PIAA Regulations Concerning Recruiting and Amateur Status and Award

PIAA Guidelines for Behavior

Article VI - Section 8
Recruiting.

One of the purposes of this ARTICLE is to deter recruiting which is, either in whole or in part, for any athletic purpose. Recruiting for athletic purposes is directly contrary to fundamental interests of PIAA and its member schools and any school engaged in such conduct should do so with the expectation that it will be treated harshly upon proof of such conduct. Recruiting for an athletic purpose is contrary to the fundamental objectives of (1) keeping athletics in their proper place and subordinate to academics; (2) protecting student athletes from "exploitation" by adults and those having interests which might not be consistent with those of the student; and (3) maintaining competitive equity and a level playing field among member schools.

A. Upon a District Committee’s receipt of:

1. a signed complaint which alleges that a representative of a school’s athletic personnel, or any other person affiliated with the school, approached one or more students, or one or more parents or guardians of such student(s), or an adult with whom the student resides, for the purpose of influencing such student(s) to transfer to that school for the purpose, either in whole or in part, of participating in athletics at that school, or the school, its athletic personnel and/or individuals affiliated with the school in other ways engaged in recruiting of students, either in whole or in part, for an athletic purpose; or
   
2. credible information that a representative of a school’s athletic personnel, or any other person affiliated with the school, approached one or more students, or one or more parents or guardians of such student(s), or an adult with whom the student(s) reside, for the purpose of influencing such, student(s) to transfer to that school for the purpose, either in whole or in part, of participating in athletics at that school, or the school, its athletic personnel and/or individuals affiliated with the school in other ways engaged in recruiting of students, either in whole or in part, for an athletic purpose, the District Committee shall give notice to the school of such complaint or information and shall convene a hearing to consider whether the school by itself or through its athletic personnel or other persons affiliated with the school, has engaged in recruiting which is, either in whole or in part, for any athletic purpose.

B. The following is an illustrative, but not exhaustive, list of situations which may indicate recruiting for an athletic purpose:

1. Placing an advertisement in a newspaper or other literature directed toward prospective recruits touting the athletic successes of a school's teams and/or students. NOTE: A comprehensive brochure or comparable piece of literature discussing all or most aspects of the school, including the athletic program, will not be deemed to constitute recruiting for an athletic purpose.
   
2. Providing a student-athlete of another school, including a lower level school, with free transportation, tickets, or admissions to a Contest, unless such free transportation, tickets, or admissions are made available to all students, or to all students at the same school, or to all students in the same grade level at the same school.
   
3. Using AAU or other amateur athletic coaches to steer students to a particular school.
   
4. Offering, to an athlete, scholarships or financial aid which is not available to other students at the school.
   
5. Encouraging the parents or relatives of an athlete to influence the student to enroll at a particular school to play sports there.
   
6. Promising playing time or a position on a team to a student.
   
7. Meeting with athletes of a school, individually or as a group, to encourage them to enroll at a particular school.
   
8. Providing transportation or other inducements to any prospective student-athlete to take a qualifying examination at a school or to meet with school officials, unless such opportunities are provided to all students at a particular school or grade level.
   
9. A coach, Athletic Director, or other employee or representative of a school's athletic department directly, or through another person, encouraging a student or the student's parents to have the student enroll at the school of the athletic personnel.
   
10. Providing any item with school advertisement (such as shirts, pennants, caps, jackets, etc.) unless such offer is made to all students of a particular school or class.

C. If the District Committee finds that the school, a representative of the school’s athletic personnel, or any other person, affiliated with the school, approached a student, or a parent or guardian of that student, or an adult with whom that student resides, and attempted to influence and/or influenced that student to transfer to that school, either in whole or in part, for any athletic purpose, or otherwise engaged in recruiting students, either in whole or in part, for an athletic purpose, the offending school will be subject to any of the penalties described in ARTICLE XIII of the PIAA By-Laws.

D. Any person determined to have engaged in recruiting, either in whole or in part, for an athletic purpose shall be disqualified from coaching any athletic teams of PIAA members for a period of at least one year.

MPS PARENT HOME | DAILY ANNOUNCEMENTS | FYI (FOR YOUR INFORMATION) | SAP
SCHEDULING | SUMMER SCHOOL | CALENDARS | BOOSTER GUIDELINES | PARENT/STUDENT DOWNLOADS