NCAA DI Legislative Proposals Scheduled for Initial Consideration

 

Organization

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-12

ORGANIZATION -- EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE -- DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To clarify the Executive Committee's existing authority to adopt and implement policy.

The NCAA constitution charges the Executive Committee with overseeing Association-wide issues under Constitution Article 4.01.1. The constitution also charges that the Executive Committee, among other things, "shall act" on behalf of the Association to resolve core issues and Association-wide matters under Constitution Article 4.1.2. Under existing provisions of the constitution, the Executive Committee has authority to act by adopting and implementing policies. Presidents and chancellors on the Executive Committee are charged with providing such leadership and may do so by policy. The amendment does not change the duties and responsibilities of the Executive Committee. Neither does the amendment expand the Executive Committee's authority or power.

NCAA Executive Committee (Division I Board of Directors).

Immediate

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-13

ORGANIZATION -- DIVISION I BOARD OF DIRECTORS -- COMPOSITION -- CONFERENCE REPRESENTATION

To specify that the NCAA Division I Board of Directors shall include 31 members, composed of one chancellor or president (who each shall have 1.5 votes) from each of the Football Bowl Subdivision conferences and one chancellor or president (who each shall have a 0.5 vote) from each of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision and other Division I conferences; further, to eliminate the NCAA Division I Presidential Advisory Group.

This proposal will ensure that all institutions are adequately represented within the Division I governance structure. The current structure of the Board of Directors does not fully represent the diverse nature of the Division I membership. This proposal allows for representation on the Board of Directors for all 31 Division I conferences, while maintaining the current influence of Football Bowl Subdivision conferences and other Division I conferences each have unique perspectives and interests from each other. Therefore, it is not possible for each conference to be accurately represented under the current system. Additionally, the cabinets and NCAA Division I Management Council have moved to a total representative system and this proposal mirrors that structural change.

Ohio Valley Conference.

August 01, 2008

 

 

 

 

Personnel

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

 

2007-14

PERSONNEL -- VOLUNTEER COACH -- COMPLIMENTARY MEALS FOR SPOUSE AND CHILDREN INCIDENTAL TO TEAM ACTIVITIES OR OFFICIAL VISITS

To permit the spouse and dependent children of a volunteer coach to receive complimentary meals incidental to organized team activities or meals provided during a prospective student-athlete's official visit, provided the individuals dine with the prospective student-athlete.

Volunteer coaches are involved in the day-to-day coaching of student-athletes and are an integral part of the athletics program. These coaches' families are as involved in the program as the families of the head and assistant coaches. Permitting an institution to provide meals to the volunteer coaches' spouse and dependent children in those situations in which coaches' families are commonly present (e.g., team banquets, official visit meals, occasional meals), is a modest benefit that eliminates the scenario in which a volunteer coach is the only athletics staff member who must pay for his or her family's meal.

Big Ten Conference.

August 01, 2008

 

2007-15

PERSONNEL -- VOLUNTEER COACH -- COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS

To specify that a volunteer coach may receive a maximum of four complimentary tickets to athletics contests (home or away) in the coach's sport.

Volunteer coaches are involved in the day-to-day coaching of student-athletes and are an integral part of the athletics program. Since many volunteer coaches have families, the quantity of tickets needed often exceeds two. Increasing the limit to four and removing the restriction on providing tickets to away contests is a modest benefit that remedies the situation in which a coach's family travels at its own expense to see the team play but must pay for tickets, even though all other team personnel and student-athletes receive complimentary tickets.

Big Ten Conference.

August 01, 2008

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

 

2007-16

PERSONNEL AND RECRUITING -- LIMITATIONS ON THE NUMBER AND DUTIES OF COACHES -- RECRUITING COORDINATION FUNCTIONS

To eliminate the restriction that all recruiting coordination functions must be performed by a countable coach, but to retain the requirement that all telephone calls made to and received from prospective student-athletes must be made and received by a countable coach.

Twelve years ago, recruiting coordinators were banned in football in an attempt to limit the size of football programs. Those efforts were not successful. Since the ban, football staff sizes have increased substantially. The combination of an increase in staff with a sharp limit on what these staff members can actually do has resulted in countless hours spent defining "recruiting coordination" and "clerical tasks," and in repeated attempts to regulate trivial activities such as ordering food for a recruiting banquet or preparing an official visit itinerary. Last year, the recruiting coordination ban was extended to all sports. Similar problems applying the legislation are now appearing in every sport and are having a particular impact on the role of volunteer coaches in the recruiting process. Most of the banned activities are administrative or logistical in nature, existing in the area between clerical and actual recruitment of prospective student-athletes. Since noncoaching administrators are already prohibited from all off-campus recruiting, no arms race in recruiting will break out if recruiting coordination is permitted. There is no inherent recruiting advantage in hiring noncoaching personnel since they cannot recruit prospective student-athletes. Administrative personnel decisions should be left to institutional discretion, not regulated by legislation.

