University of Oklahoma Athletics
2011 Compliance Questions of the Week
January 23, 2012 | Athletics
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December 12, 2011 Question
Bobby is a huge OU football fan. For Christmas this year, he asked his parents for a jersey with his favorite player's name on the back. Bobby's parents don't want to disappoint him, but they cannot find a jersey with the name on the back. Why is this?
Answer: It is not permissible for a current student-athlete's name to appear on the back of a jersey. This can affect the student-athlete's amateurism and eligibility. Even a custom jersey purchased at the official OU Online Store will not print the name of a current-student athlete.
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December 5, 2011 Question
Is it permissible for an OU booster to approach a prospective student-athlete (PSA) while they are on campus for their official visit?
Answer: All in-person recruiting contacts with a PSA or the PSA's relatives or legal guardians shall be made only by authorized institutional staff members. As a booster you cannot attempt to secure the PSA's enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution's athletics program. This is true if a PSA is on-campus for their official visit, or off-campus at any other time.
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November 7, 2011 Question
Does the NCAA allow teams to have tryouts for high school student-athletes?
Answer: No. A member institution, on its campus or elsewhere, shall not conduct any physical activity (e.g., practice session or test/tryout) at which one or more prospects reveal, demonstrate or display their athletic abilities in any sport. NCAA Bylaw 13.11.1
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October 31, 2011 Question
May booster provide a student-athlete with unused tickets to a professional sporting event (i.e. Thunder, Cowboys)?
Answer: A representative of athletics interest (booster) may not provide tickets to an athletic contest. Anything provided of value that is not expressly permitted by the NCAA is considered an extra benefit and would render the recipient ineligible.
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October 24, 2011 Question
What should an athletics representative do, if he/she wants to know more about NCAA rules?
Answer: The athletic representative should contact the Athletic Compliance Office to ask specific questions. The athletic representative can log onto the following website to find additional rules and regulations /ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=208805707. In addition, a fan can follow OU Compliance on Twitter and Facebook to see periodic postings about NCAA regulations and legislation and how they relate to athletes, coaches and boosters.
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October 17, 2011 Question
Why doesn't OU release the names of prospects who are visiting campus for official visits?
Answer: The NCAA does not allow an institution to publicize (or arrange for publicity of) a prospective student-athlete's visit to the institutions campus. The prospect can't be involved in any activity that would make the public or media aware of the visit to campus. An institution may not introduce a visiting prospect during game or allow his/her picture to be placed on the video screen.
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October 10, 2011 Question
Can a company or individual use a student-athlete's name or picture on printed items?
Answer: No. If a student-athlete's name or picture appears on commercial items (e.g., t-shirts, coffee mugs, posters, and memorabilia) or is used to promote a commercial product sold by an individual without the student-athlete's knowledge or permission, OU is required to take action to stop such an activity to retain the student-athlete's eligibility.
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October 3, 2011 Question
May a representative of athletics interest provide anything to the high school coach of a prospect?
Answer: No. Oklahoma is responsible for the conduct and actions of its athletics representatives and all organizations that promote the institution's athletic programs; therefore, arrangements that involve providing material benefits (e.g., the provision of a gift such as a tangible item bearing the institution's insignia, the offer to pay a portion of the coach's or other individuals personal expenses, or arrangement to provide transportation for the coach or other individual) designed to encourage the coach who has influence of his students prohibited.
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September 26, 2011 Question
Is it permissible for an Oklahoma athletics representative club to invite high school coaches to its meetings?
Answer: No, it is not permissible for the athletics representative club to invite high school coaches to its meeting unless the invitation is advertised and extended to all members of the public who are interested in attending.
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September 19, 2011 Question
Can an athletics representative follow a current student-athlete on Twitter, reply to a current student-athlete's tweet, or tweet about a current student-athlete or OU athletic team?
Answer: Yes, an athletics representative can follow a current student-athlete on Twitter, reply to a current student-athlete's tweet, or tweet generally about a current student-athlete or team. However, athletics representatives should refrain from tweeting about prospective student-athletes.
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September 12, 2011 Question
Is it permissible for an athletics representative to accompany an OU coach when he/she visits a high school campus in their area?
Answer: No. Even if an athletic representative provides transportation for an OU coach (i.e., from the airport to the high school), the athletic representative is not a permissible recruiter and thus may not enter the high school with the coach or observe prospects.
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September 5, 2011 Question
What action should an athletic representative (athletics representative) take, if he/she becomes aware of a rules violation?
Answer: The athletic representative should contact the Athletic Compliance Office to discuss the information pertinent to the potential violation. If the athletic representative wishes to remain anonymous, he/she can contact the Athletic Compliance Office anonymously at /ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=208805781.
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August 29, 2011 Question
May athletics representatives send newspaper clippings and other information about prospects that they feel may be important to the coaching staff?
Answer: Yes. Athletics representatives may contact Oklahoma coaches regarding a prospective student-athlete, but an athletics representative may not contact (i.e. by mail, email, phone or social networking) to the prospective student-athlete about playing for the institution.
