MINUTES OF THE

 

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

 

DIVISION III INTERPRETATIONS AND LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

 

 

Teleconference                                                                                                        November 3, 2003

 

 

Participants:

 

Victoria Chun, New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association

Brad Coffey, Amherst College

Travis Feezell, Whitman College

Timothy Gleason, Ohio Athletic Conference

Gary Karner, Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Garnett Purnell, Wittenburg University, chair

Sandra L. Slabik, Neumann College

Charlie Wilson, Olivet College

Bo Kerin, NCAA, recording secretary

Leah Nilsson, NCAA

 

 

[Note:  These minutes contain only actions taken (formal votes or stated "sense of the meeting") in accordance with NCAA policy regarding minutes of all Association entities.  While certain items on the committee's agenda were acted on at various times throughout the teleconference meeting, all final actions within a given topic are combined in these minutes for convenience of reference.]

 

 

The NCAA Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee telephone conference was called to order at 3 p.m. Eastern time. 

 

 

1.      Review of Previous Minutes.

 

It was VOTED

 

"That the October 6 teleconference minutes be approved."

 

 

2.      Interpretive Issue -- NCAA Bylaws 14.1.8.1.2 -- Drop/Add Course and 14.1.8.2 -- Requirement for Competition.  The committee reviewed NCAA Bylaws 14.1.8.1.2 and 14.1.8.2 and considered whether a student-athlete would remain eligible for competition in the event he/she drops or withdraws below 12 credit hours, even if the institution considers


the student-athlete to be enrolled in a full-time program of studies and enrolled in 12 credit hours for the academic term.  Further, the committee considered whether the issue presented is one of a national significance or whether to modify the legislation to reflect a determination.  The committee expressed concern that student-athletes who drop or withdraw from a course are not actually taking the course and should be attending 12 credit hours of coursework; however, some members felt that the principle of institutional autonomy permits the student-athlete to remain eligible provided the institution considers the student-athlete to be enrolled in 12 credit hours.  The committee agreed that the issue was not one of national significance; however, agreed to advise the institution that the student-athlete must be actively enrolled in 12 hours of degree credit in order to be eligible for competition.  [5-3]

 

 

3.      Noncontroversial Proposal -- Recruiting -- Sports Camps and Clinics -- Employment of Prospects.  The committee reviewed 2004 NCAA Convention noncontroversial proposal regarding the employment of prospective student-athletes in institutional camps and clinics after the prospect's high school graduation and paid acceptance of an offer of admission and/or financial aid.  Specifically, the committee considered whether the prospect is permitted to work an institution’s camp or clinic other than at the institution at which the prospect signed a paid acceptance of an offer of admission and/or financial aid.  The committee agreed that the intent of the legislation was to permit the prospect to be employed at the institution at which he or she will attend rather than any other member institution.

 

 

4.      Bylaw 17.02.1.1 -- Athletically Related Activities.  The committee reviewed Bylaw 17.02.1.1 and considered whether to add the observations of any pick-up games or informal activity related to a sport to the list of countable athletically related activities in Bylaw 17.  Members of the committee expressed concern that such activities are not specifically precluded and institutional coaching staff members are not clear on whether this activity is a countable athletically related activity and the issue should be clarified.  The committee agreed to make the  July 2, 1993, staff interpretation concerning observation of pick up games official, and to incorporate the official interpretation.

 

         It was VOTED

 

         "To make official and incorporate the July 2, 1993, staff interpretation."

 

"College coach observing student-athletes and prospects in competition (e.g., pick-up games, summer leagues) outside the playing season:  Outside of an institution's declared


playing season, an institution's coaching staff member in a team sport may not observe enrolled student-athletes in nonorganized sport-specific activities (e.g., "pick-up" basketball games), inasmuch as such activity is considered a nonpermissible, out-of-season, countable athletically related activity.  The staff noted that a coach's observation of enrolled student-athletes in organized competition (e.g., summer basketball league) is not considered a countable athletically related activity, provided the coach does not direct or supervise the organized activity.  It was further noted that this same concept is applicable to individual sports, except in situations where NCAA legislation permits a coach to interact directly with student-athletes.  [Finally, if prospects also are participating in the competition, the institution's coaching staff member may observe such competition only if it occurs during a permissible contact or evaluation period.]  [This clarifies the 07/22/88 staff minutes, Item No. 1-(c), which has now been archived.] [References: 17.02.1.1-(h) (countable athletically related activities); 17.3.2.1.2.-(f) (prohibited activities), and 07/22/88 staff minutes, Item No. 1-(e)]"

 

 

5.      Future Meetings and Teleconferences.

 

a.             December 3; via teleconference, noon.

 

b.            February 5-6, 2004; site to be determined in New Orleans, Louisiana.

 

 

6.      Adjournment.  The group adjourned at 4 p.m.

 

 

 

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