NO.: 2015-7 (NO. 2-2) RECRUITING – CONTACTS AND EVALUATIONS – CONTACTABLE PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES – CONTACT AFTER COMPLETION OF SOPHOMORE YEAR
Intent: To allow in-person, off-campus contacts to be made with a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives or guardian(s) after the prospective student-athlete has completed the sophomore year in high school.
Bylaws: Amend 13.1.1.1, as follows:
13.1.1.1 High School Prospective Student-Athletes. In-person, off-campus recruiting contacts shall not be made with a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives or guardian(s) until the prospective student-athlete has completed his or her sophomore year in high school. U.S. service academy exceptions to this provision are set forth in Bylaw 13.16.1.
13.1.1.1.1 Contact by Coach Employed in Admissions Office. It is permissible for a coach who is employed in the admissions office of the institution to be involved in off-campus admissions programs directed at prospective students in general, provided contact made with a prospective student-athlete before the completion of his or her sophomore year in high school is not for the purpose of athletics recruitment (e.g., athletics recruiting presentation).
Effective Date: Effective for prospective student-athletes who complete their sophomore year in high school during the 2014-15 academic year or later.
Question No. 1: Could the permissible date to have in-person, off-campus contacts vary by prospective student-athlete?
Answer: Yes. The completion of the sophomore year is based on the individual prospective student-athlete’s high school academic calendar.
Question No. 2: May an institution contact a prospective student-athlete during the summer after the completion of the sophomore year in high school?
Answer: Yes.
Question No. 3: Does the timing of when a prospective student-athlete may be contacted extend to his or her relatives, guardian(s) or individual of comparable relationship?
Answer: Yes. The proposal does not change the current rule which states that if it is not permissible to contact a prospective student-athlete off campus then it is not permissible to contact that prospective student-athlete’s parents off campus either.
Question No. 4: If this proposal is adopted, would an institution be permitted to immediately have in-person, off-campus contact with prospective student-athletes that are in their junior year of high school?
Answer: No. Upon passage of the proposal, institutions could not have contact with sophomores or juniors until the summer following the completion of the 2014-15 academic year.
NO.: 2015-8 (NO. 2-5) RECRUITING – ATHLETICS CELEBRATORY STANDARDIZED SIGNING FORM
Intent: To specify that an institution may use a standard NCAA provided, nonbinding athletics celebratory signing form after a prospective student-athlete has been accepted to the institution.
Bylaws: Amend 13.9.1, as follows:
13.9.1 Letter-of-Intent Prohibition. An institution shall not use any form of a letter of intent or similar form of commitment in the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete. However, it shall be permissible for the institution to use in the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete its pre-enrollment forms executed by prospective students in general at that institution. [D]
13.9.1.1 Exception – Nonbinding Athletics Celebratory Form. An institution may use a standard, nonbinding athletics celebratory signing form after a prospective student-athlete has been accepted for enrollment to the institution. The standard form shall be made available by the NCAA national office.
Effective Date: August 1, 2015
Question No. 1: May the nonbinding athletics celebratory signing form be placed on institutional letterhead?
Answer: Yes.
Question No. 2: May the nonbinding athletics celebratory signing form be customized by individual institutions?
Answer: No. Institutions would be precluded from altering the content of the nonbinding athletics celebratory signing form, although it could put the form on institutional letterhead or attach an institutional logo of some form.
Question No. 3: Must the nonbinding athletics celebratory signing form be submitted to the NCAA after signing?
Answer: No.
Question No. 4: May institutional coaches be present during signing?
Answer: No. Coaches could not be in attendance during a signing, regardless of whether media is present.
Question No. 5: Is there a limit on the number of nonbinding athletics celebratory signing forms a prospective student-athlete may sign?
Answer: No.
Question No. 6: May the institution donate or loan institutional apparel (e.g., shirt or hat) for the prospective student-athlete to wear during signing?
