Official VisitLegislation

SJSU Compliance Office

September 23 & 25, 2014

1. A prospect takes an official visit in high school to SJSU but doesn’t commit. After the prospect graduates high school and enrolls at a two-year institution as a qualifier, when can he/she take a second official visit to SJSU?

• C. October 15th

• Per Bylaw 13.6.2.3, the one-visit limitation and the limitations on total official visits apply separately to the period in which the prospect is in high school and to the period beginning October 15 following the prospect’s completion of high school. 

• A prospect may be provided a maximum of 10 official visits -- five while in high school and five beginning with October 15 following the prospect's completion of high school. 

2. It is permissible to provide transportation for a prospect on an official visit to attend a contest 50 miles from campus provided the contest takes place at the site that the institution holds all home competitions.

• False

• Per Bylaw 13.6.2.4, an institution may not provide a prospect with transportation to attend an off-campus contest outside a 30-mile radius of the institution's main campus.

3. A high school prospect may use a PLAN or PSAT to satisfy the standardized test condition to take an official visit. • True• Pursuant to Bylaw 13.6.3(a), a high school or prep

school prospect must present a score from a PSAT, SAT, PLAN or ACT taken on a  national testing date under national testing conditions, except that a state-administered ACT may be used to meet the requirement.  The score must be presented through a testing agency document, on a high school or prep school transcript (official or unofficial) or through the use of the applicable testing agency's automated-voice system.   

Bylaw 13.6.3 Official Visit Requirements, cont’d…

(b) A prospect must present the institution with a high school (or college) academic transcript;

(c) A high school or prep school prospect must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center (JC prospect in 1st year too); and

(d) A high school or prep school prospect must be placed on the institution's institutional request list (IRL) with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

4. If a prospect’s flight to visit campus arrives at SFO, the 48-hour official visit period begins when the prospect is picked up from SFO by a coach.

• True• Pursuant to Bylaw 13.5.2.4, during the

official visit, any member of the athletics department staff may provide ground transportation for a prospect and the prospect's parents, relatives or legal guardians between campus and any bus or train station or airport.

Bylaw 13.5.2.4 Official Visit transportation, cont’d…

If a prospect is transported by a member of the institution's athletics department from an airport or bus or train station other than the major airport or bus or train station nearest the institution, the 48-hour official visit period begins with the initiation of the ground transportation by the athletics department staff member.

5. A prospect may claim complimentary admissions without an ID.

• False

6. An SJSU coach may leave a prospect hard tickets to a contest.

• False

7. It is permissible for a prospect to view a competition from a team’s bench.

• False

• During an official visit, a maximum of three complimentary admissions to a home athletics event at a facility within a 30-mile radius of campus in which the institution's team practices or competes may be provided to a prospect. 

• Complimentary admissions are for the exclusive use of the prospect and those persons accompanying him/her on the visit and must be issued only through a pass list. 

Bylaw 13.6.7.2 Complimentary Admissions

Bylaw 13.6.7.2 Complimentary Admissions, cont’d…

• Such admissions may provide seating only in the general seating area of the facility used for conducting the event. Providing seating during the conduct of the event (including intermission) for the prospect or those persons accompanying the prospect in the facility's press box, special seating box(es) or bench area is specifically prohibited. 

• FOOTBALL ONLY…Two additional complimentary admissions may be provided to the prospect.

8. What is the entertainment radius for a prospect on an official visit? • B. 30 Miles

• Pursuant to Bylaw 13.6.7.1, an institution may provide entertainment (max $40 per day) on the official visit only for a prospect and the prospect's parents/legal guardians or spouse within a 30-mile radius of campus.

• Entertainment and contact by boosters during the official visit are prohibited.

• It is not permissible to entertain other relatives or friends (including dates) of a prospect at any time at any site.

9. SJSU is hosting a conference tournament at the SAP Center; it is permissible to provide a prospect with complimentary admissions to attend.

• False

• Per Bylaw 13.6.7.2.3, a member institution may not provide complimentary admissions to a prospect for a postseason conference tournament.  The prospect may purchase tickets only in the same manner as any other member of the general public. 

