Frequently Asked Questions for Boosters

Q: Can I contact a high school student-athletes for the University of Portland?

A: No, ALL representatives of athletic interest who are not employed by the University are prohibited from contacting a prospect or any member of the their family by telephone, letter or in person on- or off-campus with the purpose of encouraging the prospect to enroll at the University of Portland.

Q: Can I entertain relatives and/or friends of a prospect at the University of Portland campus or off-campus?

A: No.

Q: May I provide employment to a prospect?

A: Yes.  However, the prospect must have signed a National Letter of Intent or institutional financial aid agreement with the University of Portland and cannot commence the employment until s/he has completed their senior year in high school. 

Q: May I provide employment to an enrolled student-athlete?

A: Yes. An enrolled student-athlete must receive written approval from the athletic department prior to commencing employment. Student-athletes must be paid for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate for similar service in the community and your own business.

Q: May I contact high school coaches or guidance counselors directly regarding a prospect?

A: No. Such contact would be considered specific athletic recruiting. Further, representatives are prohibited from visiting a prospect’s educational institution to pick up game films or transcripts pertaining to a prospect.

Q: May I accompany the coach during his or her “home” visit with the prospect?

A: No. This would constitute your direct involvement in the athletic recruitment of a prospect.

Q: What if a prospect calls me, and I’m an athletic representative for the University of Portland?

A: An athletic representative may have a telephone conversation with a prospect ONLY if the prospect initiates the call. Such a call may not be prearranged by an institutional staff member and the athletic representative may NOT have a recruiting conversation, but may exhibit normal civility. The athletic representative must refer any questions about the University's athletic program to the Portland Athletic Department.

Q: What if a prospect knows that an athletic representative is a Portland graduate and contacts him/her to ask questions about the University of Portland in general?

A: If a prospect contacts an athletic representative, s/he may answer questions regarding the University as long as NO discussion takes place regarding the athletic program. If a prospect asks about Portland athletics, please refer him/her to the appropriate coaching staff and remind the prospect that you are not being rude or unhelpful but that you do not want to jeopardize their eligibility.

Q: What if unavoidable incidental contact is made with a prospect by an athletic representative?

A: An unavoidable incidental contact with a prospect is permissible provided the contact is not prearranged by the athletic representative or an athletic staff member, does not take place at the prospect's educational institution or at the sites of organized competition or practice involving the prospect, is not made for the purpose of recruitment of the prospect, and involves only normal civility.

Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to telephone a prospect once the prospect has committed to or signed a National Letter of Intent to congratulate them?

A: No. Even if the purpose of the call is only to congratulate the prospect, s/he is still a prospect and the same contact rules apply after committing or signing that applied before. Do not contact a prospect without first checking with the athletic department, unless the prospect is a relative.

Q: During recruitment, or prior to an individual's enrollment, can an athletic representative be involved directly or indirectly in making arrangements for a prospect, the prospect's relative, or friends to receive money, financial aid, or equivalent inducements?

A: No. Similarly, it is not permissible to provide financial benefits of any kind to current student-athletes

Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to let Portland coached about prospects from their local area?

A: Yes, and we would encourage you to do so. An athletic representative may not, however, get involved in the actual recruiting of the prospect. In other words, an athletic representative may not contact a prospect's coach, principal, or counselor nor visit the prospect's educational institution to pick up film or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect's athletic or academic abilities. In addition, an athletic representative cannot contact the prospect for purposes of soliciting the prospect's enrollment at the University of Portland and ultimate participation in athletics.

Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to reimburse the coach of a prospect for expenses incurred in transporting a prospect to visit campus?

A: No.

Q: Is it permissible for an athletic representative to provide transportation to or from campus or free admission to an athletics event on or off the Portland campus to prospects, their friends or relatives?

A: No. Complimentary admissions may only be provided through the University of Portland athletic department.

Regarding Current Student-Athletes

Q: May I invite a student-athlete or team over to my house for a meal?

A: Yes. However, please note that the invitation to the student-athlete may only be for a special occasion (e.g., birthday) and only you can provide the student-athlete transportation if needed. In addition you may invite a team to your home for dinner or to meet with a group of alumni in a city where they are competing away from home. The NCAA permits student-athletes, as a team, to receive special benefits not permitted as individuals. 

Q: May I 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 University of Portland athletic department.

Q:  What other types of conduct are prohibited by the NCAA and the University of Portland?

A:  Other prohibited conduct includes, but are not limited to the following: cash or loans to prospects or student-athletes; promise of employment after college education; special discounts or payment arrangements on loans; employment of relatives or friends of a prospect/student-athlete; involvement in arrangement for free or reduced charges for professional or personal services, purchases or charges; signing or co-signing a note for a loan; the loan or gift of money or other tangible items (e.g., clothes, cars, jewelry); purchase of items or services from a prospect or prospect’s family at inflated prices; and providing directly or indirectly transportation to enroll in classes at the College.

Q:  What are the possible penalties for any improper actions of a representative of athletic interest?

A:  Violations of NCAA rules can result in serious consequences for student-athletes, prospective student-athletes, coaches and the University of Portland as a whole.  In certain circumstances, the NCAA can impose penalties on an institution even though a prospective student-athlete didn’t attend school there.   Some examples of penalties for improper action include, but are not limited to, the following:

                  • Loss of eligibility of an enrolled student-athlete;

                  • Forfeiture of games;

                  • Prohibiting a coach from off campus recruiting;

                  •  Institutional fines and public censure;

                  • Reduction of scholarships;

                  • Prohibiting a team from participating in postseason competition; and/or

                  • Institutional probation

Please Note: The University of Portland encourages all representatives of Pilot athletic interests to contact the Athletic Department if there is any doubt concerning their contact with potential or enrolled student-athletes.

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