Recruiting

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FHSAA Bylaw 6.3.2 defines recruiting as the use of undue influence or special inducement by anyone associated with the school in an attempt to encourage a prospective student to attend or remain at that school for the purpose of participating in interscholastic athletics. Athletic recruiting is considered an act of gross unsportsmanlike conduct. Undue influence and special inducement is any effort by a school employee, athletic department staff member or representative of a school’s athletic interests to pressure, urge or entice a student to attend that school for the purpose of participating in interscholastic athletics.

FHSAA Policy 36 Recruiting Course
To take the FHSAA Policy 36 Recruiting Course – click here

 

A representative of a school’s athletic interests refers to any independent person, business or organization that participates in, assists with and/or promotes that school’s interscholastic athletic program. This includes:

  • A student-athlete or other student participant in the athletic program at that school;
  • The parents, guardians or other family members of a student-athlete or other student participant in the athletic program at that school;
  • Immediate relatives of a coach or other member of the athletic department staff at that school;
  • A volunteer with that school’s athletic program;
  • A member of an athletic booster organization of that school;
  • A person, business or organization that makes financial or in-kind contributions to the athletic department or that is otherwise involved in promoting the school’s interscholastic athletic program.

"Improper contact" is contact, either directly or indirectly, whether in person or through written or electronic communication, by a school employee, athletic department staff member, representative of the school’s athletic interests or third parties, such as an independent person, business or organization, with a student or any member of the student’s family, in an effort to pressure, urge or entice the student to attend a different school for the purpose of participating in interscholastic athletics.

Casual contact by an employee, athletic department staff member or representative of the athletic interests of a school with a student who attends another school in normal community settings is not a violation. At NO time during such contact may the conversation pressure, urge or entice the student to attend a school for the purpose of participating in interscholastic athletics.
 

An “impermissible benefit” is any arrangement, assistance or benefit that is not offered or generally made available to all students and/or their families who apply to or attend a school, or that otherwise is prohibited by FHSAA rules. Receipt of a benefit by a student-athlete or his/her family is not a violation of FHSAA rules if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the school’s students or family members and is not based in any way on athletic interest, potential or performance.

A student who is found to have accepted an impermissible benefit will be ineligible for interscholastic athletic competition for up to one or more year at the school to which the student accepted the impermissible benefit, and may be declared ineligible for interscholastic athletic competition at all member schools for up to one year.
 
 

Mandatory Forfeiture. A school that is found to have an athletically recruited student-athlete will forfeit all contests and awards won in team sports and all points earned and resulting awards won in individual sports in which the student-athlete participated. Mandatory forfeiture also will be required when it is determined that a student who received an impermissible benefit was allowed to participate.

In addition to the mandatory forfeiture of contests and awards, any combination of the following may be imposed:

  • Financial penalties
  • Probation
  • Prohibited from participating in interscholastic athletics
  • Reassigned to a higher classification
  • Restricted membership or Expulsion

School Employees or Contractors are subject to FS 1006.20(2)(b)2:

  • 1st Offense: $5,000 forfeiture of pay
  • 2nd Offense: $5,000 forfeiture of pay and suspension without pay for 12 months from coaching, directing or advertising an extracurricular activity
  • 3rd Offense: $5,000 forfeiture of pay and a referral to the Department of Education of the violation with the potential of having the individual’s teaching certification or coaching endorsement revoked for three (3) years

A coach, paid or volunteer, who violates the FHSAA Policy on Athletic Recruiting will be ineligible to coach or attend an interscholastic contest, at any level, for one or more sports for up to one year.

 

If you are aware of or have been subject to recruiting, please use the steps below to report the act:

1. Contact the administration at your school providing any documents or factual evidence including reasons and examples to illustrate the violation.

2. Please allow your school’s administration time to address or investigate the complaint.

3. Submit a written allegation to the FHSAA including all information submitted to the school.

  • Click here for the allegation form.
  • All documents submitted to the FHSAA are subject to public record request. Information submitted will be shared without redaction.

The FHSAA has encountered athletic recruiting through various methods. The following are some, but not limited to, of the methods used:
  • Social media
  • Text or other digital messaging
  • Direct contact by coaches
  • Indirect contact through “friends of a program”
  • Student-athletes or parent(s)/guardian(s) of student-athletes

Beginning July 1, 2026, one head coach per athletic team may use his/her personal funds to provide support for purposes related to the health, safety, or welfare of the student-athletes participating on their team, provided:
  • The funds used are the personal funds of the head coach and do not exceed $15,000 per year
  • The support provided is limited to food, transportation, and recovery services on an emergency, non-recurring basis
  • The support is authorized by the school’s administration
  • The student’s parent/guardian has provided written consent prior to the support being provided
  • Each instance is reported to the FHSAA

Are there separate rules for public and private schools?
No. All FHSAA member schools are required to follow all the FHSAA Bylaws, Policies and Administrative Procedures.

Why are private schools allowed to recruit?
Private schools follow the same FHSAA Bylaws Policies and Administrative Procedures as Public schools.

Is there any form of recruiting that is permissible?
Yes. A school may conduct an academic recruitment program that is designed to attract students to the school based upon its total educational and extracurricular activities program. A school must not use an academic recruitment program as a disguise for athletic recruiting.

Are schools permitted to provide athletic scholarships?
No. Students who are determined to qualify for need based assistance as approved by an FHSAA independent financial needs assessment company may receive assistance as outlined in FHSAA Policy 38.

Is a recruited student eligible to participate?
Yes, unless it is determined the student or parent(s)/guardian(s) accepted an impermissible benefit or falsified information to gain athletic eligibility. At that time the student will be rendered ineligible for up to one year.