10. It is permissible to reserve tickets in the same seat locale for a prospect to buy, if the prospect has more family members attending a competition than the maximum permissible complimentary admissions.

• True

• Per Bylaw 13.6.7.2.5, an institution may reserve tickets, only for the use of immediate family members accompanying a prospect during an official visit and for seat locations adjacent to the complimentary seats being provided to the prospect. These tickets must be purchased at face value.

11. It is impermissible to provide special on-campus parking to a prospect during the official visit.

• False

• Per Bylaw 13.6.7.3, an institution may arrange special on-campus parking for prospects during an official visit.

12. If one host entertains two prospects for two days during an official visit, what is the total allowance the host may be provided?

• A. $120

• $40+$40+20=20=$120

13. A prospect may buy a t-shirt or souvenir to take home with the student host money.

• False

Bylaw 13.6.7.5(a) Student Host

• A student host may be provided a maximum of $40 a day to cover all costs of entertaining the host(s) and the prospect (and the prospect's parents/legal guardians or spouse), excluding the cost of meals and admission to campus athletics events.

• It is permissible to provide the student host with an additional $20 per day for each additional prospect the host entertains.

Bylaw 13.6.7.5(a) Student Host, cont’d…

• The cost of entertainment of athletics department staff members who accompany the prospect is also excluded from the host money; however, if an athletics department staff member serves as the prospect's host, his/her entertainment costs must be included in the entertainment allowance.

• The entertainment allowance may NOT be used for the purchase of souvenirs, such as T-shirts or other institutional mementos.

14. If several students host a prospect on an official visit, all hosts may be provided with meals at the same meal.• False

• Per Bylaw 13.6.7.5.1, if several students host a prospect, the $40/day entertainment money may be used to cover the expenses incurred by the prospect and all hosts. Only one student host per prospect may be provided a free meal if restaurant facilities are used.

• Multiple student hosts (or a team) may be provided a restaurant meal with a prospect on an official visit if an occasional meal is approved.

15. It is impermissible for a coach to lend his/her car to a student host. • True

• Per Bylaw 13.6.7.5.3, the institution or booster shall not provide an automobile for use by the prospect or the student host during the official visit.

• A student may not be reimbursed for gas used to transport a prospect during an official visit but he/she may use the $40 entertainment allowance for this purpose.

16. It is permissible to provide a snack in addition to three meals a day to a prospect on an official visit. • True

• Per Bylaw 13.6.7.7, three meals per day comparable to those provided to student-athletes during the academic year may be provided to a prospect and the prospect's parents/legal guardians, spouse or children.

• A reasonable snack (e.g., pizza, hamburger) may be provided in addition to the three meals.

17. A faculty member may host a meal at his/her home for a prospect.

• True

• Per Bylaw 13.6.7.7.1, a luncheon, dinner or brunch at the home of an institutional staff member (e.g., the athletics director, a coach, a faculty member or the institution’s president) may be held for a prospect on an official visit, provided the entertainment is on a scale comparable to that of normal student life, is not excessive in nature and occurs on only one occasion.

18. It is permissible to rent a boat for a prospect that costs more than $100 during an official visit.• False• Per Bylaw 13.6.7.8, if a boat, snowmobile,

recreational vehicle or similar recreational equipment is used to entertain a prospect or the prospect's parents/legal guardians and spouse, the normal retail cost of the use of such equipment shall be assessed against the $40-per-day entertainment allowance.

• If the normal retail cost for such entertainment exceeds the $40-per-day entertainment allowance, the entertainment may not be provided.

19. It is permissible to decorate a prospect’s hotel room with streamers.

• False 

20. It is impermissible to simulate a pregame introduction featuring a prospect.

• True 

Bylaw 13.6.7.9 Activities During Official Visit

• An institution may not arrange miscellaneous, personalized recruiting aids (e.g., personalized jerseys or audio/video scoreboard presentations).

• Personalized recruiting aids include any decorative items and special additions to any location the prospect will visit (e.g., hotel room, locker room, coach's office, conference room, arena) regardless of whether the items include the prospect's name or picture.  

• A prospect may not engage in any game-day simulations (e.g., running onto the field with the team during pregame introductions). 

