About Tribe Club

Compliance

A Guide for Friends of the Tribe

Are you a “booster” of William & Mary Athletics?

You are then considered a “representative of athletics interests” if you meet any of the following criteria:

You have participated or been a member of an organization promoting the College of William and Mary’s intercollegiate athletics program (e.g., Tribe Club).
You have made a financial contribution to the College of William and Mary’s athletics department or to an athletic booster organization supporting that department.
You have assisted in the recruiting of a prospective student-athlete.
You have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their family.
You are a former student, friend, or fan of the College of William and Mary.

DEFINITIONS:

Enrolled Student-Athletes: A prospect becomes a student-athlete on the first day of initial collegiate enrollment at a four-year institution.
Prospective Student-Athlete: Any student who has started classes for the ninth grade OR any student (or their relatives or friends) who has been contacted for recruitment purposes.

PLEASE REMEMBER

The College of William and Mary is responsible for the actions of all athletic boosters, and the College can be subject to penalties as a result of a booster’s actions, regardless of whether the College knows or has reason to know that any impermissible activities are occurring as a result of booster activities. The following is a list of activities and regulations that are intended to help you understand an appropriate relationship with prospective student-athletes and enrolled student-athletes:

Recruiting Activities

ONLY coaches and athletic department staff members are allowed to be involved in the recruiting process. All representatives of athletics interest are PROHIBITED from contacting a prospective-student athlete (or members of that person’s family) in-person, on- or off-campus, or by telephone, letter, or other correspondence including email and text message, for the purpose of encouraging participation in the W&M athletic program.

Chance Meetings

Unavoidable incidental contact with a prospective student-athlete (or their relatives or friends) does not give rise to a violation, provided the contact WAS NOT PREARRANGED and did not take place at the prospect’s educational institution or practice/competition site, is not for purposes of recruiting, and only involves normal civility.

On the Line

If a prospect initiates a telephone call to a representative of William and Mary’s athletics interests, the call is PERMISSIBLE. However, the conversation may not include any discussion of recruiting or any aspects of W&M’s athletics program. Also, if a prospect calls and leaves a message, it is NOT PERMISSIBLE to call them back.

Old Friends

As a representative of William and Mary’s athletics interests, you are not precluded from continuing friendships with families who have prospective (or enrolled) student-athletes. Just remember, the relationship must have begun prior to the prospect beginning the ninth grade, and you MUST REFRAIN from any form of recruitment.

Spectator Sport

As a representative of William and Mary’s athletics interests, you MAY ATTEND high school and community college athletic events, as long as you do not have contact with a prospect. In addition, you can notify the W&M coaching staff of any prospect you think would be a good addition to the College and the athletic program by sending newspaper clippings or other helpful information.

Extra Benefits

As a representative of William and Mary’s athletics interests, you MAY NOT PROVIDE a student-athlete or their relatives or friends with any benefit or special arrangement not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation, or which is not generally available to all students at William and Mary.

“Extra benefits” may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Providing anything of tangible value;
Providing cash or loans in any amount, or signing or co-signing for loans;
Providing special discounts for goods and services;
Providing free or reduced rent;
Giving gifts of any kind, including birthday/holiday gifts and “get well soon” cards;
Providing the use of an automobile, or giving a ride anywhere;
Providing employment for relatives or friends of a prospect as an inducement to attend W&M.

Home Cookin’

Representatives of William and Mary’s athletics interests ARE ALLOWED to provide an “occasional home meal” to current student-athletes as long as they contact the appropriate W&M coach prior to the meal and the meal is held at the representative’s home (though it may be catered in the home). It is NOT PERMISSIBLE to take a student-athlete out to eat at a restaurant.

Goin’ to the Pros

An important issue when it comes to benefits provided by sponsors is whether the benefit has been provided in the past to non-student-athletes. For example, if a student-athlete is in need of legal advice or accounting work, he or she may commonly be referred to a local professional firm that has done work for the institution in the past. If the work is performed pro bono (free of charge), the NCAA Enforcement staff will review the situation and the burden rests on the firm to show that there is a similar pattern of providing services to non-student-athletes as well as student-athletes.

Count Out Discounts

Another common situation where sponsors or vendors may contribute to a potential NCAA violation involves discounts being given to impermissible persons based on their connection with a member institution’s athletics department. For example, if a prospective student-athlete’s parents ask a W&M coach or staff member about area hotels, that person may recommend a specific hotel. The parent could then phone the hotel and mention that it was recommended by a W&M staff member, resulting in a discounted rate being given to the PSA and his or her relatives or friends (a benefit not available to the general public). This situation would constitute an NCAA violation.

If you become aware of any violation of NCAA rules and regulations, you should contact the Director of Athletics or the Compliance Office at the College of William and Mary. The information you provide will be reviewed and processed in the appropriate manner.