August 23rd: Special Seating at Athletics Contest

The Ocean State University (OSU) Football Coaches are preparing their official and unofficial visit itineraries for the fall term and determining how many tickets they will need for each of their home football games.  if they are limited on the number of tickets available in the general seating area, is it permissible for the recruits to watch the game from the hospitality room that overlooks the field as long as there are not any boosters in the room?

No.  NCAA Staff Interpretation- 8/9/18- Special Seating at an Athletics Contest During an Official or Unofficial Visit- states that during an official or unofficial visit, it is not permissible for a prospective student-athlete or those accompanying the prospective student-athlete to view the playing surface of an athletics contest from any area (e.g., hospitality area, recruiting room, coach’s office) other than the general seating area during the conduct of the contest (including intermission).

Division II and III Legislation also has similar restrictions.

Division II NCAA Bylaw 13.6.6.2 states that during the official visit, a maximum of five complimentary admissions to a campus athletics event in which the institution’s intercollegiate team practices or competes may be provided to a prospective student-athlete. Such complimentary admissions are for the exclusive use of the prospective student-athlete and those persons accompanying the prospective student-athlete on the visit and must be issued on an individual-game basis. Providing special seating arrangements during the conduct of the event (including intermission) for the prospective student-athlete or those persons accompanying the prospective student-athlete in the facility’s press box, special seating box(es) or bench area is specifically prohibited. See Bylaw 13.2.12 for complimentary admissions for military families. [R] (Revised: 1/10/90 effective 8/1/90, 1/11/94, 1/13/98, 1/11/00 effective 8/1/00, 1/9/06, 6/22/11, 10/19/15, 4/19/16)

NCAA Bylaw 13.6.5.2 states that during the official visit, complimentary admissions to a home athletics event may be provided to a prospective student-athlete and the individuals accompanying the prospective student-athlete. Seating shall be provided in the general seating area of the facility used for conducting the event. [R] (Revised: 1/10/90 effective 8/1/90, 1/11/94, 1/13/98, 1/12/04, 1/9/06, 8/3/06, 1/15/14, 3/27/14)