Fans & Boosters
Compliance Booster Handbook
Download the Compliance Booster Handbook.
Appearance Requests
Student-Athlete Appearance Requests
The Ohio State University Department of Athletics encourages all student-athletes to support community events and activities. However, all student-athlete appearances must receive approval from the Compliance Office prior to the event taking place. Ohio State will only review requests for a student-athlete appearance under the following circumstances:
- A Student-Athlete Appearance Request Form is completed;
- Documentation proving the requesting organization’s tax-exempt or 501(c)(3) status (if applicable) is provided;
- The promotional event is held within 30 miles of campus;
- Student-athletes do not miss class for the promotional appearance;
- If funds are being raised at the promotional event, the money only goes toward an educational, charitable, institutional, or non-profit agency; and
- Student-athletes’ names, images, or likenesses (including photographs) are not used to promote the commercial ventures of any agency.
To request a student-athlete appearance, please complete the Student-Athlete Appearance Request Form and submit it to the Compliance Office.
Coach Appearance Requests
Ohio State allows coaches to make appearances or take part in speaking engagements which enhance their image and that of their program. To that end, all coach appearances or speaking engagements must be permissible under NCAA legislation and may not benefit prospective student-athletes or their relatives or friends. Additionally, all coach appearance requests must be approved prior to the event taking place.
Please complete the Coach Appearance Request Form and submit it to the Compliance Office if you would like for a coach to appear or speak at a particular event.
Please Note:
- If you are a charitable organization, documentation proving your tax-exempt or 501(c)(3) status is required.
- Limitations exist on what coaches can and cannot do when prospective student-athletes are in attendance at or are benefactors of the charitable event.
- If the event involves any commercial agencies or sponsors, the individual completing the form will need to provide a detailed description of the role of the sponsor.
- If the event plans on using the coach’s name, image, or likeness to promote or advertise the event, the requesting group will need to attach a copy of the announcement/advertisement.
Extra Benefits
The Ohio State University appreciates everything our boosters do for our athletic programs. However, providing assistance to our student-athletes could result in severe consequences which would affect their eligibility. Please be careful not to provide any type of extra benefit to a student-athlete or their family/friends.
An extra benefit is any special arrangement provided to a student-athlete or their family/friends that is not generally available to The Ohio State student body as a whole. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Cash, loans, use of a credit card.
- Signing or cosigning a loan.
- Special finance and/or credit arrangements.
- Tangible gifts including birthday or holiday gifts.
- Free or discounted meals.
- Free or discounted housing.
- Free or discounted goods (e.g., clothing, vehicles, electronics).
- Free or discounted services (e.g., laundry or dry cleaning, haircuts, cell phones, long distance calls, automotive services).
- Free or discounted entertainment (e.g., movie tickets, concert tickets, professional sports tickets).
- Assistance paying bills (e.g., utility bills, rent payments, telephone or cell phone bills).
- Transportation or the use of an automobile.
- Academic assistance of any kind (e.g., tutoring, editing papers/projects, assistance in completing classwork, use of a computer, etc.).
If you have any questions, please contact The Ohio State University Athletic Compliance Department at 614.292.2681.
Recruiting
Recruiting should be left to Ohio State’s coaches and staff.
Occasional Meals
Boosters of The Ohio State University are permitted to provide a student-athlete, or an entire team, with a meal on infrequent and special occasions. All booster occasional meals must be pre-approved by Athletic Compliance Office.
To request an occasional meal please complete the Occasional Meal: Boosters and Staff Form and submit it to the Compliance Office ATH-Compliance@osu.edu
