Rules for Alumni and Friends
The College of Wooster is committed to operating its athletics programs with the highest degree of integrity, and in compliance with all the rules and regulations of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Alumni and friends of The College of Wooster are expected to adhere to the rules and regulations of the NCAA and the NCAC with the same degree of integrity.
The following sections are intended to give alumni and friends a basic understanding of NCAA and the NCAC rules and regulations, which pertain to them. However, the list is not comprehensive. Please contact the athletic department with any questions or concerns you have pertaining to rules and regulations by our governing bodies.
NCAA Rules and Regulations that Alumni, Parents, and Friends of The College of Wooster Should Know
Under NCAA regulations, parents, alumni, friends, and boosters may unknowingly be "representatives of The College of Wooster’s athletic interests" and thus be subject to the same rules and regulations as The College of Wooster coaches, athletic administrators and staff members.
If violations occur, whether intentional or not, The College of Wooster, is responsible. Among consequences might be institutional sanctions, competition limitations, and possible loss of student-athlete eligibility. Because ignorance of the rules cannot be used as an excuse, the Athletic Department has prepared this web page as an abbreviated reference to the NCAA regulations governing situations most likely to be encountered by alumni, parents, and friends of The College of Wooster athletics. It does not, however, contain all the information available in the NCAA manual. To view a complete copy of the Division III Manual, visit the NCAA website; www.ncaa.org
Terms and Definitions
Representative of Athletics Interest: An individual who has ever participated in or is currently a member of any College of Wooster athletics booster group or The College of Wooster clubs, nationwide; or have ever made any type of contact (in person, by letter, or by phone) with a junior or senior high school student-athlete for the purpose of encouraging their consideration of participation in The College of Wooster athletics programs; have ever made any type of donation to The College of Wooster athletics programs in any way; or have ever been involved in promoting of The College of Wooster athletics in any way. Once an individual has been identified as an "athletic representative," he or she retains this identity forever, even if that person subsequently discontinues relationships with The College of Wooster athletics program. (NCAA Bylaw 13.02.12.1)
Booster: Bylaw 13.02.12 describes a booster as any individual who is a member of an institution's athletics booster club, has ever made donations to the club or athletic department, is involved in recruiting prospects or in providing benefits (summer jobs) to enrolled student-athletes, or otherwise involved in promoting the institution's athletics program. Once an individual becomes a booster he or she retains that status forever, even if the person discontinues supporting the athletic programs.
Contact: A face-to-face encounter between a prospect and/or the prospect's parent or legal guardian and an institutional staff member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of greeting. Any such face-to-face encounter that is prearranged or that takes place on the grounds of the prospect's educational institution or the site of an organized competition or practice involving the prospect or the prospect's high school, preparatory school, two-year college or all-state team shall be considered a contact, regardless of the conversation that occurs.
Evaluation: Any off-campus activity designed to assess the academic qualification or athletic ability of a prospect, including any visit to the prospect's educational institution (during which no contact can occur), or the observation of any practice or competition at which the prospect participates.
Prospective Student-Athlete: A prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes in the ninth grade.
Recruiting: Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or prospect's relatives (or legal guardians) by an institutional staff member or by a representative of the institution's athletics interests for the purpose of securing the prospect's enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution's intercollegiate athletic program.
Student-Athlete: A student-athlete is any student who has reported for an intercollegiate squad under the jurisdiction of the athletic department, or any student whose enrollment was solicited by a member of the athletics staff or other representative of athletics interests with a view toward the student's ultimate participation in the intercollegiate athletics program.
A free copy of the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete may be obtained by calling the NCAA office at 800/638-3731.