University of Georgia Athletics
Booster and Extra Benefit Information
July 19, 2006 | General
The University of Georgia is responsible for insuring that its various constituencies (e.g., University staff and faculty, coaches, student-athletes, relatives or student-athletes, alumni and friends) abide by NCAA rules and regulations. Parents may be considered representatives of UGA’s athletics interests even if they do not meet the definition below. Any parent who wishes to provide a benefit to a student-athlete other than their child should check with the Compliance Office before providing anything to a student-athlete.
Representatives of UGA’s Athletics Interests
Who is a representative of UGA's athletics interests (i.e., a "Bulldog athletics booster")?
NCAA Bylaw 13.02.11 defines a "booster" as:
"an individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g. apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization who is known (or who should have known) by a member of the institution's executive or athletics administration to:
- • Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution's intercollegiate athletics program;
• Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution;
• Assist or to have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospects;
• Assist or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families, or
• Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution's athletics program.
The NCAA stipulates that once an individual has been identified as a "representative" of the UGA's athletics programs he or she retains this status forever. This is true even if the individual no longer contributes to the athletics program.
How Does this Impact Student-Athletes?
Student-athletes may befriend individuals or families in the community who might wish to provide them with a more "home-like" atmosphere. Becoming "friends" with a booster and/or an employee of the UGA athletics department does not change their status as far as NCAA regulations are concerned.
A booster may not provide extra-benefits to a currently enrolled student-athlete (or the student-athlete's family or friends). The acceptance by a student-athlete of any extra benefit is a violation of NCAA regulations and places the student-athlete's eligibility for intercollegiate competition in immediate jeopardy. Any inappropriate, even inadvertent activity on the part of the student-athlete (or his or her family) could result in:
- • A currently enrolled student-athlete being declared ineligible to participate for UGA.
• The eligibility of a prospective student-athlete being jeopardized.
• Sanctions placed on the University and its athletics programs.
• Restrictions placed upon your involvement with UGA's athletics program.
What is an Extra Benefit?
The NCAA defines an extra benefit as any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution’s athletics interest ("booster") to provide a student-athlete (or a student-athlete's relative or friend) a benefit that is not generally available to other UGA students and their relatives and/or friends or, is not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Therefore, please be aware of the following:
1. A student-athlete cannot accept anything from an employee of UGA or a UGA athletics booster (e.g., use of a car, clothing, gifts, money, tickets for any kind of entertainment, payment of long distance telephone calls).
2. A student-athlete cannot accept free or reduced cost room and/or board from any UGA employee, UGA booster or parent of a UGA student-athlete. This includes in Georgia, in the student-athlete’s home city or any other location. This would preclude:
(a) a student-athlete from “house sitting” without paying rental costs at a comparable rate for similar housing in that locale;
(b) a student-athlete from paying less than the market value of the space rented (e.g., room, apartment, house). Any difference between the student-athlete’s payment from his or her room and board stipend and the fair market value of the space must be paid by the student-athlete or someone upon whom the student-athlete is naturally or legally dependent.
3. A student-athlete may not accept free or reduced cost storage room for personal belongings for the summer months from any UGA employee or booster.
4. A student-athlete cannot accept free or reduced merchandise or services from any merchant unless that free or reduced cost item is also available to the general public or general student body.
5. On infrequent, special occasions (e.g., a birthday, Thanksgiving, etc.), a student-athlete may accept an invitation from an employee of UGA or an athletic booster for a meal. Meals provided by UGA employees may take place at any location, while meals provided by boosters are limited to that booster's home. Prior approval for such meals must be obtained from the UGA Compliance Office. A student-athlete may receive a meal from a booster no more than once per semester.
6. A student-athlete cannot use a Department of Athletics copy machine, fax machine or make long distance phone calls using departmental equipment or the long distance access code of an employee of UGA or an athletic booster, except as permitted by NCAA rules.
7. Members of the Department of Athletics staff or an athletic booster are not permitted to type reports, papers, letters, etc., for a student-athlete.
8. A student-athlete cannot receive a special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase (e.g., airline ticket, clothing), or service (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning) from an employee of UGA or an athletic booster.
9. A UGA employee or booster cannot provide a student-athlete with a loan of money, a guarantee of bond, the use of an automobile or the signing or co-signing of a note to arrange a loan.
10. A student-athlete is now permitted to accept frequent flier miles awarded in conjunction with institutionally funded air travel. However, miles may not be gained through institutionally funded non-flight activities, such as hotel stays.
11. A UGA employee (but not a booster) may provide a student-athlete only reasonable and occasional local (i.e., within a 30-mile radius of the UGA campus) transportation. However, a UGA employee may not utilize a University vehicle for purposes of assisting a student-athlete’s move from one residence to another.
Benefits Provided by the Institution to a Student-Athlete’s Family or Friends
The section above applies to benefits provided to student-athletes as well as their relatives and friends. In addition, please note that an institution may not provide any expenses to a student-athlete's relatives or friends (except as permitted in Bylaws 16.6.1 and 16.11). This includes (but is not limited to) the following:
1. Relatives and friends of student-athletes may not receive priority parking privileges at home athletics contests in space reserved for the media or other individuals, even if such parking is free of charge.
2. An institution may not provide transportation (e.g., riding the team) or lodging to relatives or friends of a student-athlete to attend an athletics contest.
a. An institution may reserve or secure lodging at any postseason event (other than a conference event) at a reduced or special rate for the parents (or legal guardians) and immediate family of a student-athlete who is a participant.
b. It is not permissible for an institution to cover any portion of the cost of lodging, including any cost associated with reserving or securing lodging.
3. A UGA athletics department staff member or UGA booster may not provide housing to relatives or friends of a student-athlete.
4. An institution may not provide a meal for parents of student-athletes at the conclusion of its spring football game (or any other contest or scrimmage), unless the parents are charged for the cost of the meal.
5. A student-athlete's relatives or friends may not receive contributions from outside sources (e.g., booster groups, donations from the community) to attend a competition in which the student-athlete is participating.
The acceptance by a student-athlete of any of the above extra benefits is a violation of NCAA regulations and places the S-A’s eligibility for intercollegiate competition in immediate jeopardy. It is extremely important for both you and UGA that you know and abide by all NCAA regulations. If you have any questions regarding NCAA regulations, ask an athletic administrator or contact the Compliance Office before doing something that may jeopardize a student-athlete’s eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
Remember… Always Ask Before Acting!!!