The newspapers and TV news reports have been filled with information regarding the national signing date, which started on February 2nd for the sports of football and men’s and women’s soccer. Please keep in mind that as a representative of athletics interest there are restrictions as to how you may interact with the individuals who have signed the National Letter of Intent. Most notably, the national letter of intent signees are still considered prospects. The following is a list of do’s and don’t in regards to these prospects.

Prospective Student-Athlete
A prospective student-athlete is any student who has started classes for the ninth grade. Any student younger who receives any benefits from an institution or athletics representative would become a prospective student-athlete. In addition, student-athletes enrolled in preparatory school or two-year colleges are considered prospective student-athletes. * Note: An individual is considered a prospect (whether or not they have signed a National Letter-of-Intent) until the first day of initial collegiate enrollment or the first day they report for practice, whichever is earliest. Therefore, all NCAA regulations concerning contact with a prospective student-athlete are applicable until that time.

The Dos and Don’ts for representatives in regards to a prospective student-athlete:
(The following lists of examples are not all-inclusive. As always, ask before you act!)

Dos
You may:

• forward information about prospective student-athletes to the appropriate coaching staff.
• have telephone contact with a prospect regarding permissible pre-enrollment activities such as summer employment, provided the prospect has graduated from high school and signed a National Letter of Intent. Also, you must contact the Compliance Office to make them aware that you are making these employment arrangements.
• have a telephone conversation with a prospect only if the prospect initiates the call. Such a call may not be prearranged by an institutional staff member and you are not permitted to have a recruiting conversation, but may exhibit normal civility. You must refer any questions about our athletics programs to an athletics department staff member/coach.
• view a prospects athletic contest at your own initiative provided you do not contact the prospect or his/her parents. In addition, you may not contact a prospects coach, principal, or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospect.
• continue established family relationships with friends and neighbors. Contacts with sons and daughters of these families are permitted so long as they are not made for recruiting purposes or encouraged by Notre Dame coaches.

DON’TS
You may not:

• write, e-mail or telephone a prospective student-athlete or his/her parents in an effort to recruit them to Notre Dame.
• become involved in making arrangements to provide money, financial aid or a benefit of any kind to a prospect or the prospects family and friends.
• make contact with a prospective student-athlete and his/her parents when the prospect is on-campus for an official or unofficial recruiting visit.
• contact a prospect to congratulate him/her on signing a National Letter of Intent to attend the University.
• transport, pay or arrange for payment of transportation costs for a prospect, and his/her relatives or friends to visit campus (or elsewhere).
• pay or arrange for payment of summer camp registration fees for a prospect.
• provide ANYTHING to a prospect, the prospects family or friends without prior approval from the Compliance Office.

Thank you for your tremendous support of our entire athletics program. Our 800+ student-athletes, our coaches and administrative staff are very appreciative of your spirit and affinity for Notre Dame, in particular intercollegiate athletics.

With that, your adherence to all applicable NCAA rules and regulations is essential as we strive to maintain and enhance our national athletic prominence while protecting the University’s tradition of integrity and values.

Our Compliance Office staff stands prepared to assist you with your questions and concerns regarding NCAA regulations. Please contact us immediately should you have concern regarding any situation. Your attention to these matters will ensure that the eligibility of both prospective student-athletes (recruits) and enrolled student-athletes is protected and maintained. Again, many thanks for your cooperation in this matter and your ongoing support.