UWG Athletic Booster Guide
West Georgia representatives of athletics interest, or more commonly called “Boosters,” help UWG compete successfully on the conference and national level! As West Georgia boosters, you are held to similar NCAA regulations as athletic staff, coaches, and administrators. Thus, we need your help in avoiding any costly NCAA rules violations. Please review the following information to better familiarize yourself with NCAA rules. Please direct any questions to our compliance staff at @ 678-839-6533.
Who is an University of West Georgia Athletic Booster?
A West Georgia athletic booster is any individual, agency, or corporate entity that has supported UWG by: 1) Being a West Georgia Booster Club member or donating to UWG; 2) Being involved in the promotion of UWG athletics in any way; 3) Providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes; or 4) Being the parent of a West Georgia student-athlete. Furthermore, once someone becomes a booster, he/she retains that status forever. Thus, if you donated to West Georgia athletics years ago but haven't donated since you would still be considered an athletic booster.
Please note the “official” NCAA definition of a booster and additional booster-related information can be found at
https://www.ncaa.org/enforcement/role-boosters
Boosters and Extra Benefits
Boosters are not allowed to provide “extra benefits” to current student-athletes. An extra benefit is any special gift or arrangement that is not available to the general student body at West Georgia. Extra benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Providing cash to a student-athlete.
- Providing transportation or use of a vehicle to a student-athlete.
- Providing discounted services (rent, etc.).
- Paying for student-athlete meals at local restaurants.
Employment of Student-Athletes
There are no limits on a student-athlete’s legitimate employment earnings. If you are interested in having a student-athlete work for you, the following NCAA rules are applicable.
- The student-athlete must complete the appropriate paperwork for the Compliance Office prior to starting the work.
- The student-athlete must be paid for work actually performed.
- The student-athlete must be paid at the going rate for services.
Recruiting Information
NCAA rules permit boosters to be involved in the recruiting process in a limited capacity. As a booster, you may do the following:
- Provide information to our coaches about particular recruits.
- Attend high school athletic contests, provided you do not try to recruit any students to attend the University of West Georgia.
- Continue normal contact with recruits that you know and have a relationship with.
As a booster, you may not do the following:
- Initiate contact directly or indirectly with a recruit, his/her relative or legal guardians including via social media.
- Provide financial incentive or other benefits not permitted by NCAA legislation to a recruit/parents.
Social Media Info
Many West Georgia boosters have social media accounts and show tremendous support for UWG Athletics. However, there are a few things boosters should keep in mind when navigating social media with student-athletes and recruits.
- Boosters may interact with current and former student-athletes on social media. Our student-athletes appreciate the support. Please support them in a positive manner – they represent the University of West Georgia.
- Boosters may “follow” or “friend” recruits on social media and follow their process. However, fans should not interact with West Georgia recruits either privately or publicly on social media.
- Please do not “quote tweet” recruits after they “commit” to the University of West Georgia and welcome them. This is a NCAA rules violation.
- You may “favorite” or “like” a recruit’s social media posts, but please do not correspond with them privately or publicly.
- Boosters may tweet/post/@mention them once the University of West Georgia officially releases their information on our respective National Signing Days.
- Bottom line – Boosters may not publicly or privately interact with recruits on social media. The NCAA considers this part of the recruiting process and could result in NCAA rules violations and penalties for West Georgia.
How you can help
There are many ways boosters can be involved with our department and student-athletes.
- Contribute money to endowments or scholarship funds administered by the Athletics Department
- Purchase season tickets and cheer on the Wolves from the stands.
- Become a member and support UWG Athletics.
As a representative of athletics interests, NCAA rules allow you to provide an
occasional meal to a student-athlete or an entire team provided the meal occurs in your home or on the UWG campus. This meal may be catered and you may provide reasonable local transportation to the student-athlete(s) to attend such meals. Should you wish to host such a meal, please complete the
Occasional Meal Request Form (DOC) and submit it to the Compliance Office via e-mail
When in doubt contact the Compliance Office with any questions you might have. The information in this pamphlet is very limited. We encourage you to contact the Athletic Compliance Office with any questions or concerns you may have. Remember, we can avoid most NCAA violations if you just ask first. We are here to help!
