Representative of Athletic Interests 

 

 

The NCAA defines a "representative of athletics interests" as an individual who is known (or should have been known) by a member of the institution’s executive or athletics administration to:

  • Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization, including corporate entities (e.g., apparel and equipment companies), promoting the institution's intercollegiate athletics program;
  • Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution;
  • Be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes;
  • Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or
  • Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution's athletics program.

Once an individual has been identified as a representative of athletic insterests, the person retains that identity for life.


  Am I a booster?

Have you ever?:

  • Been a member of a booster organization that supports Carson-Newman Athletics?
  • Have you made a financial contribution to the athletic department, Eagle Club or specific sport?
  • Are or have you ever been involved with the recruitment of a prospect?
  • Have you provided or are providing benefits to an enrolled student-athlete or their relatives or friends?
  • Have otherwise been involved in promoting C-N athletics?
  • Provided or have help to arrange employment for student-athletes?
  • Been the parents or legal guardians of an enrolled student-athlete?
  • Been or ever been a season ticket holder?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then you are a representative of athletic interests – booster.


  What is an extra benefit?

Fans and boosters may not provide anything to prospects or currently enrolled student-athletes, or their families, without prior approval from the C-N Athletic Compliance Office.

If a student-athlete and/or his or her family accept any benefits of special consideration (transportation, clothing, money, meals, etc) based on their athletic skill, the student-athlete jeopardizes his or her eligibility and Carson-Newman will be subject to NCAA penalties.

Extra benefits can include, but are not limited to:

  • Money, gifts, clothing, tickets for entertainment, haircuts and use of a car
  • Free or reduced cost room or board anywhere
  • Free or reduced cost merchandise anywhere
  • Use of athletics department copy/fax machines, long distance telephone services or free use of a cell phone.
  • Typing or editing reports. Papers, letters, etc. for a student-athlete.
  • A loan of money or the cosigning of a note to arrange a loan.  The sale or trade of complimentary admissions for merchandize, services or debt repayment.
  • The sale or trade of any items a student-athlete has received for his or her participation in athletics.

Please note, this is not an exhaustive list.  Please refrain from offering prospects and/or current student-athletes and their families and friends anything that is not available to all students or the general public.


  As a booster, what can I do to help C-N athletics? 

You may:

  • Attend as many athletic events as you like.
  • Call, write, or send newspaper articles to the C-N coaching staff regarding outstanding student-athletes.
  • Offer assistance to the C-N coaching staff who are recruiting your area.
  • Attend a public event, but may not have pre-arranged contact with prospects. 

  As a booster, what can I not do?

You may not:

  • Recruit players to C-N.
  • Tweet or Facebook recruits.
  • Contact recruits by telephone, email or in person.
  • Visit recruits at home.
  • Provide meals to student-athletes, unless you have received permission from C-N Compliance (including holiday meals, tailgate meals before games, etc.).
  • Let student-athletes or prospects stay at your house or borrow your car.