Forum Guidelines & NCAA Compliance Rules

[WildcatDan]

1. First and foremost we ask that you conduct yourselves as you would if you were a guest in someone else's home. All members and guests are required to show respect for each other and to show respect for the administrators and moderators.

2. Inappropriate language will not be tolerated. Masking inappropriate language by using alternate characters will likewise not be tolerated.

3. Flybys and agenda posts will be removed. A flyby is a post that is controversial in nature where the intent for the post is nothing more than to start an argument. The creator of the flyby usually stops by long enough to stir controversy, but is not seen again to defend his/her position.
The agenda poster is one who creates a controversy for the sake of starting arguments. The agenda poster is one who is generally only seen when he/she is, in fact, creating controversy. An agenda post can also be one where a brief open-ended statement is made where no structured argument is used.

4. Our message board allows for posting pictures and links to articles. However, reproducing copywrited material is not permitted. Anyone who posts a picture should do so only if they own the rights to the picture or have permission from the rightful owner. Each individual poster accepts responsibility for his/her own posts. All links and photos must be relevant to the subject matter.

5. Obscene and pornographic or otherwise inappropriate or immaterial photos or posts will be removed and the poster is subject to being banned permanently.

6. Our administrators and moderators have the right to remove any post at their sole discretion if, in their judgment, they feel a post is inappropriate or violates a guideline or otherwise is determined to be outside the spirit of our message board community. If your post is removed we will attempt to send a private message explaining why.

7. You may hold any opinion you wish, but you must express it in a manner that is clearly within the spirit of civil exchange. If a debate begins to turn ugly a moderator may, at his/her discretion, remove or lock the topic and its replies.

8. Topics which are created must have relevancy to the subject matter of the forum, i.e. Basketball topics must go on the Basketball forum,political orreligioustopics on theGeneral Discussionforum,etc etc.Some variation is allowed within reason. Use your common sense.

9. Considering the real-time nature of this message board, it is impossible for us to review messages or confirm the validity of all information posted. Please remember that we actively monitor the contents of posted messages, but due to the volume we cannot read every message and can therefore not be held responsible for the content of messages posted. We do not vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message.

10. The messages express the views and interests of the author of the message, not necessarily the views of Wildcat Nation or any entity associated with this board. Any user who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact us immediately by e-mail or private message. You can email wildcatdan@wildcatnation.net (wildcatdan@wildcatnation.net) or send a PM to a particular moderator.

11. We have the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so within a reasonable time frame if we determine that removal is necessary. This is a manual process, however, so please realize that we may not be able to remove or edit particular messages immediately.

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13. Although the staff of WCN does not and cannot review all of the messages posted and is not responsible for the content of any of these messages, we reserve the right to delete any message for any reason or no reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold harmless this message board, vBulletin (the makers of the bulletin board software), and their agents with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s).

14. Links can be made to other selected sites when it relates to information relevant to a topic within a thread. Cut & Paste is also ok as long as it is public domain and you provide a link to the source (please refer to the rules concerning copyrighted material). Give credit where credit is due. Links to other message boards outside of Wildcatnation are strongly discouraged and may be removed at the discretion of the moderators or administrators. Using your signature to link to any other Kentucky related website is prohibited. If you wish to submit your site to be included in the Kentucky related links on the front page please use the "contact us" form. Also, please do not cut and paste entire posts from other message boards unless you are the original author of the post.

15. We reserve the right to reveal your identity (or whatever information we know about you) in the event of a complaint or legal action arising from any message posted by you.

16. Please note that advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, and solicitations are inappropriate on this message board.

17.You may not have more than one active nickname at a time. Posting as multiple users to say things you would not normally say is unacceptable and is grounds for being permanently banned. If you can't say it under your normal screen name, then it probably should be left unsaid.

18. Selling Tickets: Selling or exchanging tickets is allowed on Wildcatnation as long as the seller is the lawful owner of the ticket(s) and the asking price does not exceed the face value of the ticket.

