FAQ - Athletic Representative's Involvement with Prospective Student-Athletes

Who is considered to be a prospective student-athlete (prospect)?

A prospect is a student in the ninth grade or above, including students in prep schools and junior colleges and individuals who have officially withdrawn from four-year schools. Any student not yet in the ninth grade becomes a prospect if an institution provides him or her with any financial aid or benefits that are not generally provided to prospective students.

How long is a prospective student-athlete considered to be a prospect?

A prospective student-athlete remains a prospect even after committing to or signing a National Letter of Intent or written offer financial aid with Northern Arizona University or any institution, and both the institution and the prospect continue to be governed by the NCAA recruiting legislation regarding prospects until the prospect reports for regular squad practice or the prospect attends his or her first day of classes in any regular term.

Is it permissible to contact a prospective student-athlete or his or her parents or legal guardians?

No. An athletic representative may not contact a prospect of his or her parents in person, by telephone or in writing. Contact may not be made with a prospect or his or her parents on or off the Northern Arizona University campus.

Is the contact rule applicable to "established family friends" or neighbors?

No. However, it must be understood that such contacts cannot be made for recruiting purposes and cannot be initiated or arranged by the Northern Arizona University coaching staff members. In addition, the established relationship must have occurred prior to the friend or neighbor becoming a prospect.

What if a prospect calls an athletic representative?

An athletic representative may have a telephone conversation with a prospect ONLY if the prospect initiates the call. Such a call may not be pre-arranged by an institutional staff member and the athletics 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 Athletic Department.

What if a prospect knows that an athletic representative is a Northern Arizona University graduate and contacts him or her to ask questions about Northern Arizona University?

If a prospect contacts an athletic representative, he or she may answer questions regarding various aspects of Northern Arizona University as long as NO discussion takes place regarding the Northern Arizona University athletic program. If a prospect asks about Northern Arizona University athletics, refer him or her to the Athletic Department.

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

An unavoidable incidental contact with a prospect is permissible provided the contact is not pre-arranged by the athletic representative or an Athletic Department staff member, does not take place on the grounds of the prospect's educational institution or at sites of organized competition and practice involving the prospect or the prospect's team, is not made for the purpose of recruitment of the prospect, and involves normal civility. The athletic representative must refer any questions about the University's athletic program to the Athletic Department.

Is it permissible for an athletic representative to telephone a prospect once the prospect has committed or signed a National Letter of Intent with Northern Arizona University?

No. Even if the purpose of the call is only to congratulate the prospect, he or she is still a prospect and the same contact rules apply after committing or signing that applied before. Do not contact a prospect for any reason without first checking with the Athletic Compliance Office, unless the prospect is a relative.

May an athletic representative contact a prospective student-athlete to discuss a summer job?

Yes, but ONLY AFTER the prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Northern Arizona University. A prospective student-athlete may not be employed until the completion of his or her senior year in high school. Additionally, any such contact must receive prior approval form the Athletic Department. When a prospect is employed, he or she must be paid only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in the locality of similar services.

May an athletic representative speak to a Northern Arizona University coach if a prospect is with the coach?

If a Northern Arizona University coach is with a prospect, do not approach the coach until the prospect and family have gone elsewhere. Otherwise the coach will be placed in an awkward situation because he or she will not be able to introduce the prospect to the athletic representative. If a prospect approaches an athletic representative on or off campus regarding the athletic program, explain that NCAA rules do not permit discussion of the athletic program. Refer the prospect to the appropriate Northern Arizona University coach.

Is it permissible for an athletic representative to contact an enrolled student-athlete from another institution for the purpose of recruiting?

No. Student-athletes at other institutions cannot be contacted for purpose of recruitment to Northern Arizona University.

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 relatives, or friends to receive money, financial aid, or equivalent inducements regardless if similar financial aid, benefits or arrangements are available to prospective student-athletes in general, their relatives or friends?

No. Furthermore, it would not be permissible to make such arrangements for currently enrolled student-athletes at Northern Arizona University.

What are considered other types of inducements that are prohibited for prospects, their relatives or friends?

Other types of inducements that are prohibited include, but are not limited to the following: cash or loans; promises of employment after college education; special discounts or payment arrangements on loans; employment of relatives or friends of prospect; involvement in arrangement for free or reduced charges for professional or personal services, purchases or charges; use of an automobile; providing transportation to or from a summer job or to any other site; signing or co-signing a note for a loan; the loan or gift of money or tangible items (e.g., clothes, cars, jewelry, electronic/stereo equipment); gifts of any kind; guarantees of bond; purchases of items or services from a prospect or the prospect's family at inflated prices; providing directly or indirectly transportation to enroll in classes; any financial aid other than that administered by Northern Arizona University; the promise of financial aid for post graduate education; free or reduced cost housing arrangements; arrangement for or payment of transportation costs incurred by relatives or friends of a prospective student-athlete; entertainment or a prospect or prospect's family on or off campus; costs incurred by an athletic scout in studying or recruiting a prospect; benefits connected with on or off campus housing (e.g., television sets or stereo equipment, specialized recreational facilities); tickets or admission to an athletic, institutional or community event; educational expenses (e.g., typing costs, course supplies, use of a copy machine); or registration fees for summer sports camps.

Is it permissible for an athletic representative to bring to Northern Arizona University's attention outstanding prospects from the representative's local area?

Yes. An athletic representative may not, however, get involved in the actual evaluation of the talent of a 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 to Northern Arizona University and ultimate participation in athletics.

Is it permissible for an athletic representative to accompany a Northern Arizona University coach when he or she visits the local high school campus?

No. If an athletic representative transports a Northern Arizona University coach from the airport to a high school campus, the athletic representative may not enter the high school with the coach and may not observe prospects.

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

No.

Is it permissible for an athletic representative to entertain high school, preparatory, or junior college coaches at any location?

No. However, it is permissible for Northern Arizona University to provide two complimentary admissions to the coaches to home athletic contests.

Is it permissible for an athletic representative to provide transportation to or from campus or free admission to the institution's athletic events on or off campus to prospects, their friends or relatives?

No.

What conference are the NAU sports teams in?

All but one of NAU's teams competes in the Big Sky Conference. The Swimming & Diving team competes in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).