Athletics Veritas is a weekly series aimed at helping higher education executives, faculty, and other stakeholders stay tuned in on trending national issues impacting college athletics, especially NCAA Division I. Athletics Veritas is created by senior DI athletic administrators around the nation.
Term-in-Ology: Trick or Treat? A Booster Wants to Take a Division I Team Out for Dinner at a Local Restaurant to Celebrate Halloween
It’s a permissible treat. A student-athlete or the entire team in a sport may receive an occasional meal from a representative of athletics interests on infrequent and special occasions. Celebrating Halloween would be considered a special occasion and it is now permissible for boosters to provide occasional meals in restaurants. Boosters were previously limited to offering occasional meals to their home or on-campus until a recent legislative change made the location a non-issue.
Although the student-athletes would be asked to handle their own Halloween costumes, the booster could provide Halloween candy, too, as an extension of the occasional meal – despite the Nutrition staff’s potential misgivings!
Athletics Veritas is presented for information purposes only and should not be considered advice or counsel on NCAA compliance matters. For guidance on NCAA rules and processes, always consult your university’s athletics compliance office, conference office, and/or the NCAA.
