Division III Compliance
Issues Related to Recruiting
Prospective Student-Athletes
2012 Regional Rules Seminars
Objectives & Overview
•
Recognize legislative differences between high
school and two-year and four-year prospective
student-athlete (PSA) contacts.
•
Describe the electronic communication and
publicity legislation. Identify overlapping issues.
•
Compare and contrast electronic communications
and permissibility in a variety of scenarios.
•
Provide feedback on recruiting concepts: recruiting
models and nonscholastic recruiting.
Who May You Contact?
High School PSAs
Two-Year College PSAs
• In-person, off-campus
recruiting contacts
shall not be made with
a PSA until the PSA
has completed his or
her junior year of high
school.
• No contact
restrictions.
• May have contact on
your campus.
• No permission to
contact requirement.
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.1.1
Four-Year College
PSAs
• No contact with
student-athlete (SA) of
another NCAA/NAIA
four-year institution
without first obtaining
written permission,
regardless of who
makes contact first.
Bylaw 13.1.1.2
Two Release Methods
• Written permission to contact –
handled via athletics administration.
• Self-release - SA releases himself or
herself and is entitled initial privacy.
Only applicable for Division III to
Division III.
Bylaws 13.1.1.2 and 13.1.1.2.1
Self-Release by SA
• Division III to Division III only.
•
NCAA form forwarded to AD at institution(s) of
interest.
•
30-day privacy period from when the SA signs
the form.
•
Additional form must be signed to continue
contact beyond 30-day period. No privacy.
Bylaw 13.1.1.2.1
Telephone Calls
• All electronically transmitted human
voice exchange (includes
videoconferencing and videophones)
are telephone calls.
•
No restrictions on the timing.
•
SAs and boosters may make calls at the
direction of athletics for recruitment
purposes.
Bylaws 13.02.10 and
13.1.3
Electronic Transmissions
•
Limited to email, faxes and text messages.
•
•
No restrictions on the timing.
All other forms of electronically transmitted
correspondence (e.g., instant
messaging and social networking
websites) are prohibited.
•
•
Includes email function within social
networking websites.
Bylaw 13.02.11
Proposal No. 2012-7
Electronic Transmissions - Exception
• Public Release of General Athletics
Information provided:
•
Any member of general public may become
member of the group to which being sent;
•
PSA retains the ability to decline or unsubscribe at
anytime; and
•
Content is the same for all members of the group
and of a general nature.
Bylaw 13.02.11.3
Official Interpretation 3/25/11
Publicity
• Comments Before Acceptance.
•
May comment only to the extent of
confirming recruitment of the PSA.
•
May not comment in response to PSA article
– unless only confirming recruitment.
Bylaw 13.10.2
Publicity
• Announcement of Acceptance.
• May release publicity concerning PSA’s
commitment only after paid acceptance
of the institution’s written offer of
admission or financial aid.
•
•
Release to media outlets at discretion;
Prohibited from purchasing commercial
advertising to announce.
Bylaw 13.10.7
Case Study – Discussion Board/Blog
• Riding Hood College discovers its
athletics equipment manager posted on
a third-party discussion board:
•
“Ruby PSA is going to make a great addition to
Riding Hood’s women’s lacrosse team” (Ruby is
accepted but hasn’t deposited); and
•
“Riding Hood’s men’s soccer team is going to
sweep the conference tournament.”
Answer
• “Ruby PSA is going to make a great addition
to Riding Hood’s women’s lacrosse team.”
• Impermissible
• Before paid acceptance, impermissible to
comment beyond recruitment.
• After paid acceptance, through media outlets.
• “Riding Hood’s men’s soccer team is going to
sweep the conference tournament.”
• Permissible
• Legislation does not preclude postings on
discussion boards, just can’t use to
communicate directly with PSAs.
Case Study – Coach’s Personal Facebook Page
• Big Bad Wolf University discovers its
soccer coach posted the following on
her personal page:
•
“We won a big game vs. Brick House U. and
Little Red played really well.”
•
“Little Piggy is coming to visit our campus.
She’d be an impact player for us.”
Answer
• “We won a big game vs. Brick House U.
and Little Red played really well.”
•
Permissible. Factual, not a commentary on a PSA,
targeted to only those that are friends of coach (not
PSAs).
• “Little Piggy is coming to visit our campus.
She’d be an impact player for us.”
•
Impermissible. Violates publicity legislation – specific
PSA mentioned. Not ok – regardless of who is
friends with coach.
Case Study – Twitter
• All the Better to See You College
sends out a tweet that links to an thirdparty article that notes:
•
•
•
PSA deposited and is attending All the Better
next year.
PSA is a standout lacrosse SA.
All the Better’s lacrosse coach is excited.
Answer
• Permissible.
•
•
•
PSA has deposited.
Institution may release publicity – including
reposting a third-party’s article.
Institution may comment about the specific
PSA since PSA has deposited.