1. Introduction
2. Who do I contact?
3. Am I a representative of athletic interests?
4. Who is a student-athlete?
5. Rules You Should Know
6. MHSAA rules regarding contacts with high school student-athletes
7. MHSAA Rules regarding contacts with currently enrolled student-athletes
8. MHSAA Rules regarding employment of enrolled student-athletes

Introduction
Flint Community Schools, as a member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), is responsible for insuring that its various constituencies (e.g. Administrators, staff, faculty, student-athletes, alumni and friends) abide by the MHSAA rules and regulations. Under those rules, alumni and friends can be categorized as "representatives of Flint Community Schools Athletic interests or Boosters."

This web page is a quick reference to many MHSAA rules which apply to our "athletic representatives."  Since it does not include all applicable situations, please call the Flint Community Schools Director of Athletics if you have any questions before having any contact with an enrolled student-athlete. We appreciate the interest and support but remind you that an inappropriate contact or an inadvertent action on your part can jeopardize the eligibility of our student-athletes and the high school’s compliance with MHSAA regulations.

The Department of Athletics coordinates the District’s compliance efforts and acts as a resource and solution center concerning MHSAA regulations and compliance issues. The Department of Athletics monitor and verify the accurate and timely completion of MHSAA required procedures and assist in maintaining compliance with the MHSAA and Flint Community Schools as well as reporting any violations of those rules. All issues pertaining to compliance are overseen and directed by the Director of Athletics for the Flint Community Schools.

It is the District’s policy that no violation is so minor that it need not be reported. In responding to rule violations, the District will look at such factors as whether the violation is intentional, whether any advantage is gained (for the student-athlete involved), whether a student-athlete's eligibility is affected and whether violations are recurring. The Districts goals in responding will be to encourage communication, to seek consistency and accountability and, above all, to send a strong message that the District is unequivocally committed to rules compliance.

Information concerning violations will be forwarded to the Director of Athletics, who will examine the situation and communicate with all involved parties. When it is determined by the Director of Athletics that a violation of the rules has occurred, the District will report the violation and correct the situation that led to the problem. Rule violations will be reported to the appropriate athletics governing body (i.e., MHSAA) with copies to the Superintendent and any involved staff members.

Who do I contact?
If you have any questions about contact with an enrolled student-athlete, please direct those questions to:

Director of Athletics/Flint Community Schools
923 East Kearsley St
Flint, MI 48503
810-760-1230
810-760-6880 (fax)

Am I a representative of athletic interests?
If you:

• Are or have been a member of a Flint Community Schools Athletic Foundation or any of the specific athletic support groups under the Flint Community Schools.
• Have ever made a donation to the Flint Community Schools athletic programs.
• Have ever helped arrange or have provided summer employment for enrolled student- athletes.
• Have ever been involved in any way with the Flint Community Schools athletic program.
• You may also be a representative if you are an alumnus of the Flint Community Schools.

Who is a student-athlete?
A student-athlete is a person who has begun classes for the seventh grade and participated or plans to participate in a Flint Community Schools sport. However, under some circumstances, it is possible for a younger student to be considered a student-athlete, so it is prudent to treat ALL student-athletes as such.

Rules you should know
Rule # 1
All athletic representatives are prohibited from contacting a student athlete or members of the student-athletes family by telephone, letter or in person on or off the high school campus for the purpose of encouraging the prospect to attend any high school associated with the Flint Community Schools and Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA).
Rule # 2
Flint Community Schools athletic representatives cannot provide an extra benefit or special arrangements to a student-athlete. Specific applications as they apply to the Flint Community Schools and MHSAA extra benefits rule to student-athletes, their relatives, or friends state that you:

• May not provide cash or loans in any amount.
• May not sign off or co-sign a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan.
• May not employ relative or friends of a student-athlete as an inducement for the enrollment of the student-athlete.
• May not provide gifts of any kind (e.g. birthday, Christmas, Valentine's Day) or free services (e.g. clothing, airline tickets, laundry, car repair, haircuts, meals in restaurants).
• May not provide discounts for goods or services.
• May not provide use of an automobile.
• May not provide hospitality or lodging in your home.
• May not invite them to your summer home to go water skiing, sailing, etc.
• May not provide them transportation within or outside of the high school campus area. (e.g. from high school campus to your home, from the airport to the high school campus, to summer job, etc.)
• May not entertain or contact a student-athlete or student-athlete’s parents.

