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Hofstra University Athletics

THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND

Boosters, Faculty and Alumni

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Hofstra University Booster Guide
 
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY!

Compliance with NCAA regulations is of the highest priority for our athletic program and institution. We need your assistance in complying with NCAA rules. Please read the University's NCAA Compliance Guide (available at the link at the top of the page) as well as the information below for an overview on NCAA rules and regulations. 

Don’t put the University, a prospective student-athlete or an enrolled student-athlete at risk of a penalty or loss of eligibility.

When you are faced with a situation and are unsure as how to respond, we strongly urge you to remember that it’s better safe than sorry and please:

Make sure you are “Awake, Alert, Aware”
 
What is a “Booster”?
An individual is identified as a Booster or Representative of Athletics Interest if he or she:
  • Has ever been a member of a booster organization that supports Hofstra University Athletics;
  • Has made financial contributions to the athletics department or a booster organization;
  • Has ever been involved with the recruitment of a prospect;
  • Has provided or are providing benefits to an enrolled student-athlete or their relatives or friends;
  • Has otherwise been involved in promoting Hofstra University’s athletic program (e.g., alumni and friends);
  • Provides or has helped to arrange employment for student-athletes;
  • Is the parent or legal guardian of an enrolled student-athlete; and/or
  • Has ever been a season ticket holder.
 
According to the NCAA, once an individual has been identified as a booster, he or she retains this identity forever.
 
Unsure of your booster classification?
Use the following test:
The NCAA has developed a four-part test to determine whether or not an individual has become a booster and/or provided a student-athlete, their relatives or friends with an impermissible benefit. If you answer YES to any of the following statements, then providing benefits to prospects or student-athletes, their relatives and friends can result in the student-athlete being rendered ineligible and cause the individual providing the benefit to be classified as a booster:
  1. The relationship between the student-athlete (or parents of the student-athlete) and the individual providing the benefits developed as a result of the student-athlete's participation in athletics or their reputation as an athlete; or
  2. The relationship began only after the athlete became a prospect; or
  3. The relationship began only after the athlete had achieved notoriety due to his or her athletic ability or reputation; or
  4. The pattern of giving and/or frequency of giving increased after the athlete attained notoriety as a skilled athlete.
 
Extra Benefits
An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or repre­sentative of the institution’s athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete family member or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes or their family members or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution’s students or their family members or friends or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., international students, minority students) determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability.
 
Examples of impermissible extra benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Cash or loans in any amount, or signing or cosigning for a loan
  • Gifts of any kind, including birthday and holiday gifts
  • Free or reduced-cost services such as car repairs, haircuts, tutoring, etc.
  • The use of an automobile
  • Free or reduced rent or housing
  • Tickets to an athletic or community event
  • Academic course supplies or assistance
  • Arranging the employment of the relatives or friends of a student-athlete.
 
Examples of permissible benefits include:
  • Hometown Award - A hometown group (other than the Hofstra University Pride Club) may pay reasonable and necessary expenses of a student-athlete returning home to receive an award for athletics accomplishments. The value of the hometown award cannot exceed $80.
  • Transportation - It is permissible for a student-athlete to receive reasonable local transportation (within a 30-mile radius of campus) on an occasional basis from a Hofstra University employee.
 
Employment
 
NCAA legislation does mandate that strict protocol be followed when the employment of a current student-athlete or prospective student-athlete becomes a possibility.
 
Currently Enrolled Student-Athletes (12.4.1)
Compensation may be paid to a student-athlete:
(a) Only for work actually performed; and
(b) At a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services.
 
Representatives of athletics interests are allowed to employ or assist in securing the employment of current student-athletes provided:
 
Student-athletes MUST consult and complete the appropriate paperwork with the Compliance Office prior to the initial date of employment.
 
Prospective Student-Athletes (13.2.3)
Prior to Completion of Senior Year—Nonathletics Award Winners (13.2.3.1)
An institution’s athletics department may employ a prospective student-athlete who is not an athletics award winner and not recruited by the institution, provided the employment is arranged through normal institutional employment procedures (e.g., local newspaper, bulletin board listings). Any compensation received by the prospective student-athlete must be for work actually performed and commensurate with the going rate for such services in the locale.
 
Prior to Completion of Senior Year—Athletics Award Winners (13.2.3.2)
An institution may employ a prospective student-athlete who is an athletics award winner in any department outside intercollegiate ath­letics, provided the employment is arranged through normal institutional employment procedures (e.g., local newspaper, bulletin board listings) and without the intervention of any member of the institution’s coaching staff. Any compensation received by the prospective student-athlete must be for work actually performed and commensurate with the going rate for such services in the locale. For purposes of this bylaw, institutional recre­ation programs, even if reporting to the athletics director, may be considered outside the intercollegiate athlet­ics department. An institution may hire a prospective student-athlete, who is an athletics award winner, in its recreation programs, only if recreation and facility managers and no intercollegiate coaches are involved with the hiring and supervision of these employees.
 