Pacific-10 Conference.

August 01, 2008

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-17

PERSONNEL AND RECRUITING -- LIMITATIONS ON THE NUMBER AND DUTIES OF COACHES -- RECRUITING COORDINATION FUNCTIONS -- VOLUNTEER COACH

To permit a volunteer coach to engage in recruiting coordination functions.

This proposal seeks to ease some of the confusion and administrative burden related to recruiting coordination functions. Allowing the volunteer coach to engage in recruiting coordination functions provides institutions the flexibility to divide responsibilities without the cost of hiring additional noncoaching staff members to do so. This proposal does not allow a volunteer coach to engage in off-campus recruiting activities. However, this proposal allows volunteer coaches to gain valuable experience and a working knowledge of NCAA recruiting legislation.

Big West Conference.

Immediate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-18

PERSONNEL AND RECRUITING -- LIMITATIONS ON THE NUMBER AND DUTIES OF COACHES -- RECRUITING COORDINATION FUNCTIONS -- EXCEPTION -- NONCOACHING STAFF MEMBER -- AFTER NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNING OR OTHER WRITTEN COMMITMENT

To permit a noncoaching staff member to make telephone calls to or receive telephone calls from a prospective student-athlete (or the prospective student-athlete's parents, legal guardians or coaches) and prepare general recruiting correspondence (including electronic correspondence) to a prospective student-athlete (or the prospective student-athlete's parents or legal guardians), provided the prospective student-athlete has signed a National Letter of Intent or the institution's written offer of admission and/or financial aid.

As a general rule, an individual is considered to be a prospective student-athlete until he or she enrolls full time or participates in regular practice sessions. However, once a National Letter of Intent has been signed or an offer of admission and/or financial aid has been accepted, an individual has committed to an institution and the recruitment process is, for all practical purposes, completed. Exceptions for communication with a prospective student-athlete after the signing of a National Letter of Intent (or acceptance of written offer of financial aid or admission) currently exist, but these exceptions are limited in scope. Any telephone calls or written correspondence with a prospective student-athlete concerning his or her recruitment after he or she has signed a National Letter of Intent or an offer of admission and/or financial aid would be minimal. Further, this proposal would allow an institution's chancellor or president, faculty athletics representative or director of athletics to send a congratulatory note to a prospective student-athlete after he or she has signed a National Letter of Intent or an offer of admission and/or financial aid.

Big 12 Conference.

August 01, 2008

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-19

PERSONNEL -- LIMITATIONS ON THE NUMBER AND DUTIES OF COACHES -- REPLACEMENT FOR NATIONAL OR OLYMPIC TEAM COACHES

To specify that an institution may replace, on a temporary or limited basis, a coach who takes a leave of absence to participate on or coach the national team or Olympic team of another nation.

Current legislation permits an institution to replace a coach temporarily or on a limited basis when he or she takes a leave of absence to participate on or to coach either the U.S. national team or U.S. Olympic team, provided the replacement is limited to a one-year period and the coach who is replaced performs no recruiting or other duties on behalf of the institution. It is reasonable to extend the rule to allow an institution to replace a coach who is participating on or coaching a national or Olympic team of another nation. This would afford coaches the same opportunity to participate on or coach national or Olympic teams, regardless of the nation represented, without penalizing the institution. In addition, this proposal would increase opportunities for student-athletes to receive elite-level coaching from international coaches who also coach at the collegiate level.

NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet (Olympic Sports Liaison Committee).

Immediate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-20

PERSONNEL -- LIMITATIONS ON THE NUMBER AND DUTIES OF COACHES -- OFF-CAMPUS RECRUITING -- WOMEN'S BASKETBALL -- NONSCHOLASTIC EVENTS DURING ACADEMIC YEAR

In women's basketball, to increase the number of coaches who may evaluate prospective student-athletes off campus at any one time at nonscholastic events during the academic year from three to four.

