Booster Information (DI)

Overview
These rules describe the institutional control an NCAA member school must maintain over its athletics programs. Each school is responsible for ensuring its entire athletic program, including all staff and representatives, follows all NCAA and conference rules.
The highest authority at a school, such as the president or chancellor, holds the ultimate responsibility for maintaining institutional control.
Schools must provide training and education to ensure compliance. They also need to monitor their programs to prevent and detect violations.
If a school discovers a rule violation, it must be reported in a timely manner to the NCAA and conference. The school must also fully cooperate with any enforcement investigation.
A school's responsibility extends to people or groups outside the athletic department who are considered representatives of athletic interests. A person or entity is considered a representative if they:
Contribute financially to the athletic program, including but not limited to via gifts and philanthropy.
Assist in recruiting athletes.
Provide benefits to athletes.
Are otherwise involved in promoting the school's athletic program.
Once a person is identified as a representative of athletic interests, they are presumed to always retain that status. This means the school remains responsible for their actions.

Important NCAA Bylaws
E Institutional Control. It is the responsibility of each member institution to monitor and control its athletics program and to provide education and training to ensure compliance with the rules established by the Association, its division and conference. It is the responsibility of each member institution to report all rules violations to its NCAA division and conference in a timely manner and to cooperate fully with enforcement efforts. Responsibility for maintaining institutional control ultimately rests with the institution’s campus president or chancellor.
8.01.1 Institutional Control. The control and responsibility for the conduct of intercollegiate athletics shall be exercised by the institution itself and by the conference(s), if any, of which it is a member. Administrative control or faculty control, or a combination of the two, shall constitute institutional control.
8.4.2 Representatives of Athletics Interests. An institution's "responsibility" for the conduct of its intercollegiate athletics program shall include responsibility for the acts of individuals, a corporate entity (e.g., apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization when a member of the institution's executive or athletics administration or an athletics department staff member has knowledge or should have knowledge that such an individual, corporate entity or other organization:
(a) Has participated in or is a member of an agency or organization;
(b) Has made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution;
(c) Has been requested by the athletics department staff to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes or is assisting in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes;
(d) Has assisted or is assisting in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes; or
(e) Is otherwise involved in promoting the institution's athletics program.
8.4.2.2 Retention of Identity as "Representative." Any individual participating in the activities set forth in Bylaw 8.4.2 shall be considered a "representative of the institution's athletics interests," and once so identified as a representative, it is presumed the person retains that identity.
Overview
These rules outline key definitions and regulations for NCAA member schools, focusing on who can recruit athletes and how financial contributions can be made.
The act of recruiting is defined as any attempt by a school's staff member or a representative of athletics interests to persuade a prospective student-athlete or their family to enroll and join the school's athletic program.
A representative of athletics interest is a broad term for anyone who acts as a "booster" for the school's athletic program. This includes individuals or groups who have:
Made financial contributions to the athletic department or a booster club; contributions may include, but are not limited to, gifts to a specific team or program, gifts to Diplomat Athletics, and gifts to the college’s endowment in support of athletic or recreation programs or budgetary needs.
Assisted in recruiting prospective student-athletes.
Helped provide benefits to current athletes or their families.
Otherwise been involved in promoting the school's athletic programs. The school is responsible for the actions of these individuals.
Donors can contribute money for eligible scholarships, but they cannot earmark that money for a specific student-athlete. The school retains complete control over how those funds are distributed among student-athletes within a particular eligible sport. This prevents donors from directly paying for a specific student-athlete's scholarship.

