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Who is a Booster/Donor?  |  Who is a Prospect  |  Contact with Prospects  |  Things a Booster Cannot Do  |  Extra Benefits
Things a Booster/Donor Can Do  |  Identification of Potential Student-Athletes

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The University of Akron Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
Guide for Zips Donors

Pre-Existing Relationships with Non-Traditional Boosters

WHO IS A BOOSTER/ DONOR?

A booster/donor is a representative of The University of Akron?s athletics interests. It is someone who wants to see us do well and can be an individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g., apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization who is known (or who should have been known) by The University of Akron to: (a) have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting The University of Akron?s intercollegiate athletics program; (b) have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to a University of Akron athletics booster/donor organization; (c) be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletic department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospects; (d) be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student athletes or their families; or (e) have been involved otherwise in promoting The University of Akron?s athletics program. Once an individual, independent agency, corporate entity or other organization is identified as such a representative, that person retains that identity indefinitely.

WHO IS A PROSPECT?

In all sports except men?s basketball, a prospect is a student who started classes for the ninth grade. In men?s basketball, a prospect is a student who has started classes for the seventh grade. The prospect retains that status until: (a) they officially register and enroll full-time in a four-year institution); or (b) the individual participates in preseason practice at a four-year collegiate institution that occurs before the beginning of any term.

CONTACT WITH PROSPECTS

Only coaches and athletic department members can be involved in the recruiting process. All boosters/donors who are not employed by The University of Akron are prohibited from contacting a prospect or member of the prospect?s family. A booster/donor cannot contact a prospect regarding participation in athletics at The University of Akron either by phone, letter or in person (on or off campus). Boosters/donors are also prohibited from texting prospects or contacting them via social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter). This does not prohibit you from attending high school or community college athletic events. If you identify a prospect that would be of potential benefit to Zips Athletics, report the information to the appropriate Zips coaching staff member.

THINGS A BOOSTER CANNOT DO

An athletics representative may not contact a prospect?s coach, principal or counselor or any other individual connected to a prospect in an attempt to evaluate the prospect. An athletics representative may not visit a prospect?s educational institution to pick up film/videotape or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect?s academic eligibility or athletics eligibility.

Akron boosters/donors also may not provide extra benefits to prospective student-athletes.

EXTRA BENEFITS

An extra benefit is any special arrangement by a University of Akron employee or athletics representative to provide a student-athlete (or his/her relatives, guardian, or friends) a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by a student-athlete (or his/her relatives, guardian or friends) is not considered a violation of NCAA legislation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to all University of Akron students (or their relatives, guardian or friends) not on a basis related to their athletics ability. Extra benefits include, but are not limited to:
?    Cash or loans in any amount
?    Co-signing or arranging a loan
?    Gifts or free services (e.g., airline tickets, cash, restaurant meals, clothing, movie tickets, etc?)
?    Use of an automobile
?    Rent free or reduced cost housing
?    Money for, or a guarantee of, bail or bond
?    Employment of a student-athlete at a higher rate than the wages paid for similar work
?    Payment to a student-athlete for work not performed
?    Transportation (aside from transportation related to an occasional home meal)
?    Tickets to an athletics, institutional or community event
?    Financial aid for a post-graduate education
?    Promise of employment after college graduation
?    Invitations to your home or summer home for purposes other than an occasional meal

THINGS A BOOSTER/ DONOR CAN DO

You may provide tickets to a professional sports contest to The University of Akron for entertainment of student-athletes involved in an away-from-home athletics contest.
You may provide an occasional meal in your home to a student-athlete or an entire team if the meal takes place within a 30 mile radius from campus.
You may provide transportation to your home for a student-athlete who will be receiving an occasional meal there.
You may provide a summer job to a student-athlete during the school year after they have spent one year at The University of Akron provided:
?    the student-athlete is academically eligible
?    the student-athlete is not hired based on their athletic reputation
?    the student-athlete is paid a normal rate of hire and they are paid for work actually performed
?    that prior to start of employment (during any part of the academic year), the student-athlete and the employer sign a written statement attesting to the above restrictions that is kept on file in The University of Akron Compliance Office

You may make a financial donation to a high school athletics program in your locale provided:
?    you make the donation of your own accord
?    your donation is distributed through the normal channels established by the high school, and
?    your donation is not earmarked for a specific prospect 

HOW TO BE A PRODUCTIVE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON BOOSTER/ DONOR

?    Be active in booster/donor and support group organizations
?    Encourage family and friends from the community to attend University of Akron events and contribute to scholarship funds
?    Contact the athletic department with any employment opportunities for current University of Akron student-athletes and graduates
?    Notify the appropriate coaching staffs of prospects

Feel free to call The University of Akron Department of Intercollegiate Athletics if you have any questions regarding being a booster/donor at  330-972-FUND (3863)

IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL STUDENT-ATHLETES

If you know of an athlete who might want to attend The University of Akron, DO NOT contact him/her directly. Instead, notify the appropriate team office listed below:

Men's Sports	Women's Sports
Baseball (330-972-6895)	Basketball (330-972-2425)
Basketball (330-972-7781)	Cross Country (330-972-6895)
Cross Country (330-972-6895)	Golf (330-972-6895)
Football (330-972-7493)	Rifle (330-972-6182)
Golf (330-972-6895)	Soccer (330-972-6895)
Rifle (330-972-6182)	Softball (330-972-6895)
Soccer (330-972-6895)	Swimming & Diving (330-972-7637)
Track & Field (330-972-6895)	Tennis (330-972-7637)
	Track & Field (330-972-6895)
	Volleyball (330-972-2425)

CONTACT

If you have any questions regarding NCAA and The University of Akron athletics rules and regulations, particularly those related to contact between boosters/donors and prospective student-athletes or enrolled athletes, please contact The University of Akron Compliance Office at (330) 972-6857