High Point University Athletics

What is a Booster?
Who is a Prospective Student-Athlete?
Who is a Student-Athlete?
What is an Extra Benefit?
As a booster, what can I do?
What happens if a booster violates a rule?
Policy and List of Approved Agents (PDF)
Booster Brochure (PDF)

WHAT IS A BOOSTER?
A Booster is: A representative of High Point’s athletic interests. You are considered a booster if you meet any of the following conditions:
• You are a member of any organization that promotes High Point athletics (Panther Club).
• You have made financial contributions to High Point athletics or to an athletics’ booster organization.
• You have assisted or have been asked to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes.
• You have provided benefits (e.g., summer employment or occasional meals) to enrolled student-athletes or their families.
• You have promoted High Point Athletics in any way.


WHO IS A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE?
A Prospective Student-Athlete (Recruit) is:
• Any individual that has started classes for the 9th grade (7th grade for Men’s basketball).
• Any individual enrolled at preparatory schools or two-year colleges.

Individuals maintain this status until they begin full-time enrollment at a four-year institution.


WHO IS A STUDENT-ATHLETE?
A Student-Athlete is: Any individual enrolled in classes who participates in High Point University’s athletics program.


WHAT IS AN EXTRA BENEFIT?
An Extra Benefit is: Any special arrangement by a High Point employee or booster to provide: 1) the student-athlete 2) their family or 3) their friends, a benefit that is either not authorized by the NCAA or not available to the general student body or segment of the student body.

Prohibition of "Extra Benefits"
Boosters are not permitted to provide enrolled student-athletes and prospective student-athletes or their relative or friends with any “extra benefits”.

According to the NCAA, an “extra benefit” is any special arrangement made which is not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation or available to the general student body. The following are SOME (but not all) examples of items considered to be “extra benefits”:
• Providing cash or loans in any amount or signing/co-signing for a loan.
• Giving gifts of any kind, including birthday/holiday gifts and “get well soon” cards.
• Offering free or reduced-cost services such as car repairs, haircuts, dental work, etc.
• Providing the use of an automobile, as well as a ride anywhere.
• Offering free or reduced-cost rent or housing.
• Giving tickets to athletic or community events, even if you received the tickets for free.
• Employing relatives or friends of a prospective student-athlete as inducement to attend High Point University.
• Providing course supplies, typing, or duplicating costs.
• Entertaining a prospect or enrolled student-athlete or their friends and families. Exception: Occasional Meals.


AS A BOOSTER, WHAT CAN AND CAN'T I DO?

YOU CAN	YOU CAN NOT
Prospects • Notify or forward information to appropriate members of High Point’s coaching staff about a prospect. • Attend a prospect’s athletic contest as long as no contact is made with the prospect, their relatives or friends, or any other individual (coach, principal, counselor) regarding the academic or athletic ability of the prospect. • Accept telephone calls initiated by prospects that are not related to High Point Athletics. ALL RECRUITING OR ATHLETIC QUESTIONS MUST be deferred to the High Point athletic department. • Continue pre-existing relationships with prospects provided the booster refrains from any form of recruitment. The relationship must have begun prior to the prospect beginning the 9th grade (7th grade for Men’s Basketball prospects). • Employ incoming prospects who have signed a National Letter of Intent, provided the prospect has graduated from high school or withdrawn from junior-college. The prospect must be paid at the going rate for similar jobs in the area and only compensated for work actually performed.	Prospects • Contact a prospect or their relatives or friends for recruiting purposes. This includes contact via telephone, mail, email, social networking websites, or text messaging. Face-to-face contact cannot be made on- or off-campus for recruiting purposes. • Assist High Point coaching staff by picking up transcripts, films, or any other information from a prospect’s educational institution. • Provide benefits of any kind (e.g., clothing, special discounts, lodging, meals, transportation, loans, etc.) to a prospect or their family or friends. • Contact a prospect to congratulate them on signing a National Letter of Intent to attend High Point University. • Make contact with a prospect or their parents while on campus for an official or unofficial visit. • Provide or arrange for transportation for a prospect or their relative or friends to visit campus.
Student-Athletes • Provide an occasional meal (birthday, thanksgiving, special occasion) provided the High Point athletic department is informed prior to the meal. The meal must take place at the booster’s home and can be catered. The meal CANNOT take place at a restaurant. • You may provide transportation to an occasional meal held at your home. • Employ student-athletes provided the student-athlete is paid a rate commensurate with experience and is for work actually performed. Providing transportation is prohibited unless offered to all employees. The student-athletes may not be involved in any advertisements for the business. • You may display HPU issued posters at your place of business.	Student-Athletes • Pay or arrange for payment of room, board, or transportation at any time for currently enrolled student-athletes, their relatives, or friends. • Provide a student-athlete or their relatives or friends with any type of extra benefit, or any benefit not available to the general student body. • Provide special discounts (e.g., free or reduced meals/housing), payment arrangement (e.g., cosigning a loan), credits on a purchase (e.g., frequent flyer miles), or services (e.g., transportation, use of phone) to student-athletes, their relative, or friends. • Provide awards or gifts to student-athletes for any reason. • Entertain student-athletes or their family or friends.

WHAT HAPPENS IF A BOOSTER VIOLATES A RULE?
UNDER NCAA BYLAW 6.4.2.1, HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO WITHHOLD ANY BENEFIT OR PRIVILEGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ATHLETEICS DEPARTMENT FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN AN NCAA RULES VIOLATION, INCLUDING REVOCATION OF BOOSTER CLUB MEMBERSHIPS AND TICKET PRIVILEGES.