April 28
Q. Is it permissible to permit the media to attend a YSU sport camp?
A. Institutions shall not publicize, or arrange for publicity of, a prospective student-athlete’s visit to the institution's campus. Therefore, it is not permissible for an institution to invite members of the media to attend a sports camp or clinic held on the institution’s campus. It also is not permissible for an institution to provide members of the media special access (e.g., access to areas of the camp not accessible to the general public) to view or meet with the prospective student-athletes in attendance at a camp or clinic.

April 14
Q. Is it permissible to announce that a prospective student-athlete will be enrolling at YSU if the student did not sign a National Letter of Intent?
A. Not during the signing period. Once a signing period is over and a student has been accepted to YSU and has signed a grant-in-aid agreement, we could release that the student will be enrolling at YSU.

April 7
Q. Can student-athletes purchase used athletic equipment from YSU athletics?
A. Only if the sale of such equipment is made available to the general public (i.e. Vindicator ad). The sale of equipment must be publicized to the public generally and made available to all individuals on the same terms and conditions.

March 31
Q. Is it permissible for YSU to arrange summer housing (e.g. rooming with current student-athletes, even if only for a night or two) for a prospective student-athlete prior to initial full-time enrollment?
A. ONLY IF BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING ARE MET: 1) the prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent; and 2) the prospect is enrolled in YSU’s summer term

March 17
Q. Members of various YSU departments have created a pool for betting in the NCAA’s college basketball "March Madness". It only costs $3 to join the pool. Can a staff member of the athletics department participate since the bet is a nominal amount?
A. No. Gambling on college or professional sports in which the NCAA conducts championships is impermissible in any way, shape, form or amount for all athletic staff members and student-athletes. Any athletic staff member found to have participated in any form of gambling as described is putting his/her employment at risk, as well as a student-athlete will forfeit all future eligibility.

March 3
Q. Would it be permissible for the athletics department to pay for the meals of the parents of our Vindicator Athletes of the Year?
A. No. This type of arrangement would be considered an extra benefit. Further, it would be permissible for a conference or its member institutions to provide actual and necessary expenses for a student-athlete and his/her legal guardians to attend the presentation of the conference’s ‘athlete of the year’ award to the student-athlete.

Feb. 25
Q. Can a non-coaching staff member (i.e. Director of "sport" Operations, etc.) make telephone calls to prospects?
A. ONLY AFTER the prospective student-athlete has signed a National Letter of Intent may a non-coaching staff member make or receive telephone calls to or from a prospective student-athlete (or the prospective student-athlete's parents, legal guardians or coaches) and prepare general recruiting correspondence (including electronic correspondence) to a prospective student-athlete (or the prospective student-athlete's parents or legal guardians). This legislation would not apply to walk-on prospective student-athletes. Therefore, non-coaching staff members would not be permitted to telephone or perform recruiting functions as they relate to walk-on prospective student-athletes.
    Further, academic advisors are permitted to make or receive telephone calls to/from prospective student-athletes related to academic issues although such calls count against the applicable call limitations an institution may place.

Feb. 18
Q. If a student-athlete is eligible to practice but not to compete (i.e. transfer in residence, academically ineligible), can this student receive a conference or postseason championship award?
A. No. Since a student is ineligible to compete in such an event (conference tournament or NCAA postseason game), the student is not eligible to receive any awards related to that event. However, such a student is eligible to receive a YSU award (i.e. most inspirational player).

Feb. 11
Q. Can a prospect receive a complimentary parking pass on an unofficial (not paid) visit?
A. No. A recruit can only receive a parking pass on an official (paid) visit.

Feb. 4
Q. If the Steelhounds organization provides YSU with a couple of complimentary tickets to a Steelhounds game, can those tickets be used to entertain a prospect on an official visit?
A. No. Professional sports tickets cannot be provided to prospects. However, the $30 per day student-host money can be utilized to pay for the purchase of the face value amount of the tickets. If the amount for the tickets combined with any other entertainment expenses (i.e. food) is greater than the $30, the tickets cannot be purchased since you cannot spend more than $30 per day to entertain a prospect. Further, if a prospect's official visit is 48 hours and eligible for $60 host money, the $60 may be used in any amounts over the two days ($50 day one/$10 day two) as long as $60 is not exceeded.

Jan. 28
Q. Is it permissible for an athletics department staff member to provide a meal and a night’s lodging for a student-athlete who has completed his/her eligibility?
A. Yes. A former student-athlete may receive a benefit of nominal value on an occasional basis from an institution or an athletics representative; provided the institution is not recruiting any relative of the former student-athlete.

Jan. 21
Q. If a team is on an away travel for competition, would it be permissible for YSU to pay for entertainment (i.e. movies, admission to a Sports Hall of Fame, admission to a professional game, etc.) en route to or in the vicinity of a competition site?
A. Yes. YSU may pay the actual costs (but may not provide cash) for reasonable entertainment that takes place within a 100-mile radius where a team plays or practices in connection with an away-from-home contest en route to or from such a contest.

Jan. 14
What type of award may a student-athlete not receive for earning "Player of the Game" honors?
A. Certificate of Achievement sponsored by the league or local business/organization.
B. Gift Certificate to a restaurant or business (not exceeding $50 in value)
C. Plaque (not exceeding $80 in value) sponsored by the league or local business/organization d.Medal (not exceeding $80 in value) sponsored by the league or local business/organization
ANSWER: B. Items listed in A, C, or D are permissible as described for a student-athletes to receive for a performance in a single contest or limited time period.