In women's basketball, evaluations at nonscholastic events may occur only on two weekends during the academic year (the last full weekend of the fall contact period and the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the spring evaluation period). Due to the limited opportunities for coaches to evaluate at nonscholastic events during the academic year (a total of six days), it may be difficult for coaches to attend many events, given the current limit on the number of permissible recruiters. By allowing one additional coach to engage in off-campus evaluations during these identified weekends, institutions will be able to more efficiently evaluate prospective student-athletes. Further, other legislation such as the overall number of 100 recruiting-person days and five recruiting opportunities per prospective student-athlete would remain applicable.

NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet (Women's Basketball Issues Committee).

Immediate

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amateurism

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

 

2007-21

AMATEURISM -- GENERAL REGULATIONS -- EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES -- PRIOR TO COLLEGIATE ENROLLMENT -- PERMISSIBLE EXPENSES OR SERVICES

To specify that a prospective student-athlete may receive educational expenses or services related to tutoring and standardized test preparatory classes from any individual or entity other than an agent, professional sports teams/organization or a representative of an institution's athletics interests, provided such expenses are disbursed directly to the individual, organization, or educational institution providing the educational service.

Current legislation limits a prospective student-athlete to receiving tuition, fees, room and board and books prior to collegiate enrollment from any individual or entity other than an agent, professional sports team/organization or representative of an institution's athletics interests under specified disbursement conditions. Expanding the educational expenses that are permitted prior to collegiate enrollment beyond tuition, fees, room and board and books will assist in preparing students for the rigors of a four-year college education.

NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet (Subcommittee on Agents and Amateurism).

Immediate

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-22

AMATEURISM -- GENERAL REGULATIONS -- PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT, BENEFITS OR SERVICES -- RESTITUTION

To specify that for violations of the preferential treatment legislation in which the value of the benefit is $100 or less, the eligibility of the individual shall not be affected, conditioned on the individual repaying the value of the benefit to a charity of his or her choice; further, to specify that the individual shall remain ineligible from the time the institution has knowledge of receipt of the impermissible benefit until the individual repays the benefit.

Currently, there are several bylaws for which reinstatement of a student-athlete's eligibility is not necessary if the violation involves a benefit at a value of $100 or less, conditioned on repayment of the value of the benefit. In cases involving preferential treatment, if the value of the benefit is $100 or less, the student-athlete reinstatement staff or the committee only requires repayment and does not withhold the individual from competition. Thus, similar to extra benefit violations, violations of the preferential treatment legislation should require only restitution. For instances in which there is institutional responsibility, the violation remains an institutional violation and must be reported to the enforcement staff.

NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet (Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement).

Immediate

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-23

AMATEURISM -- EXCEPTIONS TO AMATEURISM RULE -- PRIZE MONEY PRIOR TO FULL-TIME COLLEGIATE ENROLLMENT -- TENNIS

In tennis, to specify that, prior to full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual may accept prize money based on his or her place finish or performance in open athletics events, not to exceed $10,000 per calendar year; further, to specify that once the individual has reached the $10,000 limit, he or she may receive additional prize money on a per event basis, provided such prize money does not exceed his or her actual and necessary expenses for participation in the event.

Prospective student-athletes and their families spend exorbitant amounts of money for travel and other expenses related to competing in tennis events. Rather than limiting prospects to accepting prize money only equal to or lesser than expenses on a per tournament basis, this proposal would allow prize money to be accepted on the aggregate to help cover further expenses. Estimates place the top college tennis student-athletes as having made significantly less than $10,000 per year in prize money as prospective student-athletes, and combined with the financial costs to their families most are not earning any prize money in excess of their expenses. This proposal will allow prospective student-athletes to earn up to $10,000 without having to produce extensive documentation for prize money, as is currently required.

Ivy Group.

May 1, 2008 for prize money earned on or after May 1, 2008.

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-24

AMATEURISM -- INVOLVEMENT WITH PROFESSIONAL TEAMS -- COMPETITION WITH PROFESSIONALS -- TENNIS EXCEPTION

In tennis, to permit an individual to compete on a professional team prior to initial full-time collegiate enrollment, provided he or she does not receive pay or remuneration in excess of his or her actual and necessary expenses.

Current legislation permits an individual to compete on a doubles tennis team with a professional who is competing for cash or a comparable prize, provided the individual does not receive payment of any kind for such participation. However, if an individual is a member of the same tennis team as a professional athlete (even though the individual and the professional athlete play on different courts); the individual's eligibility will be affected because they are members of the same "professional" team. Revising the current rule would alleviate the situation in which a prospective student-athlete's eligibility status is jeopardized due to a teammate receiving remuneration above actual and necessary expenses, even though the prospect may be unaware of this arrangement and does not receive more than actual and necessary expenses for participation on the team.

NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet (Subcommittee on Agents and Amateurism).

August 1, 2008; applicable to student-athletes who initially enroll full time in a collegiate institution on or after August 1, 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-25

AMATEURISM -- PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES -- INSTITUTIONAL, CHARITABLE, EDUCATION OR NONPROFIT PROMOTIONS -- COSPONSORSHIP AND SALE OF PHOTOGRAPHS

To specify that a permissible promotional activity may involve co-sponsorship by a commercial entity, as approved by the institution, subject to the following conditions: (a) The promotion must identify the commercial entity and explain its affiliation with the institution, conference or noninstitutional charitable, educational or nonprofit agency; (b) The promotion may not include language or action (e.g. voice-over, use of product of services, product placement, text) which directly encourages the use or purchase of a commercial product or service; (c) A co-sponsor's product or service may not be included in the promotional activity, except for the normal use of athletics equipment and apparel; and (d) The promotion may not include co-sponsorship by a commercial agency that is involved in or promotes sports wagering activities. Further, to eliminate the requirement that all moneys derived from a promotional activity go directly to the institution or conference or to the charitable, educational or nonprofit agency. In addition, to permit promotional activities to occur at the location of a commercial establishment, which may be a co-sponsor of the activity, provided the student-athlete does not promote the sale of a commercial product or service. Finally, to permit an institution to designate a third party that may sell and distribute institutional photographs of student-athletes, under specified conditions.

The elimination of the requirement that the appearance of a commercial co-sponsor be limited to the reproduction of the sponsoring company's officially registered regular trademark or logo does not open the door to elaborate advertisements. It simply deregulates an outdated and often confusing standard. The current legislation addresses this limitation in the context of printed items. Interpretations were necessary to extend the limitation to other media. The requirement that the relationship between the institution and the commercial co-sponsor must be explained in the promotional activity will further the protection of the student-athlete from commercial exploitation. It also is important that the relationship or affiliation of the commercial co-sponsors with the institution, conference or noninstitutional charitable, education or nonprofit entity be explained as a part of the promotional activity. In activities that have multiple commercial co-sponsors, a common relationship or affiliation need not be explained separately for each commercial co-sponsor. Further, the product or service of a co-sponsor may not be included in the promotional activity, except for the normal use of athletics equipment and apparel. Athletics apparel and equipment manufacturers that support an institution's athletics program should be allowed to be recognized as sponsors when the apparel or equipment is in normal use in an athletics context.

NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet (Subcommittee on Agents and Amateurism).

August 01, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

 

2007-26

AMATEURISM -- PERMISSIBLE AND NONPERMISSIBLE PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES -- COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENT OR PROMOTION

To specify that an advertisement or promotion by a commercial entity (except for any entity that is involved in or promotes sports wagering) may feature competition video footage, competition audio or competition photographs involving a student-athlete with eligibility remaining, provided: (a) The advertisement or promotion is approved by the institution's athletics director (or his or her designee); (2) The advertisement or promotion identifies the commercial entity and explains its affiliation with the institution, conference or the NCAA; and (3) Any language or action included in the advertisement or promotion which directly encourages the use or purchase of a commercial product or service of the commercial entity may not be attributable to or made by the student-athletes, institution, conference or the NCAA.

This proposal addresses the appearance of the name, image or likeness of student-athletes in commercial advertisements or promotions by sponsors with whom institutions, conferences or the NCAA have an affiliation. The proposal was developed in the spirit of balancing the importance of commercial sponsors in maintaining a comprehensive athletics program and the importance of protecting student-athletes from being exploited by commercial entities. The appearance of student-athletes' names, pictures or likenesses in competition video footage, audio or pictures does not create a direct endorsement of commercial products or services. The ability to allow such advertisements or promotions provides an institution, conference or the NCAA greater flexibility in developing relationships with commercial entities that benefit the athletics program, while remaining cognizant of the principle prohibiting commercial exploitation of student-athletes. Further, the increased flexibility may increase the ability of an institution (or conference or the NCAA) to strengthen its relationship with commercial sponsors and increase the ability of institutions to support a comprehensive athletics program or the programming of the conference and the NCAA. The limitation on the use of student-athletes' names, pictures or likenesses to competition footage, audio, or photographs will protect student-athletes' time and continue to prohibit direct endorsements by student-athletes.

NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet (Subcommittee on Agents and Amateurism).

August 01, 2008

2007-27

AMATEURISM -- PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES -- SCHEDULE CARDS -- DE MINIMIS VIOLATION

To specify that a violation involving schedule cards shall be considered an institutional violation; however, such a violation shall not affect the student-athlete's eligibility.

Current legislation specifies that a student-athlete's eligibility is affected in a case in which his or her name or picture appears on the same page of a schedule card as an advertisement that includes language other than the commercial product's name, trademark or logo. Although an institution must go through the reinstatement process, the student-athlete's eligibility has traditionally been reinstated with no conditions. In an effort to decrease bureaucracy, these violations should not affect eligibility since the student-athlete rarely has control over the situation. Such violations still will be considered institutional violations and will need to be reported to the NCAA enforcement staff.

NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet (Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement).

Immediate

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-28

AMATEURISM -- PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES -- MEDIA ACTIVITIES -- USE OF A STUDENT-ATHLETE'S NAME, IMAGE OR LIKENESS TO PROMOTE COVERAGE OF COMPETITION

To specify that a media entity may feature a student-athlete's name, image or likeness in promotions of its coverage of intercollegiate competition in which the student-athlete's institution will or may participate, or has previously participated, provided such use is limited to competition video footage, competition audio or competition photographs; further, to specify that media entities may feature a student-athlete's name, image, or likeness in their journalistic coverage of news (and the promotion of such coverage) related to the student-athlete or his or her institution or conference or the NCAA.

With the growth of media entities and their coverage of intercollegiate athletics events, it is important to clarify the permissible use of student-athletes' names, pictures or likenesses in such promotions. This proposal does not significantly change the current standard, but codifies the typical manner in which the broadcasts of intercollegiate competition may be promoted using the names, likenesses and photographs of student-athletes with eligibility remaining. The restriction of the use of student-athletes' names, pictures or likenesses to competition video footage, competition audio or competition photographs ensures that no additional student-athlete time will be spent in these promotional activities. It should be noted that it will remain permissible for news media to use the name and likeness of a student-athlete in the context of promoting its journalistic coverage of a competition, story or interview involving the student-athlete. Such use of a student-athlete's name or likeness traditionally has been considered to be informational and not intended to promote the use of the news media's products or services. Additional student-athlete involvement in media activities, such as in-game interviews or stories remains permissible and is specifically addressed in existing legislation.

NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet (Subcommittee on Agents and Amateurism).

August 01, 2008

 

Recruiting

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-29

RECRUITING -- ENROLLED STUDENT-ATHLETE -- PERMISSIBLE RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES -- TELEPHONE CONTACT INITIATED BY PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES

To specify that an enrolled student-athlete may receive telephone calls made at the expense of a prospective student-athlete at any time provided there is no direct or indirect involvement by athletics department staff.

Prospective student-athletes and enrolled student-athletes have acquaintances from prior participation on other teams. It is practical, logical and realistic for prospective student-athletes to want to call the student-athletes he or she knows. Current legislation conflicts with this reality. Many prospective student-athletes are unaware of the restriction that such telephone calls are not permissible until July 1 after their junior year of high school. It is not logical to expect prospective student-athletes to limit his or her contact with enrolled student-athletes, thereby losing a valuable resource of information, as they seek to make the important decision of which college or university to attend. Not only is this a student-athlete well-being issue, it is also an institutional-welfare issue. The application of the current rule is very difficult to monitor, which supports the need to deregulate such limitations on this particular type of telephone calls.

Big 12 Conference.

August 01, 2008

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-30

RECRUITING -- CONTACTS AND EVALUATIONS -- CONTACTABLE HIGH SCHOOL PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES -- MEN'S BASKETBALL -- TWO CONTACTS WITH JUNIORS -- NO NONSCHOLASTIC EVALUATIONS IN APRIL

In men's basketball, to specify that an institution may make two in-person off-campus contacts with a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete's parents or legal guardians during the April contact period of the prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school; further, to specify that evaluations during the April contact period shall be limited to regularly scheduled high school, preparatory school and two-year college contests/tournaments and practices and regular scholastic activities involving prospective student-athletes enrolled only at that institution.