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August 22, 2011 Question
Is it permissible for an athletics representative to communicate with prospects and their families, whether in person or in writing to give them advice on choosing a college athletics program?
Answer: Generally, no. If a prospective student-athlete called you, you would be able to take the phone call and answer questions about the university that do not relate to athletics. Questions about athletics should be referred to a member of the coaching staff.
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August 15, 2011 Question
Can prospects be invited to OU alumni club functions?
Answer: Prospects from your area may be invited to OU functions as long as they are not singled out to be the only students included in the function. Since prospects cannot be contacted, invitations to OU functions must be given in the same manner that they would be given to all students participating in the function. Invitations may be sent to the high schools or advertised in the newspaper in the area indicating what the invitation entails. In addition, prospects who attend functions cannot be singled out to be introduced as that would be a violation of NCAA publicity legislation relating to prospects. Treat prospects in the same manner that all other students are treated.
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August 8, 2011 Question
Is Oklahoma responsible for the actions of its boosters and athletics representative groups?
Answer: Yes. Oklahoma is responsible for the conduct and actions of its athletics representatives and all organizations that promote the institution's athletic programs; therefore, it is OU's responsibility to educate athletics representatives and other organizations about basic NCAA rules, monitor their actions involving current and prospective student-athletes, and encourage them to ask questions. If a violation of NCAA rules occurs, even unintentionally, it may jeopardize a prospect's or current student-athlete's eligibility.
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May 23, 2011 Question
If a student-athlete graduates from another institution but has eligibility remaining, could the student be eligible for competition upon transferring to OU?
Answer: A graduate student who is enrolled in a graduate or professional school of an institution other than the institution from which he or she previously received a baccalaureate degree may participate in intercollegiate athletics if the student fulfills the conditions of the one-time transfer exception and has eligibility remaining. The one-time transfer exception does not apply to the sports of basketball, football, and men's hockey.
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May 16, 2011 Question
May OU coaches post to a prospect's Facebook wall?
Answer: No. OU coaches cannot publicize the recruitment of a prospect by posting to a PSA's Facebook wall or commenting about the PSA in a Tweet. If the is of age to correspond with, then OU coaches may send a private message through Facebook or Twitter.
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May 9, 2011 Question
Is it permissible to employ a prospective student-athlete at an institutional summer camp since he will be enrolled in summer courses?
Answer: No. An individual remains a prospect for purposes of camp legislation until he/she attends classes for a regular academic term (excludes summer). The same is true for incoming transfer students as well.
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May 2, 2011 Question
If a former student-athlete is on campus visiting during the same time a recruit is on campus for a visit, can the former student-athlete join the recruit and coach for lunch?
Answer: No. Former student-athletes are considered representatives of athletics interests, and therefore, may not make contact with prospective student-athletes.
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April 25, 2011 Question
Is it permissible for a coach to text prospects that are going to be walk-ons for the team next year?
Answer: Text messages may be sent to walk-ons only if they have paid the University's financial deposit.
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April 18, 2011 Question
Would it be permissible for a booster to pay for the team's pregame meal at an away from home competition and count it as an occasional meal?
Answer: No. Occasional meals can only be provided within the locale of the institution and need prior approval from the compliance office.
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April 11, 2011 Question
What percentage of summer athletics scholarship may a student-athlete receive after being enrolled full-time for only one semester of the previous academic year (i.e., only attends the spring semester)?
Answer: The student-athlete may receive the same percentage of athletics scholarship during the summer that they received during the one semester of the previous academic year.
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April 4, 2011 Question
May an institution reserve spots at a camp or clinic for specific prospective student-athletes?
Answer: No, an institution is not permitted to reserve spots at a camp or clinic for specific prospective student-athletes. For example, if a camp is limited to the first 100 entrants, the institution may not reserve 25 of the 100 places for the coach's top recruits. The coach would be permitted to invite those 25 recruits; however, if any of them are not within the first 100 to register, they would not be permitted to attend the camp or clinic.
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March 28, 2011 Question
Which student-athletes are eligible for the "Exceptional Student-Athlete Disability Insurance Program" sponsored by the NCAA?
Answer: Only athletes who are considered to be future top draft picks in the sports of football, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball and men's ice hockey may qualify under the NCAA's insurance program.
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March 21, 2011 Question
May an institution subscribe to a video-only recruiting service?
Answer: Yes. Under new NCAA legislation an institution may now subscribe to a recruiting service that only provides video of prospective student-athletes. However, this video-only recruiting service may not provide information about or analysis of the prospective student-athletes.
The video-only recruiting service is subject to all the provisions below, except for (c) and (e).
a. Is made available to all institutions desiring to subscribe and at the same fee rate for all subscribers;
b.
