This article first appeared in the September, 1990 issue of "FACEOFF", the newsletter of the Cornell Hockey Boosters Association. ============================ For this month's feature, we have asked Betsy East, Cornell's Associate Director of Athletics, to outline the activities that Boosters are permitted to engage in under the guidelines of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The following summary of rules contained in the 1990-91 NCAA Manual is presented in a question-and-answer format, with discussion of typical situations that may arise in the relationship between Boosters and the student-athletes on Cornell's teams. Members of booster support groups, like the Cornell Hockey Boosters Association, fall under the category of "athletic representative" as defined by the NCAA. An individual becomes an athletic representative when a member of Cornell University's executive or athletic administration has knowledge that the individual has participated in or is a member of any of the various athletic booster support groups. This includes individuals that have made financial contributions to the athletic department or athletic booster support organizations. Additionally, any individual who has been requested by an athletic department staff member to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes is considered an athletic representative. Once an individual has been identified as an athletic representative, he or she retains this identity forever. Under NCAA regulations, Cornell University is responsible for the acts of athletic representatives and booster support groups, which are governed by the same NCAA and University rules and regulations as those placed upon all institutional athletic staff members. Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to provide to a student-athlete or friend any benefit or special arrangement? A: No. The NCAA considers special arrangements as an "extra benefit" and specifically prohibits them. "Extra benefits" include, but are not limited to: special discounts, payment arrangements or credits on purchases (e.g., airline tickets, clothing) or services (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning, tailoring); a loan of money in any amount; a guarantee of bond; the use of an automobile; the purchase of meals or services at commercial establishments; transportation to or from a summer job; a benefit connected with off-campus housing (such as individual television sets or stereo equipment, specialized recreational facilities, room furnishings or appointments of extra quality or quantity); signing or co-signing a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan; selling or giving a student-athlete tickets to an athletic, university or town event; the use of personal properties, like boats, summer homes, cars or stereos; providing Christmas or birthday gifts. Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to pay or provide the actual and necessary expenses (room, board and transportation costs) incurred by friends or relatives to visit an enrolled student-athlete? A: No. Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to provide or pay for typing costs associated with school projects or reports? A: No. Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to purchase and provide enrolled student-athletes or their friends tickets to athletic events or University concerts? A: No. Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to buy an enrolled student-athlete's complimentary tickets for an athletic event? A: No. THIS WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE STUDENT-ATHLETE'S ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY. Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to purchase tickets to professional sports contests and provide them to enrolled student-athletes? A: No. Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative who owns a commercial agency (e.g., movie theater, hotel, restaurant, car dealership, etc.) to provide free or reduced-cost rates? A: No. Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to provide any payment of expenses or the loan of an automobile for a student athlete to return home or travel to any other location for any personal reason? To receive an award? A: No. No. Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to provide enrolled student-athletes with professional services, for which a fee would normally be charged, for a reduced or no charge? A: No. Professional services provided at less than normal rates, or at no expense to a student-athlete, are considered an extra benefit and are prohibited by NCAA regulations. Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to provide summer employment for student-athletes? A: Yes; however, compensation must be paid only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for services of like character. Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to expend funds to entertain student-athletes and friends? A: No. Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to permit the use of and pay for long-distance telephone calls? A: No. Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to provide gifts or awards to a student-athlete for his or her athletic performance? A: No. All awards must conform with NCAA awards legislation and must be approved by Cornell University. Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to employ or use the name or picture of an enrolled student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote the sales or use of a commercial product or service of any kind? A: No. Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to provide an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement? A: No. Student-athletes may only receive necessary travel expenses when speaking to educational or charitable groups. All speaking engagements must be approved in advance by Cornell University.