Important NCAA Bylaws
13.02.15 Recruiting. Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospective student-athlete or a prospective student-athlete's family members by an institutional staff member or by a representative of the institution's athletics interests for the purpose of securing the prospective student-athlete's enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution's intercollegiate athletics program.
13.02.16 Representative of Athletics Interests. A "representative of the institution's athletics interests" is an individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g., apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization who is known (or who should have been known) by a member of the institution's executive or athletics administration to:
(a) Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution's intercollegiate athletics program;
(b) Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution;
(c) Be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospective student athletes;
(d) Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their family members; or
(e) Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution's athletics program.
15.01.3 Contributions by Donor. An individual may contribute funds to finance a scholarship or grant-in-aid for a particular eligible sport, but the decision as to how such funds are to be allocated in the sport shall rest exclusively with the institution. It is not permissible for a donor to contribute funds to finance a scholarship or grant-in-aid for a particular student-athlete.
Overview
These rules strictly prohibit NCAA schools and their representatives from offering or providing financial aid or benefits to prospective student-athletes, their families, or their friends. The only exception is for benefits that are generally available to all prospective students or a specific, non-athletic-related group (like international students).
Specifically, the following benefits are prohibited:
Financial & Tangible Items: This includes offering cash, gifts of clothing or equipment, free or reduced-cost services, or loans (and co-signing loans).
Housing & Services: Schools cannot offer free or reduced-cost housing or pay for academic services like tutoring or test preparation.
Special Arrangements: This rule also bans things like arranging employment for a recruit's family members, allowing them to use a school's athletic equipment, or sponsoring an awards banquet for high school athletes.
In short, if a benefit is not available to every prospective student at the university, it cannot be offered to a student-athlete. The goal is to prevent schools from using special benefits to improperly influence a recruit's decision.

Important NCAA Bylaws
13.2.1 General Regulation. An institution's staff member or any representative of its athletics interests shall not be involved, directly or indirectly, in making arrangements for or giving or offering to give any financial aid or other benefits to a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete's family members or friends, other than expressly permitted by NCAA regulations. Receipt of a benefit by a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete's family members or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation if it is determined that the same benefit is generally available to the institution's prospective students or their family members or friends or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., international students, minority students) determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability.
13.2.1.1 Specific Prohibitions. Specifically prohibited financial aid, benefits and arrangements include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) An employment arrangement for a prospective student-athlete's family members;
(b) Gift of clothing or equipment;
(c) Co-signing of loans;
(d) Providing loans to a prospective student-athlete's family members or friends;
(e) Cash or like items;
(f) Any tangible items, including merchandise;
(g) Free or reduced-cost services, rentals or purchases of any type;
(h) Free or reduced-cost housing;
(i) Use of an institution's athletics equipment (e.g., for a high school all-star game);
(j) Sponsorship of or arrangement for an awards banquet for high school, preparatory school or two-year-college athletes by an institution, representatives of its athletics interests or its alumni groups or booster clubs; and
(k) Expenses for academic services (e.g., tutoring, test preparation) to assist in the completion of initial-eligibility or transfer-eligibility requirements or improvement of the prospective student-athlete's academic profile in conjunction with a waiver request.
Overview
These rules define what an "extra benefit" is and outline which benefits a student-athlete can and cannot receive.
The overarching principle is that a student-athlete (or their family and friends) cannot receive a special benefit that is not generally available to the entire student body or a specific group of students determined by non-athletic criteria.
Permissible Benefits
While most special benefits are prohibited, a few are allowed. These include:
Travel: Using frequent flyer miles earned from team travel, or a return ticket from a foreign trip.
Team Events: Attending receptions and festivities at championships or all-star events.
Meals: Getting occasional meals from a teammate's family.
Emergency Aid: Receiving help with transportation, housing, and meals in the case of a family emergency, or getting permission for emergency phone calls.
Fundraisers: In extreme circumstances (like a life-threatening illness or a natural disaster), an institution can help organize a fundraiser for a student-athlete. The money raised must be used for a specific purpose (e.g., medical bills) and any extra funds must be donated to a non-profit organization.
Awards: An institution can pay for a student-athlete to attend a non-athletic awards ceremony where they are being honored.
Non-Permissible Benefits
Student-athletes are strictly forbidden from receiving special benefits, including:
Financial Arrangements: This includes receiving loans of money, a guarantee of a bond, or having an employee or booster co-sign a loan.
Transportation: Student-athletes cannot be given a car or have the use of one.
Business Opportunities: An enrolled student-athlete is not allowed to run a concession stand at an institutional sports camp.
Selling Items: Any item received for athletic participation (e.g., a jersey, a trophy) cannot be sold or traded for something of value.

