You are, if any of the following apply to you:

You are or have ever been a member of any University of Arkansas sport support group or booster club.

You have made a donation to the men’s or women’s athletics programs.

You have ever helped to arrange or have provided summer employment for enrolled student-athletes.

You have been involved in the promotion of University of Arkansas athletics in any way.

A prospective student-athlete is a person who has begun classes for the ninth grade. Since it is possible for an even younger person to be considered a prospect, it is a good idea to treat all athletes as prospects.

YOU MAY NOT contact the prospect’s coach, principal or counselor for the purpose of evaluating the prospect.

YOU ARE NOT permitted to pick up films or transcripts from the prospect’s educational institution.

YOU MAY attend high school and junior college athletic events.

YOU MAY continue established family relationships with friends and neighbors. Contacts with sons or daughters of these families certainly are permitted as long as they are not made for recruiting purposes and are not initiated by U of A coaching staff members.

YOU MAY play “pick-up” basketball or softball games, continue neighborhood picnics or backyard barbecues and engage in your normal activities with prospects and their parents who are family friends. Again, you simply are not permitted to attempt to recruit the prospect or discuss the athletic program.

YOU MAY attend a public event (e.g. a high school awards banquet or dinner) at which prospects are in attendance. No attempt should be made to recruit the prospect.

YOU MAY send to the U of A coaching staff any newspaper clippings or other information about prospects which you think would be of interest. Your assistance in this way is very helpful. The coaching staff will then make the contact with the prospect.

YOU MAY offer assistance to members of the U of A coaching staff who are recruiting in your community.

YOU MAY discuss summer employment arrangements with a prospect after he/she has signed a National Letter of Intent.

YOU MAY NOT provide a student-athlete any benefits or special arrangements.

YOU MAY NOT provide room and/or board or any type of transportation during the summer for a student-athlete with eligibility remaining.

YOU MAY NOT provide room, board or transportation costs incurred by friends or family of an enrolled student-athlete to visit campus or attend away athletic contest.

YOU MAY NOT expend funds to entertain student-athletes, their friends or relatives. You are not even permitted to buy a soda or a cup of coffee for them.

YOU MAY NOT use the name, picture or appearance of an enrolled student-athlete to promote an educational or charitable cause until it has been approved by the Compliance Coordinator.

YOU MAY NOT provide any payment of expense or loan of any automobile for a student-athlete to return home or to any other location for ANY reason.

YOU MAY NOT provide awards or gifts directly to a student-athlete for his or her athletic performance. All awards financed by “representatives of athletic interests” must first be approved by the University of Arkansas and meet NCAA award regulations.

If you have any knowledge of any improprieties either intentional or unintentional, let us know so that we may act immediately to take corrective action. The University of Arkansas and all of its constituencies are obligated through membership in the NCAA to report all improprieties. If we monitor our own activities and self-report any problems, the negative impact upon our athletes and the programs they represent will be minimized.

DO SUPPORT and attend high school and community events in your area. If a prospect or a prospect’s parents approach you about Razorback athletics, simply refer them to the Arkansas Men’s or Women’s Athletics Departments.

DO MAINTAIN established relationships with the family and friends of prospects and enrolled student-athletes, just avoid using this relationship to recruit them.

DO ATTEND high school awards banquets and athletic functions. Simply avoid contacts with prospects while you are there.

DO FEEL FREE to have a student-athlete in your home. Remember that he or she must provide the transportation and that excessive entertainment is not permitted.

DO INVITE a team for dinner or to meet with an alumni group when they are visiting your city. Student-athletes are permitted to receive such benefits as a team but not as individuals. Make arrangements for such functions through the head coach or the athletics departments.

DO PAY student-athletes in your employ at a rate commensurate to the going rate for similar services in your community. Treat them exactly as you do your other non-athlete employees.

Is the University of Arkansas held responsible for the actions of its boosters and support groups? YES

Is it permissible for a booster to entertain a high school or junior college coach at any location? NO

Is it permissible for a booster to provide free admission to the institution’s away contest to a prospect, prospect's family, friends or relatives? NO

Is it permissible for a booster to pay in whole or in part a prospect's summer sports camp fees? NO

Is it permissible for a booster to entertain or to pay for the entertainment of a prospect, a student-athlete or the friends and relatives of either? NO

Is it permissible for a booster to employ or use the name or picture of an enrolled student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote sales or use of a commercials product of any kind? NO

Is it permissible for a booster to provide an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement? NO - Student athletes may receive only necessary travel expenses when speaking for charitable or educational purposes.

Is it permissible for a booster club to finance a banquet for a University of Arkansas team? YES - Provided that all the expenses are paid through the athletics departments and that the location of the event is not more than 100 miles away from campus and no tangible award is provided to the members of the team.

Recruiting is a never-ending process.

University of Arkansas coaches, in all sports, are in some phase of recruiting the entire year. They appreciate the support and encouragement that is provided by various boosters and friends of the University of Arkansas Athletics Department. However, there are strict limits on how that support can be illustrated.

Remember, if a student-athlete or a prospective student-athlete accepts any benefits that have been offered because of this athlete’s ability, then that student-athlete will lose all eligibility for intercollegiate athletic participation.

The rules that have been established by the NCAA govern the conduct of coaches, student-athletes and the various representatives of University of Arkansas athletic interest. If violations by any of these parties occur, whether intentional or unintentional, the University of Arkansas will be held accountable for these actions.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jon Fagg, Senior Associate AD for Compliance and Student-Athlete Services, at 479-575-4108.