Information for Operators

Permissible Academic Year Dates.  

Division I women's basketball coaches may attend certified nonscholastic events on September 30 and October 1, 2006; and April 14-15, 2007.

Permissible Summer Event Dates.  

Division I basketball coaches may attend certified events from July 6-15 and 22-31 during the summer of 2007. 

Permissible Summer League Dates.  

A currently enrolled Division I student-athlete with remaining eligibility may participate in an NCAA-certified summer league only on certified dates between June 15 and August 31 or the institution's opening day of classes (whichever occurs earlier).

Notification of Changes.  

NCAA certification is granted based on the specific information submitted on the application.  A failure to update information (e.g., cancellations, date and time of educational session, schedule changes, site location) in the Basketball Certification Online System no later than 48 hours prior to the activity will result in a denial of future or withdrawal of current certification.   It is the operator's responsibility to verify and produce proof of a timely submission. 

Dates of Certification.  

No date of competition will be certified unless it appears on the detailed playing schedule.  Please note that the activity is certified only for the dates identified in your approval letter.  For leagues, although it is potentially permissible for NCAA Division I student-athletes to participate from June 15 to August 31, the student-athletes may only participate on the dates that have been certified and identified in the approval letter.  YOU ARE ONLY CERTIFIED FOR THE DATES AS SPECIFIED IN THE APPROVAL LETTER.

Access to Team Information - EVENTS ONLY.    

Beginning in the summer of 2006, all teams participating at an NCAA certified event must register online prior to reporting to participate in the event.  It is the event operator's responsibility to ensure that all teams participating in their event have been registered and have "opted in" to their event. 

Although teams are registering through the NCAA online process, the event operator is still ultimately responsible for submitting the name, address and telephone number for each athlete that participates in their specific event.  To assist in this process,  operators are given access to the team rosters whose head coach had chosen to "opt in" to their event.  

Once an event application has been approved, operators who long back into the online application will see the word PENDING under the event review column.  By accessing the PENDING link, operators will have access to their event review form.  Some of the information will be automatically populated based on the application, some will still need to be completed.  At the bottom of the review form page, operators can see the number of teams that have "opted in" to their event.  By clicking the Edit Teams button, operators can view the actual teams that have "opted in" to their event and will have access to all of the teams rosters, which can be printed or exported for this page. Again, operators will have access to this information as soon as your application is approved.

These links can be provided to coaches for assistance:   Use this link to access the Basketball Certification System and choose "New Team Coach" to register a team.  Use this link for assistance:  Online Instructions for Team Coaches   

Awards.

Many operators provide awards during events (e.g., to the team that wins a tournament, to the best offensive or defensive player, etc.).  Such awards may be trophies, medals or plaques, or the award may be a T-shirt.  A T-shirt may be provided as a prize in addition to the complimentary T-shirt that may be provided to all prospects participating in the event.  Items of apparel other than a short- or long-sleeved T-shirt (e.g., sweatshirts, jackets, jerseys, shoes) and equipment (e.g., basketballs) may not be provided as prizes.  Note:  If league participants (Division I student-athletes) do not directly pay an entry fee, no awards may be provided.  Awards cannot be donated to a league involving Division I student-athletes.

Coaches' Approval.  BOTH GIRL'S AND BOY'S EVENTS IN 2007

All individuals who engage in coaching activities at an NCAA-certified event must be approved prior to participation through the NCAA Coaches' Approval Program.  NCAA coaches who are employed at an event (which are limited due to other legislative restrictions) are not required to complete this process, but all other individuals, including AAU, club, high school, junior college, prep school coaches and NCAA student-athletes are required to obtain the requisite approval.

The coaches' approval process involves an application, verification of criminal background, authorization for release of information and completion of an educational component.  The entire process may be accessed and completed through the NCAA basketball certification Web site and takes approximately three to seven days to complete the background check.  To apply:  NCAA Summer Coaches' Approval Process

The LexisNexis approval issued to coaches is good for a two-year period (the year issued and the year following - not a literal two years from the date issued).   Individuals who have a current approval, but need to reprint their report may do so with the following link:  Run Report.  

