A Note from the Athletic Director
The information on this site summarizes the NCAA rules that govern your interaction with enrolled and prospective student-athletes. Fairfield University greatly appreciates your interest and support but reminds you that inappropriate contact or an inadvertent action on your part can jeopardize the eligibility of our student-athletes. Since all applicable situations can not be covered on this page, please do not hesitate to contact the Athletics Department with any questions. Your efforts to comply with NCAA regulations are appreciated just as much as your commitment to Fairfield University Athletics.
Go Stags!
Eugene P. Doris Director of Athletics
NCAA Bylaw 13.02.12 states ...
"A "representative of the institution's athletics interests" is 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 a member of the institution's executive or athletics administration to:
(a) Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution's intercollegiate athletics program;
(b) Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution;
(c) Be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes;
(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 institution's athletics program."
Representatives of a school's athletics interests are also known as "boosters." According to the NCAA, once you become a booster, you remain a booster indefinitely.
Contact with Prospective Student-Athletes
Only NCAA certified coaches and athletics department staff members can be involved in the recruiting process. All "athletics representatives" who are not employees of Fairfield University are prohibited from contacting a prospective student-athlete or members of the prospect's family by telephone, e-mail, letter or in-person on or off-campus for the purpose of encouraging participation in athletics at Fairfield.
You CAN NOT:
- become directly or indirectly involved in making arrangements for a prospect and/or the prospect's relatives or friends to receive money or financial aid of any kind;
- provide any transportation to prospects, including transportation to or from campus to attend athletics events;
- contact the prospect's coaches, principal, guidance counselor, or teachers for the purpose of recruiting the prospect;
- provide an "extra benefit" or special arrangement to a prospect.
Examples of prohibited extra benefits include, but are not limited to:
- signing or co-signing a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan;
- giving gifts of any kind (e.g., clothing, airline tickets, or holiday cards or gifts) or services (e.g., car repair, dental);
- providing special discounts for goods or services.
However, you CAN:
- attend high school and community college athletics events;
Should the prospect or their family ask you questions about Fairfield Athletics, direct their questions to the appropriate coach at Fairfield. While your contact with prospects and their relatives is prohibited, you can assist the coaching staff by notifying them of any student interested in their program. The coach can then make the appropriate contact with the prospect.
- continue friendships with families who have prospective or enrolled student-athletes (e.g., backyard barbecues, picnics).
Again, while you can not encourage their participation in Fairfield Athletics, you can direct them to the appropriate coach.
Contact with Enrolled Student-Athletes
The NCAA rules governing your contact with enrolled student-athletes are very similar to the regulations for prospective student-athletes. However, they focus primarily on prohibited extra benefits.
You CAN NOT:
- entertain student-athletes, their friends or relatives;
- provide awards to student-athletes, including post season awards;
- use the name or picture of an enrolled student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote the sale of or use of a commercial product of any kind;
- provide an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement.
Only actual and necessary travel expenses can be provided when an athlete speaks to educational or charitable groups.
However, you CAN:
- invite a student-athlete to your home for an occasional home meal;
The meal must be provided in an individual's home (as opposed to a restaurant) and must be restricted to infrequent and special occasions.
- invite a team for dinner or to meet with a group of alumni in a city where they are competing away from home.
The NCAA permits student-athletes AS A TEAM to receive special benefits not permitted as individuals. Arrangements for such events must be made in advance with the Head Coach and Athletics Department.
NCAA Rules Regarding Employment of Prospective and Enrolled Student-Athletes
You CAN:
- provide employment for student-athletes during the academic year, but you should first contact the Fairfield University Athletics Department;
- pay student-athletes for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate for similar services in the community and your own business;
- notify the Head Coaches or the Athletics Department of employment possibilities for student-athletes.
However, you CAN NOT:
- include any remuneration for value or utility that the student-athlete may have for the employer because of publicity, reputation, fame or personal following that he or she has obtained because of athletics ability;
- provide transportation for prospects or student-athletes that you employ.
Lyons-Lademan Athletics Fund
The Lyons-Lademan Athletics Fund falls under the direction of the University's Advancement Division and works in cooperation with the Department of Athletics. The Lyons-Lademan Athletics Fundis the one vehicle which Fairfield University has set up for those who wish to make a gift to athletics. Its annual goal is to assist the Athletics Department in providing resources for supplemental expenses for its various varsity teams while adhering to NCAA rules and regulations.
If you have any questions or would like to know how to make a gift to your favorite Stag team through the Lyons-Lademan Athletics Fund, simply call (203) 254-4004.
Any further questions should be directed to:
Alison Sexton |
Christina Callahan |