REPORT OF THE
NCAA DIVISION III
INTERPRETATIONS AND
LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
ACTION ITEM.
1.
Legislative Action Items.
·
Interpretation of Required Day Off Not Mandatory During Vacation Period.
a.
Recommendation. Approve and incorporate the
following official interpretation:
Required Day Off Not Mandatory During Vacation Period.
An institution is not required to provide student-athletes with one day off per week during a vacation period, provided classes are not in session during any portion of that week. [References: NCAA Bylaws 17.1.5.3.5 (vacation periods and between terms) and 17.1.5.4.3 (vacation period) and a staff interpretation (reference: 12/18/92, item a)]
b.
Effective Date. Immediate.
c.
Rationale. The
issue of required days off is nationally significant and should be clearly
described in the NCAA Division III Manual.
This standard had been established in a staff interpretation.
d.
Budget Impact. None.
e. Student-Athlete Impact. None.
2. Nonlegislative
Items.
·
None.
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS.
1.
Review
Membership-Sponsored Legislation.
a. 2007 Convention Division III Proposal No. 1- 2 – ELIGIBILITY -- CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING SEASON OF PARTICIPATION -- MINIMUM AMOUNT OF PARTICIPATION -- NONTRADITIONAL SEGMENT. The NCAA Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee supported this proposal because it provides equity amongst sports in terms of how the season-of-participation standard impacts student-athletes between fall and spring sports with respect to the amount of practice time that a student-athlete may engage in prior to being charged with a season of participation.
b.
2007 NCAA Convention Division III Proposal
No. 1-3 – ELIGIBILITY -- SEASONS OF PARTICIPATION -- PARTICIPATION AT ANY
COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION. The
committee opposed this proposal because of student-athlete well-being
considerations including fair notice about the Division III standard to
student-athletes who redshirt at non-Division III institutions and do not
realize they are triggering use of a season of participation. The committee also noted the potential
bureaucracy and guesswork involved with confirming a student-athlete’s
use of a season of participation at a non-Division III institution that does
not use the season-of-participation standard.
2.
Financial
Aid Education Column.
The
committee published an education column regarding financial aid packaging
scenarios. The committee supported
future clarification of leadership activities of an athletics team captain
within the context of financial aid packaging. The committee noted that thorough
membership education and discussion of this topic should precede any
recommendation to change this interpretative or related legislation.