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NCAA  RULES  EDUCATION  FOR  MEMBERS  OF  THE  MEDIA  Florida  A&M  University  (FAMU)  Athletics  

   All  questions  can  be  directed  to  Faydre  Hawkins-­‐Brown  or  Stephanie  Thompson  in  the  Compliance  office:  (850)  599-­‐3868.      INTRODUCTION    Please  familiarize  yourself  with  these  NCAA  rules  and  always  remember  to  ask  before  you  act.    Even  though  you  are  not  an  institutional  staff  member,  your  actions  can  have  negative  consequences  that  may  follow  for  the  institution,  a  student-­‐athlete,  and/or  a  prospective  student-­‐athlete,  depending  on  the  facts  of  the  violation.  Furthermore,  if  you  have  a  press  credential  and  your  actions  violate  the  terms  of  use  for  that  press  credential,  then  Florida  A&M  University  Athletics  retains  the  right  to  terminate  or  restrict  your  use  of  that  press  credential.  One  of  the  conditions  for  the  use  of  a  press  credential  is  this:  “Credentialed  media  members  must  adhere  to  NCAA  rules  and  any  NCAA  violations  are  grounds  for  the  revoking  of  a  credential.  Specifically,  contact  with  prospective  student-­‐athletes  is  strictly  prohibited  on  the  FAMU  campus.”      WANT  THE  PARTICIPATION  OF  A  STUDENT-­‐ATHLETE,  COACH  OR  STAFFER  FOR  YOUR  ARTICLE/SEGMENT?    Contact  FAMU  Athletics  at  (850)  599-­‐3736  or  vaughn.wilson@famu.edu.      YOU  MAY  NOT  RECRUIT  FOR  FLORIDA  A&M  UNIVERSITY    The  only  way  that  your  contact  and  communication  with  prospects,  their  relatives,  friends  and  coaches  is  permissible  is  if  you  are  doing  so  as  a  member  of  the  media  and  are  contacting  a  recruit  for  the  purpose  of  gathering  information/reporting,  not  to  recruit  the  prospect  or  influence  the  decisions  of  the  prospect.  If  you  are  a  member  of  the  media  who  is  also  a  former  student  of  Florida  A&M  University,  a  donor  to  one  or  more  Florida  A&M  University  athletics  booster  groups,  or  otherwise  qualify  as  a  representative  of  FAMU  Athletics  (i.e.,  a  booster),  it  is  especially  important  for  you  to  act  in  a  professional  manner  when  interacting  with  prospects  or  their  relatives,  coaches,  or  friends  for  purposes  of  gathering  information  so  that  you  not  give  off  the  appearance  of  someone  who  is  acting  as  a  fan/booster.  If  you  recruit  prospects  for  Florida  A&M  University,  or  you  or  your  organization  promote  Florida  A&M  University’s  athletics  programs  to  prospects  or  their  relatives,  then  you  have  or  will  become  a  booster  of  Florida  A&M  University  (even  if  you  did  not  attend  FAMU  and  do  not  donate  to  it).  The  NCAA  might  hold  the  institution  responsible  for  your  actions,  and  your  actions  might  render  the  involved  prospects  ineligible  for  competition  at  Florida  A&M  University.  In  short,  do  not  attempt  to  persuade  (through  communication  or  other  means)  prospects,  their  relatives,  friends,  or  coaches  on  whether  they  should  or  should  not  attend  Florida  A&M  University  (or  any  other  institution).      

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NO  COMMENT  ON  PROSPECTS    Prior  to  a  prospect’s  signing  with  Florida  A&M  University,  neither  Florida  A&M  University  staff,  coaches,  or  student-­‐athletes  may  comment  to  the  media  (on  the  record  or  off  the  record)  about  ANY  prospect  (even  those  who  have  yet  to  begin  high  school),  except  to  respond  to  such  an  inquiry  confirmation/denial  of  recruitment.  Therefore,  please  do  not  ask  them  about  prospects  that  have  yet  to  sign  with  Florida  A&M  University.  For  example,  if  a  prospect  signed  with  another  institution,  do  not  ask  a  Florida  A&M  University  coach  to  comment  about  that  prospect.  Furthermore,  NCAA  Bylaw  13.10.2.1.1  specifically  prohibits  staff  members  at  NCAA  member  institutions  from  evaluating  or  rating  prospects  for  news  media,  scouting  services  or  recruiting  services,  regardless  of  whether  such  comments  are  made  on-­‐  or  off  the  record.      NO  MEDIA  CONTACT  WITH  PROSPECTS  DURING  RECRUITING  CONTACTS,  VISITS    An  NCAA  Division  I  member  institution  may  not  permit  a  reporter,  journalist  or  other  media  entity  to  be  present  during  any  on-­‐  or  off-­‐campus  recruiting  contact,  or  telephone  call  between  a  Florida  A&M  University  coach  and  a  prospective  student-­‐athlete,  prospective  student-­‐athlete’s  relative,  or  prospective  student-­‐athlete’s  coach.      INFO  FOR  BROADCASTERS  OF  NCAA  DIVISION  I  COMPETITIONS    NCAA  Bylaw  13.10.2.2.2  prohibits  a  prospective  student-­‐athlete  from  being  interviewed  during  the  broadcast  or  telecast  of  an  institution's  intercollegiate  contest.  Furthermore,  a  member  institution  may  not  permit  the  showing  of  video  of  competition  involving  high  school,  preparatory  school,  or  two-­‐year  college  prospective  student-­‐athletes  during  the  broadcast  of  an  NCAA  Division  I  competition.      MEDIA  PRESENCE  AT  INSTITUTIONAL  CAMPS  OR  CLINICS    NCAA  Division  I  institutions  may  not  arrange  for  the  media,  including  recruiting  or  scouting  services,  to  be  present  at  an  institutional  camp  or  clinic.  This  includes  inviting  members  of  the  media  to  attend  camps/clinics,  or  providing  special  access  (e.g.,  access  to  areas  not  open  to  the  general  public)  for  the  media  to  observe,  meet,  or  otherwise  interact  with  prospective  student-­‐athletes.  Further,  members  of  the  media  who  are  present  at  an  institutional  camp  or  clinic  may  be  positioned  only  in  areas  open  to  the  general  public.      DO  NOT  INTERVIEW  NCAA  MEMBER  INSTITUTIONS’  COACHES  WHEN...    Do  not  attempt  to  interview  NCAA  Division  I  coaches  when  they  are  present  at  prospects’  athletic  events  (e.g.,  high  school  competitions,  non-­‐scholastic  sport  tournaments);  the  NCAA  may  treat  an  interview  granted  in  that  context  as  a  violation  of  NCAA  publicity  regulations.      NO  EMBED  STORIES    Do  not  request  that  you  be  granted  permission  to  have  all-­‐access  for  a  story.  The  nature  of  NCAA  rules  and  federal  laws  regarding  students’  rights  to  privacy  in  their  educational  