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20. Additonal Copyright information: Content posted by users of WildcatNation.net in areas such as message boards and web logs, may be reproduced or distributed elsewhere, however, Wildcat Nation retains the original copyright, while the author is entitled to unlimited reprint rights. As such, the author grants Wildcat Nation, its affiliates and related entities, a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive right and license to use, copy, modify, display, archive, store, distribute, reproduce, and create derivative works from such information, in any form, media, software or technology of any kind now existing or developed in the future. All rights in this paragraph are granted without the need for additional compensation of any sort to you. The author, however, retains the right to pursue compensation for the material from other publishers.

21. These rules may be changed at any time. We will try to keep you informed of any rule or policy changes.

[WildcatDan]

WCN Members,

This page is intended to provide you with a basic understanding of NCAA rules and regulations that you should know as someone who cares about intercollegiate athletics. While this pamphlet does not include all applicable provisions, it does include the most common situations encountered by alumni and friends and the most important rules governing these situations.

Compliance with NCAA rules is of the highest priority for our athletics program and institution. As a member of the NCAA, the University of Kentucky is responsible for the actions of its boosters and fans. Even the best-intentioned action on your part may be a violation of NCAA rules. Please contact the Compliance Office if you have any questions regarding what is permissible. We encourage our boosters and fans to "Ask Before You Act."

Inquires should be addressed to Sandra D. Bell, Assistant Athletics Director, at this address:


University of Kentucky
Room 8 - Memorial Coliseum
Lexington, KY 40506-0019
859/257-6482
Email: sbell@uky.edu (sbell@uky.edu)


If, for any reason, you are uncomfortable reporting a violation or a concern directly to the athletics department, you may use the "ComplyCat" hotline. This is a toll-free phone number that is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year, by an independent contractor. The contractor is professionally trained to take your calls about possible violations, or to arrange for you to receive answers to any questions you have about compliance issues. You will be asked to identify yourself; however, you may remain anonymous if you choose to do so. A case number will be assigned to you along with a call-back date to receive information on how the information you have reported has been investigated. The ComplyCat hotline can be reached by dialing 1-866-275-2287


Institutional Control and Compliance
Institutional control of athletics is a fundamental requirement of NCAA Legislation. Specifically, the NCAA constitution provides that each institution shall be responsible for:
Controlling its intercollegiate athletics program in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Association;
Monitoring its program to insure compliance, identifying and reporting to the Association instances in which compliance has not been achieved and taking appropriate corrective actions; and
Insuring that members of the institution's staff, student-athletes and other individuals or groups representing the institution's athletics interest comply with all applicable Association rules.


Representatives of Athletics Interests
A "representative of the institution's athletics interests" is anyone who is known (or should be known) by a member of the institution's executive or athletics administration to:
Be a member of or have participated in any organization promoting the institution's intercollegiate athletics program (i.e., booster club);
Have made any financial contribution to the institution's athletics program or to an athletic booster organization of the institution (i.e., season ticket holder);
Have helped arrange summer and/or vacation period employment for student-athletes or provided benefits to enrolled student-athletes; or
Have been involved, in any way, in the promotion of the University's athletics program.