21. If a prospect is picked up at San Jose Airport and provided a sit down meal the night before his/her arrival on campus, the 48 hour period begins with the prospect’s arrival on campus.

• False• Per a 10/19/12 NCAA Interpretation, a prospect

may receive a "sit-down" meal at the time of his/her arrival for an official visit en route to campus with an athletics department staff member; however, such a meal begins the 48-hour official visit period. Under these circumstances, the prospect's parents (or legal guardians), spouse and/or children may also receive such a meal.

10/19/12 NCAA Interpretation, cont’d…

A prospect may receive a drive-thru or "to-go" meal while in transit with an athletics department staff member from the major airport or bus or train station nearest the institution without beginning the 48-hour official visit period.  Such expenses may NOT be provided for any other individual who is accompanying the prospect (e.g., parents, spouse, children) prior to the start of the 48-hour official visit period.

•Men’s Basketball: A prospect’s parents or legal guardians (up to two people) may receive the same drive-thru or “to-go” meal in this instance but such expenses may not be provided for any other individual accompanying the prospect (e.g., spouse, children) prior to the start of the 48-hour period.

22. It is permissible for a prospect to travel to an institution for an official visit during a dead period.

• True• Per a 4/15/92 NCAA Interpretation, a member

institution may provide transportation expenses to a prospect to travel to and from the institution during a dead period, provided no part of the official visit occurs during the dead period; further, an institutional staff member is not permitted to provide such transportation to a prospect related to an official visit during a dead period (cab from airport, may reimburse cost).

23. It is permissible to show audio/video materials on a video board to a prospect during an official visit.

• True

• Per a 2/16/11 NCAA Interpretation, an institution is permitted to use a scoreboard or video board to show a video to a prospect visiting the institution, provided the video was not created for recruiting purposes and it is not personalized.

24. It is permissible to bring a prospect to a tailgate hosted by alumni.

• False

• Per Bylaw 13.6.7.1, a prospect is prohibited from having contact with or being provided entertainment by boosters during the official visit.

25. A prospect may provide an interview to a media outlet during his/her official visit.

• False

• Per Bylaw 13.10.1, a member institution shall not permit a media entity to be present during any recruiting contact made by an institution's coaching staff member.

26. It is permissible to have a town car service drive a prospect from his/her home to the airport to catch a flight to campus for an official visit.

• True

• Per Bylaw 13.5.2.1, an institution may pay a prospect's round-trip transportation for his/her official visit from any location, provided the prospect returns to the original point of departure, or if return transportation is provided to the prospect's home, educational institution or site of competition, the cost does not exceed round-trip expenses from the prospect's original point of departure.

• Use of a limousine or helicopter for such transportation is prohibited.

• An institution is permitted to pay travel expenses for a prospect on an official visit to travel from the airport to the prospects home. [3/30/88, Staff]

27. A prospect may never sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI) during an official visit.

• False

• The NLI program allows an institution to provide an NLI to a prospect while on campus for an official visit.

• The prospect may sign the NLI during an official visit but only during a permissible signing period.

• Bylaw 13.1.5.8.1 prohibits in-person, off-campus delivery of a letter of intent by an institutional staff member.

28. An institution may arrange for a prospect to use upgrades (e.g., Early Bird Check-In) connected with the purchase of an airline ticket for an official visit.

• False

• Per Bylaw 13.5.2.3.1, an institution may not arrange payment of the airline ticket to allow a prospect (or the prospect's relatives, friends or legal guardians) to take advantage of ticket bonuses, rebates, refunds, upgrades or other benefits connected with the purchase of the ticket.

29. An institution may pay transportation for a prospect to come to campus for an official visit and then stay to enroll at the institution.

• False

• An official visit shall not exceed 48 hours.

• A prospect may remain in the locale of the institution after the 48-hour period for personal reasons, provided that at the completion of the visit, the individual departs campus, and the institution does not pay any expenses thereafter, including the cost of return transportation to the prospect's home. 

• Additionally, if the prospect does not return home prior to attending the institution, the one-way transportation to the campus is a violation of Bylaw 13.5.4, which prohibits transportation to enroll.

Questions?