REPORT OF THE
NCAA
DIVISION III INTERPRETATIONS AND LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
1. ACTION
ITEM.
·
Interpretation –
2004 NCAA Convention Proposal No. 69 – Annual Exemptions –
Independents Championship.
a. Recommendation. Approve the following official interpretation.
Application
of the Independents Championship Exemption. (III) An institution that is a member of a
multisport conference that does not sponsor a particular sport and is not a
member of any other conference for that sport may use the independents
championship exemption in that sport.
[References: 2004 NCAA
Convention Proposal No. 69 (annual exemptions – independents
championship) and NCAA Bylaw 17.__.5.3 (annual exemptions)]
b.
Rationale.
In February, based on the
intent of Proposal No. 69, the committee recommended a modification of
wording that would allow institutions that are not members of a
conference for a particular sport to use the independents championship
exemption in that sport. At its April meeting, the NCAA Division
III Management Council asked the committee to review the Convention
proceedings and seek feedback from the sponsors on this issue. During its September telephone conference,
the committee reviewed the Convention proceedings related to the proposal and
additional information submitted by the sponsors and agreed that an official
interpretation would be appropriate.
The committee agreed that the intent of the proposal was to give
student-athletes in sports with no conference affiliation an opportunity to
engage in competition similar to a conference tournament or championship. The rationale of the proposal states
that student-athletes should not be precluded from such competitive
opportunities. The Convention
proceedings related to Proposal No. 69 support the interpretation. The NCAA staff provided this same interpretation
at the time of the discussion on the Convention floor and the sponsors did not
express opposition at that time.
The opposition to this position has only been expressed since the
original modification was suggested.
The committee noted that this interpretation does not adversely impact
completely independent institutions.
It simply provides the same opportunity for the affected
student-athletes to participate in a postseason event, which is similar to a
conference tournament or championship.
Based on all
the information reviewed, the committee
agreed that if an institution belongs to a multisport conference that does not
sponsor a particular sport (and is not a member of any other conference for
that sport), the institution may use the independents championship exemption in
that sport.
c.
Budget Impact. None.