Information for Alumni, Boosters, and Representatives of Athletics Interests
We appreciate all of the support from our Alumni, Boosters and Friends of the University! Our teams cannot be successful without your dedication to UB Athletics.
Let's win the right way...within NCAA rules. If at any time you have questions regarding NCAA rules and how they pertain to you, please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Compliance at 716-645-3146 or email us at kc29@buffalo.edu. Click here for the UB anonymous NCAA infraction reporting form.
"My name is Ronald Balter and I have been a booster for UB Athletics since I began donating right after graduation in 1980. As a long time donor and an attorney I know the importance of complying with NCAA rules applying to boosters. As a booster I have received special access to UB Athletics, but I know if I violate an NCAA rule, it could cause problems for UB, an athlete, and possibly me as an attorney. I never want to be the cause of sanctions against UB and lose the access I have to UB Athletics, nor do I want to put my license to practice law at risk. That is why before I do anything on my own that impacts UB Athletics, I always check with UB Athletics Compliance. Ask before you do."
You are considered a booster of UB athletics if you have:
- Provided a donation in order to obtain season tickets for any sport at the university.
- Participated in or has been a member of an organization promoting the university’s athletics programs.
- Made financial contributions to the athletic department or to a university booster organization.
- Arranged for or provided employment for enrolled student-athletes.
- Assisted or has been requested by university staff to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes.
- Assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student athletes or their families.
- Been involved otherwise in promoting university athletics
You may provide an occasional meal for student-athletes. The meal may be held in your home, catered or at a local restaurant. You may provide transportation for the athletes attending this meal.
You may engage in NIL transactions with UB student-athletes per the NIL Policy. Please reach out with specific questions or concerns. Student-athletes are required to report these activities to the Compliance Office.
You may attend games where prospects are competing if you do not make contact with the prospect or the parents/guardians of the prospective student-athletes.
You may accept a phone call from a prospect if the prospect initiates the call. All questions regarding the institutions' athletics department should be directed back to the Athletics Department.
You may check with the Office of Compliance at 716-645-3146 with any questions or concerns.
You may notify the Division of Athletics or coaching staff members about outstanding prospects.
You may not provide a prospective student-athlete, his/her parents, relatives, friends or coach's with any material benefit. This includes, but is not limited to, free tickets to professional and collegiate athletics events, movie passes, gifts, loans of money, transportation etc.
You may not invite a current UB student-athlete, prospective student-athlete, or the friends/relatives of the above listed to sit in a premium seating area during an athletics contest.
You may not make recruiting presentations or in-person on or off-campus recruiting contacts, telephone calls or direct messages with prospective student-athletes.
You may not provide awards or gifts for a current student-athlete or his/her family and friends unless done through a permissible NIL Activity.
You may not pay or offer to pay for registration fees for summer sports camps for a prospective student-athlete.
Please remember that only coaches and Athletics Department staff members may be involved in the recruiting process.
All boosters are prohibited from contacting prospects or members of a prospect's family by any means for the purpose of encouraging the prospect's participation in the University at Buffalo athletics program. Please know that although you may or may not consider yourself a booster of UB Athletics, by engaging in any of the actions below the NCAA will consider you a booster.
Q: Who is defined as a prospective student athlete [prospect/recruit]?
A: Any individual that has begun classes for the ninth grade and athletes in the NCAA transfer portal. This includes any individual who is currently enrolled in and/or attending courses at a junior college or prep school. In Men’s Basketball and Softball, a prospective student-athlete is defined as having begun classes for 7th grade [for camps/clinics].
Q. May I email or post messages on a prospective student-athlete's social media?
A. No, you may not. An athletics representative may not email or post messages on the social media of a prospective student-athlete.
Q. What if I do not urge a prospect to come to UB, may I contact them just to tell them about all the great things UB has to offer?
A. No. Once again, this is another form of recruiting and only UB coaches are permitted to recruit on behalf of the institution.
Please remember that individuals other than UB coaches should not be contacting prospects, directly or indirectly, in any manner or using any form of communication in an effort to persuade them to attend UB.
How may I support UB Athletics without jeopardizing a student-athlete’s continuing eligibility?
You may support UB Athletics by donating to the Blue and White Fund or through gift-in-kind donations to our many sports programs. Examples would be athletic gear, meals, entertainment activities etc. Please contact the UB Compliance Office for more information on how you can help support our Bulls.
If you have questions about this information or about NCAA or Mid American Conference rules, please contact the UB Athletics Compliance Department at (716) 645-7978 or email us at ath-compliance@buffalo.edu. We appreciate your support of UB Athletics and your help in insuring we operate within NCAA rules and regulations.
