What is a "Representative of Athletics Interests?"
The NCAA defines a "representative of athletics interests" as an individual who is known (or 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, including corporate entities (e.g., apparel and equipment companies), 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 staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes;
• 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.

Once an individual has been identified as a representative of athletic interests, the person retains that identity for life.

Am I a Booster?
Have you ever:

• Been a member of a booster organization that supports Bison Athletics?
• Have you made a financial contribution to the athletic department, BAA or the Stampede?
• Are or have you ever been involved with the recruitment of a prospect?
• Have you provided or are providing benefits to an enrolled student-athlete or their relatives or friends?
• Have otherwise been involved in promoting OBU athletics?
• Provided or have help to arrange employment for student-athletes?
• Are the parents or legal guardians of an enrolled student-athlete?
• Are or ever been a season ticket holder?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then you are a representative of athletic interests – booster.

What is an Extra Benefit?
Fans and boosters may not provide anything to prospects or currently enrolled student-athletes, or their families, without prior approval from the OBU Athletics Compliance Office.

If a student-athlete and/or his or her family accept any benefits of special consideration (transportation, clothing, money, meals, etc) based on their athletic skill, the student-athlete jeopardizes his or her eligibility and Oklahoma Baptist University will be subject to NCAA penalties.

Extra benefits can include, but are not limited to:

• Money, gifts, clothing, tickets for entertainment, haircuts and use of a car
• Free or reduced cost room or board anywhere
• Free or reduced cost merchandise anywhere
• Use of athletics department copy/fax machines, long distance telephone services or free use of a cell phone.
• Typing or editing reports. Papers, letters, etc. for a student-athlete.
• A loan of money or the cosigning of a note to arrange a loan.  The sale or trade of complimentary admissions for merchandise, services or debt repayment.
• The sale or trade of any items a student-athlete has received for his or her participation in athletics.

Please note, this is not an exhaustive list. Please refrain from offering prospects and/or current student-athletes and their families and friends anything that is not available to all students or the general public.

As a Booster, What Can I Do to Help OBU Athletics?
You may:

• Attend as many athletic events as you like.
• Call, write, or send newspaper articles to the OBU coaching staff regarding outstanding student-athletes.
• Offer assistance to the OBU coaching staff members who are recruiting your area.
• Attend a public event, but may not have pre-arranged contact with prospects. 

As a Booster, What Can I Not Do to Help OBU Athletics?
You may not:

• Recruit players to OBU.
• Tweet or Facebook recruits.
• Contact recruits by telephone, email or in person.
• Visit recruits at home.
• Provide meals to student-athletes, unless you have received permission from OBU Compliance (including holiday meals, tailgate meals before games, etc.).
• Let student-athletes or prospects stay at your house or borrow your car.

Important Links

• Booster Guide to NCAA Regulations
• Booster Guide Flyer