Minnesota State University is committed to abiding by the rules and regulations of the NCAA. We aim to ensure that the friends and boosters of our program act in a responsible manner when concerning these rules. This page is to be used as a quick, but not all-inclusive guide to rules you must follow as an athletic supporter at MSU. With the eligibility of our student athletes in mind, it is essential for our success that these rules be followed. With your assistance and cooperation, we can continue to represent the University with integrity, and the highest of ethical standards.
Whether you are an alum, donor, booster, parent of a current MSU student-athlete or friend on Maverick athletics, the University is grateful for your support. Together we can achieve our primary goal of ensuring a positive experience for all of our student-athletes.
ARE YOU A REPRESENTATIVE OF MSU'S ATHLETICS INTERESTS?
You are a representative of MSU's athletics interests, more commonly known as a "booster", if you meet any of the following conditions:
(a) You have been or are a member of any organization that promotes MSU's athletics programs (e.g., Blue Line Club, Hoops Club, etc.)
(b) You have made a financial contribution to the MSU athletics department or any of its booster organizations.
(c) You have ever assisted in the recruitment of prospects for MSU.
(d) You have provided benefits (e.g., summer jobs or occasional family meals) to enrolled student-athletes.
(e) You have arranged for or provided employment for enrolled student-athletes, or assisted in providing any benefit to enrolled student-athletes or their families.
(f) You have ever, in any way, promoted the athletics program at MSU.
***Be Advised: if you are or were ever a booster of Maverick athletics, you retain that identity indefinitely.
WHO IS A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE?
A prospective student-athlete (prospect) is any individual who has started classes for the 9th grade. In addition, student-athletes enrolled in preparatory school or two-year colleges are considered prospects. Ultimately, a student remains a prospect until enrollment at a four-year collegiate institution. It is possible for a younger student-athlete to be a prospect, so it is a good idea to treat all athletes as prospects until they enroll at a four-year institution.
WHO CAN RECRUIT FOR MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY?
Only Minnesota State University coaches who successfully complete the annual NCAA Coaches Certification Exam are permitted to be involved in the recruiting process.
As a booster, you are specifically prohibited from:
(a) Making any recruiting contacts with prospects or their relatives. This includes telephone calls, letters, e-mails, text messages, any only contact including chat rooms or social networks like Facebook or Twitter, faxes, along with any face-to-face contact either on or off campus(b) Assisting MSU coaches by picking up transcripts, films or any other information pertaining to a prospect's ability from the prospect's educational institution.(c) Contacting a prospect's coach, principal or guidance counselor to evaluate the prospect.(d) Providing a benefit to high school, prep school or community college coaches.(e) Contacting an enrolled student-athlete at another institution to encourage a transfer to MSU to participate in our athletic program.(f) Making arrangements for a prospect or the prospect's relatives or friends to receive money or financial support of any kind.
WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO IN REGARDS TO PROSPECTS
As a friend of Maverick Athletics, you are permitted to:
(a) Forward information about prospects to the appropriate MSU coaching staff member.
(b) View a prospect's athletics contest on your own initiative, provided you do not contact the prospect or his/her relatives, coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the academic or athletic abilities of the prospect. You are responsible for all incurred costs or fees at a contest.
(c) Speak to a prospect on the telephone ONLY if the prospect initiates the call. You are not permitted to have a recruiting conversation, but you may exhibit normal civility. Under such circumstances, you must refer questions about the athletics program to the athletics department staff.(d) Employ a prospect provided permission has been granted by the athletics department. The prospect may ask you to provide employment information to the athletics department prior to his/her employment.
You are NOT permitted to:
(a) Provide financial aid or benefit of any kind (e.g., clothing, special discounts, lodging, meals, transportation, tickets, loans of money) to prospects or their relatives.(b) Make contact with a prospective student-athlete or his/her parents when the prospect is on campus for an official or unofficial recruiting visit.
(c) Contact a prospective student-athlete to congratulate him/her on signing a National Letter of Intent to attend Minnesota State University.(d) Provide transportation or arrange for payment of transportation costs for a prospect or his/her relatives or friends to visit campus.(e) Earmark funds nor pay for specific prospects to attend a MSU summer camp.
(f) Employ or arrange for employment of a prospect before the completion of his/her senior year. After graduation, a booster may employ a prospect as long as compensation is for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with experience and common to the locale. No benefits can be given to the athlete that are not given to all other employees in similar positions.
(g) Provide anything to a prospect or the prospect's family or friends without prior approval from the Compliance Office.
NCAA RULES REGARDING BOOSTER INVOLVEMENT WITH ENROLLED STUDENT-ATHLETES
(a) You may not pay for or arrange for payment of room, board or any type of transportation at any time for currently enrolled student-athletes, their relatives or their friends.(b) You may not provide student-athletes with any sort of extra benefit, which refers to any special arrangement provided to a student-athlete or his/her relatives or friends with the benefit unavailable to the general population.(c) You may not provide student-athletes with any special discounts, payment arrangements (e.g., cosigning a loan), credits on a purchase (e.g., airline ticket, clothing) or services (e.g., dry cleaning, transportation).(d) You may not allow student-athletes to use your telephone or make free calls.(e) You may not provide awards or gifts to student-athletes for any reason. This also prohibits honorariums for speaking engagements. All awards to student-athletes must meet all NCAA legislation and be approved by the Compliance Office.(f) You may not entertain student-athletes or their families and friends. You may not even buy them a cup of coffee or a can of soda. The only exception to this is that you may, on an occasional basis, provide a student-athlete or team (not family members or friends) with a meal. This meal can be catered, but it must be in your home.(g) You may not use the name or picture of a student-athlete to advertise a commercial product.(h) You may not purchase complimentary admissions from a current student-athlete.(i) You may not provide an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement. ***Be Advised: These rules apply throughout the student-athlete's entire enrollment at MSU (including summer break).
NCAA RULES REGARDING STUDENT-ATHLETE EMPLOYMENT
Prospects may be employed by boosters during the summer prior to their enrollment at MSU. Please note that this employment may not begin until the prospect has graduated from high school. Current student-athletes may seek employment during the academic year and during the summer.
The following rules are applicable to student-athlete employment: (a) Student-athletes will be asked to provide information regarding employment to the Compliance Office.(b) Student-athletes may be compensated only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate for similar services.(c) Student-athletes may not be hired based on their athletic abilities.(d) Student-athletes may not be given any benefit from employment (i.e. rides to work, extra sick days, etc.) that are not given to all employees in similar positions.
CONSEQUENCES FOR BOOSTERS WHO VIOLATE NCAA RULES
Under NCAA rules, Minnesota State University is responsible for all actions of its boosters. Therefore, it is also our responsibility to make you aware of the consequences for violating the rules described within this page. Boosters found in violation are subject to losing benefits and privileges, including season tickets. In addition, the NCAA committee on Infractions has required institutions to disassociate boosters from the institution. In drastic cases, legal proceedings have been taken against the actions of boosters. 