Johns Hopkins University Athletics

The NCAA defines a prospective student-athlete as a student who has started classes for the ninth grade, regardless of their athletic ability. As a booster, it is an NCAA violation for you to engage in recruiting conversations with any Division I prospect or their parents/guardians. This includes in-person contact on and off-campus, via telephone, and in writing (including commenting/messaging on social media). 

In Division III, there are ways in which Hopkins Athletics staff may permissibly ask you to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes. That said, please refrain from any contact with a PSA (or their parents/guardians) who is not a member of your family or who you do not have a pre-existing relationship with unrelated to their athletics recruitment unless asked by a Hopkins Athletics staff member. 

The following are generally considered to be permissible under NCAA bylaws:

• Continuing to have contact with an a family member or an established family friend or neighbor who is a prospect provided the relationship predates the ninth grade, was not developed out of athletics, and no recruiting occurs
• Attending a prospect’s game on your own initiative provided you do not have any contact with the prospect or their parents or guardians
• Notifying Hopkins coaches about prospective student-athletes in your area
• Being involved with local, established youth sports clubs that may include prospects, provided no recruitment on behalf of Hopkins occurs

As a booster, you may not provide benefits to an enrolled student-athlete, a prospect or their family/friends, unless such benefits are generally available to the general student body. 

Examples of impermissible extra benefits include: 

• Providing transportation (e.g. train ticket) or use of an automobile
• Cash, loans, or use of a credit card
• Any tangible gifts, including birthday or holiday gifts
• Free or discounted meals (outside of occasional meals approved by the compliance office)
• Free or reduced cost housing for any length of time
• Free or discounted goods or services (unless advertised and available to the general public)
• Free or reduced admission/tickets to events or entertainment
• Academic assistance of any kind (e.g. tutoring, assistance in completing coursework)

It is permissible for you to provide a meal to a student-athlete or team on infrequent or special occasions provided the meal is approved by the Compliance Office before the meal occurs. If you wish to host or provide an occasional meal, please contact the Compliance Office to ensure that all appropriate guidelines are followed and approved prior to the meal.

Occasional meals may only be held at the individual’s home, on campus, or at a facility that is regularly used for home competition and may be catered. Reasonable local transportation may be provided to student-athletes to attend the meal only if it is held at the booster’s home. 

At the Division III level, a booster may pay for or provide a meal to a student-athlete or team outside of the locale of the institution as long as the meal is in conjunction with, or en-route to or from, an away-from-home contest.

It is permissible for alumni and boosters to employ currently enrolled student-athletes provided the following are adhered to:

• The student-athlete is paid only for work performed
• The student-athlete is paid at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services
• The student-athlete is not compensated for any value that he or she may have for an employer because of any fame or personal following that he or she may have obtained because of his or her athletics ability
• The student-athlete completes the Employment Information Form on ARMS and receives approval from the Compliance Office prior to beginning work

You may not purchase any item that belongs to a current student-athlete or is signed by a current student-athlete. In addition, you may not trade an item or service for any item that belongs to a current student-athlete or is signed by a current student-athlete.

Furthermore, you may not sell any memorabilia using the name or image of a current student-athlete, including items that have been autographed by a current student-athlete.