Important NCAA Bylaws
16.02.3 Extra Benefit. An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or representative of the institution's athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete 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 or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., international students, minority students) determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability.
16.11.2 Permissible. / 16.11.1.1 General Rule. Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes, their family members or friends is not a violation of NCAA rules if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution's students and their family members or friends.
16.11.1.6 Miscellaneous Benefits. An institution may provide or arrange for the following benefits for a student athlete:
(a) The use of a return ticket at any time after the conclusion of a foreign tour;
(b) Receipt of frequent flier points and/or miles earned while traveling to and from intercollegiate practice and/or competition;
(c) Participation in receptions and festivities associated with championships, conference tournaments or all-star events hosted by and conducted on the institution's campus;
(d) Occasional meals to team members provided by a student-athlete's family member at any location;
(e) Telephone calls in emergency situations as approved by the director of athletics (or designee);
(f) Reasonable tokens of support and transportation, housing and meal expenses in the event of injury, illness, or death of a family member or another student-athlete;
(g) Fundraisers for student-athletes (or their family members) under the following extreme circumstances:
(1) Extreme circumstances should be extraordinary in the result of events beyond the student-athlete's control (e.g., life-threatening illness, natural disaster);
(2) The proceeds must be designated for a specific purpose (e.g., payment of medical bills, purchase of medical equipment, replacement of items lost in a fire, etc.)
(3) The proceeds may be given directly to the beneficiaries, with receipt kept on file by the institution, which must include the amount of expenses incurred and the total amount received; and
(4) The excess proceeds must be given to a not-for-profit organization with the receipt kept on file by the institution.
(h) The payment of admission costs or a meal for any student-athlete being honored at a nonathletics awards ceremony.
16.11.2 Nonpermissible. / 16.11.2.1 General Rule. The student-athlete shall not receive any extra benefit. The term "extra benefit" refers to any special arrangement by an institutional employee or representative of the institution's athletics interests to provide the student-athlete or the student-athlete's family members or friends with a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.
16.11.2.2 Other Prohibited Benefits. An institutional employee or representative of the institution's athletics interests may not provide a student-athlete with extra benefits or services, including, but not limited to
(a) A loan of money;
(b) A guarantee of bond;
(c) An automobile or the use of an automobile; or
(d) Signing or co-signing a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan.
16.11.2.3 Camp Concession. It is not permissible for a member institution or a member of its athletics department staff conducting a sports camp to permit a student-athlete (enrolled in the institution) to operate, at the student-athlete's own expense, a concession selling items related to or associated with the camp to campers or others in attendance
16.11.2.4 Items Received for Participation in Intercollegiate Athletics. An item received for participation in intercollegiate athletics may not be sold or exchanged or assigned for another item of value.
Overview
These rules provide a framework for how NCAA student-athletes can earn compensation for their name, image, and likeness (NIL). The core principle is that athletes can be compensated for the commercial use of their NIL, but this compensation cannot be a payment for athletic performance or an inducement to enroll at a specific school.
Key Rules & Definitions
An individual may be compensated for the commercial use of their name, image, and likeness. This can be based on their athletic skill or reputation, as long as it is a quid pro quo exchange (i.e., a direct exchange of services for payment). For example, an athlete can be paid to endorse a product or appear in an advertisement.
NIL activities cannot be used as a way to pay an athlete for their performance or to convince them to enroll at a particular institution. This means a school or booster cannot offer a recruit a large sum of money as an incentive to attend that school.
Pennsylvania’s law prohibits institutions from arranging third-party compensation for a student-athlete relating to NIL use as an inducement to recruit prospective students. Institutions cannot identify, create, facilitate, negotiate, or enable opportunities for college student-athletes. Pennsylvania’s laws are more restrictive than many other states’ laws. Before pursuing a NIL deal, it’s important that the student-athlete do their research to ensure they are compliant with Pennsylvania law and the laws of the state of residence, if Pennsylvania is not their legal state of residence.
Disclosure and Representation
Student-athletes who choose to engage in NIL activities must disclose their agreements to their school.
Athletes must disclose any new agreements within 30 days of signing them. Upon initial enrollment, they must also disclose all current and past NIL activities within 30 days.
Required Information: The disclosure must include details about the agreement, such as:
The names and contact information of all parties involved.
A description of the services provided, the compensation, and the duration of the agreement.
Information about any professional service providers (like agents) and their compensation.
Professional Representation: Student-athletes are allowed to use agents or other professional services to help with their NIL activities. The business terms of these arrangements must be consistent with industry standards.
Attestation: By disclosing, an athlete attests that all information is accurate and that the NIL activities follow all NCAA rules. Failure to disclose or fraudulent disclosure may be considered unethical conduct.
Informational Links regarding PA State NIL Laws (these resources continue to evolve):
https://iconsource.com/pennsylvania-nil-laws/
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2021&sessInd=0&act=26
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2022&sessInd=0&act=139