In men’s basketball, during the April contact period, coaches attend nonscholastic events sanctioned or sponsored by the applicable high school or junior college athletics association. However, high school and junior college athletics associations do not generally oversee nonscholastic basketball events. The lack of oversight has permitted some event promoters to misrepresent the event’s status to coaches and to leverage prospective student-athletes and coaches to attend these events by declaring the need to be seen at the event. Limiting coaches to activities that are scholastic in nature is more appropriate and consistent with the educational mission of intercollegiate athletics. Further, allowing college coaches to contact junior prospective student-athletes in April allows coaches to develop earlier relationships with prospects to minimize outside influences and places more emphasis on the scholastic environment.

Southeastern Conference.

August 01, 2008

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-31

RECRUITING -- CONTACTABLE PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES -- FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES FROM NON-NCAA OR NON-NAIA INSTITUTIONS -- WRITTEN NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO CONTACT

To specify that an athletics staff member shall not make contact, directly or indirectly, with a student-athlete of a non-NCAA or non-NAIA four-year collegiate institution that sponsors intercollegiate athletics without first providing written notification of intent to contact the student-athlete to the athletics director of the non-NCAA or non-NAIA institution.

Concern has been expressed over the recruiting practices of some coaches as it relates to contacting student-athletes enrolled at Canadian institutions. Current legislation only requires that institutions obtain permission to contact student-athletes who attend an NCAA or NAIA institution. The Canadian Colleges Athletics Association and Canadian Interuniversity Sport currently have regulations that require notification and communication between the directors of athletics prior to contacting student-athletes enrolled at institutions within those associations. NCAA coaches should be required to provide similar notification to non-NCAA and non-NAIA four-year collegiate institutions that sponsor intercollegiate athletics prior to contacting student-athletes at those institutions. This requirement will help ensure fairness and provide some consistency as it relates to recruiting practices.

NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet (Subcommittee on Recruiting).

August 01, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-32

RECRUITING -- PERMISSIBLE RECRUITERS AND EVALUATIONS -- HEAD COACH RESTRICTIONS -- SPRING EVALUATION PERIOD -- FOOTBALL

In football, to specify that the head coach shall not engage in off-campus recruiting activities during the April 15 through May 31 evaluation period.

It has become increasingly difficult for head football coaches to avoid contact with prospective student-athletes during the spring evaluation period. When head football coaches visit a high school while school is in session, they are in close proximity to students. In addition, the visibility of many high-profile coaches results in frequent unavoidable contact with any number of students. This proposal is intended to eliminate contact between a prospective student-athlete and head football coach during the spring evaluation period by prohibiting the head football coach from engaging in off-campus recruiting during the spring evaluation period. This proposal will also decrease the number of needless secondary violations and a significant amount of distrust that has occurred among coaches because of the difficulty in avoiding contact with prospective student-athletes during the spring evaluation period.

Southeastern Conference.

Immediate

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-33

RECRUITING -- COMMUNICATION DURING JULY EVALUATION PERIODS -- AFTER NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNING OR OTHER WRITTEN COMMITMENT -- WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

In women's basketball, to permit an institution to communicate with a prospective student-athlete (or the prospective student-athlete's relatives, legal guardians or coach) during the July evaluation periods, provided the prospective student-athlete has graduated from high school and has signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) with the institution or for those institutions not using the National Letter of Intent in women's basketball or for those prospective student-athletes who are not eligible to sign the National Letter of Intent, the institution's written offer of admission and/or financial aid.

Currently, during the July evaluation periods in women's basketball, coaches are not permitted to communicate in any form with prospective student-athletes or their relatives, legal guardians or individuals associated with them as a result of their involvement in basketball. This prohibition was meant to reinforce the July evaluation periods as a time for observation only and not as a time to recruit. However, prospective student-athletes who have graduated and signed a National Letter of Intent should not be included in this prohibition since they are past the recruitment phase and are preparing for collegiate enrollment. By July, these signed prospective student-athletes frequently have formed strong relationships with their future collegiate coaches and rely on their coaches to provide information regarding their upcoming collegiate experience. As a matter of student-athlete well-being, coaches should be permitted to communicate with them during the July evaluation periods.

NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet (Women's Basketball Issues Committee).

Immediate

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-34

RECRUITING -- TELEPHONE CALLS TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES -- TIME PERIOD -- EXCEPTION -- WOMEN'S SOCCER

In women's soccer, to specify that an institution is permitted to make one telephone call to a prospective student-athlete or her relatives or legal guardians during the month of May of the prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school.