Individuals convicted of a violent felony are prohibited from receiving a coaches' approval number from LexisNexis and will not be permitted to coach at an NCAA certified event.  Individuals convicted of a non-violent felony would be eligible to receive a coaches' approval number from LexisNexis if, and only if, the charge is older than seven years.  An example of criminal charges that would prevent and individual from obtaining a LexisNexis coaches approval can be accessed with the following link:  Coaches' Approval Restrictions

If the applicant or the Event Operator has questions concerning the process, please contact the LexisNexis NCAA Support team at 800-631-8777 or e-mail NCAASupport@Screening.LexisNexis.com.  If there is a criminal dispute, the applicant should contact the LexisNexis Compliance Department at 877-913-6245. 

As a condition of certification, an event operator is required to verify coaches' approval prior to participation.  This requirement applies to both team and individual events/camps.  If the NCAA has not verified the coach as approved within the Basketball Certification Online System, it is the operator's responsibility to ensure that the individual's name appears on the LexisNexis list of approved coaches available with the following link:  Approved Coaches for 2007  The coach's ability to produce a receipt or an approval e-mail is not adequate verification of approval.  The coaches approval requirement is strictly enforced.  

Note:  Only NCAA-approved coaches should be allowed to sit on the team bench during an NCAA certified event.  

Coaches' Packets- EVENTS ONLY.

Concerns and complaints continue to escalate about whether the packets of information sold by event operators to NCAA coaches contain accurate and complete information.  Please be advised that the NCAA is evaluating these concerns in terms of whether additional legislation or policy initiatives are needed to rectify the problems.   

In order to avoid NCAA intervention, event operators who choose to sell packets of information to NCAA coaches are asked to make every effort to ensure that the packets of information are complete and accurate.  In addition, it is not an acceptable practice for prospects' coaches to substitute their own demographic information for that of the prospective student-athlete.  It is important that the prospect and his/her family retain the opportunity to exercise control over the recruiting process, so please ensure that each prospect's demographic information appears in these packets.  

Note: As part of the event review process, event operators are now required to submit a copy of any packets of information sold to the NCAA coaches.  

Beginning the summer of 2007, the price of coaches packets must be listed on the event certification application and the price must be made available to coaches prior to their arrival at the event.

Complementary Items.  

The only complimentary item that a participant or participating coach is allowed to retain after an activity is a T-shirt.  The participant must pay the normal retail value of any other item (e.g., shoes, shorts, warm-up suits, backpacks, basketballs, mementos, etc.) separate from the entry fee in order to keep those items.  Note: Operators are prohibited from providing any gift items to team coaches or participants.

Mandatory Educational Session - EVENTS ONLY.   

In order for an event to be certified, all prospective student-athletes must attend a comprehensive educational session.  The session(s) must consist of an in-person or video presentation.  The distribution of printed materials to participants or coaches will not satisfy this requirement.  Further, the session(s) must address NCAA initial-eligibility standards, gambling, agents and drug use.   

The NCAA has produced a Rules Education Tool Kit available on the basketball certification Web site.  The tool kit includes a sample presentation, supplemental information about the mandatory topics (i.e., NCAA initial-eligibility standards, gambling, agents and drug use), NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete, NCAA Transfer Guide, request form to order the optional NCAA educational video and other helpful downloads appropriate to present during the educational session available with this link:  Educational Tool Kit  

Participant Information for Individual Events - EVENTS ONLY.

Operators are required to enter at minimum the name, address and telephone number for each athlete that participates in their specific event.  An import feature is now available, but the information must be formated in the exact guideline provided in the online system in order to work.  A template is available within the rview form process for your assitance. 

