NCAA DIVISION III
INTERPRETATIONS AND LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
I. ACTION ITEMS.
a. Interpretations -- 2002 NCAA Convention Proposal Nos. 40-44 (Amateurism).
(1) Recommendations. Approve the following interpretations related to 2002 Con-vention Proposal Nos. 40-44:
Fulfillment of an Academic Year in Residence. In order to fulfill the academic year in residence requirement specified in 2002 Convention Proposal No. 40, the requirements of NCAA Bylaw 14.5.1.2 (Determination of Year in Residence) must be satisfied, and the student-athlete must not engage in inter-collegiate competition. The year in residence may be fulfilled at any one colle-giate institution.
Repeat Year in High School. If an individual must repeat a year of high school for legitimate reasons, for purposes of 2002 Convention Proposal No. 40, the individual?s expected date of high school graduation will be extended. Accordingly, an individual who legitimately is repeating a year in high school will not be subject to the requirements of Proposal No. 40 while still enrolled full-time in high school.
Definition of Actual and Necessary Expenses. For the purposes of 2002 Convention Proposal No. 40, actual and necessary expenses shall be defined as any of the following:
(a) Meals directly tied to competition;
(b) Lodging directly tied to competition;
(c) Apparel, equipment, and/or supplies;
(d) Coaching and/or instruction;
(e) Health/medical insurance;
(f) Transportation (i.e., expenses to and from practice and competition, cost of transportation from home to training/practice site to home at the end of season);
(g) Medical treatment and/or physical therapy;
(h) Facility usage; and
(i) Entry fees.
Termination of Contract. For purposes of 2002 Convention Proposal No. 43, if an individual signs a contractual agreement to play professional ath-letics in a particular sport prior to initial full-time collegiate enrollment, all rela-tionships with the professional team and all terms of the contractual agreement must be severed by the time of the individual?s initial full-time collegiate en-rollment. An individual may not remain under contract with a professional team in a particular sport while enrolled at a Division III institution and still remain eligible for intercollegiate competition in that sport.
Academic Year-in-Residence Requirement is Sport-Specific. The provisions of 2002 Convention Proposal No. 40 are sport-specific. Consequently, an individual who is required to serve an academic year in residence in a particular sport due to participation in any activities specified in Bylaw 14.2.4.3.2 would be eligible to compete in other intercollegiate sports without serving the resi-dency requirement.
(2) Rationale. The Ama-teurism Task Form, at the request of the Management Council, discussed the issues and recommended that the committee issue official interpreta-tions based on the intent of the amateurism legislation that was adopted at the 2002 NCAA Convention (Proposal Nos. 40-44).
(3) Budget Impact. None.
b. Interpretation -- 2002 NCAA Convention Proposal No. 54 (Playing and Practice Seasons -- Football -- Nontraditional Segment).
(1) Recommendation. Approve the following interpretation related to 2002 Conven-tion Proposal No. 54:
Running
Pass Patterns/Drills During Football Strength and Conditioning Training Sessions. As part of the five consecutive weeks during
the nontraditional seg-ment in which conditioning and strength training
sessions may be conducted in football in accordance with 2002 Convention
Proposal No. 54, it is per-missible for a student-athlete in the sport of
football to run pass patterns/drills, provided no equipment is used. This prohibition against the use of equipment
includes the use of footballs.
(2) Rationale. The committee issued this interpretation to clarify activity that is per-missible under 2002 Convention Proposal No. 54. Staff raised this issue as one in which the membership might need guidance.
(3) Budget Impact. None.
c. Editorial Revision -- Bylaw 17.26.4 (End of Regular Season Indoor/ Out-door Track and Field).
(1) Recommendation. Editorially revise Bylaw 17.26.4 to clarify that the indoor and outdoor track seasons must conclude with their respective NCAA Champi-onships. [Attachment A, No. 1]
(2) Rationale. The committee reviewed a question from the membership regarding the end of the playing season for indoor and outdoor track. Specifically, the in-stitution asked whether or not the indoor track season ends with the NCAA In-door Track Championship or continues for the full 26 weeks. This revision will clarify this issue for the membership.
(3) Budget Impact. None.
d. Editorial Revisions -- Bylaws 14.02.7, 14.2.4.1, 14.2.4.3, and 14.7.4.1.
(1) Recommendation. Editorially revise Bylaws 14.02.7, 14.2.4.1, 14.2.4.3, and 14.7.4.1 to clarify the current legislation in Bylaw 14 relating to seasons of competition, organized competition and outside competition. [Attachment A, No. 2]
(2) Rationale. These revisions will clarify legislation regarding seasons of competi-tion, organized competition, and outside competition. The purpose of these changes is to better organize the legislation, so that it is more understandable for the membership.
(3) Budget Impact. None.
e. Editorial Revisions -- Bylaw 14.5.5.1 and 14.5.5.2.1 (Four-Year College Transfers).
