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University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Compliance Office • Information for Donors, Faculty & Alumni
Better Safe than Sorry!
Compliance with NCAA regulations is one of the highest priorities for our athletic program and institution. We need your assistance in complying with NCAA rules. Please read the University’s NCAA Compliance Guide and the information below for an overview on NCAA rules and regulations. Do not put the University, a prospective student-athlete, or an enrolled student-athlete at risk of a penalty or loss of eligibility. When you are faced with a situation and are unsure as to how to respond, we strongly urge you to remember that it is better safe than sorry and please
Make sure you are “Awake, Alert, Aware”
What is a “Representative of Athletics Interest”?
An individual is identified as a Representative of Athletics Interest if he/she:
- Has ever been a member of a representative of athletics interest organization that supports the University of Massachusetts Athletics;
- Has made financial contributions to the athletics department or a Representative of Athletics Interest organization;
- Has ever been involved with recruitment of a prospect
- Has provided or are providing benefits to an enrolled student-athlete or their relatives or friends;
- Has otherwise been involved in promoting the University of Massachusetts’ athletic program (e.g., alumni and friends);
- Provides or has helped arrange employment for student-athletes;
- Is the parent or legal guardian of an enrolled student-athlete; and/or
- Has ever been a season ticket holder.
Unsure of your Representative of Athletics Interest classification?
Use the following test:
The NCAA has developed a four-part test to determine whether or not an individual has become a Representative of Athletics Interest and/or provided a student-athlete, their relatives or friends with an impermissible benefit. If you answer YES to any of the following statements, then providing benefits to prospects or student-athletes, their relatives and friends can result in the student-athlete being rendered ineligible and cause the individual providing the benefit to be classified as a Representative of Athletics Interest:
- The relationship between the student-athlete (or parents of the student-athlete) and the individual providing the benefits developed as a result of the student-athlete's participation in athletics or their reputation as an athlete; or
- The relationship began only after the athlete became a prospect; or
- The relationship began only after the athlete had achieved notoriety due to his or her athletic ability or reputation; or
- The pattern of giving and/or frequency of giving increased after the athlete attained notoriety as a skilled athlete.
Extra Benefits
- An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or representative of the institution’s athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete family member or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.
- Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes or their family members or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution’s students or their family members or friends or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., international students, minority students) determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability.
Examples of impermissible extra benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Cash or loans in any amount, or signing or cosigning for a loan
- Gifts of any kind, including birthday and holiday gifts
- Free or reduced-cost services such as car repairs, haircuts, tutoring, etc.
- The use of an automobile
- Free or reduced rent or housing
- Tickets to an athletic or community event
- Academic course supplies or assistance
- Arranging the employment of the relatives or friends of a student-athlete.
Examples of permissible benefits include:
- Hometown Award - A hometown group (other than the Minutemen Club) may pay reasonable and necessary expenses of a student-athlete returning home to receive an award for athletics accomplishments. The value of the hometown award cannot exceed $80.
- Transportation - It is permissible for a student-athlete to receive reasonable local transportation (within a 30-mile radius of campus) on an occasional basis from a University of Massachusetts employee.
Employment
NCAA legislation does mandate that strict protocol be followed when the employment of a current student-athlete or prospective student-athlete becomes a possibility.
Currently Enrolled Student-Athletes (12.4.1)
Compensation may be paid to a student-athlete:
- a. Only for work actually performed; and
- b. At a rate comparable with the going rate in that position for similar services.
Student-athletes MUST consult and complete the appropriate paperwork with the Compliance Office before the initial employment date.
Prospective Student-Athletes (13.2.3)
Prior to Completion of Senior Year-Non-Athletics Award Winners (12.2.3.1)
- An institution's athletics department may employ a prospective student-athlete who is not an athletics award winner and not recruited by the institution, provided the employment is arranged through normal institutional employment procedures (e.g., local newspaper, bulletin board listings). Any compensation received by the prospective student-athlete must be for work actually performed and comparable with the going rate for such services in the locale.
- An institution may employ a prospective student-athlete who is an athletics award winner in any department outside intercollegiate athletics, provided the employment is arranged through normal institutional employment procedures (e.g., local newspaper, bulletin board listings) and without the intervention of any member of the institution's coaching staff.
- Any compensation received by the prospective student-athlete must be for work actually performed and comparable with the going rate for such services in the locale.
- For purposes of this bylaw, institutional recreation programs, even if reporting to the athletics director, may be considered outside the intercollegiate athletics department.
- An institution may hire a prospective student-athlete, who is an athletics award winner, in its recreation programs, only if recreation and facility managers and no intercollegiate coaches are involved with the hiring and supervision of these employees.
