Indiana University Athletics
Compliance Question Of The Week
Compliance Question Of The Week
Question 1: Is it okay for a coach to receive expenses (e.g., travel, lodging) during a recruiting trip from someone (or some organization) outside the athletics department?Answer: Not according to a recent interp! "[P]ursuant to NCAA Bylaw 13.14.1, all funds for the recruitment of prospective student-athletes shall be deposited directly with the member institution, which shall be exclusively and entirely responsible for the manner in which such funds are expended. Therefore, institutions should note that it is not permissible for any outside organization or individual (e.g., recruiting or scouting service, event operator) to provide institutional coaching staff members with expenses (e.g., travel, lodging) to attend any event for recruiting purposes. Such expenses are considered funds donated for recruiting purposes and NCAA rules require that such funds be deposited directly with the member institution, as opposed to being provided directly to an institutional coaching staff member(s)." [NCAA Educational Column 03/17/06 - emphasis added]Question 2: I keep getting bombarded with requests for balls, apparel or other items from high schools and clubs that are fundraising for their programs. What, if anything, can I donate?Answer: Bylaw 13.15 is fairly specific in that we can't be involved in fundraising for high schools or other organizations consisting primarily of prospects (although, like every other rule, there are exceptions). Anyway, the NCAA recently issued this Educational Column regarding donations: Institutions should note that pursuant to NCAA Division I Bylaw 13.15.1, an institution or a representative of its athletics interests shall not offer, provide or arrange financial assistance, directly or indirectly, to pay (in whole or in part) the costs of a prospective student-athlete's educational or other expenses for any period prior to his or her enrollment or so the prospect can obtain a postgraduate education. This prohibition applies to all prospects, including those who have signed a National Letter of Intent or an institutional offer of admission or financial aid. An institution may not provide funding, directly or through paid advertisements, to benefit a high school athletics program. It is not permissible for an institution's athletics department, in response to requests from high school (or preparatory school or two-year college) groups, to provide items (e.g., autographed balls, jerseys) to assist in raising money for its programs (athletics or other). If another department of the institution is asked to provide donations to benefit prospects, such activity is permissible only if the donations are not earmarked specifically for an athletics purpose or used only to provide benefits to prospects' athletics programs. An institution may not donate institutional memorabilia (e.g., jerseys, hats, T-shirts) to any organization for the purpose of being auctioned to raise funds to provide financial assistance to high school students to attend collegiate institutions. An institution (or an institution's coach or representative of its athletics interests) may contribute to a nonathletics organization that includes prospective student-athletes and nonprospects (e.g., YMCA, YWCA, Boys and Girls Clubs), provided the assistance is not earmarked for a particular prospective student-athlete and is offered in conjunction with the organization's regular fund-raising activities. An institution's athletics department staff member (e.g., coaching staff member) may not provide any financial contributions to a high school (or preparatory school or two-year college) athletics program through participation in a fund-raising event (e.g., paying greens fees to participate in a golf outing when any portion of the greens fees will go to benefit an athletics program). Bylaw 13.15.1 also prohibits an institution from sponsoring a table, providing memorabilia or otherwise providing institutional support in conjunction with a banquet or other function that will directly or indirectly benefit prospective student-athletes (e.g., awards banquet conducted by a sports foundation, high school athletics banquet). Therefore, if a sports foundation provides benefits to prospects (e.g., scholarships, donations to high school athletics programs), it would not be permissible for an institution to provide memorabilia or sponsor a table at any of the foundation's functions. Any type of institutional support in conjunction with such functions would, at a minimum, indirectly benefit prospective student-athletes. Subject to applicable recruiting calendar restrictions, athletics department staff members are not precluded from individually purchasing admission to attend events (e.g., athletics banquets or meetings, competitions) where funds from the admission fee ultimately will benefit prospects, provided the primary purpose of the event is not to raise funds for prospects. In addition, an institution's coach may participate in activities to raise funds to be donated to a foundation that will distribute the funds to high school (or preparatory school or two-year college) athletics programs, provided the request to participate in such activities is initiated by the foundation, the coach does not make actual financial contributions to the foundation, and the coach or coach's institution is not involved in selecting the educational institutions that are to receive the financial assistance. [NCAA EC 04/11/06].Question 3: Is it permissible to provide IU student-athletes with energy or calorie-replacement drinks if we get them free from the manufacturer?Answer: The answer depends on whether the drinks meet the definition of a permissible nutritional supplement as set out in the Educational Column from May 2005 (see below - it is long, but a must-read for coaches, strength coaches, trainers and sport administrators). No one from IU should provide ANY nutritional supplement to an IU student-athlete without first receiving permission from the respective sport administrator AND trainer.
Question 1: Is it okay for a coach to receive expenses (e.g., travel, lodging) during a recruiting trip from someone (or some organization) outside the athletics department?Answer: