Florida State University Athletics

What is Compliance?        Fans & Boosters        Agents & Advisors        NCAA Guidelines on NIL


What is Compliance?

Compliance Staff Directory

Compliance here at Florida State is a wide ranging area, covering all functions of the athletic department, the most important being rules education. Keeping our student-athletes, boosters, and coaching staffs abreast of NCAA and ACC rules is the key to ensuring proper rules compliance. Each year, every full time athletic staff member must pass a written exam on NCAA rules that are pertinent to the staffers area of employment.

Through our recruiting seminars for our coaching staffs, team squad meetings, and public speaking engagements to our booster organization, we feel that word is getting out that Florida State wants to win only within the rules. Compliance monitors all activities that involve any NCAA or ACC rule, such as recruiting, financial aid, length of play and practice seasons, academics, and eligibility to name a few.

Maintaining institutional control is imperative to continue the growth and success of Seminole athletics. Proper rules compliance is the concern of everyone associated with Florida State University, and everyone plays a role.

Florida State has been recognized for having one of the most pro-active compliance programs in the country, and look forward to taking that leadership role into the next century.

Fans & Boosters

Boosters and representatives of athletics interests play an integral role in providing student-athletes with a meaningful experience by supporting our teams and the athletics department through both financial contributions and time commitments to help our student-athletes succeed on and off the playing surface.

Who Qualifies as a Representative of Athletics Interests (e.g., Booster)?

You are considered a representative of athletics interests if you have ever:

  • Purchased season tickets with a donation.
  • Joined or participated in an athletics support organization.
  • Contributed financially to the athletic department or booster club.
  • Provided employment opportunities for student-athletes.
  • Assisted in recruiting at the request of staff.
  • Offered benefits to athletes or their families.
  • Promoted athletics in any other way.

Once identified as a booster, you retain that status forever. 

Recruiting Restrictions

  • Only FSU athletics staff members may recruit prospective student-athletes.
  • Boosters cannot contact prospects or their families for recruiting purposes.
  • Even after signing with FSU, prospects are still considered recruits under NCAA rules.

Friendships & Boundaries

  • Boosters may continue existing friendships with families of prospective athletes.
  • They cannot provide new benefits or encourage participation in athletics beyond what was already part of the relationship.
  • If you have any existing relationship with a prospect being recruited by FSU, please contact the FSU Athletic Compliance Office to disclose.

Consequences of Violations

Violations can result in:

  • Loss of student-athlete eligibility.
  • Jeopardizing the school’s NCAA membership.
  • Loss of booster privileges and benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are examples of impermissible recruiting activities?

As a booster, you may not:

  • Contact a prospect in-person on campus or off campus.
  • Contact a prospect by telephone, email, Internet or letter.
  • Provide gifts or free or reduced-cost services to a prospect or the prospect’s relatives or guardian.
  • Employ relatives, guardians or friends of a prospect as an inducement for the prospect’s enrollment and athletics participation at a university.
  • Provide transportation for a prospect or the prospect’s relatives or guardian.
  • Provide free or reduced-cost tickets for a prospect or the prospect’s relatives or guardian to attend an athletic event.
  • Provide any material benefit (e.g., meals, cash) to the coach of a prospect, including high school, two-year college, AAU and summer team coaches.

What are examples of permissible activities?

Even though there are many rules prohibiting your involvement with prospects and the recruiting process, as a booster, you may:

  • Notify university coaching staff members about noteworthy prospects in the area.
  • Attend high school or two-year college athletic contests or other events where prospects may compete, provided no contact occurs.
  • Continue existing friendships. 

What are examples of impermissible extra benefits for enrolled student-athletes?

As a booster, you may not provide a student-athlete or a student-athlete’s friends, relatives or guardians:

  • Tickets to college or professional sporting events.
  • A special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase or service.
  • Cash or loan or signing or co-signing of a loan.
  • Transportation, payment of expense or loan of any automobile.
  • Benefits or gifts based upon the student-athlete’s athletic performance.
  • Free or reduced rent or housing.

What are examples of permissible benefits for enrolled student-athletes?

With the various NCAA rules and regulations regarding benefits to student-athletes, it may seem difficult to be a part of a university’s athletic programs. However, you can show your support as a booster in other ways. Boosters may:

  • Make contributions to university programs and other gift-in-kind arrangements.
  • Attend university athletic events and show student athletes you support their hard work and dedication to the university.

What is institutional control?

Institutional control of athletics is a fundamental requirement of NCAA legislation. Specifically, the NCAA constitution states that the university must:

  • Control its intercollegiate athletic programs in compliance with the rules and regulations of the NCAA.
  • Monitor its program to insure compliance.
  • Identify and report to the NCAA instances in which compliance has not been achieved and take corrective actions.
  • Insure those members of university staff, student-athletes and other individuals or groups representing the university’s athletic interests comply with NCAA rules and regulations. As a member of the NCAA, the university is responsible for the actions of its alumni, supporters and fans.

Are there any rules for the employment of enrolled student-athletes by boosters?

Student-athletes may only be compensated for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate. Compensation may not include remuneration for the value that the student-athlete may have for the employer due to the student-athlete’s athletics status. Transportation may not be provided to student athletes unless it is a benefit provided to all employees.

For information related to  NIL activities with current student-athletes, please visit the Florida State Factor – NIL at Florida State University website.

Agents & Advisors
Prior to contacting any FSU student-athlete for representation on name, image, or likeness (NIL) or for potential professional sports opportunities, all agents must be registered with Florida State University (FSU) in addition to the requirements established by the State of Florida, the NCAA, and the applicable professional association.

FSU Agent Registration

To register with FSU, please complete the online Agent Registration Form.

State of Florida – Statutes & Regulations

All athlete agents must adhere to the State of Florida Statutes, Constitution, and Laws of Florida in order to practice as an athlete agent and when negotiating NIL contracts.  For more information on the Statutes, Constitution, and Laws of Florida regarding athlete agents, licensing, and NIL, please review the following webpages.

Contact Between Registered Agents and Student-Athletes

  • Student-Athlete Initiating Contact – A student-athlete or a student-athlete’s parent or legal guardian or third party may contact an agent to communicate (e.g., email, telephone call, text) or schedule a meeting, provided the student-athlete notifies FSU Athletics Compliance Office prior to initiating contact for the first time. Per State of Florida law an Athlete Agent should notify FSU Athletics Compliance Office of any contact initiated to or by an FSU student-athletes to ensure agent is registered with all applicable groups. See Non-Registered Agent Contact below for more information.
  • Agent Initiating Contact – FSU permits athlete agents to send correspondence regarding their services to student-athletes provided a copy of such correspondence is also submitted to FSU Athletics Compliances Office. Agents are otherwise prohibited from initiating contact with student-athletes without notifying FSU Athletics Compliance Office prior to the contact. Upon receipt of an agent’s statement of intent, FSU Athletics Compliance Office will advise the individual of relevant NCAA rules.

Contact Between Non-Registered Agents and Student-Athletes

  • FSU Athletics Compliance Office requires an individual to register in the State of Florida, with the appropriate sport’s players association, and FSU prior to contacting an enrolled student-athlete. For the purposes of name, image, and likeness only, an agent may be registered with the State of Florida.
  • If those individuals contact an FSU student-athlete without a current registration, FSU Athletics Compliance will notify the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the applicable sport’s player association.
  • All non-FSU registered agents must complete the registration in seven business days. In addition, the individual will not be permitted to participate in any on-campus interviews with FSU student-athletes until he or she has registered under the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, players association, Florida Bar (if applicable), and resolved any disciplinary issues.

Violations of NCAA Rules

Any agent or individual working on behalf of an agent whose interactions with an FSU student-athlete result in a violation of NCAA rules or Florida law will be subject to exclusion from future athlete-agent interviews conducted by FSU. In addition, FSU will report such incidents to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation for appropriate disciplinary measures.

NCAA Guidelines on Name, Image, Likeness (NIL)
NCAA rules permit student-athletes to receive compensation from third parties for use of name, image, and likeness (NIL) under the following guidelines.

NIL Deal Requirements

  • Student-athlete is paid specifically for their NIL (not for athletic performance).
  • The deal has a valid business purpose tied to a product, service, or event.
  • Compensation is reasonable compared to peers with similar influence.  

What’s Not Allowed

  • Pay-for-play: Payment for competing, attending, or achieving in sports.
  • Undefined agreements: “We’ll use your NIL later” with no clear plan.
  • Excessive compensation: Out of line with market value.
  • Payments with no deliverables: Money without promotional activity

NIL Disclosure via NILGO

  • Any NIL deals involving third parties worth $600 or more must be disclosed by the student-athlete in NIL Go within 5 business days of execution.   This includes:
    • Direct payments (cash, checks, transfers)
    • Non-cash benefits (vehicles, gym memberships, equipment, etc.)
    • Contracts or payment structures with potential to exceed $600 (royalties, commissions, bonuses)
  • Multiple deals with the same sponsor (or sponsors with common ownership) must be reported if the aggregate value reaches $600 during the athlete’s eligibility period.
  • Failure to disclose may lead to penalties, including the loss of NCAA eligibility.

What Counts as a Third-Party NIL Deal?

  • Third-party sponsor = any non-institutional entity (company, brand, individual).
  • Not third-party = entities owned, controlled, or operated by institutions or conferences.

NIL Disclosure Requirements – must include activities and deliverables, such as:

  • Social Media Content: Paid Instagram posts, TikTok videos, or YouTube promotions.
  • Appearances: Virtual or in-person events like camps, product launches, or meet-and-greets.
  • Endorsements: Wearing or promoting gear, supplements, or services.
  • Autographs: Signing items or memorabilia (e.g., posters, hats, equipment).

Below is a helpful guide for student-athletes on how to disclose in NIL Go.  For more information, please visit the Resource Center for NIL Go or the Florida State Factor website.

NIL Go – Introduction for Student-Athletes

LINKS

NCAA Progress Toward Degree Requirements