Xavier University Athletics
Fans & Boosters
The information below is designed to assist current Xavier student-athletes in protecting your eligibility while participating in athletics at Xavier. If you have any questions, please contact the Athletics Compliance Office at (513) 745-3757 or athleticscompliance@xavier.edu.
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WHO IS A BOOSTER? |
The NCAA defines a booster or “representative of athletics interests” as an individual who:
- Made any type of contribution to Xavier Athletics
- Joined the All For One Fund or any sport-specific support group
- Assisted, in any manner, in the recruitment of prospects (even though such assistance would likely be impermissible)
- Purchased season tickets
- Participated as a student-athlete at Xavier
- Promoted Xavier’s athletics program in any way
- Is the parent or legal guardian of an enrolled student-athlete; or
- Is a current or former Xavier Athletics employee.
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EXTRA BENEFITS |
Under NCAA rules, an extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution’s athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete’s relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes or their relatives 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 relatives or friends or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., foreign students, minority students, etc.) determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability.
Types of benefits that are prohibited include, but are not limited to the following:
- Cash or loans, or special discounts or payment arrangements on loans
- Employment of relatives or friends of a student-athlete
- Involvement in arrangement for free or reduced charges for professional or personal services, purchases or charges
- Use of an automobile or providing transportation
- Signing or co-signing a note for a loan
- The loan or gift of money or other tangible items (e.g., clothes, cars, jewelry, electronic/stereo equipment)
- Purchases of items or services from a student-athlete or the student-athlete’s family at inflated prices
- Providing directly or indirectly transportation to enroll in classes
- Any financial aid other than that administered by Xavier University
- The promise of financial aid for post graduate education
- Free or reduced cost housing arrangements
- Arrangement for or payment of transportation or other costs incurred by relatives or friends of a student-athlete to visit the student-athlete or to attend any contest
- Entertainment of a student-athlete’s family on or off campus
- Benefits connected with on or off campus housing (e.g., television sets or stereo equipment, specialized recreational facilities)
- Tickets or admission to an athletics, institutional or community event
- Educational expenses (e.g., typing costs, course supplies, use of a copy machine)
- Payment of any registration fees (e.g., tuition and fees, summer camps, etc.)
- Purchase of athletics apparel or awards from a student-athlete
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EMPLOYMENT OF SA'S |
A student-athlete may be employed by a booster, however both the student-athlete and the employer must sign a written statement prior to beginning any employment. Student-athletes may be compensated only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services.
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RECRUITING - SOCIAL MEDIA |
General Recruiting Rule: NCAA regulations prohibit boosters from contacting prospective student-athletes by mail, telephone, or in-person (on- or off-campus) for the purpose of encouraging the prospect to participate in intercollegiate athletics at Xavier. Only coaches and athletics department staff members are permitted to be involved in the recruiting process.
- Boosters may not engage in recruiting conversation with prospective student-athletes, relatives, legal guardians or “mentors,” whether on or off-campus. This prohibition includes using social media networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook to connect with the prospects.
- Booster may “friend” a prospective student-athlete on Facebook or follow him or her on Twitter, but they may not encourage them to enroll at Xavier. Booster may also “like,” “favorite” or retweet a social media post by or about a prospect, as long as the booster includes no additional commentary about the prospect.
- Boosters may not create a recruiting or fan page for prospective student-athletes.
- Boosters may not become involved in arranging for a prospective student-athlete, a student-athlete, their family, or individuals associated with the prospect (including high school or AAU coaches) to receive gifts, money or financial benefits of any kind. This includes organizing or participating in the creation of fan sites designed to raise money or collect donations of any items of value.