SUNY Old Westbury Athletics

Booster Information
It is the policy of the SUNY Old Westbury Department of Athletics to adhere to all applicable NCAA,Skyline Conference, and College rules and regulations in the conduct of its athletics programs. As a member of NCAA Division III, SUNY Old Westbury is committed to meeting the standards of institutional control and upholding the rules and regulations mandated by the NCAA.
It is the responsibility and obligation of all Athletics Department staff members to act within all applicable rules and regulations at all times. In accordance with NCAA bylaws, all athletics department coaching and administrative staff members are required to complete NCAA rules education annually.

The NCAA rules and regulations explicitly outline what actions are permissible by a Representative of Athletics Interests, commonly referred to as boosters.

Any violation of NCAA legislation involving a booster or booster organization may result in sanctions against SUNY Old Westbury. Representatives of athletics interests found in violation of NCAA rules may be subject to disassociation the SUNY Old Westbury Department of Athletics and the loss of any benefits or privileges associated with the university.

This guide provides a general overview of key NCAA rules governing interactions between representatives of athletics interests and prospective or current student-athletes. This document is not a comprehensive summary of all NCAA legislation. Individuals with specific questions are encouraged to contact the CCNY Department of Athletics. YOU ARE A REPRESENTATIVE OF ATHLETICS INTERESTS IF YOU:

• Have ever participated in or are a member of any organization promoting SUNY Old Westbury athletics.
• Have ever made a donation of money, gifts, or services to any SUNY Old Westbury athletic program.
• Have ever assisted, or been requested by the Athletics Department staff, to assist in the recruiting of prospective student-athletes.
• Have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families.
• Have otherwise been involved in promoting SUNY Old Westbury’s athletic programs.

According to NCAA rules, once an individual has been identified as an institutional representative of athletics interests, the individual retains that designation for life.
SUNY Old Westbury is ultimately responsible for the actions of its athletics representatives with regard to NCAA rules and regulations. If you are aware of any NCAA or conference violation, please report it immediately to the Director of Athletics. Even unintentional violations may jeopardize the eligibility of a prospective or enrolled student-athlete.
NCAA Guidelines for Representatives of Athletics Interest  
 WHO IS A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE?
A prospective student-athlete is any student who has started classes for the ninth grade. A student who has not yet started ninth grade may become a prospect if SUNY Old Westbury, or a booster, provides the student, their relatives, or friends with financial assistance or benefits not generally provided to other students.
In addition, student-athletes enrolled in preparatory schools or two-year colleges, or those who have officially withdrawn from a four-year institution, are considered prospects. A prospect becomes a current student-athlete only when they report for preseason practice or the first day of classes, whichever occurs first. WHO IS A CURRENT STUDENT-ATHLETE?
A current student-athlete is any SUNY Old Westbury student who is presently a member of an athletics team or who has completed eligibility but remains enrolled at the institution. NCAA regulations apply to all student-athletes, not only those who were recruited. WHAT IS AN EXTRA BENEFIT?
Members of the Athletics Department staff and representatives of athletics interests are prohibited from providing extra benefits to prospective or current student-athletes. An extra benefit is any gift or arrangement not expressly permitted by the NCAA and not generally available to the student body. Examples include transportation, housing, meals, clothing, entertainment, preferential loan terms, or other similar benefits. WHAT IS RECRUITING?
Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospective student-athlete or their parent/legal guardian by a SUNY Old Westbury staff member for the purpose of securing the prospect’s enrollment at SUNY Old Westbury and/or participation in its athletics programs. Recruiting activities include correspondence, emails, phone calls, and in-person contacts on or off campus. WHO MAY RECRUIT?
In NCAA Division III, representatives of athletics interests may make in-person, on- or off-campus recruiting contacts with a prospect only after the completion of the prospect’s junior year in high school. Representatives of athletics interests may not entertain prospects off campus or provide transportation or related expenses to prospects, their relatives, or friends.
If you are aware of a potential student-athlete who may be interested in attending SUNY Old Westbury, please contact the appropriate head coach. WHAT MAY BOOSTERS DO?
Permissible activities with prospective student-athletes:

• You may continue contact with an established family friend or neighbor who is a prospect, provided the contact is not for recruiting purposes and is not initiated by SUNY Old Westbury coaching staff.
• You may refer outstanding prospects to SUNY Old Westbury coaches by providing publicly available information such as newspaper clippings or statistics.

Permissible activities with currently enrolled student-athletes:

• You may have contact with enrolled student-athletes on campus.
• You may invite a student-athlete(s) or an entire team to your home for a meal and provide transportation, provided the meal is for infrequent or special occasions (e.g., holidays, birthdays) and approval is obtained from Athletic Administration in advance.
• You may host an entire team for a meal while they are traveling for an away contest. The meal may be at a home or restaurant but must include the entire team.
• You may contribute to SUNY Old Westbury athletics support funds that help provide a quality experience for SUNY Old Westbury student-athletes.

Reporting Violations
SUNY Old Westbury takes pride in ensuring that coaches, staff, student-athletes, and supporters adhere to NCAA and conference rules. All potential violations are taken seriously and investigated as appropriate. If you believe a violation of NCAA or conference rules may have occurred, please report the information promptly to the SUNY Old Westbury Department of Athletics so it may be addressed.