MINUTES OF THE

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

DIVISION III INTERPRETATIONS AND LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

Teleconference August 6, 2003

Participants:

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

Travis Feezell, Whitman College

Gary Karner, Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Garnett Purnell, Wittenburg University, chair

Sandra L. Slabik, Neumann College

Charlie Wilson, Olivet College

Leah Nilsson, NCAA, recording secretary

Timothy Gleason, Ohio Athletic Conference; and Julie Katz, Vassar College, were unable to participate.

[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 telephone conference was called to order at 11 a.m. Central time. All members were present as noted above.

1. Announcements. Garnett Purnell updated the committee on the expiration of Travis Feezell's term, which is January 2004, and that Sandra Slabik will assume the duties of chair of the NCAA Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee at the 2004 NCAA Convention. Also, Mr. Purnell discussed the educational column that will be written about good academic standing.

2. Review of Minutes of the June 23-24 In-Person Meeting.

It was VOTED

"That the June 23-24 teleconference minutes be approved as amended."

3. Preseason Practice Opportunities and Counting back from September 1. The committee reviewed NCAA Division III Bylaw 17.10.2-(a) and the NCAA Division III Management Council waiver to the counting method which allows in 2003-04 only for institutions to count back from the first permissible contest date even when the competition occurs August 29-31, 2003. The committee recommends that the NCAA Division III Management Council Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee consider noncontroversial legislation to permit institutions to count back from the first scheduled intercollegiate contest, even when that contest occurs prior to September first. The committee discussed the philosophy of the counting system and that 16 practices are an appropriate amount of practices to prepare student-athletes for competition. In addition, the committee noted that the difference between the two counting methods is a maximum of three days, which the committee determined to be an insignificant amount in terms of the length of a student-athlete's summer vacation. Finally, the committee noted that this is permissive legislation, and that institutions have the autonomy to select a later start date for fall practice.

4. Editorial Revision -- Bylaw 13.13.4 Privately Owned Camp. The committee reviewed Bylaws 13.13.4 and 13.13.4.1 and examined the language used in those bylaws. The committee agreed to revise Bylaw 13.13.4, to replace the title of "Privately Owned Camp" with the title "Noninstitutional Camp" to be consistent with the use of the term in other NCAA regulations and documents. Further, the committee agreed that a change should be made to the reference to an athletics award winner in this bylaw. The committee requested that staff examine the legislative implications of removing Bylaw 13.13.4, and that the issue be addressed on the September conference call.

5. Future Meetings and Teleconferences.

a. September 3, 2003; via teleconference noon. Eastern time.

b. October 6, 2003; via teleconference noon Eastern time.

c. February 5-6, 2004; W New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana.

6. Adjournment. The group adjourned at noon.

# # # # #