Indiana University Athletics
Compliance Question Of The Week
Question:
A coach is out evaluating a competition involving prospects born in 1987. Most prospects born in 1987 are juniors in high school. A coach sees one particularly athletic (tall and muscular) prospect who is also clearly one of the smartest athletes in the contest. So, the coach assumes the prospect is at least a junior in high school.
True/False: It is permissible for the coach to send this prospect a questionnaire, along with a cover letter discussing the prospect's performance at this contest and the coach's interest in the prospect becoming an IU student-athlete.
Answer:
False! Never assume a prospect's date of graduation or year in high school! Prior to sending written correspondence to a prospect you ?C;think?D; is a junior (or call a prospect you ?C;think?D; is a senior), please have confirmation of the prospect's anticipated date of graduation via a completed questionnaire or from his/her high school coach (the club coach may not always know the prospect's year in high school). Do not rely on information found in high school or club tournament programs ? there can always be misprints or typos! Remember, until you know for sure that the prospect is at least a junior in high school, the cover letter accompanying a questionnaire can only be generic in nature and may not initiate the recruiting process!