Once an event application has been approved, operators who log back into the online application will see the word PENDING under the event review column.  By accessing the PENDING link, operators will have access to their event review form.  Some of the information will be automatically populated based on the application, some will still need to be completed.  At the bottom of the review form page, operators can see the number of teams/individuals that have "opted in" to their event.  By clicking the Edit Individual Athletes button, operators can submit the required information.  Again, operators will have access to this information as soon as your application is approved.

Participant Information/Team Registration - EVENTS ONLY.

All teams participating at and NCAA certified event must register through the Basketball Certification Online System and will need to designate the events the team intends to attend.  A team's failure to designate the events in which it will participate will result in the operator's inability to access the participant information.  

There will be no leniency in 2007 in regards to event participant information required as part of the review form process.  Operators of team events are expected to have all participating teams register in the basketball certification online system.  Immediately after the approval of the application, operators will be granted access to the review form, which will allow the operator to see all teams that have "opted in" to their event.  Operators should view their review form prior to conducting the event to verify that all teams have "opted in" to their event review and that all of the teams associated with that event appear on the list of participating teams.  

Operators are still required to verify that all information on a team's roster is accurate and will be given the ability indicate which athletes did not participate or submit additional information for athletes that did not appear on the submitted roster.  

Operators of individual events will need to submit the name, address and telephone number of each participant.  Every effort is being made to have an import feature for next years review process to assist the operators of individual events in submitting the required information.

Precautions - EVENTS ONLY.     

An event operator must take reasonable precautions to prevent impermissible contact with NCAA Division I coaches during a certified event.  NCAA coaches are prohibited from having contact with a prospect or the prospect's parents, family, coaches, and/or any other individual associated with the prospect as a result of his/her participation in basketball.  NCAA rules prohibit NCAA Division I men's basketball coaches from having contact with these individuals from the time the team reports for travel to the competition until the team has completed travel home from the competition and released.  NCAA rules prohibit NCAA Division I women's basketball coaches from having any type of communication during the entire July evaluation period.

Minimum standards for precautionary measures to be implemented at NCAA-certified events include the following:

1. Separate areas for NCAA coaches:

a. check-in; 

b. entrance (if facility permits); and

c. Seating - REQUIRED.

2. Enforcement of all separate NCAA coaches' areas by event staff; and

3. Signage identifying all separate NCAA coaches' areas.

Operators are expected to have a system in place to distinguish NCAA Division I coaches from other attendees.  ONLY NCAA coaches should be allowed to sit in the designated coaches' section.  Monitoring is expected.  

Reduced-Entry-Fee and/or Participant-Employment Program.  

NCAA legislation requires activity operators to charge participants the same entry fee.  Operators are prohibited from granting free entry or reduced entry to select participants based on athletics ability or reputation.  An operator may offer participants a reduced-entry-fee or employment program provided the following conditions are met: 

1.  If offered, reduced entry fees must be made available to all qualifying participants and must be based on some objective criteria that is unrelated to a participant's athletics ability or reputation.  Any reduced-entry-fee program must be publicized in advance. 

2.  If offered, a work program must be made available to all qualifying participants and must be based on financial need that is unrelated to a participant's athletics ability, reputation or value that the individual would bring to the event. Compensation must be paid only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with their experience and for similar employment in that locale.  Any participant-employment program must be publicized in advance. 

Residency Requirements/Adjoining State Rule - MEN'S EVENTS ONLY

All men's prospective student-athletes participating in an NCAA-certified team event must reside in:

1.    The same state as their team's official address; or

2.    An adjoining state, provided that no more than three team member(s) reside in adjoining states. 

As a condition of certification, an event operator is required to verify prior to competition that all event participants have met the residency requirements.  The adjoining-state rule encourages prospects to participate on teams located in the same locale as their residence, but also provides prospects who reside in geographically remote areas the opportunity to participate in certified events.  As a condition of certification, an event operator is required to verify prior to competition that all event participants have met the residency requirements.  