(1) Recommendation. Editorially revise Bylaws 14.5.5.1 and 14.5.5.2.1 to clarify current four-year college transfer regulations. [Attachment A, No. 3]
(2) Rationale. Many in the membership have expressed concern that the language in current transfer legislation is confusing since it does not clearly state the ap-plicable Division III transfer exception. These revisions will clarify the legisla-tion, so that it is easier to understand and apply.
(3) Budget Impact. None.
f. Editorial Revisions -- Bylaws 13.02.2.1 (Permissible Recruitment Activi-ties for Student-Athletes) and 13.1.3. (Telephone Calls to Prospects).
(1)
Recommendation.
Editorially revise Bylaws 13.02.2.1 and 13.1.3 to clarify permissible
recruitment activities regarding telephone calls in which enrolled
student-athletes may engage. [Attachment A,
No. 4]
(2)
Rationale. This
revision will clarify that enrolled Division III student-athletes are permitted
to make recruiting calls to prospective student-athletes with the knowledge of
the athletics department and as participants of institutional admis-sions
programs in which the general student body is permitted to telephone prospects.
(3)
Budget Impact.
None.
g. Bylaws 14.02.3 (Collegiate Institution) and 14.2.3.2 (Nonrecognized College).
(1) Recommendation. Sponsor noncontroversial legislation to amend Bylaws 14.02.3 and 14.2.3.2 to clarify the definition of a collegiate institution and a nonrecognized college. [Attachment A, No. 5]
(2) Rationale. The multidivisional bylaws defining a ?collegiate institution? for purposes of NCAA legislation are outdated. The terminology in the affected bylaws is based upon a classification system that the United States Department of Educa-tion no longer uses. Accordingly, it is no longer possible to apply the legisla-tion as it is written. Based on recommendations from staff, the committee supports amending Bylaws 14.02.3 and 14.2.3.2.
(3) Budget Impact. None.
h. Definition
of ?Contact.?
(1) Recommendation. Sponsor legislation for the 2003 Convention to define the term ?contact? for Division III institutions. [Attachment A, No. 6]
(2) Rationale. NCAA Bylaw 13.1 (Contacts and Evaluations) indicates that ?[r]ecruiting contacts with a prospect (or the prospect?s relatives or legal guardians) by institutional staff members and/or representatives of the institu-tion?s athletics interests are subject to the provisions set forth in this bylaw.? However, the term ?contact? was never defined within Division III legislation. The definition of contact, as used in Divisions I and II, was adopted in 1980. At that time, Division III institutions did not consider the proposal, since it was specific to Divisions I and II only. Revisions to the definition came in 1994 and were only considered by Divisions I and II. Since then, no comparable legisla-tion has been proposed for Division III institutions. Since it appears to be a mere oversight that this legislation was never considered in Division III, the committee believes that Division III should adopt the same definition of contact that is currently used in Divisions I and II.
(3) Budget Impact. None.
i. Editorial Revision ? NCAA Bylaw 13.12.2.1 (Preseason Practice and Competition).
(1) Recommendation. Editorially revise Bylaw 13.12.2.1 to delete language that is not applicable to Division III. [Attachment A, No. 7]
(2) Rationale. This bylaw was adopted several years ago in all three divisions. However, the bylaw contains language that is not applicable in Division III. The recom-mended change is to delete the phrase ?provided such practice is not used to determine whether aid is to be awarded.? This is consistent with the commit-tee?s previous and ongoing efforts to delete language that is not applicable to Division III, thus creating a ?true? Division III Manual.
(3) Budget Impact. None.
2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
a. Bylaw 12 Deregulation. The committee agreed to defer its review of Bylaw 12 until it receives recommendations from the Amateurism Task Force.
b. Discussion of
Possible Changes to Current Legislative Cycle. In light of the present work of
the NCAA Presidents Council/Management Council Joint Subcommittee on the Future
of Division III as well as the implementation of the new LSDBi, the committee
agreed to defer any further discussion re-garding possible changes to the
Division III legislative cycle.
c. April Approval of Non-Convention Legislative Drafts. It has
been past practice to incorporate non-Convention legislation that is approved
in legislative form during the January Council meetings into the Manual
published that following August. The
committee was informed that technological advances may enable non-Convention
legislation that is approved in legislative form during the April Council
meetings to also be included in the Manual published that following
August. To the extent that technology
would permit this, the committee supports including legislation approved in
April in the subsequent edition of the Manual.
d. Incorporated Interpretations. The committee agreed to incorporate the following three interpretations into the 2002-03 Manual. [Attachment B].
(a) June 19, 2001. Division III Sports that Conclude with a National Collegiate Championship.
(b) August 5, 2001. Dietary Supplements.
(c) December 28, 2001. Final Semester/Quarter Exception -- Graduate Student.
Staff liaisons: Mweni Ekpo, Bo Kerin, Membership Services
The National Collegiate Athletic Association
June 28, 2002 MUE:lmh