Duquesne Athletics Compliance Insider
September 2016
In This Issue……………………………..
Can I Schedule a Visit?
As the new school year begins prospects and their families
are flocking to college campuses. Coaches across the country are
beginning to schedule visits for their next All-American and in
the excitement some regulations can be overlooked. Inside this
month we examine official visits and unofficial visits. We will
break down some important regulations for both and give you an
overview of the important items to remember before, during and
after the visit.
Did You Know?
In our new column this month we will review some
important but not overly familiar NCAA Bylaws and how they
impact you in your job. This month we will highlight
communication between representatives of athletics interests and
prospective student-athletes. When can they talk and what may
they discuss?
In the News
The new legislation for social media that was adopted and
went into effect August 1 may keep you glued to your mobile
phone. Many are referring to this as the “click but don’t type”
rule. In the news lately there have been many articles discussing
these new rules and how they are going to impact recruiting for
you and your staff.
http://www.goduquesne.com/compliance/duqu-compliance.html
Volume 9, Issue 2
Recruiting Calendars
September 2016
Football
Sept. 1 – 30
Quiet Period*
*42 Evaluation Days during the
months September, October, and
November, selected at the discretion of
the institution and designated in
writing in the office of the director of
athletics; authorized off-campus
recruiters shall not visit a prospective
student-athlete’s educational
institution on more than one calendar
day during this period.
Men’s Basketball
Sept. 1 – 8
Quiet Period
Sept. 9 – 30
Recruiting Period
Women’s Basketball
Sept. 1 – 8
Quiet Period
Sept. 9 – 29
Contact Period
Sept. 30
Evaluation Period
All Other Sports
Sept. 1 – 30
Contact Period
SEPTEMBER 2016
VOLUME 9 ISSUE 2
OFFICIAL VISITS
An official visit by a prospective student-athlete is a visit financed in whole or in part by Duquesne. Here are
some rules regarding official visits and what you need to remember before, during and after the visit.
Before the visit:
Time Period
o In Men’s Basketball, prospects can begin official visits on Jan 1 of their junior year of high school.
o In Women’s Basketball, prospects can begin official visits on the Thursday following the NCAA Division I
Championship in their junior year of high school. For 2017 it is Thursday, April 6, 2017.
o In all other sports, prospects may begin official visits on the opening day of classes for their senior year of high
school.
Paperwork to be filed
o Be sure to follow the Official Visit Check list provided by the Compliance Office.
o Turn in transcripts, test scores, itinerary, student-host form, and overnight guest guidelines to the Compliance Office
at least five days prior to the visit.
On the visit:
Complimentary Admissions:
o A prospective student-athlete may receive a maximum of six complimentary tickets to a home athletics event during
an official visit.
o Such admissions may provide seating only in the general seating area of a facility.
48 Hour Rule:
o An official visit must not exceed 48 hours.
o 48-hour period begins when the prospective student-athlete arrives on campus, is provided a meal, or is entertained.
o A prospective student-athlete may receive lodging in the locale of the institution without the 48-hour rule beginning
if they arrive too late to begin the official visit that day. (ie. If they arrive after 6 PM)
o The 48-hour period ends when the prospective student-athlete departs campus.
Entertainment:
o It is permissible to provide the student host $40 per day for actual expenses for entertaining the prospect while on
the visit, but at no time is a host or staff member allowed to provide cash to the prospect.
o All entertainment must occur within a 30-mile radius of the campus.
Unofficial Visits
An unofficial visit is any visit that is funded solely by the prospect
and their parents or guardians.
As coaches you should remember:
 There is no limit on the number of unofficial visits a prospect may make and they may make
them regardless of their grade level.
 You cannot pay for any expenses associated with the unofficial visit including parking, meals, or
transportation.
 You are allowed to provide up to 3 complementary admissions to a home contest while the
prospect is on the unofficial visit however you are not allowed to reserve game tickets for
purchase if more than 3 admissions are requested.
 Prospects are allowed to stay overnight on campus provided they follow the overnight guest
policy of Duquesne.
 You may provide transportation to practice and competition sites in the prospect’s sport away
from campus.
 You should always file an Unofficial Visit Form with the Compliance Office.