Answer: No. This proposal would not change the application of the offers and inducements legislation. As such, the institution would be precluded from providing any apparel or equipment items to a prospective student-athlete, unless the same benefit is generally provided to all prospective students.
Question No. 7: Must a prospective student-athlete make a financial deposit before signing the nonbinding athletics celebratory signing form?
Answer: No. The prospective student-athlete must only have been accepted to the institution to be eligible to sign the nonbinding athletics celebratory form.
Question No. 8: Can the prospective student-athlete sign both the nonbinding athletics celebratory signing form and the institutional admissions form available to all students?
Answer: Yes. This proposal does not increase restrictions on prospective student-athletes. As such, prospective student-athletes would still be permitted to sign any pre-enrollment forms provided to prospective students in general at that institution.
Question No. 9: If a prospective student-athlete signs the nonbinding athletics celebratory signing form, is the institution obligated to include the prospective student-athlete on the roster in that sport?
Answer: No.
Question No. 10: Is there a limitation on how the celebratory signing form may be delivered (e.g., personally delivered)?
Answer: No.
Question No. 11: Is an institution required to use the nonbinding athletics celebratory signing form?
Answer: No. Institutions may use their discretion in determining whether to use the celebratory signing form. Other forms, however, will not be permitted.
NO.: 2015-9-1 RECRUITING – CONTACTS AND EVALUATIONS – CONTACT RESTRICTIONS AT SPECIFIED SITES – CONTACT AT THE COMPETITION SITE ON EACH DAY OF COMPETITION
Intent: To permit institutional coaching staff members to have contact with a prospective student-athlete of contactable age on a day of competition after the competition, provided the prospective student-athlete has completed competition for the day and is considered released or not on-call by the appropriate authorities (e.g., team coach).
Bylaws: Amend 13.1.4.2, as follows:
13.1.4.2 Practice and Competition Site. Recruiting contact may not be made with a prospective student-athlete before any athletics competition in which the prospective student-athlete is a participant on that day of competition until the prospective student-athlete is released for that day by the appropriate institutional authority (e.g., prospective student-athlete’s coach or comparable authority) even if the prospective student-athlete is on an official or unofficial visit. Such contact includes any communication (e.g., face-to-face, telephone call or electronic transmission) with a prospective student-athlete at the site of organized competition involving the prospective student-athlete by athletics personnel who are attending the competition or who are aware of the competition. [D]
13.1.4.2.1 Contact with Prospective Student-Athlete’s Relatives or Guardians at Practice or Competition Site. Recruiting contact may be made with the relatives, guardian(s) or individual of a comparable relationship of a contactable prospective student-athlete (see Bylaw 13.1.1) at the site of the prospective student-athlete’s practice or competition, including during the conduct of a competition.
Effective: Immediately
Question No. 2: If the prospective student-athlete has an end-of-day meeting, would contact have to occur after that meeting?
Answer: The amendment is specific to competition. Therefore, as long as the prospective student-athlete has been released and all competition is completed, a coach could contact the prospective student-athlete, even if there is an end-of-day meeting.
Question No. 3: Would this amendment allow a coach to have in person contact with a prospective student-athlete on the day of a contest prior to the prospective student-athlete reporting on call for that contest?
Answer: No.
NO.: 2015-10 (NO. 2-4) RECRUITING – OFFICIAL VISIT – FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT– JANUARY 1ST OF JUNIOR YEAR
Intent: To specify that a prospective student-athlete may be provided an official visit as of January 1st of the prospective student-athlete’s junior year in high school.
Bylaws: Amend 13.6.1.1.1, as follows:
13.6.1.1.1 First Opportunity to Visit. A prospective student-athlete may not be provided an official visit earlier than January 1 of the prospective student-athlete’s junior year in high school.
Effective Date: August 1, 2015
Question No. 1: How will allowing earlier official visits impact students on a nontraditional high school academic calendar?
