RECRUITING RULES THAT APPLY TO THE ABAA

Aggies, before we get into the Dos and Don’ts of recruiting, we have to understand some basic definitions.

What is Recruiting?

NCAA Bylaw 13.02.12 states that Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospective student-athlete or a prospective student-athlete's relatives (or legal guardians) by an institutional staff member or by a representative of the institution's athletics interests for the purpose of securing the prospective student-athlete's enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution's intercollegiate athletics program.

Who is a “Representative of Athletics Interests?”

WE ARE!!! Because of the following:

• We are members of a North Carolina A&T State University sport support group or booster club

• We have made donations to the athletics program

• We have been involved in the promotion of Aggie athletics

Who is a “Prospective Student-Athlete(PSA)?”

NCAA Bylaw 13.02.11 states that a prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individual's relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally.

What is a CONTACT in regards to ABAA members?

A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a PSA or the PSA’s parents, relatives or legal guardians, during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting. However, an ABAA member who is approached by a PSA or the PSA's parents, relatives or legal guardians at any location shall not use a contact, provided the encounter was not prearranged and the ABAA member does not engage in any dialogue in excess of a greeting and takes appropriate steps to immediately terminate the encounter.

The DON’Ts

• You MAY NOT contact the PSA’s coach, principal, or counselor for the purpose of evaluating the PSA.

• You ARE NOT permitted to pick up films or transcripts from the prospect’s past or present educational institution.

The DOs

• You MAY attend high school and junior college athletic events.

• You MAY continue established family relationships with friends and neighbors. Contacts with sons and daughters of these families certainly are permitted as long as they are not made for recruiting purposes and are not initiated by Aggie baseball coaching staff members.

• You MAY play pick-up games, continue with neighborhood picnics or backyard barbecues, and engage in your normal activities with prospects and their parents who are family friends. Again, you simply are not permitted to attempt to recruit the prospect or discuss the Aggie baseball program.

• You MAY attend a public event (e.g. a high school awards banquet or dinner) at which prospects are in attendance. NO attempt of ANY KIND should be made to recruit the prospect.

• You MAY send to the Aggie Baseball coaching staff any newspaper clippings or other information about prospects which you think would be of interest. Your assistance in this way is very helpful. The coaching staff will then make contact with the prospect, and not you.

• You MAY offer assistance to members of the Aggie Baseball Coaching staff who are recruiting in your community.

• You MAY discuss summer employment arrangements with a PSA ONLY after he has signed a NCAA National Letter of Intent with North Carolina A&T State University.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is the North Carolina A&T State University Athletics Department responsible for the actions of the ABAA?

YES, All more reason why ABAA members must know and understand these recruiting rules.

Is it permissable for an ABAA member to entertain a high school or junior college coach at any location?

NO

Is it permissable for an ABAA member to provide free admission to an institution's road contest to a PSA, PSA's family or friends?

Is it permissable for an ABAA member to pay in whole or in part a PSA's summer sports camp fees?

Is it permissable for an ABAA member to entertain or to pay for entertainment of a PSA, a current student-athlete, or the friends and relatives of either?

NO

Is it permissable for an ABAA member to employ or use the name, picture, or likeness of an enrolled student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote sales or use of a commercial product of any kind?

NO

Is it permissable for an ABAA member to provide an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement?

NO, Student-athletes may receive only necessary travel expenses when speaking for charitable or educational purposes.

Is it permissable for the ABAA to finance a banquet for the Aggie Baseball team?

YES, Provided all the expenses are paid through the athletics department and the location of the event is not more than 100 miles from campus and no tangible award is provided to the members of the team.