Booster Education for Alumni, Family and Friends

Texas A&M University-Kingsville is responsible for the actions of coaches, student-athletes and staff, as well as alumni, boosters and fans. The following information is intended to help athletic boosters and organizations so they can best support university athletes without putting Javelina Athletics at risk

BOOSTERS

Question: What is a booster?
Answer: A Booster is someone who:

Participated in or served as a member of a booster organization that supports Javelina Athletics (e.g. Javelina Club);
Made any financial contribution to the athletics department or any group or project supporting Javelina Athletics;
Has been involved in the recruitment of a prospect or asked to assist in the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete;
Has provided benefits to an enrolled student-athlete or his or her relatives or friends;
Has been involved in promoting Javelina Athletics in any way;
Has helped arrange employment for student-athletes;
Is a parent or guardian of an enrolled student-athlete;
Has ever been a season-ticket holder.

Once someone is identified as a Booster/representative of Javelina Athletics he/she retains that identity forever.

RECRUITING

Question: What is a prospective student-athlete?
Answer: A prospective student-athlete begins with any athlete who began his/her classes in the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade can become a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides a benefit or assistance not provided to prospective students in general. After signing a National Letter of Intent or accepting financial aid an individual remains a prospective student-athlete until they report for the first day of classes.

Boosters are Prohibited From:

Contacting a prospect in person on or off campus;
Writing or telephoning a prospect or member of the prospect's family;
Making arrangements for the prospect or the prospect's relatives or friends to receive money or financial aid;
Provide transportation for a prospect or the prospect's family or friends to visit the campus;
Providing free tickets or reduced priced tickets to attend an athletic event to the prospect or the prospect's family or friends;
Entertaining coaches of prospects.

Boosters are Permitted To:

Notify coaches about prospects in their area;
Attend athletic contests where prospects compete, but may not contact the prospect or prospect's relatives;
Continue existing friendships with families of prospects, but not attempt to recruit.

ENROLLED STUDENT-ATHLETES

Question: Can boosters have contact with currently enrolled student-athletes?
Answer: A booster cannot provide a student-athlete any benefit or assistance that would not be offered to the rest of the general student population. This includes:

Entertaining student-athletes or their friends or family;
Purchasing a meal or beverage for a student athlete;
Using the name or picture of an enrolled student-athlete to advertise, recommend, or promote a product or service;
Providing awards or gifts to student-athletes;
Allowing a student-athlete to use a telephone to make free calls or use of a free or discounted automobile.

NOTE: An enrolled student-athlete can be invited to a boosters home for an occasional home-cooked meal--not... not to a restaurant.

EMPLOYMENT

A student-athlete can be employed as long as compensation is only for work actually performed, at a rate commensurate with the going rate for similar work, and the student-athlete was not hired based on athletics ability.

NOTE: Employment can be arranged for a prospect provided the employment does not begin before the completion of the prospects senior year.

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Questions? Comments? Contact: Athletic Dept.