both on- and off-campus).
4. What is an extra benefit? What are some examples?
An extra benefit is any special arrangement to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete's relatives or friends with a benefit not authorized by NCAA regulations. The NCAA allows Indiana University to provide student-athletes with scholarships to cover tuition, fees, room, board and books. We can also provide complimentary admissions to IU athletic events, practice or competition-related apparel, travel, equipment and medical treatment. It is a violation of NCAA regulations for a student-athlete to receive any other benefit UNLESS the same benefit is normally available to all IU students or their parents/guardians.
Examples of Extra Benefits a Booster CANNOT Provide:
- Cash or gifts.
- 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).
- Arranging, providing or co-signing a loan.
- Providing any kind of transportation or the use of a car.
- Gifts of food, clothing or equipment.
- Arranging or providing free or reduced cost professional services (e.g., free dental or medical services, haircuts, automotive services, laundry, dry cleaning, etc.).
- 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, etc.).
- Room, board, or transportation costs (including a stay in your home or transportation to or from a job).
- 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 an IU or community athletic event (e.g., state high school basketball tournament tickets; high school games, collegiate, professional or any sporting event).
- A benefit derived by a student-athlete who sells complimentary tickets to an IU event.
- Arranging or providing free or reduced cost housing.
- Arranging or providing employment for a student-athlete's parents, guardians or friends
5. As a booster, can I recruit on behalf of Indiana University?
The NCAA rules specifically prohibit boosters from engaging in any recruiting activities. You may not have any contact (i.e., in-person encounter, telephone call, correspondence) with a prospect or the prospect's family, on- or off-campus. If a prospect approaches you regarding IU, please explain that NCAA regulations prevent you from discussing IU with prospects. This prohibition also applies to prospects making official visits to IU. You may not contact a prospect's coach, principal or counselor for the purpose of evaluating a prospect's athletic ability or academic record. You may not talk to a student-athlete at another institution for the purpose of encouraging him or her to transfer to IU.
6. What can I do to help an Indiana coaching staff without breaking the rules?
You may bring outstanding prospects to the attention of the Indiana University coaching staff by calling or emailing the staff, sending newspaper clippings, or sending other information about prospects. However, you may NOT be involved in the actual evaluation of talent. All evaluations and contacts are the sole responsibility of the IU coaching staff. If you know of a high school student-athlete who might want to attend IU, the only permissible activity for a booster is to contact the appropriate coach of the potential student-athlete’s sport.
7. What can I provide to current student-athletes?
You may provide a team and/or specific student-athletes with "occasional" meals, either on-campus or at your home. In addition, occasional meals on-campus or at your home may be catered. You may also provide the student-athlete(s) with transportation to your home for the meal. In order to make sure that the meal meets NCAA regulations, we require that the Occasional Meal Form be completed and approved prior to the meal being provided. This form can be obtained by contacting the Office of Compliance Services.
Additionally, a booster may employ an enrolled student-athlete, under certain circumstances, with prior approval from the Indiana University Department of Athletics. It is important to note that student-athletes may be compensated only for work actually performed and at the going rate for similar services. No benefits or services should be provided to student-athletes which are not available to all employees and the use of the student-athlete’s name, image or likeness are expressly prohibited. Please keep in mind that the Student-Athlete Employment Form must be completed by both the student-athlete and the business, and also must be approved by OCS prior to the employment taking place (this form is initiated by the student-athlete).
If you wish to provide any benefits to current IU student-athletes including (but not limited to) an occasional meal or employment, please be sure to reach out to OCS for approval prior to providing any benefits.
8. What are the rules regarding social media contact?
We want our fans to be excited about the Indiana Hoosiers and express their loyalty to IU in the many forms of social media. It is crucial to remember, however, that the same prohibition on boosters and fans recruiting prospective student-athletes applies to online communication as well. If you are a booster or a fan of Indiana Athletics, we ask that you refrain from contacting prospective student-athletes (ninth grade or above / Men’s Basketball = seventh grade or above) regarding anything about Indiana University via social media; this includes social networking websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter. Even a comment on a PSA's wall, timeline, tweet @, or through direct messaging such as "IU is great, you'd love it here!" could prove to be troublesome if posted by an IU booster or fan. You may follow a PSA online, but please refrain from making any soliciting comments.
9. May a booster continue to have contact with a prospective student-athlete (and their family) if they have a pre-existing relationship?
This depends. In most instances, a booster would be able to continue to enjoy the same relationship with the family that was previously established before their child became a prospect. However, this would need to be properly vetted through the Office of Compliance Services to make sure that the relationship meets the NCAA definition of a pre-existing relationship. A booster may not use the relationship to urge the son or daughter chooses Indiana University, and the booster may not allow a coach to enlist them in the recruitment process. Please leave the recruiting to our coaching staff.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Please ensure to check with the Office of Compliance Services before getting involved with prospective student-athletes, the recruiting process, and/or providing benefits for current student-athletes. We will do our best to promptly assist you with any questions you might have. The slightest misstep could lead to serious consequences for our department.