- An institution may arrange for employment of employ any prospective student-athlete (regardless of athletics award winner status), provided the employment does not begin prior to the completion of the prospective student-athlete's senior year of high school.
- Once a prospective student-athlete has enrolled as a full-time student in a two-year college, the arrangement of employment by an institution for such a prospective student-athlete shall be permitted, provided that the employment does not begin prior to the time period I which the prospective student-athlete has officially withdrawn from or has completed requirements for graduation at the two-year college.
FAQ’s
Q1: Is the University of Massachusetts responsible for the actions of its’ Representatives of Athletics Interest and Representative of Athletics Interest groups (e.g., Minutemen Club)
- A1: Representatives of Athletics Interest are subject to the same NCAA and institutional rules that govern athletics department staff members at the University of Massachusetts. If a violation of these rules occurs - even in an unintentional nature - it may jeopardize prospective student-athletes or currently enrolled student-athletes' eligibility for competition.
Q2: Can Representatives of Athletics Interest be involved in the recruiting process?
- A2: Representatives of Athletics Interest are prohibited from recruiting activities on or off campus. A Representative of Athletics Interest can speak on the phone to a prospect only if the prospect initiates the telephone call and the call is not for recruiting purposes.
Q3: Can A Representative of Athletics Interest help identify prospects?
- A3: A Representative of Athletics Interest can assist the coaching staff in the recruiting process by notifying them of any prospective student-athlete that may be an asset to a particular program within the intercollegiate athletics department. Representatives of Athletics Interest may also send any newspaper clippings or other information about prospects to the University of Massachusetts’ coaching staff members. Representatives of Athletics Interest are also permitted to attend high school or two-year college athletic contests or other events where prospective student-athletes may compete. Representatives of Athletics Interest are not permitted to have contact with either the prospective student-athlete or the prospect's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) at these events.
Q4: If a Representative of Athletics Interest is friends with a couple whose child is being recruited by the University of Massachusetts, is it permissible for the Representative of Athletics Interest to continue the friendship?
- A4: The Representative of Athletics Interest may continue the existing relationship but is expressly prohibited from discussing UMass’ intercollegiate athletics program.
Q5: Is it permissible for a Representative of Athletics Interest to arrange employment for a prospective student-athlete or currently enrolled student-athlete during the summer months?
- A5: It is permissible for a Representative of Athletics Interest to arrange employment for a prospective student-athlete in the summer only after the National Letter of Intent and accompanying offer of athletic aid have been signed and after high school graduation. It is permissible for a Representative of Athletics Interest to arrange employment for a currently enrolled student-athlete provided the student-athlete is compensated for work actually performed and at a rate comparable with the going rate for similar services. The student-athlete must register this request with the Compliance Office before the initial employment date.
Q6: Is it permissible for a Representative of Athletics Interest to arrange employment for a prospective student-athlete or currently enrolled student-athlete during the academic year?
- A6: It is not permissible for a Representative of Athletics Interest to arrange employment for a prospective student-athlete prior to signing a National Letter of Intent and accompanying offer of athletic aid and graduating from high school. It is permissible for a Representative of Athletics Interest to arrange employment for a currently enrolled student-athlete. The student-athlete must be compensated for work actually performed and at a rate comparable with the going rate for similar services. The student-athlete must register this request with the Compliance Office before the initial employment date.
Q7: Is it permissible for a Representative of Athletics Interest to have a student-athlete or team over to his or her home for a meal?
- A7: A student-athlete or team may receive an occasional home meal from a Representative of Athletics Interest provided the following conditions are met:
- The meal is held in the individual’s home as opposed to a restaurant (meal may be catered);
- The meal is restricted to special and infrequent occasions (occasional meal); and
- The Representative of Athletics Interest home meal is approved in advance by the Compliance Office.
- Institutional staff members and Representatives of Athletics Interest may provide reasonable, local transportation for student-athletes to attend such a meal.
Penalties for Representative of Athletics Interest Rules Violations
NCAA Bylaw 6.4.2.1 - Revocation or Withholding Privileges
- NCAA member institutions must notify representatives of athletics interests, or Representatives of Athletics Interest, of all consequences regarding rules violations. Any athletically related benefit or privilege may be withheld or revoked if the individual has engaged in conduct that is determined to be a violation of NCAA legislation, regardless of whether such violation results in sanctions. A benefit or privilege may include, but is not limited to, any athletically related benefit received from an agreement between the athletics representative and the institution, such as ticket privileges. The revocation of ticket privileges may result in an individual being denied admittance to any institutional athletics events.