After Completion of Senior Year (13.2.3.3)
An institution may arrange for employment or employ any pro­spective student-athlete (regardless of athletics award winner status), provided the employment does not begin prior to the completion of the prospective student-athlete’s senior year in high school.
 
Two-Year College Prospective Student-Athletes (13.2.3.3.1)
Once a prospective student-athlete has enrolled as a full-time student in a two-year college, the arrangement of employment by an institution for such a prospective student-athlete shall be permitted, provided the employment does not begin prior to the time period in which the prospective student-athlete has officially withdrawn from or has completed requirements for graduation at the two-year college.
 
Booster QuickFacts – Your Right to Know.
Key Definitions
Prospective Student-Athlete
A prospective student-athlete is any student who has started classes for the ninth grade. A student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if an institution provides such an individual (or the individual’s relatives or friends) with any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students in general.
 
Currently Enrolled Student-Athlete
An enrolled student-athlete is a student who is presently participating in athletics or has completed his or her eligibility but is still enrolled at a member institution.
 
Extra Benefit
An extra benefit is any special gift or arrangement provided to an enrolled student-athlete or to a student-athlete's relative or friend, which is not available to the general student body.
 
Recruiting Contact
A recruiting contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or a prospect's parent or legal guardian and an institutional staff member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in excess of a normal greeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
 
Is Hofstra University responsible for the actions of its’ Boosters and Booster groups (e.g. Pride Club)?
Boosters are subject to the same NCAA and institutional rules that govern athletics department staff members at Hofstra University. If a violation of these rules occurs - even in an unintentional nature - it may jeopardize a prospective student-athlete's or currently enrolled student-athlete's eligibility for competition.
 
Can Boosters be involved in the recruiting process?
Boosters are expressly prohibited from engaging in any recruiting activities either on- or off- campus. A booster can speak on the phone to a prospect only if the prospect initiates the telephone call and the call is not for recruiting purposes.
 
Can A Booster help identify prospects?
A Booster can assist the coaching staff in the recruiting process by notifying them of any prospective student-athlete that may be an asset to a particular program within the intercollegiate athletics department. Boosters may also send any newspaper clippings or other information about prospects to Hofstra University’s coaching staff members.
Boosters are also permitted to attend high school or two-year college athletic contests or other events where prospective student-athletes may compete.
Boosters are not permitted to have contact with either the prospective student-athlete or the prospect's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) at these events.
 
If a Booster is friends with a couple whose child is being recruited by Hofstra University , is it permissible for the booster to continue the friendship?
The Booster may continue the existing relationship, but is expressly prohibited from discussing Hofstra’s intercollegiate athletics program.
 
Is it permissible for a Booster to arrange employment for a prospective student-athlete or currently enrolled student-athlete during the summer months?
It is permissible for a Booster to arrange employment for a prospective student-athlete in the summer only after the National Letter of Intent and accompanying offer of athletic aid have been signed and after high school graduation.
It is permissible for a Booster to arrange employment for a currently enrolled student-athlete provided the student-athlete is compensated for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate for similar services. The student-athlete must register this request with the Compliance Office prior to the initial date of employment.
 
Is it permissible for a Booster to arrange employment for a prospective student-athlete or currently enrolled student-athlete during the academic year?
It is not permissible for a Booster to arrange employment for a prospective student-athlete prior to signing a National Letter of Intent and accompanying offer of athletic aid and graduating from high school.
It is permissible for a Booster to arrange employment for a currently enrolled student-athlete. The student-athlete must be compensated for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate for similar services. The student-athlete must register this request with the Compliance Office prior to the initial date of employment.
 
Is it permissible for a Booster to have a student-athlete or team over to his or her home for a meal?
A student-athlete or team may receive an occasional home meal from a booster provided the following conditions are met:
  • The meal is held in the individual’s home as opposed to a restaurant (meal may be catered);
  • The meal is restricted to special and infrequent occasions (occasional meal); and
  • The Booster home meal is approved in advance by the Compliance Office.
Institutional staff members and Boosters may provide reasonable, local transportation to student-athletes to attend such a meal.
 
Penalties for Booster Rules Violations
NCAA Bylaw 6.4.2.1 - Revocation or Withholding Privileges
NCAA member institutions are required to notify representatives of athletics interests, or boosters, of any and all consequences regarding rules violations. Any athletically related benefit or privilege may be withheld or revoked if the individual has engaged in conduct that is determined to be a violation of NCAA legislation, regardless of whether such violation results in sanctions.
A benefit or privilege may include, but is not limited to, any athletically related benefit received from an agreement between the athletics representative and the institution, such as ticket privileges. The revocation of ticket privileges may result in an individual being denied admittance to any institutional athletics events.


updated 7/11/17