CVC & Donor Compliance
The mission of the Ball State University Athletics Compliance Office is to uphold the rules and regulations of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Ball State University (BSU); to monitor the processes and activities associated with such rules and regulations; and to educate institutional staff members, student-athletes and external constituents regarding such rules, regulations, processes and activities.
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Cardinal Varsity Club Members and/or Donors to Ball State Athletics should be aware of the following important information:
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Cardinal Varsity Club Members and/or Donors to Ball State Athletics should be aware of the following important information:
Extra Benefits (What is considered an extra benefit?)
- The following include, but are not limited to, extra benefits that are impermissible for boosters to provide current or prospective student-athletes:
- Free or reduced housing
- Entertainment at a free or reduced cost
- Loans not available to the general student body
- Bail or bond payment arrangement
- Use of a credit card not belonging to the student-athlete or their family;
- Free or reduced cost legal services
Employment
- Boosters need to pay close attention to the employment rules surrounding student-athletes:
- May be compensated only for work actually performed
- May not be paid more than the going rate in that locality for similar services
- May not receive any remuneration for value or utility that the student-athlete may have for the employer because of the publicity, reputation, fame or personal following he or she obtained because of athletic ability
Recruiting
- NCAA rules specifically prohibit boosters from engaging in the recruiting process
- Can do:
- Attend high school sporting events and wear your Ball State gear
- Follow recruits on social media, just let the coaches do the recruiting
- Continue to have non-recruiting conversations with an established family friend or neighbor who is a recruit
- Bring outstanding recruits to the attention of BSU coaching staff by sending them information about the recruits
- Can’t Do:
- Have any contact (in-person encounter, phone call, mail, or online via social media) with a recruit or their family on or off-campus
- May not contact a prospect’s coach, principal or counselor for the purpose of evaluating a prospect’s athletic ability or academic record
- May not talk to a student-athlete at another institution for the purpose of encouraging him or her to transfer to Ball State
Occasional Meals
- A student-athlete or the entire team in a particular sport may receive an occasional meal from a booster at the institution on infrequent and special occasions
- Meal may only be provided in an individual’s home, on campus, or at a facility that is regularly used for competition
- A Booster may provide reasonable local transportation to student-athletes to attend the meal function only in the meal is at the home of that Booster
Amateur Status
- A student-athlete must keep their amateur status in order to remain eligible for competition. Here are a few ways a student-athlete could lose his or her eligibility:
- Using his or her athletics skill for pay, in any form (either directly or indirectly)
- Allowing individuals other than his or her parents or legal guardians to promote their athletic ability
- Agreeing verbally or in writing to representation by an agent or advisor
- Receiving directly or indirectly a salary, reimbursement of expenses, or any other form of financial assistance from a professional sports organization based upon athletics skill or participation
- Promoting a commercial product or service via personal social networking sites or other media at the request of those involved with the product or service, regardless whether the student-athlete is paid
- Accepting preferential treatment, benefits or services from an individual who is not related to the student-athlete because of the student-athlete’s athletics reputation or skill or pay-back potential as a professional athlete
Name, Image, Likeness
- As of November 2020, the following makes a student-athlete ineligible for competition:
- Allowing any part of his or her name, nickname, image or likeness to be used in the promotion of a business or its products or services, (even if owned by a family member)
- Receiving compensation for signing memorabilia and/or signing memorabilia when a student-athlete knows or should know that it will be sold
Travel/Transportation
- Ball State Staff may provide occasional local transportation for student-athletes.
- Student athletes may not receive an automobile from Ball State, a booster, or an individual unrelated to a student-athlete.
- Special exceptions for pre-existing relationships, content Athletic Compliance beforehand.
Ball State Athletics Compliance
Ryne Hillenberg – Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance – rmhillenberg@bsu.edu
Jared Neeley – Director of Compliance – jared.neeley@bsu.edu
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