Publicly identifies all applicable rates;
c. Disseminates information (e.g., reports, profiles) about prospective student-athletes at least four times per calendar year;
d. Publically identifies the geographical scope of the service (e.g., local regional, national) and reflects broad-based coverage of the geographical area in the information it disseminates;
e. Provides individual analysis beyond demographic information or rankings for each prospective student-athlete in the information it disseminates.
f. Provides access to samples or previews of the information it disseminates before purchase of a subscription; and
g. Provides video that is restricted to regularly scheduled (regular-season) high school, predatory school or two-year college contests and for which the institution made no prior arrangements for recording. (Note: This provision is applicable only if the subscription includes video services.)
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March 14, 2011 Question
During a prospect's official or unofficial visit, may an institution provide them complimentary admission(s) to a postseason contest?
Answer: No. If a prospective student-athlete wishes to attend a postseason contest (i.e., conference tournament, NCAA championship event/tournament, bowl game) on their official or unofficial visit, they must purchase the ticket in the same manner as the general public.
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March 7, 2011 Question
What happens to student-athletes or athletic department staff members if they are found to be involved in an impermissible sports wagering activity?
Answer: Student-athletes will be ineligible for all regular-season and postseason competition for one year and will lose one year of eligibility if they are found to be involved in an impermissible sports wager. If there is a second occurrence, the student-athlete will then become permanently ineligible in all sports.
If a student-athlete is involved with influencing the outcome of a game (e.g., points shaving) or if they participate in any sports wagering activity involving their institution, they will permanently lose all eligibility.
Athletic department staff members found to have participated in an impermissible sports wagering activity will face disciplinary action from their institution. Potential disciplinary action may include termination.
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February 28, 2011 Question
What does the NCAA consider a wager?
Answer: With the enormous popularity of "bracket pools" associated with the upcoming NCAA tournament for men's and women's basketball, it is important to be aware of what is considered a wager by the NCAA. A wager is any agreement in which someone gives up an item of value (i.e., money, dinner, etc.) with the hope of gaining another item of value.
Forms of sports wagering include, but are not limited to, the use of a bookmaker or parlay card; internet sports wagering; auctions in which bids are placed on teams, individuals or contests; and pools or fantasy leagues in which an entry fee is required and there is an opportunity to win a prize.
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February 21, 2011 Question
Within a sport's playing season, may a travel day related to athletics participation be used to satisfy the one day off per week requirement?
Answer: Yes, provided no countable athletically related activities occur on that day.
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February 14, 2011 Question
When can coaches and university staff permanently make unlimited telephone calls and begin text messaging prospective student-athletes who are going to walk-on?
Answer: The day after the institution receives a financial deposit from the prospective student-athlete after being admitted to the university.
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February 7, 2011 Question
May a coach have face-to-face contact with a prospect who is a non-qualifier while they are in their first year of a two-year college?
Answer: No. A prospective student-athlete who was not a qualifier as defined in Bylaw 14.02.9.1 and who is enrolled in the first year of a two-year college may not be contacted in-person on- or off-campus.
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January 31, 2011 Question
Are coaches permitted to conduct interviews with individual media outlets in addition to the one-time press conference announcing all signees?
Answer: Yes, it is permissible for coaches to conduct interviews with media outlets, provided: (1) All prospective student-athletes discussed have signed a National Letter of Intent that has been received and (2) The prospects do not appear either with the coach or during the same program segment as the coach.
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January 24, 2011 Question
Who do NCAA regulations regarding sports wagering apply to?
Answer: With the Super Bowl only a couple weeks away please do not forget NCAA rules preclude individuals included in the groups below from placing, accepting or soliciting a wager of any type on an institutional practice sessions or college, professional and amateur sporting events (in sports that the NCAA conducts a championship, bowl subdivision football and emerging sports for women).
• Student-athletes;
• Athletics department staff members;
• Non-athletics department staff members who have responsibilities within or over the athletics department; and
• Staff members of a conference office
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January 17, 2011 Question
May a student-athlete participate on a telephone call when a coach is talking to a prospect?
Answer: No. Student-athletes may not participate in, or make telephone calls at the direction of a coaching staff member or financed by the institution or a booster.
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January 10, 2011 Question
May student-athletes sell, or trade for something of value, awards (including championship and bowl gifts) or apparel they have received as a student-athlete?
Answer: No. It is impermissible for a student-athlete to sell any item received for athletic participation or exchange for another item of value. Student-athletes are not permitted to sell awards received for participation in conference or national competition or received through special achievements.
As has recently been highly publicized a student-athlete that sells his/her awards or apparel (or trades those items for something of value) is rendering themselves ineligible. Further, the student-athlete will have to go through the reinstatement process with the NCAA that will likely include repaying the value of the benefit received for selling or trading their items and a suspension from a contest or contests.
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January 3, 2011 Question
Does the definition of a "week" differ between recruiting and the playing season rules?
Answer: Yes. For purposes of the playing season regulations, a "week" can be any consecutive seven day period which is declared by the sport prior to the beginning of the year (i.e., Monday-Sunday or Wednesday-Tuesday). However, for purposes of recruiting regulations (i.e., telephone contact, visits to a prospect's school) a "week" is defined by the NCAA as Sunday through Saturday.
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