Why Join?   What does it Cost?  How to Join NCAA Compliance  CIC Bylaws (pdf File)

Why Join the Center Ice Club?
Center Ice Club (CIC) members enjoy the following benefits not available to other hockey fans:

• Meet OSU players and coaches at exclusive events open only to CIC members
• OSU Media Guide
• Club Pin
• Membership Card
• Club Newsletter and Web site
• Bus trips to select away games
• Luncheons featuring guest speakers, including OSU Hockey Coaches
• After-Game Social Events
• Invitation and special recognition at the end-of-season Awards Banquet
• Golf Outing
• Center Ice Club apparel

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What Does it Cost to Join?
The Center Ice Club charges a membership fee based on the type of membership best suited for you:

Individual $ 35.00
Family $ 45.00
Student $ 15.00
Corporate $150.00

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How Do I Join?
Becoming a member is the easy part - download an complete the membership application, mail it in, and we will send your membership packet. Keep an eye on your email for announcements from the club!

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NCAA Compliance
First (and foremost), fans need to remember that these student athletes primarily play for the love of their game (in this case, the greatest game on earth - HOCKEY!).  Second, these athletes are not professionals, they are amateur athletes and, while they are exciting to watch, we need to be conscious of our interaction with them as fans.  That said, here are 10 things you should know as a member (booster) of the Center Ice Club:

1. Who is a "Booster?" The term "booster" is interchangeable with the terms "Representatives of Athletics Interests," "athletic representative," "representative," "alumni," "friend of the university," and "fan." Once you are identified as a booster, you are always considered a booster.

You are a booster if you:

• Are or ever have been a member of a Buckeye athletic booster organization;
• Have made any financial contributions to the Ohio State Athletics Department or a booster organization;
• Are or ever have been involved with the recruitment of a Prospect;
• Have provided benefits to an enrolled student-athlete, his or her relatives, or friends (e.g., alumni and friends);
• Provide or have helped arrange employment for student-athletes;
• Are the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of an enrolled student-athlete;
• Are or ever have been a season ticket holder.

2. Who is a "Prospect?" A "Prospective Student-Athlete" (Prospect) is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. A student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a Prospect if the institution contacts the student for recruiting purposes or provides the student or the student's relatives or friends any financial assistance or other benefit that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally.
3. Extra Benefits. NCAA bylaws prohibit current student-athletes and prospects from receiving any extra benefit. The NCAA defines an extra benefit as "any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution's athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete's relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA Legislation." Examples of extra benefits include money, loans, access to photocopiers, long distance telephone calls at no cost, tickets, transportation, use of an automobile, and cosigning on a loan. Please remember that this list is not exhaustive, so contact The Ohio State University Department of Athletics Compliance Office if you have any questions regarding extra benefits.
4. Impermissible Recruiting Activity by Boosters. Boosters are not permitted to contact Prospects or members of a Prospect's family by telephone, letter, electronic means, or in person on-or off-campus for the purpose of encouraging the Prospect's participation in the The Ohio State University's athletics program. Furthermore, boosters cannot make any in-person contact with a Prospect at the Prospect's high school, junior college, practice site, or game site. Any impermissible contact may render that Prospect ineligible to compete at The Ohio State University.
5. Permissible Recruiting Activity by Boosters. Boosters may contact a Prospect who is a long-time family friend or neighbor. Such contacts may not be made for recruiting purposes and shall not be initiated by a coaching staff member. Furthermore, a booster may assist the coaching staff in the recruiting process by writing, emailing, or calling the coaches regarding any student the booster thinks would be a strong addition to the University and the athletics program. Boosters are also permitted to speak to a Prospect by telephone as long as the Prospect initiates the conversation and the call is not for recruitment purposes, and to watch a Prospect's athletics contest; however, the booster cannot make contact with the Prospect.
6. Employment Regulations. Boosters that employ student-athletes should understand the following regulations concerning student-athlete employment. Before the student-athlete begins working, the employer must sign the student-athlete's employment form. The employed student-athlete will provide the employer with this form and after the employer signs the form, the student-athlete will return the form to the Compliance Office. The form is kept on file in the Compliance Office. Student-athletes must be compensated only for work actually performed and the rate of pay must be commensurate with the going rate for similar services. A company/business cannot use a student-athlete's name, picture, or appearance to advertise, promote, or recommend directly the sale or use of any commercial product or service.
7. Complimentary Admissions. Boosters are not permitted to receive a complimentary admission from any student-athlete for any athletics event.
8. Student-Athletes Speaking at Booster Club Functions. Though it is permissible for student-athletes to speak or lecture at an institutional athletics booster club function, student-athletes cannot receive any compensation related to their participation.
9. Occasional Home Meals. The NCAA permits boosters to provide a student-athlete or team an occasional home meal for infrequent or special occasions (i.e., Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, birthdays). The meal must be at the booster's individual home, it cannot be held at a restaurant. However, the meal may be catered if desired. A booster may also provide reasonable local transportation to student-athletes to attend the meal only if the meal function is at the home of that booster.
10. Funding to High School Athletics Programs. A booster may provide funding to benefit a high school athletics program located in the community in which the booster resides provided (1) the booster acts independently of The Ohio State University, (2) the funds are distributed through channels established by the high school or the organization conducting the fund-raising activity, and (3) the funds are not earmarked directly for a specific sport.

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