Guide for Crimson Tide Supporters
Dear Crimson Tide Supporters,
We are very grateful for your continued support of The University of Alabama and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. As a booster at UA, the NCAA places you under the responsibility of Alabama Athletics. You can continue to help the Crimson Tide by being knowledgeable about NCAA rules.
Please review this brochure containing some of the rules that must be followed. Doing so can help to avoid jeopardizing the eligibility of current and prospective student-athletes.
Alabama Athletics is proud to have your loyal support, dedication, and enthusiasm for the Crimson Tide. We always seek the highest standard of ethical conduct as we strive for continued excellence on and off the field.
You may not be aware, but all season ticket holders are considered a representative of athletics interests (boosters). Adhering to NCAA rules and legislation is the responsibility of everyone associated with and supportive of the University.
Each individual involved in intercollegiate athletics is obligated to maintain competency in knowledge of the rules. They are expected to act within his or her realm of responsibility in full compliance with the governing legislation. Also they must report any violations of NCAA, conference and/or institutional rules of which he or she is aware.
Thank you for your support and cooperation. Please contact the Alabama Athletics Compliance Office if you have a question or wish to receive further information.
Regards,
Athletics Compliance Office
A Booster is an individual, independent agency, corporate entity, or other organization who is known, or should be known to:
- Hold, or have ever held, season tickets for any sport with Alabama Athletics;
- Have participated in or been a member of an agency that promotes the Alabama Athletics program;
- e.g. University of Alabama Alumni Association, Red Elephant Club, etc.
- Have made financial contributions to Alabama Athletics or a booster organization that promotes Alabama Athletics;
- e.g. Crimson Tide Foundation, sports booster groups, etc.
- Have provided benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their family;
- Be assisting or have been requested by athletic department staff to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes; or
- Promote Alabama Athletics in any way.
- NCAA Bylaw 13.02.16
*This is not an exhaustive list. Please contact the Alabama Athletics Compliance Office if you have any questions about your status as a Booster.
Once an individual, independent agency, corporate entity or other organization is identified as such a representative, the person, independent agency, corporate entity or other organization retains that identity indefinitely. - NCAA Bylaw 13.02.16
As a booster, the NCAA restricts the involvement that you have with prospective student-athletes. Only countable coaches and authorized employees may be involved in the recruiting process. NCAA rules prohibit boosters from engaging in recruiting activities designed to secure a prospect's enrollment at The University of Alabama.
Permissible Booster Activities
- Notify Alabama coaching staff members about noteworthy prospects in your area.
- Attend high school or two-year college athletic contests or other events where prospects may compete, provided no contact occurs.
- Continue existing relationships with an established family friend or neighbor who is a prospect.
A Booster May Not
- Contact or call a prospect that the Booster does not have a longstanding relationship with (relationship must pre-date the 9th grade).
- Contact or call a prospect's parent, coach, principal or counselor.
- Assist with the evaluation of talent at the direction of the coaching staff.
- Promote Alabama Athletics in any way to encourage a prospect to attend The University of Alabama.
- Provide gifts, employ prospect or family as inducement for prospect to attend Alabama, create a fan page for the prospect, etc.
- Please remember that contact between boosters and prospective student athletes is prohibited. The restriction includes social media interactions. This prohibition also includes creating fan pages for prospects to attend UA.
As a booster, the NCAA restricts the involvement that you may have with student-athletes. NCAA rules prohibit boosters from providing a student-athlete with an extra benefit. Doing so may result in the student-athlete being declared ineligible to compete on behalf of The University of Alabama.
Extra benefit violations include any special gift or arrangement provided to a student-athlete, or a student-athlete's friend or family member that is not available to the general public or The University of Alabama student body.
Prohibited items include the obvious, such as money or cars. However, some things are perhaps less obvious, but are also against the rules, such as:
- Special jobs,
- Loans or co-signers,
- Gifts or gift cards (even on special occasions such as birthdays or graduation),
- Special housing or rent,
- Discounts,
- Access to a private country club or golf course,
- Meals or entertainment (even if that seems a polite thing to do),
- Professional services for free or at a reduced rate,
- Transportation (even a ride to campus),
- Promises of future employment after college,
- Purchasing student-athletes' complimentary admissions, or
- Tickets or discounts on tickets (even if those tickets were free to you in the first place).
While there are some limited exceptions to the above list, generally boosters may not provide (or arrange for someone else to provide) any of the above benefits to student-athletes or recruits at any time without the acceptance of such benefits negatively impacting the student's NCAA eligibility.
- May a booster or fan enter into an agreement with a University of Alabama ("UA") student-athlete ("SA") for the use of the SA's name, image, or likeness ("NIL") in exchange for money, goods or services?
- Yes. Before entering such a contract, the SA is required to disclose any proposed contract for use of their NIL to UA. It is possible, and likely, that federal laws and NCAA legislation will ultimately provide a nationwide, uniform approach to NIL governance, at which point restrictions on these agreements are subject to change.
- Will UA assist SAs with NIL-related issues?
- Yes. UA will have a robust program to educate student-athletes on how to maximize the use of their NIL for compensation, as well as understanding associated issues (e.g., financial literacy, debt management, time management, budgeting, academic resources).
- May an SA receive NIL-compensation based on the SA's athletic performance at UA?
- No.
- Are there limitations on the compensation or opportunities that can be provided to a SA for use of their NIL?
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Yes. Student-athletes may not enter NIL compensation agreements that do not comply with Federal, State, NCAA, SEC, or UA rules, policies, laws, and regulations. Additionally, student-athletes may be precluded from entering NIL compensation agreements that does one or more of the following:
- Conflicts with the terms of a current UA contract;
- Negatively impacts or reflects adversely on UA or its Athletics Department, including, but not limited to, bringing about public disrepute, contempt, embarrassment, scandal, ridicule, or otherwise negatively impacting the reputation or the moral or ethical standards of UA or its Athletics Department; or
- Involves any of the following: tobacco companies, alcoholic beverage companies, sellers or dispensaries of controlled substances, adult entertainment businesses, and business engaged in gambling activities.
Other examples of prohibited compensation for SA NIL activity include:
- Where the SA is not a US citizen and the SA's visa generally prohibits employment. International student-athletes should consult with Capstone International prior to engaging in NIL activities.
- In exchange for property owned by UA (e.g., current jersey or equipment)
- May a contract for NIL compensation stipulate that an SA must compete for, or attend, UA (or any other NCAA member school)?
- No.
- May I provide NIL-compensation to a prospective student-athlete ("PSA")?
- No. A SA may not receive compensation for use of their NIL as an inducement to attend or enroll in or continue attending a specific postsecondary institution. Generally, PSAs participate in competition governed by state athletics associations that may have amateurism rules which prohibit a PSA from using his/her NIL for compensation.
- Yea Alabama
- IMG College Licensing
- University Trademarks (PDF)
- Alabama Licensees (PDF)
- Grounds Use Permit
- The Advantage
If you have specific questions, please contact us at AlabamaAdvantage@ia.ua.edu.
