Boosters and Friends
The University of Maine appreciates your continued support of our student-athletes. Your dedication to our 500 student-athletes makes it possible for current and future Black Bears to achieve their goals in the classroom and competition. Individuals who are alumni, season ticket holders, work for or have worked for the University, or who have donated money to the athletic department are considered Representatives of Athletics Interests, more commonly known as boosters. With this status comes responsibility to adhere to NCAA legislation. The University of Maine is responsible and accountable for the actions of our boosters, and violations of NCAA rules can result in penalties. Please use this website as a resource for any NCAA compliance questions, and feel free to contact the compliance office with questions.
Contact With Student-Athletes
Representatives of Athletics Interests MAY NOT:
Pay or arrange for payment of room, board or any type of transportation at any time for currently enrolled student-athletes, their relatives, or their friends.
Provide student-athletes with any sort of extra benefit, which refers to any special arrangement to provide a student-athlete or his/her relatives or friends with a benefit unavailable to the general student population.
Provide student-athletes with any special discount, cosignment of a loan, credits on a purchase (i.e., airline tickets, clothing) or services (i.e., dry cleaning, transportation).
Allow the student-athlete to use your telephone or provide a calling card for the student-athlete to make free calls.
Provide awards or gifts to student-athletes for any reason without permission by the Compliance Office.
Entertain or provide meals or beverages to student-athletes or their family and friends.
Representatives of Athletics Interests MAY:
Employ a student-athlete, provided the compensation for work performed is commensurate with the going rate.
Invite a student-athlete or an entire team to your home for an occasional meal. The meal may be catered, but must take place in your home, be restricted to special occasions and you must obtain prior approval from the Compliance Office prior to the meal.
Recruiting
Maine coaches who pass the test are the only people allowed to contact prospective student-athletes. Representatives of Athletics Interests are not permitted to participate in the recruiting process; however, there are things the NCAA does allow. Examples of each are listed below. It is important to note that a prospective student-athlete is any student who has begun ninth grade as well as community or junior college students.
Representatives of Athletics Interests MAY NOT:
Make recruiting contacts with prospects or their relatives, including phone calls, letters, emails, instant messages, facsimiles, or meetings.
Assist Maine coaches by securing transcripts, film, or any other information pertaining to a prospect's ability from the prospect's current educational institution.
Provide financial aid or benefit of any kind (i.e., clothing, special discounts, lodging, meals, transportation, tickets, loans) to prospects or their relatives.
Make contact with a prospective student-athlete or his/her parents when the prospect is on campus for an official or unofficial visit.
Contact a prospect to congratulate him/her on signing a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Maine.
Provide transportation or arrange for payment of transportation costs for a prospect or his/her relatives or friends to visit campus.
Earmark funds for specific prospects to attend a University of Maine summer camp.
Employ or arrange for employment of a prospect before the completion of his/her senior year. After graduation, a booster may employ a student-athlete, provided that the compensation for work performed is commensurate with the going rate.
Provide anything to a prospect or the prospect's family or friends without prior approval from the Compliance Office.
Representatives of Athletics Interests MAY:
Communicate with Maine coaches regarding prospects.
View a prospect's athletic contest on your own initiative, provided you do not contact the prospect or his/her relatives, coach, teachers, principal, etc.
Continue established relationships with prospects' family members or friends, provided contacts are not made for recruiting purposes or are arranged by University of Maine staff member.
Employ a prospect after they have signed a National Letter of Intent and have graduated from high school, provided the compensation for work performed is commensurate with the going rate.
Employing Student-Athletes
According to NCAA rules, it is permissible for boosters to employ enrolled student-athletes. So if you are a business owner or have hiring authority, feel free to hire current student-athletes, just make sure you get approval from the athletics compliance office before the student begins work. There are a couple of very stringent rules provided by the NCAA that must be adhered to.
Representatives of Athletics Interests MAY NOT:
Employ or arrange for the employment of a prospective or enrolled student-athlete without checking first with the UMaine Athletic Compliance Office.
Provide transportation for prospects or student-athletes in your employ unless transportation is provided for all other employees. Please verify with the Athletic Compliance Office prior to allowing use of vehicles related to a job.
Use the student-athlete's name, picture or fame to publicize the employer.
Employ or provide free or reduced tuition to prospective student-athletes in an institution's sports camp if the prospect has earned an athletic award.
Representatives of Athletics Interests MAY:
Pay an employed student-athlete only for work actually performed, and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in the local area for similar services.
Employ former student-athletes after they have graduated from the institution. However, arrangements for such employment may not be made prior to the student-athlete's graduation.