Answer: The proposal does not change the current analysis that the determination of the prospective student-athlete’s junior year is based on the individual prospective student-athlete’s high school academic calendar.
Question No. 2: Does this proposal change the number of official visits that a given prospective student-athlete is permitted?
Answer: No. Division III institutions will still only be allowed to finance one visit per prospective student-athlete.
NO.: 2015-13 (NO. 2-11) PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS – SOCCER AND WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL – PRESEASON JOINT PRACTICE, SCRIMMAGE OR EXHIBITION – EXEMPTION FROM MAXIMUM CONTEST AND DATE OF COMPETITION LIMITATIONS
Intent: To allow soccer and women’s volleyball to conduct an exempted pre-season joint practice, scrimmage, or exhibition with outside competition conducted during the pre-season period prior to their first permissible date of competition or contest.
- Bylaws: Amend 17.19, as follows:
17.19 Soccer. [17.19.1 through 17.19.2 unchanged.]
17.19.3 – First Contest or Date of Competition. (See Bylaw 17.1.1.3.1.1, except during the traditional segment):
(a) An institution may play up to three soccer scrimmages or exhibition games (which shall not count toward the institution’s win-loss record) before the first scheduled contest, provided the scrimmages or exhibition games are conducted during the institution’s declared playing season per Bylaw 17.19.1, of which one may be exempted from the maximum number of contests (See 17.19.5.3.1).
(b) An institution may conduct an unlimited number of exhibitions or scrimmages on one date during the preseason practice period, which shall count as one of three scrimmages or exhibition games detailed in (a).
17.19.5.3.1 Sport-Specific Exemptions. One preseason joint practice (may include competition), scrimmage or exhibition conducted during the preseason practice period per Bylaw 17.19.3.
- Bylaws: Amend 17.25, as follows:
17.25 Volleyball. [17.25.1 through 17.25.2 unchanged.]
17.25.3 First Date of Competition.
(a) Men. (See Bylaw 17.1.1.3.3.1)
(b) Women. (See Bylaw 17.1.1.3.1.1, except in the traditional segment an institution may conduct an unlimited number of exhibitions or scrimmages on one date during the preseason practice period, which may be exempted from the maximum dates of competition limitation per Bylaw 17.25.5.3.1.)
17.25.5.3 Exemptions. (See Standard Exemptions set forth in Bylaw 17.1.4.5.)
17.25.5.3.1 Sport-Specific Exemptions – Women’s Volleyball. An unlimited number of preseason joint practices (may include competition), scrimmages or exhibitions conducted on one date during the preseason practice period per Bylaw 17.25.3(b).
Effective Date: August 1, 2015
Question: In the sport of soccer, could an institution exempt the one date on which an institution may conduct an unlimited number of exhibitions or scrimmages prior to the first permissible contest date?
Answer: This proposal allows an institution to exempt one joint practice, scrimmage or exhibition. As such, if an institution chooses to conduct an unlimited number of exhibitions or scrimmages on a single date prior to the first permissible contest date, the institution may only exempt one of those scrimmages from the maximum contest limitations.
NO.: 2015-14 (NO. 2-15) EXECUTIVE REGULATIONS – INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – IMPACT OF AN INELIGIBLE STUDENTATHLETE – NULLIFICATION
Intent: To specify that if a student-athlete has participated while ineligible during regular-season competition, the Championships Committee may impose a nullification penalty on the institution and that the institution may be denied the right to participate in the applicable NCAA championship. Further, to lower the minimum allowable fine for a secondary violation from $500 to no minimum.
- Bylaws: Amend 19.5.1, as follows:
19.5.1 Penalties for Secondary Violations. The vice president of enforcement, on approval by the chair or another member of the Committee on Infractions designated by the chair, or the committee may determine that no penalty is warranted in a secondary case, that an institutional- or conference-determined penalty is satisfactory or, if appropriate, prescribe a penalty. Among the disciplinary measures are: [19.5.1-(a) through (c) unchanged.]
