Army West Point Athletics
NCAA Rules for Alumni and USMA Staff/Faculty
June 30, 2006 | General
NCAA Rules for Alumni and USMA Staff/Faculty
At West Point, we have a Cadet Honor code and a long tradition of integrity. We want to see the cadets win, but at West Point, it is most important to WIN the RIGHT WAY.
The United States Military Academy, as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, is responsible for insuring that various groups (e.g.: staff and faculty, cadet-athletes, alumni and friends) abide by NCAA legislation.
We are proud of and sincerely appreciate the interest and loyal support of all staff and faculty, cadets, alumni and friends; however, we must remind everyone that inappropriate behavior or unintentional actions could jeopardize compliance with NCAA legislation and the participation of our teams and cadet-athletes.
As we strive for athletic excellence, we must always seek the highest standards of ethical conduct. With your assistance and cooperation, we believe we can continue to accomplish all our institutional goals.
Key Point - You can be considered a representative of West Point just by being an alumnus, friend, or fan.
You are classified as a representative of athletic interest if you:
- Have participated in or are a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution's intercollegiate athletic program (e.g.: "A" Club);
- Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletic booster organization of that institution (e.g.: AOG);
- Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution's athletics program.
Key Rule for Prospects - In Division I, representatives of athletic interests are prohibited from making in-person, on- or off-campus recruiting contacts, or written or telephonic communications with a prospect or the prospect's relatives or legal guardians.
- A prospective cadet-athlete is a person who has begun classes for the ninth grade. In rare cases, it is possible for a younger student to be a prospect, so it is prudent to treat ALL athletes as prospects.
- Only coaches and USMA staff members can be involved in the recruiting process.
- Please do not discuss or be involved with athletic recruiting with any prospect, parent/legal guardian, or high school, prep school or community college official.
- You must not evaluate academic performance.
- Naturally, any inducements to attend USMA or any other extra benefits are forbidden.
What Can You Do - If you know of a high school student-athlete who might want to attend the United States Military Academy, the most appropriate activity for a representative is to contact the specific USMA head coach. See directory for names, telephone numbers and email addresses of the head coaches.
- You may observe games.
- You may send USMA coaches letters with newspaper clippings or you may call them.
- Please do not try and obtain additional academic information.
- Greater latitude.
- May contact on-campus only.
- May write (often 1 Sept of junior year).
- May make telephone calls (on request of USMA Head Coach who must ensure USMA does not make excessive calls).
- May participate in Cadet-Mentor Program.
- An extra benefit would include provision of any transportation, meals, clothes, entertainment, preferential loan terms or other benefit offered to a cadet-athlete which is unavailable to all cadets.
- Simply, you may not treat a cadet-athlete any differently than a cadet who does not participate in athletics.
Bill Schutsky
Assistant Athletic Director of NCAA Compliance
Office of the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
United States Military Academy
West Point, N.Y. 10996
(914) 938-2126
E-mail: wb5031@exmail.usma.army.mil
