Frequently Asked Questions

1. You are considered to be a UCI representative of athletics interest (booster) if:
a) you have participated in or are a member of an agency or organization promoting UCI's intercollegiate athletics program; b) you have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of UCI; c) you have assisted or been asked by a UCI athletics department staff member to assist in the recruitment of a prospect; d) you have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families (which is a violation of NCAA rules); or e) you have been involved otherwise in promoting the UCI athletic department. Once an individual is identified as a representative, that individual retains that identity indefinitely.

2. As a UCI representative, what constitutes recruitment per NCAA rules?
The NCAA defines recruiting as "any solicitation of a prospect or a prospect's relatives/legal guardian(s) 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 athletics program" (NCAA Bylaw 13.02.12).

3. Who is considered to be a prospective student-athlete (PSA) and how long do they retain the status of a PSA?
A prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade or is enrolled in a junior college or prep school. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a PSA if an institution provides that individual (or that individual's friends or relatives) with any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not generally provide other prospective students generally. A prospect and even those prospects who have signed a National Letter of Intent to attend UCI, remain a prospect until they either register and enroll in a full-time amount of studies in a regular term (not summer school) at a four-year school, or they participate in a regular squad practice or competition at a four-year institution that occurs before the first day of classes, or they register and enroll and attend classes during summer school prior to initial enrollment and receive athletics aid.

4. May I contact a prospective student-athlete on the behalf of the UCI athletic department?
Under no circumstances may a UCI representative contact a prospect for the purpose of securing that PSA's commitment to attend UCI. NCAA rules restrict only those institutional staff members who have been certified to recruit off-campus for the purpose of contacting a prospect. In addition, those prospects that are on-campus for an official or unofficial visit may not be contacted as well, even in the presence of a coaching staff member.

5. What if an unavoidable incidental contact takes place with a prospect?
A UCI representative may have "unavoidable incidental contact" with a prospect, provided: A) The contact is not prearranged by the representative or an athletic department staff member; B) It does not take place on the grounds of the prospects educational institution or at the site of organized competition and practice involving the prospect or the prospect's team; C) Is not made for the purpose of recruitment of the prospect, and involves only normal civility.

6. May an athletic representative observe prospects engaging in competition and bring attention to a UCI coaching staff member of such prospects?
Yes, a UCI representative may observe a prospect's athletics contest on his/her own initiative with the understanding that he/she may not contact the prospect on such occasions and refer those prospects to a UCI coaching staff member. However, a representative may not participate in evaluation activities that include contacting a prospect's coach, principal or counselor, nor may a representative visit a prospects educational institution to pick up film/videotape or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect's academic eligibility or athletics ability.

7. What restrictions does the NCAA place on UCI representatives making telephone calls to a prospect or receiving telephone calls from a prospective student-athlete?
An athletics representative may speak to a prospect via the telephone only if the prospect 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 an athletic department staff member. Only in the instance that a prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend UCI, may a booster telephone a prospect for the purpose of discussing summer employment. Such employment may not begin until the prospect has completed his/her senior year in high school. In addition, the prospect may be paid only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locale for similar services. Please contact the athletic department prior to telephoning a signed prospect for the purpose of discussing summer employment.

8. Is it permissible for an athletic representative to provide a prospective or currently enrolled student-athlete or that individual's family or friends, with a benefit or expenses that are generally available to UCI students?
No. NCAA Bylaws prohibit a UCI representative from providing a prospective student-athlete with a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. In addition, it is not permissible for a booster to provide an enrolled student-athlete with an improper benefit.

9. What are examples of improper inducements/extra benefits that prospective student-athletes/currently enrolled student-athletes are prohibited from receiving?