This proposal aligns the permissible time period during which coaching staff members may place telephone calls to junior prospective student-athletes with the spring evaluation period. Instead of unnecessarily delaying communication between a prospective student-athlete and a coach regarding an evaluation, this proposal permits timely and appropriate communication. This proposal will increase recruiting flexibility, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and provide an earlier opportunity to contact prospective student-athletes without creating an undue intrusion.

Southeastern Conference.

Immediate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-35

RECRUITING -- TELEPHONE CALLS TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES -- PERMISSIBLE CALLERS -- EXCEPTIONS -- FACULTY ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVE AND SENIOR WOMAN ADMINISTRATOR

To permit an institution's faculty athletics representative and senior woman administrator to return telephone calls to prospective student-athletes or his or her parents or legal guardians subject to any applicable limitations on the number of telephone calls that an institution may place to prospective student-athletes.

Current legislation allows for a chancellor/president and athletics director to return phone calls if a prospective student-athlete or his or her parents/legal guardians initiate the call. Likewise, academic advisors are permitted to call a prospective student-athlete or his or her parents or legal guardians about admissions or academic issues. This proposal does not increase the number of phone calls permitted. Instead, within the parameters of the existing rule, this proposal simply allows the faculty athletics representative and the senior woman administrator to answer any questions a prospective student-athlete or his or her parents or legal guardians may have about an institution's academic or athletic programs. Current interpretations would also allow these staff members to respond to written correspondence.

Southeastern Conference.

Immediate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-36

RECRUITING -- TELEPHONE CALLS TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES -- PERMISSIBLE CALLERS -- EXCEPTIONS -- STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACHES

To permit strength and conditioning coaches to receive telephone calls from a prospective student-athlete, provided the calls relate to summer conditioning programs and such calls occur after the prospective student-athlete has signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) (or, signed acceptance of the institution's written offer of admission and/or financial aid).

For the safety of prospective student-athletes, institutional strength and conditioning coaches should be permitted to receive telephone calls from prospective student-athletes to discuss questions and/or proper techniques regarding summer conditioning programs. Other noncoaching staff members with sport-specific responsibilities are permitted to initiate and receive telephone calls, provided the calls relate only to general pre-enrollment administrative issues. Strength and conditioning coaches would only receive telephone calls. Moreover, there is no recruiting advantage since the prospective student-athletes have already signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) (or, for those institutions not subscribing to the NLI, a written offer of admission and/or financial aid) with the institution.

Mountain West Conference.

August 01, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-37

RECRUITING -- CONTACTS AND EVALUATIONS -- TELEPHONE CALLS TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES -- COLLECT AND TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE CALLS -- EXCEPTION -- WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

In women's basketball, to permit institutional coaching staff members to accept collect and toll-free telephone calls placed by a prospective student-athlete and the prospective student-athlete's parents and legal guardians, provided the calls are not placed earlier than the date on which an institution may begin placing telephone calls to the prospective student-athlete.

Permitting a prospective student-athlete to make a collect or toll-free call beginning at the same time coaches may first telephone prospective student-athletes brings consistency to the recruiting legislation and provides greater clarity of the rules for prospective student-athletes and their parents and legal guardians. This change is requested as noncontroversial legislation, inasmuch as broader consultation and debate are unlikely to improve the proposal in any substantial way, significant disagreement or alternative points of view will not be generated and there does not appear to be a significant impact on existing legislation or proposed legislation.

NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet (Women's Basketball Issues Committee).

Immediate

2007-38

RECRUITING -- CONTACTS AND EVALUATIONS -- RECRUITING OPPORTUNITIES -- WOMEN'S BASKETBALL -- SEVEN OPPORTUNITIES

In women's basketball, to increase the number of recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations) from five to seven.

This proposal promotes parity among sports by allowing women's basketball the same number of recruiting opportunities afforded to coaches in all other sports (except football).

Big East Conference and Mid-American Conference.

August 01, 2008

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-39

RECRUITING -- CONTACTS AND EVALUATIONS -- CONTACTS AFTER NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNING OR OTHER WRITTEN COMMITMENT -- FOOTBALL -- CONTACTS DURING SPRING EVALUATION PERIOD -- EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION STAFF MEMBER PRESENCE

In football, to specify that during the spring evaluation period, coaching staff members may make two contacts with a prospective student-athlete who has signed a National Letter of Intent (or, for those institutions not subscribing to the National Letter of Intent, after the prospective student-athlete's signed acceptance of the institution's written offer of admission and/or financial aid) at the prospective student-athlete's educational institution and require that a staff member from the prospective student-athlete's educational institution (e.g., coach, academic counselor, principal) must be present during such contacts; further, to specify that any visit to the educational institution that includes only contact with a signed prospective student-athlete during the spring evaluation period shall be considered one of the institution's two permissible days at that institution.