Note: Once an individual is identified as a representative of the institution's athletics interests, the person retains that identity indefinitely.A Booster's Guide to NCAA Rules
Rules Governing Contacts with Prospects
Note: A prospective student-athlete (prospect) is a person who has started classes for the ninth grade.Do not telephone, write or make in-person contact (either on or off-campus) with a prospective student-athlete for the purpose of soliciting his or her participation in the athletics program.
Do not become directly or indirectly involved in making arrangements for a prospect, the prospect's relatives or friends to receive money or financial aid of any kind.
Do not provide any transportation to prospects, including transportation to campus to attend athletic events.
Do not contact a prospective student-athlete's coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospect, and do not visit the prospect's educational institution to pick up films or transcripts.
Do not provide free tickets or tickets at a reduced cost to any University of Kentucky home or away event to prospects, their relatives or friends.
Do not pay or offer to pay registration fees for summer sports camps for a prospect.
Do feel free to attend high school and community college athletic events that you would usually attend. You simply cannot have any contact with the prospect or relatives of the prospect. Should the parents or a prospect as you questions, please direct their question to the appropriate coach at UK. If you have incidental contact with a prospect or relatives of the prospect, be sure to contact the compliance office.
Rules Governing Recruiting
Only coaches and athletics department staff members can be involved in the recruiting process. All "athletics representatives" who are not employees of the University of Kentucky are prohibited from contacting a prospect by telephone, letter or in-person, on or off-campus, for the purpose of encouraging participation in athletics at UK.
It is not permissible for prospects, student-athletes or their relatives and friends to receive any extra benefits or special arrangements. Examples of extra benefits that you cannot provide to these individuals include, but are not limited to:
Cash or loans in any amount
Co-signing or arranging a loan
Providing gifts or any kind (e.g., clothing, airline tickets, or holiday cards)
Providing special discounts for goods and services
Use of an automobileAs an athletics representative, you can continue friendships with families with whom you have had a previously established relationship, even after a member of that family becomes a prospect or enrolled student-athlete. You simply cannot encourage a prospect's participation in UK athletics or provide benefits to a student-athlete.


Rules Governing Benefits for Student-Athletes
Do not use the name or picture of a student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind.
Do not provide an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement. When a student-athlete speaks to educational or charitable groups, actual and necessary travel expenses may be provided if approval is granted by the Compliance Office. Any requests for such an appearance must be made through the Compliance Office.
Do not provide gifts or awards to a student-athlete for his/her athletic performance. All awards must conform with award restrictions and must be approved by the UK Compliance Office.
It is permissible to invite a student-athlete to your home for an occasional meal, but please coordinate such activity with the UK Compliance Office.
If you want pictures or autographs of student-athletes, please attend pre-season events (e.g., Fan Day).


Consequences to Boosters for NCAA Violations
Institutions are required by the NCAA to notify boosters of consequences regarding rules violations. Boosters found in violation of NCAA rules are subject to losing benefits and privileges, including season tickets.
The NCAA Committee on Infractions has processed cases in which penalties have included both the disassociation of boosters with the institution and the loss of season ticket privileges.



Rules Governing Student-Athlete Employment
Do not provide employment to a prospective student-athlete or enrolled student-athlete without first obtaining approval from the UKAA Student Employment Office. This office can assist athletes in obtaining employment during permissible periods.
Do not employ a prospect prior to the completion of the prospect's senior year in high school.
Do not provide transportation for prospects or student-athletes in your employment unless such transportation is provided to all employees.
NCAA rules stipulate that compensation may be paid to a student-athlete only for work actually performed and a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services.
Such compensation may not include any remuneration for value or utility that the student-athlete may have for the employer because of publicity, reputation, fame or personal following that he or she has obtained because of athletic ability.

Most Commonly Asked Questions
Q: Is the restriction on contacts with prospects applicable to established family friends and neighbors?
A: No, however, it must be understood that such contacts may not be made for recruiting purposes and are not initiated by a member of the institution's coaching staff.
Q: May a booster attend a public event (e.g., high school awards banquet or dinner) at which prospects are in attendance?
A: Yes, but contact with a prospect or the prospect's family is not permissible.
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to employ or use the name or picture of an enrolled student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind?
A: No.
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to provide an enrolled student-athlete with professional services (for which a fee would normally be charged) for personal reasons?
A: No. Professional services provided at a fee less than the normal rate or at no expense to a student-athlete are considered extra benefits.
Q: When does a prospect become considered a student-athlete?
A: A prospect remains a prospect even after signing a National Letter of Intent. A prospect does not become a UK student-athlete until he or she reports for regular squad practice or attends classes in any regular term.



REMEMBER, ASK BEFORE YOU ACT !