University Athletics Recruiting Moving Online

A growing number of universities have begun to distribute digital editions of their media guides and other recruiting materials

On Tuesday, April 13, 2010, the NCAA further restricted the ability of athletic departments to send recruiting materials (e.g. media guides, marketing collateral, etc.) to prospective student-athletes. The NCAA Legislative Council approved new rules that prohibit institutions from distributing printed media guides to prospective student-athletes and their families. Electronically transmitted correspondence is limited to e- mail and fax with no color attachments with recruiting information, except for questionnaires and a media guide.

As US collegiate athletics has grown to a multi-billion dollar industry, the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) has taken steps to restrict the amount of marketing information universities can send to prospective student-athletes and their families. Recruiting is the life-blood of a program and as recruiting becomes more competitive, schools are looking for innovative ways to differentiate themselves. Media guides (books with statistics on the university athletic teams for use by the media) have become a primary recruiting tool: universities would pack media guides with recruiting information and send printed copies of these high-quality catalogs to prospective student-athletes. The new regulation prohibits this practice but still leaves the door open to distributing media guides electronically.

Digital editions comply with new regulations

A growing number of universities have begun to distribute digital editions of their media guides and other recruiting materials to prospective students. These interactive digital books offer a fantastic way to continue to educate prospective student-athletes while complying with the new NCAA regulations.

PROemags, the one of the industry leaders in interactive digital publishing software, that is at the forefront of this trend. PROemags enables universities to provide prospective student-athletes with high quality interactive reading experience (pictures, video clips, links, news feeds, etc.) that immerses them in their institution.

Here are a few examples of how some University Athletic Departments that have brought their media content online:

• Fresno State Bulldogs
• George Washington University
• Texas AM
• NCAA Champion Magazine

Click here for a "Free Trial" of Proemags Publicator or if you would like more information about converting your recruiting materials to interactive online digital magazines, contact a Proforma Certified Publishing Specialist.

More information on the new regulations:NCAA Division I Legislative Council rules on printed media guide legislation
“Athletics Publications. An institution may produce a printed media guide; however, an institution shall not provide a printed media guide or any other printed athletics publication not listed in Bylaw 13.4.1.1 to a prospective student-athlete, his or her parents or legal guardians, the prospective student-athlete's educational institution or any individual involved in the coaching of a prospective student-athlete. It is not permissible to make a printed media guide or any other printed athletics publication not listed in Bylaw 13.4.1.1 available free of charge to a prospective student-athlete, his or her parents or legal guardians, the prospective student-athlete's educational institution or any individual involved in the coaching of a prospective student-athlete, even if such publications are available to other members of the general public free of charge. An institution may not create a printed portfolio of information (e.g., pictures) to be used in the recruiting process. An institution may provide a media guide to a prospective student-athlete via a digital media storage device (e.g., compact disc, flash drive).”