Dear Alumni & Friends,
St. Bonaventure University, as a good standing member of the NCAA, is obligated to abide by its rules and regulations governing the eligibility, amateur status and recruitment of student-athletes. Under these rules, alumni and friends of the University are just as responsible for rules compliance as are our coaches and staff members. Consequently, we must make every effort to educate those individuals who support our programs.
The following information is designed to give you a brief overview of NCAA rules. However, as it is not all-inclusive, we ask that you please contact the department prior to making any contact with an enrolled or prospective student-athlete.
We appreciate your interest and support, but remind you that an inappropriate contact or any inadvertent action on your part can jeopardize the eligibility of our enrolled and prospective student-athletes and the compliance of the university with NCAA regulations.
Please feel to contact me at (716) 375-2290 if you have any specific questions. Go Bonnies!
Barbara Questa
Senior Assoc. Director of Athletics
Rules Governing Currently Enrolled Student-Athletes
DO NOT provide "extra benefits" to student-athletes. The NCAA considers examples of extra benefits to be:
DO NOT give money to any student-athlete, even if it is for the purpose of paying expenses to amateur competitions. All expense funds must be provided through the University or officially registered amateur sport clubs. For instance, alumni cannot sponsor a tennis player who competes in pro-am competition over the summer.
DO NOT provide employment to a student-athlete during the regular academic year unless you have checked with the Athletic Department regarding his/her financial aid status. It is better to check first than risk loss of a student-athlete's eligibility.
DO NOT buy athletic event tickets from student-athletes. The NCAA prohibits a student-athlete from receiving and selling game tickets.
DO provide student-athletes with employment at regular rates of pay for similarly situated non-athlete employees during the summer or during times specified by NCAA rules as permissible work periods. We welcome the positive involvement and support of alumni in obtaining summer jobs and internships. Please let us know of opportunities.
DO feel free to call a St. Bonaventure coach or athletic administrator to ask questions about the permissibility of any activity involving a student-athlete.
DO feel free to invite a team to meet with alumni or friends in a city where the team plays. Student-athletes may participate in many events and are allowed to receive some benefits as a team which student-athletes may not receive on an individual basis. Always make arrangements through the head coach or an Athletic Department administrator.
Rules Governing Prospective Student-Athletes (Recruits)
(NCAA BYLAW 13.01.5.1 states: "In Division I, representatives of an institution's interests are prohibited from making in-person, on or off-campus recruiting contacts, or written or telephonic communications with a prospect or the prospect's relatives or legal guardians.")
DO NOT make in-person on or off-campus recruiting contact with a prospect and his or her parents and/or legal guardians.
Limited Exception: A representative may have contact with a prospect in regard to permissible pre-enrollment activities such as summer employment arrangements, provided the prospect has already signed a National Letter of Intent and the institution is aware that you are making these contacts in regard to the employment.
DO NOT write or telephone a prospect and his or her parents or legal guardians.
Limited Exception: A representative may have a telephone conversation with a prospect only if the prospect initiates the call. The telephone call may not be prearranged by an institutional staff member and the representative is not permitted to have a recruiting conversation but may exhibit normal civility. The representative must refer any questions about the university's athletics program to an Athletic Department staff member.
DO NOT contact a prospect's coach, principal, or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospect.
Limited Exception: NCAA rules do not preclude a representative from viewing a prospect's contest on his/her initiative, subject to the understanding that the representative may not contact the prospect.
If you know of a young person with athletic talent who might want to attend St. Bonaventure University, DO NOT contact him/her directly. Instead, notify the appropriate coach.
Your Cooperation Will Keep Our Tradition of Integrity Intact While Serving the Best Interests of Our Student-Athletes and Recruits.
NCAA Rules Guide For Boosters
SBU Compliance Newsletters
Published monthly by Barbara Questa, Senior Associate Director of Athletics. The newsletters are listed below in chronological order and in PDF file format.
-December 2006
-November 2006
-October 2006
-September 2006
NCAA Recruiting Calendars
The following recruiting calendars are published by the NCAA and provided by St. Bonaventure Athletics as general information.
2007-08 Men's Basketball Recruiting Calendar
2007-08 Baseball Recruiting Calendar
2007-08 Women's Lacrosse Recruiting Calendar
