Information for UVA Boosters, Alumni and Faculty
It is the responsibility of the University of Virginia's Athletics Department to control its athletics program, monitor its programs and ensure that members of the University's staff, student-athletes and other individuals or groups representing the University's athletics interest comply with all ACC and NCAA regulations.
The information below are questions regarding the rules for UVA boosters, alumni and faculty. Please do not hesitate to contact the UVA Office of Compliance (434-982-5018) if you have any question. In addition, please visit the NCAA website and look at our booster brochure for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is considered an UVA representative of athletics interest (more commonly known as a UVA booster)?
A booster is any representative of the University of Virginia's athletic interests. Once a person becomes a booster, they remain a booster indefinitely. Some common examples are:
- A member of any organization that promotes the University of Virginia's Department of Athletics (e.g. the Virginia Athletics Foundation).
- An individual who has made a financial contribution to the University of Virginia Department of Athletics or its Booster organizations.
- An individual who has assisted in the recruitment of prospects for the University of Virginia.
- An individual who has provided benefits (e.g. occasional family meals or summer employment) to enrolled student-athletes.
- An individual who has, in any way, promoted the athletics program at the University of Virginia.
- An individual who is or has ever been an employee of the University of Virginia.
- An individual who has ever purchased season tickets for any of the University of Virginia's athletic programs.
- Any individual who is the spouse of a University of Virginia Department of Athletics employee.
2. Is UVA responsible for the actions of UVA boosters and their support groups?
Yes. Representatives of athletics interest are subject to NCAA regulations and UVA is subject to penalties for any violation of NCAA rules by athletics representatives or their support group.
3. Who is considered a prospective student-athlete (prospect)?
- You begin ninth-grade classes; or
- Before your ninth-grade year, a college gives you, your parents or friends any financial aid or other benefits that the college does not provide generally.
- For camp purposes in men's basketball and softball only: a prospective student has started classes in the 7th grade.
4. What is considered recruiting?
Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or the prospect's family (or guardian) by an institutional staff member or by a representative of the institution's athletics interests for the purpose of securing that prospect's enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution's intercollegiate athletics program.
5. How long is a prospective student-athlete (prospect) considered to be a prospect?
A prospective student-athlete remains a prospect until the individual signs a National Letter of Intent or the institution’s written offer of admission and/or financial aid or the institution receives the individual's financial deposit in response to its offer of admissions; AND the individual completes all high school graduation requirements, or all transfer academic eligibility requirements.
6. Is it permissible for a booster to contact a prospective student-athlete or his/her parents or legal guardians?
No, unless he/she has signed a National Letter of Intent and and it is approved by the coaching staff.
7. If a prospect and his/her family have been neighbors and friends of a booster's family for many years, do NCAA rules prohibit the booster's family from contacting the prospect's family?
No. However, it must be understood that such contact between the two families cannot be made for recruiting purposes and cannot be initiated or arranged by UVA coaching staff members. In addition, the established relationship been the two families must have occured prior the prospect becoming a prospect (entered 9th grade).
8. Is it permissible to speak to a prospect if the prospect calls a booster?
A booster may have a telephone conversation with a prospect ONLY if the prospect initiates the call. An institutional staff member may not prearrange such a call and the booster may NOT have a recruiting conversation, but may exhibit normal civility. The booster must refer any questions about the University's athletics program to the UVA Department of Athletics.
9. What if unavoidable incidental contact is made with a prospect by a booster?
Unavoidable incidental contact with a prospect is permissible provided the contact is not prearranged by a booster or an UVA Athletics staff member; does not take place at the prospect's educational institution or at the site of organized competition and practice involving the prospect; or is not made for the purpose of recruitment of the propsect and involves only normal civility.
10. During recruitment, or prior to an individual's enrollment, can a booster be involved directly or indirectly in making arrangements for a prospect, the prospect's relative, or friends to receive money, financial aid or equivalent inducements?
No, futhermore it would not be permissible to make such arrangements for current student-athletes at UVA.
11. What are considered other types of inducements that are prohibited for prospects, their relatives or friends?
Other types of inducements, that are prohibited, include but are not limited to the following:
- cash or loans;
- promise of employment after college graduation;
- special discounts or payment arrangements on loans;
- employment or relatives or friends of prospects;
- arrangement for free or reduced charges for professional or personal services;
- use of an automobile;
- providing transportation to and from summer job or any other site;
- co-signing a loan;
- the loan or gift of money or other tangible item (clothes, cars, jewelry);
- free or reduced-cost housing arrangements;
- entertainment cost on or off-campus;
- educational expenses (typing costs, course supplies, use of copying machine);
- or registration for summer sport camps.