EXCEPTIONS:

1. In situations in which a team includes prospects from a metropolitan area located on a state border, the team may include more than three team members from adjoining states as long as each additional participant resides within the metropolitan area (i.e., Washington D.C.).                  
2. It has been determined that because the intent of the adjoining-state legislation would not be violated, and that based on the restrictions imposed by the tribal membership itself, it is permissible to view a Native American tribe in its entirety as analogous to a state, regardless of the fact that its geographic location may encompass several states.  Therefore, Native American athletes can participate on their tribal team regardless of their state of residence.

INTERNATIONAL TEAMS:

International athletes must play on a team from their own country and the adjoining-state rule would apply provincially within that country.  Athletes cannot participate on an team outsider their country's borders.  Therefore, athletes from Mexico or Canada cannot cross the border and play with a US team for participation at an NCAA certified summer event even though the team may be geographically located within the same locale of their residence.

 

Review Form Submission - EVENTS ONLY.  

A Review Form must be submitted online no later than three months from the last date of certification for the event; the specific deadline date will be identified in the event approval letter.  The online review form is not considered submitted until the "Event Review Status" column has changed from PENDING to SUBMITTED.  The basketball certification staff will not process packages submitted after the deadline.  Failure to adhere to these requirements will result in the denial of future certification.  

Transportation - EVENTS ONLY.  

An event operator is prohibited from providing air or ground transportation to and/or from an event for participants, their coaches or relatives.  However, an operator may provide local transportation to participants between the event site and the nearest airport, bus or train station provided that the same transportation is available to all attendees.

Director of Athletics' Permission - LEAGUES ONLY.

The league operator is required to obtain written permission from the institution's athletics director (or the director's official representative) for each Division I student-athlete prior to his/her participation in the league.  Red-shirt athletes are required to receive permission.  Permissions slips are not required for Division I student-athletes who have yet to enroll in a four-year institution for the first time or whose eligibility has expired.

If a student-athlete is allowed to participate in a league prior to obtaining their letter of permission, the student-athlete will be rendered ineligible for collegiate competition and will have to complete the student-athlete reinstatement process.  If this occurs, the league that allowed the violation will not be eligible for certification the following summer.

League Residency Requirements.  

League play must be within 100 air miles of:

1. The student-athlete's legal residence at the end of the previous academic year; or

2. The institution the student-athlete last attended as a regular student.

As a condition of certification, league operators will be required to verify prior to competition that all Division I student-athletes are in compliance with the residency requirements.   If no league exists within the 100 air mile radius, a student-athlete may participate in the summer league located closest to the student's official residence.  Allowing a student-athlete to participate that does not meet this requirement will render the student-athlete ineligible for collegiate competition, which will render the league ineligible for certification the following year.

All-Star Games/Tryouts - LEAGUES ONLY.  

NCAA legislation prohibits league operators from conducting all-star competitions in conjunction with a certified league and prohibits Division I student-athletes from participating in organized tryouts involving team competition due to the one-team and one-league legislation.  Division I student-athletes are also prohibited from engaging in any type of organized competition prior to the first date of the league.

Revenue - LEAGUES ONLY.  

League operators are prohibited from deriving revenue from admissions, parking, raffles or broadcast fees.

Note:  It is a violation of NCAA legislation to sell videotape of league games in which Division I student-athletes are participating.

Number from Any One College - LEAGUES ONLY.

Each team shall include on its roster no more than two players with intercollegiate basketball eligibility remaining from any two-year or four-year college (other than a Divisions II and III member institution);

One Team, One League - LEAGUES ONLY.

All Division I players must limit their competition to one team in one league

Recruiting Calendars.

Recruiting Calendars are now available using the following link:  Recruiting Calendars  

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<Use these links to return to helpful pages:
**  Basketball Certification Web Page  **  BBCS Online System (application, review form, team registration)  **  Online Help  **
**  LexisNexis Coaches' Approval Process  **  List of Approved Coaches  **
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