Prospective Student-Athlete:
Any student who has entered the ninth grade. In addition a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individuals relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective student's generally.
Official Visit:
A visit to a college campus paid in whole or in part by the college. Official visits can be no longer than 48 hours. A prospective student-athlete is limited to 5 official visits. (one per university)
Unofficial Visit:
A visit made to a college campus at the prospect's own expense. The college may provide three free tickets to an on-campus athletics event in which the college team competes. Transportation to view off-campus practice or competition sites is also allowable. There is no limit on the number of unofficial visits a prospect can make.
National Letter of Intent:
Official documentation administered by the Collegiate Commissioners Association and used by universities to establish a prospect's commitment to attend a certain university.
Recruiting Contact:
Any face-to-face, off-campus encounter between a prospect, prospect's parents (or legal guardian) or relative and a college staff employee or athletics representative; if the conversation goes beyond a greeting.
Recruiting Evaluation:
Any off-campus activity designed to assess a prospect's academic qualifications or athletic ability. (reviewing transcripts on the high school campus or watching practices/games)
Q: Who is a representative of athletics interests?
A: An individual is considered to be a representative of Charlotte 49ers athletics interests just by being a former student, friend or fan. Once an individual is identified as an athletic representative, the person retains that identify forever.
Q: Is Charlotte 49ers responsible for the actions of its representatives and their support groups?
A: Yes. Representatives of athletics interests are subject to NCAA regulations and Charlotte 49ers is subject to penalties for any violations of NCAA rules by athletic representatives or their support organization.
Q: What action should an athletic representative take if they become aware of a rules violation?
A: The athletic representative should contact the Compliance Office or the Director of Athletics Office to report and/or discuss the information pertinent to the violation. The athletic representative may remain anonymous if they wish. The Compliance Office will review the information and process it accordingly.
Only coaches and authorized University staff members may be involved in the recruiting process. All friends and other "representatives of athletics interest" who are not employed by the University are prohibited from making contact (e.g., in-person, telephone, facsimile, or letter) with a prospective student-athlete or his/her family for the purpose of recruitment to the Charlotte 49ers.
Q: Who is considered to be a prospective student-athlete (prospect)?
A: A prospective student-athlete ("prospect") is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individual's relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to the general student. A prospective student-athlete remains a prospect even after committing to or signing a National Letter of Intent with Charlotte 49ers or any institution. Both the institution and the prospect continue to be governed by NCAA recruiting legislation regarding prospects until the prospect reports for regular squad practice or the prospect attends his/her first day of classes in any regular term.
A prospect remains a prospect even after committing to sign with the Charlotte 49ers.
Q: Is it permissible for a representative of athletics interest to contact an "established family friend" or neighbor who is a prospect?
A: Yes. However, such contacts may not be for recruiting purposes and may not be initiated by the Charlotte 49ers coaching staff members. In addition, the established relationship must have occurred prior to the friend or neighbor becoming a prospect.
Q: May an athletics representative receive calls from a prospect?
A: Yes. An athletics representative may have a telephone conversation with a prospect ONLY if the prospect initiates the call. The call may not be arranged by an institutional staff member and the athletic representative may not have a recruiting conversation, but may exhibit normal civility. All questions about the Charlotte 49ers athletic programs shall be referred to the athletic department.
Q: Is it permissible for an athletics representative to contact a prospect to discuss a summer job?
A: Yes, but only after the prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University. A prospect may not be employed until the completion of his/her senior year in high school. This contact must receive prior approval from the athletic department.
Q: During recruitment, or prior to an individual's enrollment, can an athletics representative be involved directly or indirectly in making arrangements for a prospect, the prospect's relatives, or friends to receive money, financial aid, or equivalent inducements regardless of whether similar financial aid, benefits or arrangements are available to prospective students in general?
A: No. Furthermore, it would not be permissible to make such arrangements for currently-enrolled student-athletes at the University.
Q: Is it permissible for an athletics representative to bring to the Charlotte 49ers's attention outstanding prospects from the representative's local area?
A: Yes, but the representative may not get involved in the actual evaluation of talent. The representative is prohibited from contacting the prospect's coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospect, as well as from visiting the prospect's educational institution to pick up film or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect's academic or athletics ability.
According to NCAA Bylaw 6.4.2.1, the Charlotte 49ers Athletic Department reserves the right to withhold any benefit or privilege associated with the athletic department (i.e., 49er Club, ticket privileges) from individuals that are involved in a violation of NCAA legislation.
Q: Is it permissible for a representative to employ or use the name or picture of an enrolled student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote sales or use of a commercial product or service of any kind.
A: No.
Q: Is it permissible for an athletics representative to pay or provide the actual and necessary expenses (room, board, and transportation costs) incurred by friends or relatives to visit an enrolled student-athlete?
A: No.
Q: Is it permissible for an athletics representative to provide gifts or awards to a student-athlete for his or her athletics performance?
A: No. All awards must conform to NCAA awards legislation and must be approved by the Charlotte 49ers Athletic Department.
Q: Is it permissible for an athletics representative to provide enrolled student-athletes with professional services (for which a fee would normally be charged) for personal reasons?
A: No. Professional services provided at less than normal costs or at no expense to student-athletes are considered extra benefits.
Q: Is it permissible for an athletics representative to provide any benefit or special arrangement to a student-athlete or friend?
A: No. The NCAA considers these special arrangements as an extra benefit, and they are specifically prohibited. Examples of special arrangements or extra benefits include, but are not limited to, a special discount payment arrangement or credit on a purchase (e.g., airline ticket, clothing) or services (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning, tailoring); money in any amount; a guarantee of bond; the use of an automobile; the purchase of meals or services at commercial establishments; transportation to or from a summer job; a benefit connected with off-campus housing (e.g., individual television sets or stereo equipment, specialized recreational facilities or room furnishings); signing or co-signing a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan; selling or giving a student-athlete tickets to an athletics, institution or community event; the use of personal properties (e.g., boats, summer homes, cars, stereos), and providing Christmas or birthday gifts.
Q: Is it permissible for a representative of athletics interest to have a student-athlete over for dinner?
A: Yes. A student-athlete or the entire team may receive an occasional family home meal from a representative of athletics interest as long as the meal is provided in the individual's home and the meal is restricted to infrequent and special occasions.
Q: Is it permissible for a representative of athletics interest to provide transportation to a student-athlete?
A: No. The only exception is that a representative of athletics interest may provide transportation for a student-athlete to attend an occasional family home meal at the representative's home.
