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PARENTS OF STUDENT-ATHLETES
FLAGLER COACHES AND ADMINISTRATION
STUDENT-ATHLETES AND PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES
BOOSTERS, FRIENDS & FANS

FLAGLER COLLEGE COMPLIANCE - STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
Flagler College has the challenge of balancing the benefits derived from competing at the Division II level and maintaining the integrity of the student-athlete. The primary function of our sports program is to provide the student-athlete with an educational, social, and physical experience that closely emulates the mission of the College. The essence of the student-athletes’ experience must adhere to the principles of fair play and amateur competition as defined by the NCAA rules. The welfare of the student-athlete is an essential aspect of the process.

Academic pursuit is the primary purpose of the College. The priorities when coaches recruit students are academic ability, citizenship and athletic talent. Flagler College has chosen to compete at the Division II level to maximize benefits that can be obtained with a successful athletics program. Successful athletic teams provide local, regional and national publicity that benefit student recruitment, stimulate alumni pride and enhance development.

Flagler College Department of Athletics is committed to equity and will provide an environment that allows individuals to express themselves at their maximum potential. Flagler prides itself on the principle that the pursuit of excellence in intercollegiate athletics must be accomplished within the framework of an academic community dedicated to firm institutional control of athletics and unquestioned integrity. This tradition can only continue if the alumni, boosters and friends of the College foster and maintain the values and goals of the College and the athletics program.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules and regulations explicitly outline what actions are permissible by a "Representative of Athletics Interests." Commonly referred to as boosters, representatives of athletics interests can play a key role within the athletic department when they act within NCAA rules. Any intentional violation of NCAA legislation involving a booster or booster organization may lead to severe sanctions against the College. Furthermore, representatives of the College athletics program found in violation of NCAA rules are subject to disassociation from the Department of Athletics.

FREQUENTLY ASKED COMPLIANCE QUESTIONS:

Who is a prospective student-athlete?

A prospective student-athlete is any student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, student-athletes enrolled in preparatory school or two-year colleges, or those who have officially withdrawn from a four-year school, are considered prospects. A prospective student-athlete remains a prospect even after he/she signs a National Letter of Intent or accepts an offer of admission or financial aid to attend Flagler College. A prospect becomes a current student-athlete only when he/she reports for preseason practice or the first day of classes, whichever occurs first.

Who is a current student-athlete?

A student-athlete is any Flagler student who is a member of a varsity athletics team, who is receiving athletically related financial aid, or who has completed his/her eligibility but is still enrolled in the institution. NCAA regulations apply to all student-athletes, not just those student-athletes who were recruited or who receive an athletics scholarship.

Who is a Representative of Athletics Interests?

You are a Representative of Athletics Interests if you:
• Have ever participated in or are a member of any organization promoting Flagler College’s athletics program.
• Have ever made a donation of money, gifts or services to any of Flagler College’s athletic programs.
• Have ever helped arrange employment for prospective or current student-athletes.
• Have been involved in promoting Flagler College Athletics in any way.
• Have ever been a varsity team member at Flagler College.
• Are the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of an enrolled or former student-athlete.
According to NCAA rules, once an individual has been identified as an institutional "representative of athletics interests" the individual retains the title for life.

Flagler College is ultimately responsible for the actions of its athletics representatives in regard to NCAA rules and regulations. If you are aware of any infractions of NCAA rules please report it to the Director of Compliance. Even if a violation is unintentional, the eligibility of a prospect or enrolled student-athlete could be in jeopardy.

What is an extra benefit?

Members of the athletics department staff and representatives of athletics interests are prohibited from providing extra benefits to prospective or current student-athletes. An extra benefit is any gift or arrangement provided to a prospective or current student-athlete or their relative or friend that the NCAA does not expressly permit.

What may boosters do?

Permissible activities with prospective student-athletes:
• You may continue to have contact with an established family friend or neighbor who is a prospect as long as such contact is not for recruiting purposes and is not initiated by a Flagler College coaching staff member.
• You may bring outstanding prospects to the attention of the Flagler College coaching staff by sending the coach newspaper clippings and other information about the individual.
• You may assist a prospective student-athlete who has signed a National Letter of Intent with securing employment the summer before he/she enrolls in Flagler College. All arrangements of employment must be made through the Director of Compliance.
Permissible activities with currently enrolled student-athletes:
• You may have contact with enrolled student-athletes on campus.
• You may invite a student-athlete(s) or the entire team for a meal at your home and provide transportation to the event. The meal, which may be catered, should be limited to infrequent or special occasions (holidays, birthday, etc.) Please seek permission from the Director of Compliance.
• You may invite an entire team for a meal when they are visiting your city for an away from home athletic event. When the team is on the road, this meal may take place at the booster's home or at a restaurant, but must include the entire team.
• You may assist a student-athlete with securing summer and post graduation employment. All arrangements of employment must be made through the Compliance Office.
• You may contribute to the Flagler Saints Booster club. This fund helps subsidize the College's commitment to providing a quality athletic experience to more than 150 student-athletes annually.

What is recruiting?

Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or the prospect's parent/legal guardian by a Flagler College staff member for the purpose of securing the prospect's enrollment at Flagler College and participation in the athletics program. Recruiting activities include correspondence, e-mail, faxes, telephone conversations and in-person contacts (on and off campus).

Who may recruit?

Only Flagler College coaches who successfully complete the NCAA Recruiting Rules Examination on an annual basis may recruit off campus for the athletics program.

Representatives of athletics interests are prohibited from engaging in any recruiting activities either on or off-campus. An alumnus of the institution may receive phone calls from prospects to discuss the College in general, but may not discuss athletics.

Faculty and staff members are not permitted to recruit off-campus, but they may have on-campus contact with prospects. In general, faculty and staff members may not telephone a prospect until July 1 following the completion of his or her junior year in high school. In most instances, a call by a faculty or staff member counts against the College’s allotment of one call to each prospective student-athlete per week. Therefore, it is imperative that calls from faculty and staff are coordinated through the coach. Faculty and staff members may write to prospects after September 1 of their junior year.
 
A spouse of a coach or staff member may have contact with a prospect on-campus. Additionally, he or she may make an off-campus contact during the prospect's official visit, as long as it is within a 30-mile radius of the institution's main campus. The spouse may not however, correspond in writing (follow-up letter after visit) with the prospect.

Enrolled student-athletes and other enrolled students are not considered boosters as long as any contact with a prospect is incidental and does not occur at the direction of a member of the athletics department.

Enrolled students may not make or participate in telephone calls to prospects at the direction of a coaching staff member and may not make or participate in telephone calls financed by Flagler College or a representative of athletics interests. Enrolled students may receive telephone calls made at the expense of the prospect after July 1 following the completion of the prospect's junior year in high school. Additionally, currently enrolled students may exchange written correspondence with a prospect. Finally, enrolled students may serve as student hosts for a prospect.

In summary, Flagler College’s system of rules compliance focuses on the education of all constituencies and self-reporting any violations to the NCAA. The institution will annually report inadvertent and technical violations, but our mission is to never be involved in a "major" NCAA violation. Thanks in advance to the administration, coaches, student-athletes, and you, the boosters; Flagler College’s athletic undertakings will be conducted within the rules of the NCAA. Should you have specific questions do not hesitate to contact the Director of Compliance, Sheri Holt, at (904) 819-6488.