(d) An institutional fine for each violation, with a monetary penalty of up to $5,000;
[19.5.1-(e) through 19.5.1-(h) unchanged.]
- Administrative: Amend 31.02, as follows:
31.02 Definitions and Applications.
[31.02.1 through 31.02.3 unchanged.]
31.02.4 Nullification. Nullification is a penalty imposed on an institution by the Championships Committee for permitting an ineligible student-athlete to participate in intercollegiate competition.
- Administrative: Amend 31.2.1.5, as follows:
31.2.1.5 Eligibility of Participants. An institution shall advise the NCAA championships staff if a student-athlete who has participated in regular-season competition becomes ineligible before the date on which the governing sports committee selects championship participants, as indicated in the appropriate pre-championships manual.
31.2.1.5.1 Ineligible Participant Reported Prior to Selection. For instances in which a student-athlete has participated while ineligible during regular-season competition, the Championships Committee may impose a nullification penalty on the institution. An institution that receives a nullification penalty may be denied the right to participate in the applicable NCAA championship.
[31.2.1.5.1 through 31.2.1.5.3 renumbered as 31.2.1.5.2 through 31.2.1.5.4, unchanged.]
- Administrative: Amend 31.3.3.1, as follows:
31.3.3.1 Requirements – Division Championship. To be eligible for automatic qualification in a division championship, a member conference shall meet the following general requirements: [31.3.3.1-(a) through 31.3.3.1-(h) unchanged.]
(i) Impact of Nullification on Automatic Qualification for Use of an Ineligible Student-Athlete. The Championships Committee may impose a penalty on an institution’s team for permitting an ineligible student-athlete to participate in intercollegiate competition. An institution that receives a nullification penalty may be denied the right to participate in the applicable NCAA championship.
Effective Date: August 1, 2015
Question No. 1: What is “nullification?”
Answer: Nullification is a championship penalty for teams that have competed with an ineligible student-athlete(s). The penalty applies only to those institutions that competed while represented by an ineligible student-athlete. The penalty will impact an institution’s winning percentage and strength of schedule thereby affecting the institution’s consideration for championships.
Question No. 2: Would the nullification policy result in an institution being rendered ineligible for championship participation?
Answer: No. An institution isn’t declared ineligible for championship participation as a result of applying the nullification policy. By applying the policy, an institution’s strength of schedule and win-loss percentage may be impacted to such a degree that consideration for the championship is no longer viable.
Question No. 3: When is a contest nullified?
Answer: A contest is nullified when a student-athlete competes in a contest while ineligible. In team sports, nullification is assessed in the selection process. In individual and/or individual/team sports, the individual’s performance is void; thus, if the student-athlete was ineligible while achieving a qualifying standard, that standard does not count toward qualifying for championship competition. Likewise, in an individual/team sport such as golf (play five count four), the ineligible student-athlete’s score would be voided and the remaining student-athletes’ scores would be counted.
Question No. 4: How is the nullification value calculated?
Answer: The nullification value represents the average value necessary to move the institution down one spot if teams were to be ranked according to the selection criterion (i.e., either won-lost percentage or strength of schedule). The calculation takes the difference between the highest value and the lowest value and then divides the difference by the number of teams in the data set. The values are determined on a sport-by-sport basis and are derived from the prior year’s score reporting data. The value for the won-lost percentage and the strength of schedule may be different.
Question No. 5: What does it mean to my institution if one or more of our contests are nullified?
Answer: Nullification will be assessed to each contest (win, lose or tie) in which an ineligible player participated. For each contest nullified, a team will receive a deduction to the won-lost record and the strength of schedule. If the proposal is adopted, the nullification value will be determined for each sport. The value will differ by sport. As an example: At the end of the season, your won/lost percentage = .750 and your strength of schedule = .670 and your team played five games with an ineligible player (nullification value = .050). The nullification penalty: (5 x .050) = .250. Your new won/lost percent: (.750-.250) = .500. Your strength of schedule: (.670 -.250) = .420. The .500 won/lost and .420 SOS are your statistics used for selection purposes.
