The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Happy New Year from our Longhorns family to yours!
01.13.2014 | Compliance
One of UT Athletics' priorities is to maintain a culture of integrity. As a parent of a student-athlete, you are an important part of sustaining this culture and we thank you for your support.
Message from UT Athletics Risk Management and Compliance Services
The University of Texas seeks to maintain a culture of integrity within our athletics program, and our commitment to integrity could not be sustained without the cooperation and support of those individuals who have close relationships with our student-athletes. We understand that NCAA rules are often complex and difficult to comprehend, but the UT Athletics Compliance Services staff is available to help explain these rules and serve as a resource for you. Our goal is to educate studentathletes and their parents, friends and family on NCAA rules that apply to them. The information included in this handout covers several basic NCAA rules pertain-ing to student-athletes and their associates. Understanding the rules outlined in this handout will ensure your actions, whether knowingly or unknowingly, do not negatively affect the eligibility of our student-athletes. We appreciate your cooperation with our efforts to comply with NCAA rules and win the right way. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our office at any time if you have questions.
STUDENT-ATHLETE COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION
Student-athletes can receive up to four complimentary admissions for each home or away contest in their sport and up to six complimentary admissions to postseason events (e.g., Big 12 Championship, NCAA Championships, bowl game). Parents, rela-tives and friends receiving complimentary admissions from a UT student-athlete must present a photo ID at the ticket desk and sign a document acknowledging receipt of the complimentary admissions. Student-athletes (or their associates) may NOT sell, exchange or assign complimentary for any item of value. Guests selling student-athlete complimentary admissions, regardless of the student-athlete's knowledge, could render the student-athlete ineligible for competition and/or forfeit their own eligibility to receive tickets for future games.
RECRUITING FUTURE LONGHORN STUDENT-ATHLETES
NCAA rules only allow coaching staff members to recruit future Longhorn student-athletes. Boosters (e.g., former student-athletes, donors and parents of current/former players) may not recruit on behalf of UT. This includes, but is not limited to calling, writing or having on– or off-campus contact with prospective student-athletes or their parents. Also, please refrain from sending messages to recruits via a social networking site (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) as these forms of communi-cation are also considered impermissible recruiting activities. If you personally know of a recruit who is interested in attending UT, simply direct them to speak with a member of our coaching staff.
How to Report Any Concerns
If you become aware of a possible violation of NCAA rules or suspect a violation may have occurred, please contact the UT Athletics Risk Management & Compliance Services staff. You may also contact the University's general compliance hotline or submit an anonymous report on the web.
• Athletics Risk Mgt. & Compliance Services: compliance@athletics.utexas.edu OR 512.471.7285
• University Compliance Services: hotline@compliance.utexas.edu OR 512.232.7055 OR
• www.reportlineweb.com/utaustin (Anonymous)
AGENTS AND AMATEURISM
What you need to know about AGENTS:
The NCAA has established very stringent penalties for studentathletes (or their friends and families) accepting benefits from agents (and individuals working on behalf of agents). If you have any suspicions about whether or not an individual offering you or a studentathlete benefits (e.g., meals, lodging, transportation) may be working on behalf of an agent, contact our office. Some additional rules:
• A student-athlete (or family members on his or her behalf) may not agree verbally or in writing to be represented by an agent or any individual acting on behalf of an agent (e.g., runner) until after the student-athlete has finished his or her eligibility;
• A student-athlete (or his/her relatives or friends) may not accept any benefits from an agent or any individual acting on behalf of an agent (e.g., runner). Relatives or friends accepting benefits from agents or runners, regardless of the student-athlete's knowledge, will render the studentathlete ineligible for competition.
What you need to know about AMATEUR STATUS:
A student-athlete may lose his or her amateur status under the following circumstances (this list is not exhaustive):
• Pay for play: A student-athlete receives pay in any form for participating in his or her sport (e.g. signing a professional contract).
• Future payments: A student-athlete enters an agreement to be paid to in the future, even if the payment occurs after his or her NCAA eligibility has expired.
• Signing a contract of commitment or competing on any
STUDENT-ATHLETE EXTRA BENEFITS
What you need to know about EXTRA BENEFITS: In general, an extra benefit is any special arrangement provided to a studentathlete or his/her relatives or friends that is not otherwise available to the UT student body or the general public. Receipt of extra benefits may require repayment of the value of the benefit received, withholding from competition and/or result in permanent ineligibility. Examples of impermissible extra benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Transportation, meals, lodging, loans and cash;
• Special discount not available to the public or based on athletics reputation;
• Free or reduced cost housing, cars, clothes, services or general entertainment;
• Use of an automobile/credit card/personal property not belonging to the student-athlete or his/her immediate family;
• Co-signing a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan.
• Knowingly providing a student-athlete with extra benefits can lead to your disassociation from UT Athletics. ASK before you ACT!
