Watching the recruitment of Notice really ticked me off.  Some people think it is "cool" to tweet prospective student athletes to attend their University, and try to persuade them using social media like Twitter. To me not only was it creepie, but it could have put the University in a bad position.  To be kind all I will say that these people may not know the rules.

It is important that fans understand the rules regarding improper contact between Boosters and NCAA recruits.  The NCAA prohibits boosters from contacting recruits, and this includes all manner of electronic communication. 

The NCAA considers a "booster" (officially known as a representative of athletics interest). Here are three important things to know about the NCAA definition:

A season ticket holder is considered a booster.

Anyone who contacts a recruit to encourage that person to attend a particular university instantly becomes a booster of that university.

Once a person becomes a booster, they remain a booster forever.

The bottom line is that while fans are not by definition considered to be boosters, they turn into a booster the moment they contact a recruit and act as a school's representative by trying to influence the recruit to attend that school.

The NCAA prohibits boosters from contacting recruits, and this includes all manner of electronic communication.

This is what is said on the DU Webiste
"Only approved coaches and athletics department staff members are permitted to be involved in the process of recruiting prospective student athletes. Representatives of Duquesne University's athletics interests are prohibited from contacting a prospective student-athlete or members of his/her family by telephone, letter, electronic transmission or in-person for the purpose of encouraging participation in athletics at Duquesne University. If you know of a prospective student-athlete who may have the interest and ability to participate in intercollegiate athletics at Duquesne, you are only permitted to contact the appropriate Duquesne University coaching staff. That coach will then take appropriate action."

A number of universities have posted very similar pages with details on what boosters are prohibited from doing online.  This one from the University of Cincinnatti  website is nore detailed.

http://www.gobearcats.com/compliance/monthly-booster-education.html

(2) Message Boards: Boosters participating on a message board are not permitted to write, call, instant message, text, chat with, or e-mail a prospect. Sometimes we will read on a message board that someone thinks it is okay to contact a prospect once they sign a National Letter of Intent with Cincinnati. However, that signing does not change the fact he or she is still a prospect and all prohibitions against booster contact continue to apply. We often also hear comments that because a person is not a graduate of Cincinnati or a season ticket holder, they believe they are not a booster and it is okay for them to contact a prospect. However, part of the NCAA's definition of a booster includes anyone who contacts a recruit on behalf of the institution. Therefore, as soon as someone on a message board e-mails or sends a message out to a recruit, they automatically become a booster and are subject to the NCAA rules prohibiting such contact.

"(3) Social Networking: Boosters are not permitted to use social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace to contact or otherwise attempt to correspond with prospects. This includes, but is not limited to, posting on a wall, using the inbox/e-mail feature, instant messaging, "@replies", "mentions", or direct messaging. Recently, NC State University sent a cease-and-desist letter to a student who had formed a Facebook group urging a prospect to come to the university. The university saw the group as a fan's attempt to recruit the prospect, thus violating NCAA rules.

As electronic communication technology continues to advance, the opportunity for the boosters of an athletics program to have impermissible contact with a prospect or that prospect's family is greatly increased. However, the school's responsibility for that contact remains the same. To protect the Cincinnati athletics program and the young people who compete for all of us, we ask that all boosters who enjoy access to the type of Web sites described above assist us in following the guidelines that govern those sites. As always, your efforts to help Cincinnati remain compliant are greatly appreciated."

Bottom line, leave the recruiting to the coaches.

Last edited by CLK (4/02/2013 11:11 am)