Oberlin College Athletics

Alumni, Friends, and Parents

The John William Heisman Club is an organization composed of Oberlin College athletic letter-winners, former physical education majors and anyone else interested in the well being of the Oberlin College athletics program and its participants. Much of the College’s athletic success can be attributed to the support of alumni, boosters, parents, and friends of the athletics program. We are proud of this tradition. It is important that all alumni, boosters, parents, and friends abide by NCAA rules regulating college athletics. The Oberlin College Athletics Department is responsible for all actions of alumni, boosters, parents, and friends in regards to athletics. Below are some frequently asked questions regarding the relationship of boosters and friends to the athletics program:


• Why do boosters/alums/friends/parents have to abide by NCAA rules?

According to the NCAA, anyone who is promoting the Oberlin College intercollegiate athletics program in anyway must follow the rules set forth by the NCAA. Once a person is identified as such a representative, the person retains that identity indefinitely.


• Who is a “Representative of Oberlin 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 that 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 athletic booster organization (e.g. alumni council) of that institution;
c) Assist or have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospects;
d) Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or
e) Have been involved otherwise in promoting Oberlin’s athletics programs.


• Who is a prospective student-athlete?

The NCAA definition of a prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. An individual remains a prospective student-athlete until one of the following occurs (whichever occurs earlier):
a) The individual officially registers and enrolls in a minimum full-time program of studies and attends classes in any term of a four-year collegiate institution’s regular academic year (excluding summer); or
b) The individual participates in a regular squad practice or competition at a four-year collegiate institution.


• As a parent/alum/friend of athletics, what am I permitted to do for the current student-athletes at Oberlin College?

First, you should contact the Oberlin College coach to let him or her know of your interest in doing something for/with the current student-athlete. You are allowed to provide an ‘occasional meal’ under the following conditions:
a) The occasional meal may be provided at any location in the locale of Oberlin College;
b) Meals must be restricted to infrequent and special occasions;
c) Transportation may be provided to student-athletes to attend occasional meals.

If you are a relative of a student, there is an exception to the above rules. You are allowed to provide meals to team members at any location. Please note, alums, friends, and boosters do not have this same allowance.

On special occasions the Alumni Office might set up an off-campus event inviting alums, prospective student-athletes, friends of the College and an Oberlin athletics team. In this case, the Alumni Office is allowed to pay for the student-athlete meals. A booster can offer to pick up the cost of the meal, but this money needs to be given to the Department or College as a donation and can not be given directly to the restaurant or caterers.


• How can I help the recruitment efforts of Oberlin College coaches?

Let the Oberlin College coaching staff know about possible prospective student-athletes in your area. Send in newspaper clippings, biographical information, etc. Let coaches know about upcoming athletic events in your area.


• What if I know prospective student-athletes in my area?

You can help by contacting the coach about this prospective student-athlete. It is helpful to provide the coach with contact information if you have it. If you do not have this information handy, give the Oberlin coach as much information as you can about prospect’s team.


• The NCAA does not allow Division III student-athletes to receive “extra benefits” because they happen to participate on an athletic team. What is a non-permissible “extra benefit”?

An extra benefit includes any special arrangement by an Oberlin College employee or booster to provide student-athletes, their relatives or friends, a benefit not expressly authorized by the NCAA. Examples of impermissible extra benefits include, but are not limited to:
a) Gifts or loans of clothing, stereo equipment, compact discs, food, beverages
b) Transportation
c) Use of an automobile
d) Low interest or interest-free loans, telephone cards, credit cards, charge accounts, etc.
e) Gifts of professional sports tickets
f) Special discounts on products or services
g) Special payment arrangements on personal purchases
h) Material benefits that are not available to the general student body


• What is the NCAA rule regarding texting, twittering, social network sites and chat rooms?

At the 2009 convention, Division III adopted a prohibition on the usage of most electronic transmissions (including social networking) for interactions with prospects about athletics information. So, texting, twittering, chat rooms and social networking are strictly prohibited at Division III. Electronic interactions with prospects regarding athletics are limited to e-mail and fax.

• If I have other questions about NCAA rules, whom can I contact?

The information contained in this list of frequently asked questions does not represent every possibility or situation. If you have any questions regarding prospects, student-athletes, or NCAA rules and regulations, please contact the compliance officer, Eric Lahetta (eric.lahetta@oberlin.edu).