Rule # 3
As an athletic representative, you are not precluded from continuing friendships with families who has an enrolled student-athlete(s) (e.g. backyard barbecues, picnics).  If a prior existing relationship existed, you simply cannot encourage a student-athletes participation in the Flint Community Schools athletic program or provide benefits to the enrolled student athlete that you were not providing before he/she became an enrolled student-athlete.

MHSAA rules regarding contacts with high school student-athletes
YOU CAN NOT become directly or indirectly involved in making arrangements for the student-athlete, the student-athletes relatives or friends to receive money or financial aid of any kind.

YOU CAN NOT provide ANYTHING to or for a student-athlete, relative or friends, without first checking with the Flint Community Schools Athletic Department.

YOU CAN NOT make any contact with a student-athlete or the student-athletes family.  If a student-athlete approaches you regarding the athletic program, explain that MHSAA rules do not permit you to discuss the program. Suggest that the student-athlete contact the Director of Athletics for information.

YOU CAN NOT transport, pay or arrange for the payment of the transportation costs for a student-athlete.  While it is permissible for a friend or neighbor to transport a high school student who is NOT an athlete, MHSAA regulations prohibit that activity for a student-athlete.

YOU CAN NOT provide free or reduced tickets or transportation to Flint Community Schools home or away athletic or non-athletic events for student-athletes, their relatives, coaches, or friends.

YOU CAN NOT contact an enrolled student-athlete at a high school for the purpose of encouraging transfer to another Flint Community School and participation in their athletic program.

YOU CAN NOT pay or offer to pay registration fees for the summer sports camps for a prospect.

However.....
Feel free to attend high school athletic events. You simply cannot have contact with the student-athletes or relatives. Should you find yourself seated next to parents of a student-athlete, DO NOT initiate conversation with them. If conversation is initiated with you, respond in a civil manner, but DO NOT discuss the Flint Community Schools athletic program with them. If they raise questions about the program, remind them that the MHSAA prohibits you from discussing the program with them. Direct their questions to the Flint Community Schools Athletic Department.

Continue established family relationship with friends and neighbors. Contacts with sons or daughters of these families certainly are permitted as long as they are not initiated by Flint Community Schools coaching staff members.

You are permitted to play "pick up" basketball or softball games, continue neighborhood picnics or backyard barbecues and engage in your normal activities with the student-athlete and their family and friends. Again, you simply are not permitted to attempt to recruit the student-athlete or discuss the athletic program.
Feel free to attend a public event (e.g. high school awards banquet or dinner) at which student-athletes are in attendance. No attempt should be made to recruit the student-athlete to transfer to another Flint Community School.

MHSAA Rules regarding contacts with currently enrolled student-athletes
YOU CAN NOT provide a student-athlete or friend any benefit, arrangement, or discount. The MHSAA considers these extra benefits and they are specifically prohibited.

YOU CAN NOT provide room and/or board or any type of transportation during the summers for a student-athlete with eligibility remaining.

YOU CAN NOT provide any payment, expense or loan of an automobile for student-athlete to travel for ANY reason.

YOU CAN NOT provide lodging or transportation costs incurred by friends or family of a student-athlete to attend an away athletic contest.

YOU CAN NOT expend funds to entertain student-athletes, their friends or relatives. You are not even permitted to buy soda or a cup of coffee for them.

YOU CAN NOT use the name or picture of an enrolled student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote sales or use of a commercial product or service of any kind. Even the sale of a picture of an enrolled student-athlete would jeopardize his/her eligibility.

YOU CAN NOT provide awards or gifts to a student-athlete for his or her athletic performance. All awards must conform to MHSAA regulations and must be approved by the Flint Community Schools Athletic Department.

YOU CAN NOT allow a student-athlete, his/her friends or relatives to use your telephone to make long distance calls even if it is a free (or cell phone) call. 

MHSAA Rules regarding employment of enrolled student-athletes
YOU CAN NOT provide transportation for prospects or student-athletes in your employ unless transportation is provided for all employees.

YOU CAN NOT provide employment for student-athletes during the academic year without contacting the Flint Community Schools Athletic Department first.

However ....
YOU CAN pay student-athletes employed by you only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate for similar services in the community and your own business.

YOU CAN notify the head coach of job opportunities for student-athletes.

Please Contact Us
If you have knowledge of improprieties, intentional or unintentional, please let the Flint Community Schools Athletic Department know immediately so that we can take corrective action to investigate the matter.

MHSAA
Flint Community Schools
DePaul University
Michigan State University
1/2006