Gannon University Athletics

  
This section is to provide Gannon fans with important guidance concerning compliance with NCAA rules.

There are very specific rules about what a “representative of athletic interests” may or may not do with a prospective student-athletes, or current Gannon student-athletes. Some definitions include:

• Prospective student-athlete is any student that has started classes in the ninth grade.
• Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or the prospect’s family by a Gannon staff member, or by a representative of athletic interests, for the purpose of securing the prospect’s enrollment at Gannon.
• Contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or prospect’s family with a Gannon staff member, or representative of athletic interests, during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of greeting.

You are considered a “representative of athletic interests” or booster if you:

• Played for any Gannon athletic team
• Participated in or are a member of an organization promoting Gannon Athletics
• Contributed to the athletic department or have been a member of the booster club
• Have been a season ticket holder
• Have provided permissible benefits to an enrolled student-athlete or relatives or friends
• Once identified as a representative of athletics interest, you retain that status forever!

“Do Not” Rules for Enrolled Student-Athletes

• Do not give them cash or loans in any amount.
• Do not provide transportation on or off campus.
• Do not employ at a rate higher than the going rate.
• Do not provide special discounts for goods or services.
• Do not provide free or reduced rent.
• Do not provide them gifts of any kind or free services.

“Do Not” Rules for Recruits

• Do not make any contact on or off campus, including written, text and telephone communication with a prospect or a prospect’s family.
• Do not contact the prospect’s coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospect.
• Do not visit the prospect’s school.
• Do not provide free or reduced tickets to prospects, their relatives or friends.
• Do not employ or promise to employ relatives or friends of the prospect as an inducement for his/her enrollment at Gannon.
• Do not use social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or Instagram to contact or otherwise communicate with the recruit.

What You May Do with Enrolled Student-Athletes

• You may provide an occasional meal to a student-athlete or the entire team. The meal must be provided at the booster’s home and be restricted to infrequent or special occasions. On this occasion, only the host may provide transportation to the meal. The meal may be catered and must be approved by the compliance office before it takes place.
• Provide summer jobs at a rate that is commensurate with a wage for such employment in the locality and for work actually performed.
• Provide housing to student-athletes at a rate that is commensurate for similar housing in the locale.

What You May Do with Recruits

• You may attend high school or junior college events at which prospects are playing. You simply cannot have any contact with the prospect or his or her parents.
• You may continue established family relationships with friends and neighbors. Contact with a son and daughter of these families is permitted as long as they are not made for recruiting purposes.
• You may send newspaper information about recruits to Gannon’s coaching staff.

If in doubt, don’t do it. Call the Gannon University Compliance Office at (814) 871-7126 with questions or concerns.

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