University of Southern Indiana Athletics

Thank you for your support of USI Athletics. This site is intended to highlight some topics pertinent to you as a representative of athletics interests (i.e., donor). It is difficult to cover every possible rule and regulation governing representatives of athletics interests. Therefore, please always ask before you act!

Booster Brochure
USI NIL Policy

What is institutional control?
The NCAA declares that each institution is responsible for the control of its intercollegiate athletics program and compliance with the rules and regulations of the NCAA. This control includes the conduct and actions of all staff members and other individuals or agencies that promote the athletic interests of USI (i.e., donors). 

Who is a representative of USI Athletics interests?
Under NCAA rules, a representative of the university's athletics interests is any individual who has ever:

• made any type of contribution to the athletics department or booster club (i.e., Varsity Club, Dugout Club)
• joined the institution's booster club (i.e., Varsity Club) or any sport specific support group (i.e., Dugout Club, Fastbreak Club)
• provided or helped arrange employment for a student-athlete or their families
• provided benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families
• assisted in any manner in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes
• promoted the institution's athletics program in any manner, even has a member of a corporate entity

You become a representative by any action on your part to assist the university in any manner. Once you become a representative of the university's athletics interests, you retain that identity forever. NCAA rules hold USI responsible for all actions of its representatives of athletics interests.

Who is a prospective student-athlete?
NCAA rules stipulate that a prospective student-athlete is a person who has started classes for the ninth grade or is enrolled at another 4-year institution, community/junior college, and/or prep school, regardless of his/her athletics abilities. A prospective student-athlete remains a prospect even after he/she has signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) and/or USI athletics aid agreement until the first day of classes in the fall or spring semester. 

What about recruiting?
As a representative of USI Athletics interests, you may NOT:

• contact a recruit's coach, principal, or counselor in an effort to evaluate a recruit
• visit the recruit's institution to pick up film or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the recruit's academic eligibility or athletics ability
• contact a recruit or recruit's family on or off USI's campus
• contact a recruit by telephone, text message, social media, or letter
• make special arrangements for entertainment for recruiting purposes

As a representative of USI Athletics interests, you MAY:

• provide information about recruits to USI coaches
• employ a student-athlete at your place of business as long as it meets NCAA and USI requirements
• invite a current student-athlete or team to your home for an occasional meal
• donate financial assistance or gifts-in-kind to the USI Athletics Department or team's individual fundraising efforts 

What is an extra benefit?
NCAA legislation expressly prohibits university supporters from providing extra benefits to recruits or student-athletes. An extra benefit is any special arrangement to provide a student-athlete, a recruit, or a student-athlete or recruit's family a benefit not authorized by NCAA legislation. In general, you may not provide anything or make special arrangements for student-athletes or recruits that are not available to the general student population.

Examples of prohibited extra benefits, include but are not limited to:

• providing cash or loans in any amount, or signing or cosigning for a loan
• a guarantee of bond
• the use of an automobile
• gifts of any kind, including birthday cards, flowers, and holiday gifts
• gift of cash or like items, or clothing or equipment
• providing loans to relatives or friends
• any tangible item, including merchandise
• free or reduced-cost services, rentals, or purchases of any type
• free or reduced-cost housing
• providing special discounts for goods and services (e.g., car repairs, legal services, haircuts, etc.)
• purchasing complimentary admissions from a student-athlete
• providing an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement

What about student-athlete employment?
All student-athletes are eligible for employment during any part of the year. Compensation may be paid to a student-athlete: (a) only for work actually performed, (b) at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services, and (c) an employer shall not use the athletics reputation of a student-athlete employee to promote the sale of the employer's product or services. A donor may not employee a recruit until they have graduated from his/her high school. For any work that is not through an established business (i.e., babysitting, yard work, dog sitting, etc.), the USI Compliance Office must approve employment prior to work beginning. 

What are the consequences to donors for NCAA violations?
USI is required by NCAA regulations to notify donors of consequences regarding rules violations. Donors found in violation of NCAA rules are subject to losing benefits and privileges, including season tickets, being a member of the Varsity Club, etc. An NCAA violation by a donor may also result in a student-athlete being declared ineligible for competition or a recruit's eligibility being jeopardized. The NCAA may also place sanctions on the USI athletics department due to donor violations.