Information For Boosters

As a supporter of the University of South Carolina, you have a lot of pride in your school. You are proud of University of South Carolina’s high academic standards and athletics success, our commitment to values and the overall quality of the University of South Carolina experience.

To help ensure compliance with NCAA and SEC rules, please take the time to read the information on this Web site. The eligibility of South Carolina’s student-athletes and reputation of the Athletics Department and University depend on your cooperation.

Definition of a representative of athletics interest (booster): 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:

have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program;
have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution;
be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletics department) to assist in the recruitment of prospects;
be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or
have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution’s athletics program.

Some examples of representative of athletics interests are: fans, undergraduate students, graduate students, all university faculty, staff and other employees and alumni.

ONCE A BOOSTER ALWAYS A BOOSTER!

Per NCAA regulations, only coaches and athletics department staff members are permitted to be directly involved in the recruiting process. Boosters are not permitted to contact a prospect or his/her family by telephone, letter or in person (on- or off-campus) for the purpose of encouraging participation in the Gamecock athletics program. These regulations apply to Gamecock Club Members, alumni, season-ticket holders (past or present) and anyone who has ever donated money to the USC athletics program.

If you find yourself in a conversation with a prospect or his/her relative(s) and the topic turns to the Gamecock athletics program, politely explain that NCAA regulations don’t permit you to discuss this with them and direct their questions to the Gamecock coach in that sport or another athletics department staff member.

NCAA Regulations DO permit the following:

Contacting a University of South Carolina coach regarding any prospect that you feel would be a worthy addition to the university and its athletics program;
Attendance at public functions where prospects may be (such as high school banquets), as long as you do not have contact with the prospect for recruiting purposes;
Forwarding newspaper articles regarding prospects to University of South Carolina coaches; and
Continuing existing relationships with families that include children of prospect age.

NCAA Regulations DO NOT permit the following:

Providing a prospect, his/her family or friends with any benefit or special arrangement, including (but not limited to):

transportation;
meals;
admission to an athletics event;
costs incurred to attend a University of South Carolina camp;
entertainment;
costs incurred to visit campus;
free services or discounts;
gifts or awards;

Contacting a prospect’s coach, principal or counselor for the purpose of evaluating the prospect; picking up game films or transcripts from the prospect’s high school, prep school or junior college;
Assisting in arranging for a prospect’s future financial aid; or
Entertaining or providing tickets to a high school, prep school or junior college coach.

This is NOT an all-inclusive list, so please ASK BEFORE YOU ACT!

Bowl Game Reminders for Boosters