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records  means  that  granting  such  unrestricted  access  could  result  in  violations  of  NCAA  rules  and/or  the  Federal  Educational  Right  to  Privacy  Act;  therefore,  Florida  A&M  University  will  deny  requests  for  such  all-­‐access/embed  stories.      NO  ACCOMPANYING  A  COACH  WHEN  S/HE  RECRUITS    NCAA  Bylaw  13.10.1  states  that  an  NCAA  Division  I  member  institution  shall  not  permit  a  media  entity  to  be  present  during  any  recruiting  contact  made  by  an  institution’s  coaching  staff  member.  When  NCAA  Division  I  coaches  recruit,  they  often  have  contact  with  prospective  student-­‐athletes,  as  well  as  prospects’  relatives,  friends,  and  coaches.  If  a  reporter  were  present  during  such  a  recruiting  contact  with  the  consent  of  the  NCAA  Division  I  coach,  a  violation  would  result  from  such  action.      INTERVIEWS  TO,  ARTICLES  FOR,  ENDORSEMENTS  OF  RECRUITING/SCOUTING  SERVICES    NCAA  Division  I  coaches  and  staff  may  grant  interviews  to  recruiting  or  scouting  services,  but  they  may  not  discuss  prospects  who  have  not  signed  with  or  been  admitted  to  their  institution.  NCAA  Division  I  coaches  and  staff  are  also  prohibited  from  serving  as  consultants  for,  sitting  on  boards  of,  promoting,  or  endorsing  recruiting/scouting  services  or  publications/media  outlets  that  report  primarily  on  an  NCAA  member  institution’s  athletics  interests.      TV/RADIO/PODCASTS/FILMS    Do  not  put  an  NCAA  Division  I  coach  or  athletics  staff  member  on  the  same  show  as  a  prospect  or  a  prospect’s  coach.  NCAA  Bylaw  13.10.2.2  states  that  NCAA  Division  I  institutions  shall  not  permit  a  prospect  or  prospect’s  coach  to  appear,  be  interviewed  or  otherwise  be  involved  (in  person  or  via  film,  audio  tape  or  videotape)  on  a  program  in  which  the  institution's  coach  is  participating.      QUID  PRO  QUO    Individuals  who  report  on  Florida  A&M  University  Athletics  should  not  accept  (nor  should  Florida  A&M  University  Athletics  staff  offer  or  provide)  any  special  benefit  or  service  not  available  to  the  general  public  or  to  other  reporters,  per  Bylaw  16.11.2.1.  Accepting  such  services  or  benefits  creates  an  air  of  impropriety  that  undermines  the  individual’s  status  as  a  member  of  the  media.      EXTRA  BENEFITS/PREFERENTIAL  TREATMENT    Unless  you  are  a  relative  of  a  student-­‐athlete  or  prospective  student-­‐athlete,  do  not  provide  a  student-­‐athlete  or  prospective  student-­‐athlete  (or  his/her  relatives  or  friends)  with  any  benefit  unless  the  benefit  is  specifically  authorized  by  the  NCAA  or  is  available  to  the  general  student  body  or  general  public.  If  a  prospective  student-­‐athlete  or  current  student-­‐athlete  (or  his/her  relatives  or  friends)  accepts  a  benefit  unauthorized  by  the  NCAA  from  a  member  of  the  media,  the  prospective  student-­‐athlete  or  student-­‐athlete  will  be  rendered  ineligible,  regardless  of  whether  the  member  of  the  media  is  a  booster  at  the  time  of  the  provision  of  the  impermissible  benefit.  Furthermore,  please  

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note  that  this  restriction  continues  to  apply  even  after  a  student-­‐athlete  exhausts  his/her  eligibility.  Refer  student-­‐athletes  or  their  relatives  who  express  financial  or  other  need  to  Florida  A&M  University  Athletics  Compliance.  The  student-­‐athlete  or  prospective  student-­‐athlete  may  qualify  for  access  to  the  NCAA  Opportunity  Fund  or  an  incidental  expense  waiver.  Always  remember  that  even  if  a  prospective  student-­‐athlete  or  current  student-­‐athlete  re-­‐pays  the  provider  of  the  impermissible  benefit,  the  provision  of  the  benefit  remains  a  violation.