Buckeye Insider – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | General
Over the past several years electronic mail and the Internet have become an important tools in the recruiting process. The National Collegiate Athletic Association has recognized the convenience of these tools for coaches and student-athletes alike and therefore have incorporated technology in their rules, which regulate recruiting. The following information is a discussion of the NCAA Bylaw 13 as it relates to technology in the recruiting process.
Q. Are there any restrictions on the content on an institution’s athletics department website?
A. Yes, the website may contain information related to its athletics program so long as it is available to the general public and is not specifically for recruiting purposes. However, the one general restriction is the website may not have hyperlinks to non-institutional publications or recruiting services.
Q. Are there any restrictions regarding the advertisement of the institution’s camps and clinics on their athletics department website or in outside publications?
A. There are no restrictions regarding the advertisement of the institution’s camp or clinic on their website. However, if an institution is advertising the camp or clinic in a periodical that includes a camp directory, the advertisement must not exceed one-half page and must be one of at least two camp advertisements on the same page. All camp advertisements must be formatted identically.
Q. Is a coach permitted to contact a prospective student-athlete via electronic mail?
A. Yes, a coach is permitted to contact a prospective student-athlete via electronic mail. E-mail can be sent to a prospect beginning September 1 of the prospect’s junior year in high school. Because e-mail is considered general correspondence and is not restricted in number, coaches are increasingly using e-mail in the recruiting process.
Q. Is a coach permitted to pre-arrange an electronic correspondence with a prospect (e.g. chat room session, instant messenger)?
A. Yes, a coach is permitted to pre-arrange an electronic correspondence with a prospect. However, such correspondence is considered a telephone call and therefore, for most sports, cannot be arranged until July 1, after the prospect’s junior year in high school. Additionally, prearranged correspondence is considered a telephone call so coaches are limited to one call per week. This call will count against the number of permitted calls per week for each coach.
Q. Is it permissible for a representative of athletics interests (booster) to contact a prospective student-athlete via electronic mail?
A. No. In Division I, representatives of athletics interests are prohibited from making in-person, on or off-campus recruiting contacts, or written or telephone communications with a prospect or a prospect’s relatives or legal guardians. Since email is considered written communication, it would not be permissible for a representative of athletics interest to email a prospect for recruiting purposes.
Q. Is it permissible for a coach and/or representatives of athletics interests to send an electronic greeting card?
A. No, electronic greeting cards are not a permissible form of correspondence for coaches per NCAA regulations. Additionally, representatives of athletics interests would not be permitted to send an electronic greeting card because they are prohibited from making any written communications with the prospect.
Q. Can a coach comment via electronic mail on the status of a prospective student-athlete?
A. Before the signing of a prospect to a National Letter of Intent or an institution’s written offer of admission and/or financial aid, a coach may comment publicly, or via e-mail, only to confirm that he or she is recruiting the prospect. A coach may not comment generally about the prospect’s ability or the contribution that the prospect might make to the institution’s team. Further, a coach may not comment on the likelihood that the prospect will sign a National Letter of Intent with the institution.
Please remember that the above information provides a brief overview of the compliance issues concerning technology in the recruiting process and is not an exhaustive discussion. For questions or to receive more information, please contact Heather Lyke, Associate Athletics Director for Compliance at (614) 292-2681.
