College Sports Information Directors of America

information courtesy of Charles Bloom, CoSIDA First Vice President and Associate Commissioner of the Southeastern Conference

As we approach NCAA Football National Letter of Intent signing day, make sure you are following NCAA compliance rules with your announcements.

Press Releases: Press releases may only be disseminated once the institution has received a signed NLI or offer of admission or financial aid. Bylaw 13.10.8. There is no limit on the number or content of such releases, but the institution is prohibited from purchasing or receiving commercial advertising which identifies a prospect by name or picture. 1/27/05 Educational Column.

Independent Announcement by Prospect: A prospect may conduct a news conference or interview to announce his/her signing, but institutional staff members and boosters may not be involved in any way in arranging the announcement. This includes providing an interview that will appear in conjunction with the prospect's announcement, providing equipment or apparel to be used during the announcement, providing media contacts to the prospect for the purpose of organizing/promoting the press conference, or otherwise facilitating or assisting with the arrangements for the press conference. Bylaws 13.10.8.2.2 and 13.10.8.3, 8/11/89 Staff Interpretation.

Press Conferences: It is permissible to hold one on-campus press conference for the sole purpose of presenting all signed prospects in a particular sport. Bylaw 13.10.8.2.1. No prospects, or their friends/relatives, may be in attendance. Id. With the exception of the one-time announcement, institutional press conferences, receptions, dinners and similar meetings held for the purpose of announcing the signing of one or more prospect(s) are prohibited. Bylaw 13.10.8.2.

Booster Functions: In addition to the one-time press conference, it is permissible to have a celebratory booster function provided (1) the institution has already communicated each prospect's commitment to the media, (2) the function is not held in conjunction with the press conference designed to release names to the media, and (3) the function is closed to the working media. 1/27/98 Official Interpretation. Institutional coaches may appear and discuss the signings. Id. A highlight film containing clips of the prospect(s) may be shown. Bylaws 13.10.8.1 and 13.10.8.2.3. If the booster function is to be open to the working media, it must be held on-campus and must be considered the onetime press conference. 3/24/98 Official Interpretation.

Interpretations cited above, by reference: 2005 Hot Topic 1 -- Media Releases Regarding Signings - Press Conferences - One-Time Exception - Booster Group Functions (I) Date Issued: Jan 27, 2005 Institutions should note that pursuant to Bylaw 13.11.8, publicity released by an institution concerning a prospect's commitment to attend the institution shall occur only after the prospect has signed an NLI or subsequent to the prospect's signed acceptance of the institution's written offer of admission and/or financial aid. Such communications (with no limit on number or content) may be released to media outlets at the institution's discretion except as limited by Bylaw 13.11.8.1. However, an institution is prohibited from purchasing or receiving commercial advertising (e.g., print, media or billboard) to be used to identify a prospect by name or picture. Bylaw 13.11.8.1 indicates that institutional press conferences, receptions, dinners and similar meetings held for the purpose of announcing the signing of a prospect or prospects are expressly prohibited. However, Bylaw 13.11.8.1.1 allows an institution to make an announcement on its campus for the sole purpose of presenting at one time to the media the names of all prospects who have accepted offers of admission and/or athletically related aid in a particular sport, with the understanding that no prospects (or their friends or relatives) are in attendance.

[NOTE: Bylaw 13.11.8.1.1 was inadvertently deleted from the 2004-05 NCAA Division I Manual by way of Proposal No. 2003-31. The rationale statement of the proposal indicated that restrictions related to press conferences were to remain applicable. Therefore, an editorial revision was issued to clarify that the one-time exception is still applicable. Refer to the Legislative Services Database (LSDBi) on the NCAA Web site for the current version of the bylaws mentioned.]

Institutions should note functions that are designed to celebrate the institution's signees in a particular sport, at which the institutional coaching staff members appear and discuss prospects who have signed commitments to attend the institution, would not be contrary to the provisions of Bylaw 13.11.8.1, provided:

• A. The institution previously has released communication of a prospect's commitment to attend the institution to media outlets normally used by the institution and by the educational institutions currently and formerly attended by the prospect;
• B. The function or activity is not held in conjunction (simultaneously) with an announcement to the public of the prospect's signing commitment; and
• C. The function is closed to the media. Such functions may be open to the working media only if the function is conducted on the institution's campus and the announcement of signings is considered the institution's onetime press conference to the media pursuant to Bylaw 13.11.8.1.1.

Functions Organized by Booster Groups Surrounding NLI Signings Date Issued: Mar 24, 1998

2. Functions Organized by Booster Groups Surrounding NLI Signings: (I) The subcommittee reviewed a previous subcommittee interpretation (reference: 01/27/98, Item No. 3) related to functions that are designed to celebrate the institution's signees in the applicable sport and agreed that such functions may be open to the media only if:

• A. The function is conducted on the institution's campus; and
• B. The announcement of signings is consistent with the provisions of 13.11.8.2.1 and is considered the institution's one-time

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