Important NCAA Bylaws
22.01.1 Name, Image and Likeness Compensation. An individual may receive compensation for the use of the individual’s name, image and likeness, which may be secured or compensated based, in whole or in part, on athletics skill or reputation. Name, image and likeness activities may not be used to compensate a student-athlete for athletics participation or achievement.
22.01.2 Offers and Inducements. Name, image and likeness activities may not be used as an inducement for an individual to enroll or remain enrolled at a specific institution.
22.02.1 Name, Image and Likeness Activity. Name, image and likeness activity is any activity that involves the commercial use of an individual’s name, image or likeness to advertise or endorse the sale or use of a product or service. Name, image and likeness compensation must:
(a) Include quid pro quo (e.g., compensation for work performed);
(b) Not be contingent upon initial or continued enrollment at a particular institution; and
(c) Not be in return for athletics participation or achievement.
22.1.1 Institutional Involvement in Student-Athlete Name, Image and Likeness Opportunities. An institution may provide assistance and services (e.g., identify specific name, image and likeness opportunities, facilitate deals between student-athletes and third parties) to a student-athlete pursuing name, image and likeness opportunities, provided:
(a) The student-athlete does not receive compensation from the institution for use of the student-athlete’s name, image or likeness (e.g., indirect or direct payment from the institution for use of name, image or likeness);
(b) The student-athlete maintains independent authority over the name, image and likeness agreement (e.g., student-athlete determines specific terms, has final decision in accepting or rejecting name, image and likeness agreements); and
(c) The student-athlete is not required to accept institutional assistance or services (e.g., assistance and services are optional, outside representation may be used).
22.2.1.2 Name, Image and Likeness Attestation. A student-athlete who elects to disclose name, image and likeness activities must attest that:
(a) All disclosed information is and will be complete and accurate;
(b) The disclosed activities are and will be consistent with institutional and conference policy, NCAA rules and any applicable state or federal law;
(c) Pay or promise of pay related to the disclosed activities are not and will not be a substitute for payment for athletics participation or achievement or an inducement to enroll or remain enrolled at a specific institution; and
(d) Acknowledgement that failure to disclose or fraudulent disclosure may constitute impermissible unethical conduct
22.2.3 Name, Image and Likeness Disclosure. A student-athlete who elects to disclose name, image and likeness activities must provide such disclosures not later than 30 days after entering into or signing an agreement. Upon initial enrollment at the certifying institution, a student-athlete who elects to disclose name, image and likeness activities must provide the institution all current and expired name, image and likeness activities not later than 30 days after enrollment.
22.2.3.1 Required Elements of Name, Image and Likeness Disclosure. Disclosure of a student-athlete’s name, image and likeness activities shall include the following:
(a) Names and contact information of individuals involved in the activity, including a description of the nature of the relationship between such individuals;
(b) Terms of the arrangement, including a description of services rendered, rights granted, term duration, compensation and payment structure (e.g., cash, barter, deferred);
(c) Names and contact information of professional service providers involved in the arranging, negotiating, or securing the disclosed activity, including a description of the nature of the relationship between the service provider and individuals involved in the activity; and
(d) Terms of compensation between the professional service provider and the student-athlete (e.g., agent contingency fee).
22.3.1 Representation for Purposes of Name, Image and Likeness Activities. An individual may use professional services, including agent representation, for the purpose of name, image and likeness activities. Business arrangements related to representation for purposes of name, image and likeness activities (e.g., travel expenses associated with meeting) shall be consistent with arrangements between the professional service provider and other prospective or current clients and align with industry standards.
Click here to head to NCAA.org: https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2021/6/23/membership-division-i-compliance.aspx

1/9/26 - Lancaster, PA: Franklin & Marshall College, Wrestling