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Information for Xavier Fans

Information for Prospective Student-Athletes | Information for Current Student-Athletes
Information for Athletic Department Staff | Information for Xavier Fans
Information on Agents

The Xavier University Athletic Department is dedicated to providing quality programs and athletic experiences for student-athletes, coaches and fans. The efforts of our student-athletes, both on the playing field and in the classroom, have allowed us to gain national recognition for our athletics program.

As a booster and supporter of Xavier athletics, you play an integral role in our success. This website is intended to assist you in understanding basic rules information pertaining to the conduct of boosters; however, it is not exhaustive. If you have any questions regarding your involvement with current or prospective student-athletes and the NCAA rules, please contact the Athletic Compliance Office at (513) 745-2855. Remember�Ask before you act!

Quick Guide to NCAA Rules for Alumni, Fans and Friends of Xavier Athletics

Who is a Booster?
Who is a Prospective Student-Athlete?
What is an Extra Benefit?
Employment of Current or Prospective Student-Athletes
Booster Involvement in the Recruiting Process
Occasional Meals
Donations of Athletics Memorabilia
What are the Consequences of a Violation of these Rules?

Who is a Booster?

You are a representative of Xavier's athletics interests (more commonly referred to as a booster) if you have:

Participated in or are a member of an organization that supports Xavier's athletics program (e.g., the All for One Club);

Made a financial contribution to the Xavier University athletic department or any of its boosters clubs;

Assisted or have been requested by the athletic department staff to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes;

Provided benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their relatives or friends;

Ever been a season ticket holder for any Xavier athletics team;

Attended Xavier University as a student or are the parent/legal guardian of a current or former student-athlete; or

Been involved in promoting Xavier's athletics program

Boosters may be individuals, independent agencies, corporate entities or other organizations.

Once a booster, always a booster! Once an individual is identified as a booster, the person retains that identity indefinitely.

Who is a Prospective Student-Athlete?

A prospective student-athlete, also referred to as a "prospect" or "recruit," is any student who has started classes for the ninth grade. Students enrolled in preparatory schools and two-year colleges are also considered prospects.

An individual remains a prospect until his/her enrollment in a collegiate institution or until the time he/she reports for a collegiate team's official practice, even if he/she signs a National Letter of Intent with Xavier.

What is an Extra Benefit?

An extra benefit is any special arrangement by a Xavier employee or booster to provide a prospect, student-athlete or their relatives or friends a benefit not expressly authorized by the NCAA. Examples of impermissible benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:

Providing cash or loans in any amount or signing/co-signing for a loan;

Giving gifts of any kind, including birthday/holiday/graduation gifts;

Offering free or reduced-cost services (e.g., car repairs, haircuts, dental work), housing or meals;

Providing the use of an automobile or any other transportation (e.g., a ride home);

Giving tickets to athletics or community events (e.g., concerts), even if you received the tickets for free;

Arranging employment for a prospect's or student-athlete's relatives or friends;

Providing course supplies, typing, tutoring or other academic support services;

Entertaining prospects or student-athletes, their relatives or friends.

Employment of Current or Prospective Student-Athletes

Current Student-Athletes: NCAA rules permit boosters to legitimately employ or arrange employment for current student-athletes both during the academic year or vacation periods. The following restrictions apply:

Any compensation must be for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with services of like character in that locality;
A student-athlete's compensation may not include any remuneration for the value or utility that the student-athlete may have for the employer because of the publicity, reputation, fame or personal following that he/she has obtained because of athletics ability;
Providing transporation to/from work is prohibited, unless such transporation is provided to all other employees;
The student-athlete may not be used to advertise, promote or endorse the employer or product;
If there are any questions concerning the employment, they should be directed to the Athletic Compliance Office.

Prospective Student-Athletes: Boosters may employ or arrange for the employment of a prospect that has signed a National Letter of Intent with Xavier, provided the employment does not begin until the completion of the prospect's senior year in high school and meets the criteria listed above.

Booster Involvement in the Recruiting Process

The NCAA rules strictly limit what boosters can do regarding the recruitment of prospects to Xavier. Only coaches and institutional staff members may be involved in the recruiting process. As a booster, you MAY NOT:

Call, write, email or make in-person contact with a prospect or the prospect's family, friends or coaches for recruiting purposes. Contact includes using the Internet to communicate with a prospect (e.g., "chat rooms," posting messages on the prospect's MySpace page, etc.);

Contact a prospect's coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospect;

Visit a prospect's school to acquire films or transcripts in an attempt to evaluate the prospect's athletics ability or academic eligiblity;

Have contact with a prospect, his/her relatives or friends during any of their visits to Xavier's campus;

Contact students enrolled in other four-year institutions regarding the possibility of transferring to Xavier.

Even though there are many rules prohibiting your involvement with prospects and the recruiting process, as a booster you MAY:

Notify Xavier coaches of an outstanding prospect by sending newspaper clippings and other information about the individual;
Observe a prospect's athletic contest on your own initiative, provided no contact with the prospect, his/her family, friends or coaches occurs; and
Continue pre-existing relationships (i.e., begain prior to the prospect beginning the ninth grade) with a prospect, provided no recruitment activities take place. Should Xavier or its athletics program arise as a topic of conversation, the booster must refer the prospect to the coaches and athletic department staff.

Occasional Meals

A booster is permitted to invite a current student-athlete or an entire team to his/her home for an occasional meal, under the following conditions:

The meal must be provided in the booster's home (as opposed to a restaurant) and may be catered;

Meals must be restricted to infrequent and special occasions (e.g., birthdays, holidays);

A booster may provide transportation for a student-athlete to attend the meal;

The meal is approved in advance by the Athletic Compliance Office.

Please note that boosters are prohibited from providing any meals to a prospective student-athlete.

Donations of Athletics Memorabilia

The Xavier athletic department prides itself on being a contributing member of the Greater Cincinnati community. NCAA rules restrict who Xaiver athletics may provide institutional memorabilia (e.g., autographed balls, jerseys, tickets, t-shirts, etc.) to. Specifically, the Xavier athletic department MAY NOT:

In response to requests from high school, preparatory school or two-year college groups provide any items that assist in raising money for its programs (athletics or other);

Donate institutional memorabilia to any organization for the purpose of being used to raise funds to provide financial assistance to high school students to attend collegiate institutions.

If you are a member of a non-profit organization, you may submit a request for a donation/autograph from Xavier athletics at www.GOXAVIER.com. Please note that while every effort will be made, we cannot guarantee that the request will be fulfilled.

What are the Consequences of a Violation of these Rules?

Xavier University is responsible for the actions of its boosters. If a booster provides an impermissible benefit to a prospect, student-athlete, their relatives or friends, Xavier may be subject