Central State University is committed to operating its athletics program within the rules and spirit of the NCAA. As a member institution, Central State is subject to rules and regulations designated by the NCAA and is responsible for ensuring all representatives of the University, including faculty, staff, alumni, student-athletes and friends abide by these rules.

WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF CENTRAL STATE'S ATHLETIC INTERESTS ('BOOSTER')?

A Central State booster is anyone who:

• Is or has been a member of a Central State booster organization;
• Has made a financial contribution to the Central State Athletics program or a booster club.
• Is or has been a season ticket holder in any sport;
• Is the parent or legal guardian of a current student-athlete;
• Has provided or arranged employment for prospective or current student-athletes;
• Has contacted a prospective student-athlete to encourage their participation in any of Central State's athletic programs. (PLEASE NOTE: the NCAA prohibits such contacts. Boosters may not participate in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes in any manner. Only NCAA-certified coaches may recruit prospective student-athletes); or
• Has provided benefits to a prospective or current student-athlete or that student-athlete's relatives or friends (PLEASE NOTE: it is impermissible to provide recruiting inducements to prospective student-athletes or extra benefits to current student-athletes. Doing so may render a student-athlete ineligible.

Even if someone is not a booster according to the above definition, they can still violate the NCAA regulations if they provide benefits to a prospect, student-athlete, their relatives or friends. If any of the following statements are true, then providing benefits to prospects or student-athletes, their relatives or friends can result in the student athlete being rendered ineligible and cause the individual providing the benefit to be classified as a booster from that point forward.

• The relationship between the athlete (or parents of the athlete) and the individual providing the benefits developed as a result of the athlete's participation in athletics or their reputation as an athlete;
• The relation began only after the athlete became a prospect;
• The relationship began only after the athlete had achieved notoriety due to his or her athletic ability or reputation;
• The pattern of giving increased after the athlete attained notoriety as a skilled athlete.

ONCE A BOOSTER, ALWAYS A BOOSTER

Once a person is identified as a booster, that person retains that identity indefinitely.

A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE IS.....

• Any student who has started ninth grade classes.
• Additionally, a student who has not started ninth grade classes becomes a prospective student-athlete if Central State or its boosters provide the prospect, or their relatives or friends, any financial assistance or benefits that it does not provide to prospective students generally.

Boosters may not have contact with prospective student-athletes.

A CONTACT IS:

• Any face-to-face encounter between prospect, or the prospect's parents, relatives, or legal guardian (s), and a booster during which any dialogue beyond a simple greeting occurs.
• There are several permissible contacts, including:
• A luncheon or dinner sponsored by an alumni group where prospective students (athletes and non-athletes) of that immediate local are invited;
• Phone conversations, initiated by the prospect, provided no recruiting conversations occur; and
• Viewing a prospect's athletic contests on one's own initiative, provided there is no contact with the prospect, or the prospect's parents, relatives or legal guardian (s).

EXAMPLES OF IMPERMISSABLE INDUCEMENTS AND BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Cash or loans of money;
• Signing or co-signing a loan;
• Any tangible gifts, including holiday or birthday gifts;
• Free or discounted meals, goods (e.g. clothing) or services (e.g. dry cleaning, haircuts, cell phones or long distance calls);
• Free or discounted entertainment (e.g. movie tickets, professional sports tickets);
• Transportation or use of an automobile;
• Hospitality in your home, other than an occasional home meal for student-athletes (e.g. birthday, holiday). Occasional home meals are never permitted for prospective student-athletes;
• Arranging employment for prospective or current student-athlete's relatives or friends; or
• Any other special arrangements by a booster to provide a benefit not specifically authorized by the NCAA.

The above information provides a brief overview of boosters and their interactit student-athletes.l It is not an exhaustive discussion. If you have any questions about this overview or any NCAA rules,, please feel free to contact:

Trona Logan Director of Compliance                   tlogan@centralstate.edu Central State University P.O. Box 1004 Wilberforce, OH 45384 (937) 376-6345