Currently, football coaches may only have contact with prospective student-athletes who have signed a National Letter of Intent at their educational institutions during a contact period. Although coaches evaluate at educational institutions during the spring evaluation period, they must make other arrangements to have contact with the signed prospective student-athletes at other locations, such as a home or restaurant. This restriction creates greater recruiting costs and unnecessary bureaucracy. There is a benefit to prospective student-athletes when their coaches continue to monitor their academic progress. Allowing such contact to occur at the prospective student-athletes' educational institutions where academic counselors are also present, will result in better academic evaluations and will permit coaches to be more efficient during a busy recruiting period. Since the prospective student-athlete has already signed with the institution, there is no recruiting advantage gained by allowing such contacts.

NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet (Football Issues Committee).

August 01, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-40

RECRUITING -- CONTACTS AND EVALUATIONS -- CONTACTS AFTER NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNING OR OTHER WRITTEN COMMITMENT -- FOOTBALL -- CONTACTS DURING SPRING EVALUATION PERIOD

In football, to specify that during the spring evaluation period, coaching staff members may make two contacts with a prospective student-athlete who has signed a National Letter of Intent (or, for those institutions not subscribing to the National Letter of Intent, after the prospective student-athlete's signed acceptance of the institution's written offer of admission and/or financial aid) at the prospective student-athlete's educational institution; further, to specify that any visit to the educational institution that includes only contact with a signed prospect during the spring evaluation period shall be considered one of the institution's two permissible days at that institution.

This proposal would make the legislation related to football similar to most other sports by permitting coaches additional contact with prospects who have signed a National Letter of Intent or other written commitment. Such contact would be permitted when a coach is visiting an educational institution during the spring evaluation period, which provides coaches a cost effective opportunity to visit with prospects who have signed to attend the institution.

Southeastern Conference.

August 01, 2008

2007-41

RECRUITING -- LIMITATIONS ON THE NUMBER OF EVALUATIONS -- APRIL CONTACT PERIOD -- EVALUATIONS AT NONSCHOLASTIC EVENTS -- MEN'S BASKETBALL

In men's basketball, to specify that coaching staff members may attend nonscholastic events during the April contact period on Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday, but not on any weekend during which national standardized tests are administered.

By permitting evaluations at nonscholastic events on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the applicable weekends in April, coaches will have a better opportunity to evaluate prospective student-athletes. Further, this additional day during the April recruiting period will allow coaches to make more informed recruiting decisions. Finally, this legislative proposal is similar to legislation that was recently adopted for women's basketball that extended the two permissible weekends for evaluations at nonscholastic events to include Fridays.

Conference USA.

August 01, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-42

RECRUITING -- CONTACTS AND EVALUATIONS -- FOOTBALL EVALUATIONS -- SCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES

In football, to specify that all evaluations shall be limited to regularly scheduled high school, preparatory school and two-year college contests, practices and regular scholastic activities involving prospective student-athletes enrolled at that institution.

Despite attempts to curb the increasing number of nonscholastic recruiting events in football, member institutions are continuing to see these events increase in frequency and sophistication. These events permit individuals with little or no role in the education of prospective student-athletes to become involved in their lives for the primary purpose of testing the prospective student-athletes' athletics ability. This proposal disassociates coaches from this activity before "third parties" become common in the sport of football. The intent of this proposal mirrors that of the original intent behind the current legislation regarding nonscholastic activities, that is, coaches should only attend legitimate high school and junior college practices and contests. It is in the best interests of prospective student-athletes to encourage that their time be spent in participation in scholastic activities, thereby giving them the necessary time to focus on their academic endeavors.

Southeastern Conference.

Immediate

 

 

 

 

Proposal Number

Title

Intent

Rationale

Source

Effective Date

2007-43

RECRUITING -- CONTACTS AND EVALUATIONS -- FOOTBALL EVALUATIONS -- SPRING EVALUATION PERIOD -- SCHOLASTIC EVALUATIONS ONLY

In football, to specify that evaluations conducted during the spring evaluation period shall be limited to regularly scheduled high school, preparatory school and two-year college contests, tournaments and practices, and regular scholastic activities conducted under the supervision of a high school, preparatory school or two-year college coach.

This pro