California Irvine Athletics

Are You A Representative of UC Irvine Athletic Interests?

A “representative of UC Irvine’s athletic interests” (commonly known as a “booster”) is bound by NCAA rules, Big West Conference and University regulations and UC Irvine is responsible for their actions.

What is a Booster?
Under NCAA legislation, you are considered a UC Irvine booster if:

1. You made a financial contribution of any amount or a gift in-kind (goods or services) to UC Irvine Athletics or to any of the groups or funds that support our athletic programs;
2. You provided NCAA-permissible benefits to UC Irvine student-athletes or their families or to prospective student-athletes or their families;
3. You assisted in any manner in the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete to attend UC Irvine, even if UC Irvine didn’t request the assistance; or
4. You have otherwise assisted in promoting UC Irvine Athletics in any manner.

Once identified as a booster, you retain that status forever, and NCAA rules will always apply to you.
UC Irvine reserves the right to withhold any athletic department privileges (e.g. tickets, parking, receptions, events) from individuals involved in a violation of NCAA rules.
As our most loyal supporters and fans, what is your role?
Please keep NCAA rules compliance in mind, report to the UC Irvine Compliance Office when you are aware of a potential rules violation, and always, “ask before you act.”
If you have any questions on NCAA rules, please contact Megan Nicholson, Assistant Athletic Director Compliance at msnichol@uci.edu

Recruiting and Contact with Prospects:

Only UC Irvine coaches may be involved in the recruiting process. Boosters MAY NOT make any recruiting contacts.

A Booster MAY:
• Provide information to UC Irvine coaches about noteworthy prospects (but do not contact a prospect's coach or high school officials regarding recruitment).
• Watch a prospect's athletic contest (but do not contact the prospect or the prospect's family).
• Continue an established relationship with a prospect and his/her family if the relationship 1) predates the prospect entering the ninth grade and 2) didn’t develop as a result of the prospect’s athletic participation or fame.

A Booster MAY NOT:
• Have any in-person contact with a prospect or his/her family on or off the UC Irvine campus.
• Communicate with a prospect or encourage them to attend UC Irvine through written correspondence, email, texting, Internet
(Skype) or social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
• Approach a UC Irvine coach who is with a prospect on or off the UC Irvine campus or at any athletics event.
• Invite a prospect or his or her relatives or friends to a UC Irvine athletic event or to any booster function.
• Provide any extra benefit to or arrange employment for a prospect or his/her family or friends.

What about unavoidable incidental contact with a prospect?
An NCAA violation would not occur, but only if the contact 1) is not prearranged by the booster or UC Irvine, 2) does not occur at the prospect’s high school or competition site, 3) isn’t made for recruiting purposes and 4) is incidental and involves only normal civility and an attempt to end the contact immediately.

What may boosters do with current student-athletes?

A Booster MAY:
• Provide a meal on an occasional basis to a student-athlete or an entire team. The meal MUST take place in the booster’s home or on the UC Irvine campus, and may not be provided in a restaurant. This meal may be catered. Meals may never be provided by boosters to a student-athlete’s family members or friends. ALL meals provided under this rule MUST be approved in advance by the UC Irvine Compliance Office.
• Provide employment under certain circumstances to current student-athletes. Hiring of UC Irvine student-athletes MUST be approved in advance by the UC Irvine Compliance Staff. Both the student-athlete AND the employer must sign a written statement PRIOR to starting any employment. Student-athletes must be paid the established rate in the area for similar services for work actually performed.

A Booster MAY NOT:
• Provide extra benefits to any student-athlete or his/her family.
• Use the name or picture of a student-athlete to promote a commercial product or service.

Social Media Reminder:

Boosters may not initiate or “accept” friend requests or “follow” a prospect on social media. Contacting a PSA or members of PSA’s family for the purpose of recruiting or encouraging the PSA’s participation in the UC Irvine Athletic program is an NCAA violation.

NCAA Definitions to Know:

Who is a prospective student-athlete?
Typically, a “prospect” is any student, regardless of athletics ability or participation, who has started classes for the 9th grade.

Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or his/her family members by the UC Irvine staff or a booster to encourage him/her to enroll at UC Irvine to participate in the UC Irvine athletic program.
ONLY UC Irvine coaches and athletic department staff members may be involved in the recruiting process.

Extra Benefit is any special arrangement provided to student-athletes or prospects not otherwise available to all UC Irvine students or the general public. Extra benefits include, but are not limited to:
• Cash or loans of any amount or co-signing for a loan
• Use of an automobile or payment of any transportation expense
• Gifts of any kind, including passes to hospitality room, birthday cards, and holiday gifts
• Tangible items such as clothing, jewelry, electronics, or use of personal property