Dear Terp Alums and Friends:

Athletics are a spirited part of life at the University of Maryland. They build community among fans and allow our student athletes to test their skills among the best of the ACC and NCAA. Membership in these conferences also brings responsibility. The University follows the mandatory ACC and NCAA regulations.

Fans are often not aware that the NCAA holds the University responsible for the actions of its fans. Even the best-intentioned fans can unknowingly violate NCAA rules. The Athletics Department has developed this compliance website as an easy reference to key NCAA rules.

Please review this carefully and take its content to heart. Following the rules will protect you, the University, and student athletes from NCAA rules violations. Even an unintentional violation can bring sanctions down on our Athletics program.

If you have further questions, please review the Maryland’s Athletics Compliance website or contact the Athletics Compliance Office at 301-314-7081. We greatly appreciate your support of Maryland Athletics.

Yours sincerely,

C. D. Mote, Jr.
President

Important Terms To Know

Prospective Student Athlete or "Prospect" - any student who has started classes for the ninth grade. The individual remains a prospect even after he/she has signed a National Letter of Intent or accepted an offer of admission or financial aid to attend the University of Maryland. A prospect becomes a current student-athlete only when he/she reports for preseason practice or the first day of fall classes, whichever occurs first.

Enrolled Student-Athlete - a student who is presently participating in athletics or has completed his or her eligibility but is still enrolled at the University

Extra Benefit - Any special gift or arrangement provided to an enrolled student-athlete, prospect, or to their relatives or friends, which is not available to the general student body.

Contact - Any face to face encounter between a prospect or a prospect's parent or legal guardian and a University staff member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in excess of a normal greeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of commonly asked questions that addresses many if the critical areas of compliance. If you have specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact the compliance office at (301) 314-7081.

Q: Who is a Representative of Maryland Athletics Interest?

• You are the parent or legal guardian of an enrolled student-athlete
• You are a former student or fan of the University of Maryland
• You are or have ever have been a season ticket holder
• You are or have been a member of the Terrapin Club
• You have made any financial contributions to the University of Maryland Athletics
• You have participated in promoting the Terrapin athletics program
• You have assisted or have been requested to assist in the recruitment of prospects.
• You currently employ or have previously provided or helped arrange employment for enrolled student-athletes or prospective student-athletes who have signed a National Letter of Intent

Q: Is it possible to be become a booster without doing anything listed above?

1. Did the relationship between the athlete (or the athlete's parents) and the individual providing the benefit(s) develop as a result of the athlete's participation in athletics or notoriety related thereto?
 
2. Did the relationship between the athlete (or the athlete's parents) and the individual providing the benefit(s) predate the athlete's status as a prospective student-athlete?
 
3. Did the relationship between the athlete (or the athlete's parents) and the individual providing the benefit(s) predate the athlete's status achieved as a result of his or her athletics ability and reputation?
 
4. Was the pattern of benefits provided by the individual to the athlete (or the athlete's parents) prior to the athletes attaining notoriety as a skilled athlete similar in nature to those provided after attaining such stature?

If you answer NO to question 1, and YES to questions 2, 3, and 4, then there is an established relationship with the athlete. However, if you answer differently for any of there four questions, then by NCAA rules, there is NO pre-existing relationship and thus it is impermissible for you to provide any preferential treatment, benefits, or services tot that athlete.

Q: Once an individual has been identified as a "Booster", how long does he/she retain this identity?

Q. Is the University of Maryland responsible for the actions of its representatives and their support groups?

Q: Can a booster contact high school coaches or guidance counselors directly regarding a prospective student-athlete?

Q: If only Maryland coaches, athletic department, and/or institutional staff members may recruit a prospect how may a booster help?

• Attend as many athletic contests as you desire to evaluate talent
• Call, write, or send newspaper articles to the Maryland coaching staff regarding outstanding student-athletes in his/her area
• Feel free to offer assistance to members of the coaching staff who are recruiting in his/her community

Q: As a booster, if I attend a prospect's athletic event, may I talk to the prospect's coach after the event?

Q: What if a booster attends an athletic event and finds himself/herself sitting next to the parents of the prospect?

Q: As a booster may I visit the prospect's school to pick up transcripts or videotape/film to send to a college coach?

Q: May a prospect call a booster?

Q: May boosters entertain relatives and friends of a prospective student-athlete at any site off- campus?

Q: May a booster make a contact with a prospect and/or his or her guardian during an official or unofficial visit to campus?

Q: Is it permissible for a booster to pay costs incurred by an athletics talent scout in studying or recruiting a prospect?

Q: Is it permissible for a booster to provide free admission to the University of Maryland's away contests to prospects, their relatives, or friends?

Q: Is it permissible for a booster to pay in whole or in part the registration fees for summer sports camps?

Q: Is it permissible for a booster to be involved in the on-campus entertainment of a prospect and/or his or her guardian during an official or unofficial visit?

Q: During the recruitment of a prospect or prior to a prospect's enrollment, may a booster 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 students in general, their relatives or friends?

• the use of an automobile;
• signing or cosigning a note for a loan;
• special discounts or payment arrangements on loan;
• cash or tangible items (e.g., clothes, cars, jewelry, stereo equipment , even a soft drink);
• the promise of employment after college;
• an employment arrangement for a prospect's relatives or friend;
• purchase of items or services from a prospect or the prospect's family at inflated prices;
• free or reduced -cost housing arrangements;
• free or reduced-cost services or rentals of any type;
• the promise of financial aid for post graduate education;
• the promise to pay or arrange payment of transportation costs incurred by relatives or friends of prospective student-athletes;
• the use of University of Maryland's athletic equipment (e.g., for a high school all-star game); or
• sponsorship of or arrangement for an awards banquet for high school , prep school or two year college athletes by an institution, boosters, or its alumni groups or booster clubs.

  Once A Booster…Always A Booster