Eastern Michigan Athletics
Information for EMU Boosters: Reference Guide to NCAA Rules
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Mission of the Department
The Mission of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at Eastern Michigan University is to Guide, Support and Inspire Our Student-Athletes in Their Pursuit of Excellence: Academically, Athletically and Socially, while maintaining a successful Divison 1-A athletics program.
Information for Boosters
Eastern Michigan University, a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), is responsible for ensuring that its various constituencies are familiar with, and abide by, NCAA rules. This extends to anyone associated with EMU athletics, including University staff and faculty, alumni and friends.
We appreciate the support and interest we receive annually from our alumni, friends, students and fans. The purpose of this guide is to avoid improper contact or an inadvertent action by our supporters that could jeopardize the eligibility of our prospective student-athletes and/or enrolled student-athletes and endanger the institution's compliance with NCAA legislation.
Boosters play a role in providing student-athletes with a positive experience through their enthusiastic efforts. They can support teams and athletics departments through donations of time and financial resources which help student-athletes succeed on and off the playing field. Please take a few moments to read the article from the NCAA that describes the role and importance of being an Athletic Booster.
The NCAA regulates the activities of athletic representatives (i.e. "Boosters") when it comes to dealing with prospective student-athletes as well as current student-athletes.
ARE YOU AN EMU "ATHLETIC REPRESENTATIVE" or BOOSTER?
1. Are you, or have you been, a member of the E-Club or any of the sport-specific support (booster) groups?
2. Have you ever made a donation to the Eastern Michigan University men's or women's athletic programs?
3. Have you ever helped to arrange or provided summer employment for an enrolled student-athlete?
4. Have you ever assisted, in any way, current student-athletes or their families?
WHAT IS A "PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE"?
NCAA RULES REGARDING BOOSTERS AND RECRUITS
1. Boosters may not make recruiting contacts with prospects, their relatives or legal guardians. This prohibition includes written and telephone communications.
2. Boosters may not contact the prospect’s coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospect.
3. Boosters may not contribute to the payment of registration fees for prospects to attend summer sports camps.
4. Boosters may not send or give posters, programs, media guides, clippings, etc. to prospects.
5. Boosters may not pay transportation costs for prospects or their relatives or friends to visit EMU's campus.
6. Boosters may not contact enrolled student-athletes at other four-year colleges to encourage them to transfer to Eastern Michigan University.
We would appreciate your support of EMU Athletics in the following ways:
1. Please DO attend high school and intercollegiate athletic events in the spirit of good sportsmanship.
2. Please DO continue established family relationships with prospects and their parents. Contacts made with the sons and daughters of family friends are permitted, as long as no recruiting takes place.
3. Please DO send recommendation letters, newspaper clippings or similar information about high school athletes to the EMU Athletic Department or the appropriate EMU coaches.
RULES REGARDING REPRESENTATIVES AND ENROLLED STUDENT-ATHLETES
1. Boosters may not provide a student-athlete any special benefit or arrangement. The NCAA specifically prohibits any extra benefit for student-athletes.
2. Boosters may not provide room and/or board or any type of transportation during the summer for a student-athlete who has eligibility remaining.
3. Boosters may not use the name, picture or likeness of an enrolled student-athlete to directly promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind.
4. Boosters may not provide payment of travel expenses (or loan an automobile) for a student-athlete to return home or go to any location for any reason.
5. Boosters may not provide gifts or awards to a student-athlete for athletic performance. All awards must meet NCAA guidelines and, therefore, must have prior approval from the EMU Office of Compliance.
6. Boosters may not allow a student-athlete to use their telephone to make free long-distance calls.
Boosters can, however, assist EMU Athletics in the following ways:
1. Please DO feel free to invite a student-athlete to your home for a home-cooked meal, but only for special occasions (e.g., birthday and holidays). Please contact the EMU Office of Compliance and complete the Occasional Meal Request form in advance for approval.
2. Please DO feel free to invite a team for dinner at a parent's home when the team is on the road for an away contest. The NCAA permits student-athletes as a team to accept certain special benefits. Once again, please contact the EMU Office of Compliance and complete the Occasional Meal Request form first to assure that all applicable NCAA rules are followed.
3. Please DO feel free to make donations to a particular team through the EMU Foundation.
GENERAL RULES TO REMEMBER
1. You are not allowed to provide extra benefits of any kind to a prospective student-athlete, an enrolled student-athlete or their relatives and friends.
2. Only coaches and athletic department staff members can be involved in the recruiting process. You can assist our coaches by notifying them of talented prospective student-athletes, but you are not allowed to contact the prospective student-athletes, their relatives, friends, or coaches in any manner. Doing so will jeopardize their eligibility at EMU or elsewhere.
3. Whenever you have any questions or concerns about your involvement with EMU Athletics, please feel free to direct your questions to our office (734) 487-3263 or (734) 487-1439.
