A "representative of the institution's athletic interest" (a.k.a. "booster") is an individual, independent agency, corporate entity, or other organization that is known (or should have been known) by a member of the Fort Lewis executive or athletics administration to:

Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting any Fort Lewis intercollegiate athletics program;

Have made financial contributions to any Fort Lewis Department, or to any Skyhawk Athletics booster organization;

Be assisting or to have been requested by the Skyhawk Athletics staff to assist in the recruitment of prospects;

Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or have otherwise been involved in promoting any Skyhawk Athletics programs.

The "prospective" definition ends when he/she officially registers and enrolls in a minimum full-time program at a four-year collegiate institution, attends classes during the regular academic year, or when he/she participates in a regular squad practice or compatition at that institution.

Involvement in Recruiting: Only authorized Fort Lewis staff members are permitted to participate in recruitment activities on behalf of this institution.

Any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or the prospect's parent(s), [relative(s)] or legal guardian(s) and a Fort Lewis College staff member or representative of athletic interests during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting.

Any such face-to-face encounter that is prearranged (i.e. positions himself/herself in a location where a contact is possible) or that takes place on the grounds of the prosect's educational institution or at the site of organized competition or practice involving the prospect or the prospect's high-school, preparatory school, two-year college or all-star team shall be considered a contact, regardless of whether any conversation occurs.

An athletics representative may attend high school and two-year college athletic events at his/her own discretion (i.e. not at the direction of a Fort Lewis College staff member), but may not have any contact with a prospect or his/her parents, relatives or legal guardians.

An athletic representative can assist Fort Lewis College by notifying the appropriate coaching staff of any student-athlete you think would be an asset to the athletic program (i.e. newspaper clippings, telephone calls to coaching staff members, etc.) so that the coach can then make the appropiate contact with the prospect.

An athletics representative can continue established friendships with families who have prospective or enrolled student-athletes but cannot encourage a prospect's participation in Skyhawk Athletics or provide benefits to a Fort Lewis College student-athlete (except as expressly permitted by NCAA rules).

During an encounter with a prospect, if the prospect or his/her parent(s), relative(s) or legal guardian(s) ask an athletics representative a question about any specific Fort Lewis Colleg sports program, simply direct their questions to the appropriate coach at the Skyhawk Athletics.

Providing free or discount tickets to any Skyhawk Athletics home or away events for prospects, their relatives or friends. Only Skyhawk Athletics can provide complimentary admissions to prospective student-athletes at home athletic events.

Providing transportation of any sort to prospects (or any affiliates) including transportation to campus to atttend athletic events.

Paying or offering to pay registration fees for summer sports camps for a prospect.

Contacting a prospect's coach, principal or counselor for the purpose of recruiting any prospect (i.e. meeting with the counselor, picking up a videotape of the prospect, etc.)

Providing cash or loans in any amount, or signing or co-signing for a loan.

Entertaining prospective student-athletes, their friends or relatives.

Providing special discounts for any goods and services.

Providing free or reduced-cost rent, housing.

Providing the use of any transportation.

Providing gifts of any kind.

You may employ or arrange for the employment of a prospective student-athlete, but you must first obtain the approval of the Fort Lewis College Compliance Coordinator. Prospective student-athletes may not begin employment with a representative of athletics interests until they have completed their senior year in high school and have completed their two-year college graduation requirements.

You may employ or arrange for the employment of an enrolled Fort Lewis College student-athlete (during the summer or academic year), but you must first obtain the approval of the Fort Lewis College Compliance Coordinator.

You may not provide transportation for prospects or enrolled student-athletes under your employement (unless it is an established transportation policy offered to all of your emplyees).

NCAA rules require that compensation may be paid to a prospective or enrolled student-athlete only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services. Such compensation may not include any account for the value or utility that the individual may have for the employer because of publicity, reputation, fame or personal following that he/she has obtained because of athletic ablility.

Q. I donated a small amount of money to Skyhawk Athletics (10) years ago but I have not donated anything else since then. Am I still an athleteics representative?

A. Yes. Once you become a representative of athletic interests you never lose that identity.

Q. What if I am a booster and my neighbor is the quarterback on his high school team; can I talk to him?

A. Yes. There are limited exceptions to the prohibition on athletics representatives contacting prospects:

You may have contact with a prospect who is an established family friend or neighbor as long as the contact is not for the purpose of recruiting the prospect.

You may have "unavoidable" or "incidental" contact with a prospect (e.g. running into the prospect at the store) provided the contact is not prearranged by anyone; the contact does not take place on the grounds of the prospect's educational instituation or at a prospect's practice or competition; the contact is not made for the purpose of recruiting the prospect; and the contact only invloves normal civility.

You may have contact with a prospect who has signed a National Letter of Intent with Fort Lewis College for the purpose of discussing possible summer employment only.

Q. Is it permissible for an athletics representative to telephone a prospective student-athlete or send a letter of congratulations to a prospective student-athlete AFTER the student-athlete signed a National Letter of Intent?

A. No. a prospect remains a prospect until he/she enrolls in school. Therefore, telephoning or writing a prospect is not permissible. The only permissible contact with a prospect is for employment purpose but only after speaking with the Fort Lewis College Compliance Coordinator.

Q. Is it permissible for a booster group to place an advertisement that is targeted at local prospective student-athletes in a newspaper or other publication?

A. No. It is not permissible for athletics representatives to place such an advertisement even if the advertisement does not specifically mention Fort Lewis College or Skyhawk Athletics.

Q. Is it permissible for athletic representatives to make donations to a high school?

A. Yes, provided the high school is in the athletic representative's local community, acts independently of Fort Lewis College, and the funds are distrubuted through established channels, and are not directed toward a specific prospect.

The Fort Lewis College Department of Athletics provides tailored programs for student-athlete developement. We attract and graduate high quality student-athletes by creating an atmosphere of high expectations and success that is a source of pride for Fort Lewis College and the community.

NCAA
www.ncaa.org

RMAC
www.rmacsports.org

FORT LEWIS COLLEGE
Athletic Interests Web Pages
www.fortlewis.edu

Compliance, Assistant Director of Athletics, Pam Adams
(970) 247-7067 or adams_p@fortlewis.edu

Director of Atletics, Kent Stanley
(970) 247-7480 or stanley_k@fortlewis.edu

Faculty Athletic Represenative, Steve Stovall