SEPTEMBER 2016
VOLUME 9 ISSUE 2
Prospects and a Booster
Contact between a representative of athletics interests and a prospect is always a topic
of concern. Generally, it is not permissible for a representative of athletics interests to have
any contact with a prospect or a prospect’s relatives or legal guardians. In fact NCAA Bylaw
13.1.2 states “Such contact, as well as correspondence and telephone calls, by a representative
of an institution’s athletics interests is prohibited.” However, if a prospect initiates the
telephone call it is permissible for the prospect and the representative of the institution’s
athletics interests to have a conversation. NCAA Bylaw 13.1.3.5.1.1 states “An athletics
representative of a member institution may speak to a prospective student-athlete via the
telephone only if the prospective student-athlete initiates the telephone conversation and the
call is not for recruiting purposes. Under such circumstances, the representative must refer
questions about the institution's athletics program to the athletics department staff.”
This question came up on a recent recruiting exam, and the part that is important to
remember is that while the call is permitted, the representative of athletics interests cannot
speak about the athletics program. If the prospect asks questions about the athletic
department, or about the team, the booster MUST refer those questions to the coach or another
department staff member.
Like, Favorite, Retweet, Just Don’t Comment
On June 3, 2016, the NCAA published an educational column detailing the new social media rules that went into effect August 1, 2016.
These new regulations allow coaches and staff much more freedom to interact with prospects via social media. Affectionately known as the “Click,
Don’t Type” rule there have been countless articles written about how this may or may not impact the recruiting process. Regardless of your stance
on the new rules, here are a few (perhaps surprising) Q and As from the NCAA’s educational column:
Question: May an institutional athletics department staff member take an action of approval (e.g., “like”, “favorite” or republish) on posts originated
by a prospective student-athlete’s social media profile prior to the first permissible date to provide recruiting materials?
Answer: Yes, provided the action does not include any additional language (e.g., comment on a republished post) as the additional language would
constitute impermissible electronic correspondence.
Question: Before a prospective student-athlete has committed to the institution, may an institutional athletics department staff member “tag” or
“mention” a prospective student-athlete’s social media profile in a post or picture generated by the athletics department staff member’s social media
profile?
Answer: No. Associating a prospective student-athlete’s social media profile with a post generated by the athletics department staff member would
constitute a violation of publicity and electronic correspondence legislation.
Question: During a campus visit, may a prospective student-athlete or his/her parents or legal guardians post pictures of the visit to their individual
social media profiles?
Answer: Yes. A prospective student-athlete or his/her parents or legal guardians may post pictures regarding their visit to campus on their social
media profiles provided the photo was not taken or posted at the direction of the institution. Further, institutional athletics department staff members
may repost, “like”, or “favorite” the pictures regardless of when the posts are generated by the prospective student-athlete (e.g., during the campus
visit).
SEPTEMBER 2016
VOLUME 9 ISSUE 2
Call for Agenda Items
In an effort to engage everyone more during our monthly compliance meetings we
would like to solicit agenda items from the coaches. These can be questions you and your
staff might have, scenarios that have come up and you would like clarification, or thoughts
on upcoming legislative changes. If you would like to contribute items for discussion
please do so by the 7th of each month so we can get the information added to that month’s
compliance meeting agenda and prepare to address that idea. Please email your ideas or
questions to Mike Scerbo in the Compliance Office at scerbom@duq.edu.
Duquesne University
Athletic Compliance
Compliance Trivia Question
The fifth DU Athletics staff member to email the
correct answer with the relevant Bylaw cited to
Tyler (wardent@duq.edu) in the Compliance Office
wins 100 team points towards their Dukes
Compliance Cup total and gets to deduct 100 points
from another sports’ score.
Which of the following does not trigger
“recruited” status for a prospect?
A. Being provided an official visit
B. Having an off campus contact
C. One phone call
D. Issuing an NLI
@DukesCompliance
Important Dates
 Labor Day
o Mon, Sept 5
 Athletics Dept. Staff Meeting
o Tues, Sept 13 9:30 AM
o Aloe Suite
 Olympic Sports Compliance
Meeting
o Wed, Sept 14 10:00 AM
o Basketball Theater
 President’s Inauguration
o Thur, Sept 22 4:00 PM
o No Classes
 A-10 Day at the Pirates
o Sun, Sept 25 1:35 PM
Rick Christensen, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance Office: 412.396.4917 Email: christensen@duq.edu
Tyler Warden, Assistant Director of Compliance
Office: 412.396.1189 Email: wardent@duq.edu
Mike Scerbo, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance
Office: 412.396.6568 Email: scerbom@duq.edu