Prospective student-athlete—A prospective student-athlete ("prospect") is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individual's relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally.
A prospect remains a prospect until they enroll at The Colleges and attend the first day of classes or report for practice (whichever happens earlier). All NCAA rules in regards to contact with prospects are applicable until that time.
Recruited prospective student-athlete—Actions by staff members or athletics representatives that cause a prospective student-athlete to become a recruited prospective student-athlete are:
- Providing the prospect with an official visit.
- Having an arranged, in-person, off-campus encounter with the prospect or the prospect's parent(s), relatives or legal guardian(s).
- Initiating or arranging telephone contact with the prospect, the prospect's relatives or legal guardian(s) on more than one occasion for the purpose of recruitment.
As a representative of HWS athletics interests you MAY:
- Attend high school, prep school and community college athletic events, although you may not have any in-person contact with a Hobart lacrosse prospect or his relatives. Contact with any of HWS' Division III prospects is permissible, but we advise you speak to the appropriate HWS head coach in advance.
- Continue to maintain pre-existing relationships with prospects and their families, but conversations about the prospects recruitment to HWS are only permissible for Division III recruits.
- Make or receive a telephone call from a prospective student-athlete at any time, provided the call is only for the purpose of recruitment and is with full knowledge of the athletics department. However, telephone contact of any kind for Hobart lacrosse prospects is not permitted.
- Contact the HWS coaching staff about prospects you think might be of interest.
As a representative of HWS athletics interests you MAY NOT:
- Make any on or off-campus contact – including telephone calls, e-mails and letters – to a Hobart lacrosse prospect to solicit his participation in the program.
- Contact a prospect's coach, principal or counselor in order to evaluate the prospect's academic or athletics eligibility.
- Make in-person contact with a Hobart lacrosse prospective student-athlete either on or off campus (including during their one permissible official visit), other than normal civility during an unavoidable or incidental contact. In-person contact with Division III prospects is permissible.
- Directly or indirectly become involved in making special arrangements for a prospect and/or for the prospect's relatives and/or friends to receive money and/or other benefits regardless of whether these benefits are available to the general student-body.
- Provide any form of transportation for a high school, prep school or junior college prospective student-athlete to visit the campus or to attend an HWS home or away athletic contest.
- Have any contact with a student who is enrolled at another institution about his/her interest in transferring to Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
Remember the recruitment of prospective student-athletes is the sole responsibility of the coaching staffs of Hobart and William Smith Colleges. We encourage you to communicate with the appropriate coach before initiating any activities with prospects which may be considered recruiting.
With Hobart lacrosse, the coaching staff is required to pass the annual NCAA Recruiting Rules Exam and they are the only individuals permitted to contact prospects off of the College’s campus.
Current student-athlete—A current or “enrolled” student-athlete is any HWS student who is a member of one of the Colleges 22 intercollegiate teams. NCAA regulations apply to all student-athletes (not just those who were recruited) and they remain in effect throughout the entire year, including breaks such as summer vacation periods.
As a representative of HWS athletics interests you MAY:
- Provide an occasional meal for our Division III student-athletes or teams at ANY location, including at a restaurant. This meal may occur in the locale of the institution OR outside the Geneva area as long as it is in conjunction with, or en route to or from, an away-from-home contest.
- Contribute funds to finance a scholarship to the Colleges, but the decision as to how such funds are to be allocated and who receives the scholarship shall rest exclusively with the institution. Athletic ability cannot be a factor in awarding the scholarship, and the recipient must be chosen from the entire student body by a selection committee comprised of members outside the Athletic Departments.
- Notify a current Hobart or William Smith student-athlete of possible employment, provided the student-athlete obtains the position through normal employment procedures and is paid at the going rate for actual services rendered. This employment must be approved in writing in advance by the Hobart and William Smith Compliance Office.
As a representative of HWS athletics interests you MAY NOT:
- Provide any type of inducement or benefit to a current student-athlete, his/her parents, relatives and/or friends. Please review the list of “Extra Benefits.”
- Use the name, picture or appearance of a current student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote the sales of any commercial product.
- Provide a student-athlete with compensation for work that has not been performed or at a rate higher than the going rate in your locale for similar services.
- Provide an award or gift to a student-athlete for any reason.
- Pay for all or part of a Hobart lacrosse student-athlete’s meal at a restaurant.
