Vikings Fans, Boosters, and Alumni
The athletic department at Cleveland State University works hard to attract quality individuals to represent our school as student-athletes. We recognize that fans, friends of the program (Boosters), and alumni have a passion for CSU athletics. However, it is our responsibility in the Compliance Office to educate you about permissible and impermissible forms of support for CSU athletics. By following NCAA rules and regulations, we can ensure that all of our student-athletes remain eligible to keep making us proud in the classroom and on the playing fields. Always err on the side of caution and if you have any questions about permissible forms of support of CSU athletics please contact the compliance office.
For a list of DOs and DON’Ts for fans, boosters, and alumni, please click on the “Booster Handout” link above.
Compliance Office Contact Information:
Erik Mathis
Senior Associate Athletics Director, Compliance
(216) 903-5609
e.s.mathis@csuohio.edu
Cleveland State University is ultimately responsible for the actions of its athletics representatives in regard to NCAA rules and regulations. If you are aware of any infractions of Horizon League or NCAA rules please report it to the Compliance Office immediately. Even if a violation is unintentional, the eligibility of a prospect or enrolled student-athlete could be in jeopardy. The following information will help everyone gain a basic understanding of NCAA rules and regulations.
EXTRA BENEFITS
Members of the athletic staff and representatives of athletics interests are prohibited from providing an extra benefit to a prospective or current student-athlete.
An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or representative of the institution’s athletic interests to provide a student-athlete or the student-athletes family member or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes or their family members or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution’s students or their family members or friends to a particular segment of the student body determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability. (NCAA Bylaw 16.02.3)
Examples of extra benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Cash, loans of money, or use of a credit card
- Signing or cosigning a loan
- Any tangible gifts, including birthday or holiday gifts
- Free or discounted meals
- Free or discounted goods (e.g., clothing, vehicles, electronics)
- Free or discounted services (e.g., dry cleaning, haircuts, cell phones)
- Free or discounted entertainment (e.g., movie tickets, professional sports tickets)
- Assistance paying bills
- Transportation (e.g., purchase of plane, train, or bus ticket, etc.) or the use of automobile
Student-athletes who receive extra benefits are immediately ineligible for intercollegiate competition, they must repay the entire amount of the benefit, and they often must petition the NCAA for reinstatement of their eligibility. In cases in which boosters provide the extra benefit, the NCAA or institution often imposes penalties related to the disassociation of the booster from the athletic program.
RECRUITING
Recruiting should be left to Cleveland State’s coaches and staff. With very limited exceptions, fans and boosters ARE PROHIBITED FROM:
- Making on or off-campus recruiting contact with prospects or their family or friends.
- Communicating with prospects via social media.
- Contacting a prospect’s parents, coaches, or teachers.
- Evaluating prospects at the direction of a caching staff member.
Recruiting Visits
- Fans and boosters may not have any contact with a prospect, or a prospect’s family or friends during official or unofficial visits to Cleveland State.
Social Media
- Fans and boosters may not contact prospects through social media platforms in an effort to recruit them.
- Boosters and fans may not post messages on social media platforms to encourage prospects to attend Cleveland State University.
PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE
A prospective student-athlete is any student who has started classes for the ninth grade. A student who has not yet started ninth grade may become a prospect if CSU or a booster provided the student, their relatives, or friends, with financial assistance or benefits not generally provided to other students. In addition, student-athletes enrolled in preparatory school or two-year colleges, or those who have officially withdrawn from a four-year school, are considered prospects. A prospective student-athlete 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 Cleveland State University. A prospect becomes a current student-athlete only when he/she reports for preseason practice or the first day of classes, whichever occurs first.
OCCASIONAL MEALS
Boosters of Cleveland State University are permitted to provide a student-athlete, or an entire team, with a meal on infrequent and special occasions. All booster occasional meals must be pre-approved by the Athletic Compliance Office. To submit an occasional meal proposal for pre-approval and/or to learn more about the bylaws that apply to occasional meals please click on the “Occasional Meal Form” link above.