Question No. 6: Who decides if the contest is nullified?
Answer: The institution, in conjunction with the NCAA academic and membership affairs staff, determines that the student-athlete is ineligible and the contest(s) he or she participated in during the time the student-athlete was ineligible. The institution must report the contests impacted by the use of an ineligible student-athlete to enforcement and or student-athlete reinstatement and the NCAA director of enforcement for secondary infractions and/or the director of student-athlete reinstatement notifies the championships staff. Upon this notification, championship staff would apply nullification.
Question No. 7: If my institution did not know the circumstances that deemed the student-athlete
ineligible and there was absolutely no way they should have known, will my institution’s contests still be nullified?
Answer: Yes. Regardless of knowledge of the violation, the player still competed while ineligible; therefore, nullification must be assessed.
Question No. 8: If my opponent plays with an ineligible player, what does that do to my statistics?
Answer: Your statistical information remains unchanged. The only changes are made to the team with nullification(s).
Question No. 9: If an institution lost a contest to an institution that used an ineligible student-athlete, can that institution classify that contest as a victory for championship selection purposes?
Answer: No. Nullification only impacts the team that competed with the ineligible student-athlete by applying a numerical impact to the championship selection criteria for that institution.
Question No. 10: Can nullification carry over from one year to the next?
Answer: No.
Question No. 11: Does this proposal impact the way Division III conferences handle an institution who has competed with an ineligible student-athlete?
Answer: No. Division III conferences may continue to follow their conference policies and procedures for institutions that have competed with an ineligible student-athlete.
Question No. 12: Does nullification affect automatic qualification?
Answer: No.
Question No. 13: Would this proposal apply to student-athletes who competed while ineligible due to a playing rule (as opposed to being ineligible based on NCAA legislation)?
Answer: No. The nullification penalty would only be imposed when an institution competed with a student-athlete who was ineligible based on NCAA legislation, not the playing rules.
Question No. 14: Is there an appeals process if my institution does not agree with the nullification assessed?
Answer: Yes. All appeals regarding nullifications will be heard by the Division III Championships Committee.
Question No. 15: When will fines be assessed?
Answer: Fines may be issued when a student-athlete has competed while ineligible related to any type of eligibility certification violation (would not include restitution or de minimus violations).
Question No. 16: Who decides if an institution should be fined, and who will assess the fines?
Answer: Fines may be assessed by the NCAA enforcement staff through the regular enforcement process.
Question No. 17: If my institution did not know the circumstances that deemed the student-athlete ineligible and there was absolutely no way they should have known, will my institution still be fined?
Answer: Enforcement will determine if relief from the fine is appropriate.
Question No. 18: Is there an appeals process if my institution does not agree with the fine assessed?
Answer: Yes. All appeals regarding fines will be heard by the NCAA Division III Committee on Infractions.
Question No. 19: Where are fines sent, and how is the money used?
Answer: Fines are collected by the NCAA national office, and the money is used for fundraising initiatives (e.g., Special Olympics).
NO.: 2015-15 (NO. 2-1) ELIGIBILITY – FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT – EXCEPTION FOR A COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
Intent: To allow student-athletes to participate in intercollegiate athletics while participating in cooperative educational work experiences regardless of whether such educational experiences are a required part of the academic programs. (The change is that previously the Co-Op had to be a required part of the program.)
Bylaws: Amend 14.1.8.1.6.6, as follows:
14.1.8.1.6.6 Cooperative Educational Work Experience Program – Practice or Competition. A student may represent the certifying institution in intercollegiate athletics while he or she is enrolled in a cooperative educational program (e.g., co-op, internship, practicum, student-teaching) offered by the institution that is a part of the student’s academic program, provided the student is considered to be enrolled in a full-time program of studies, regardless of the credit value of the program.
Effective Date: August 1, 2015
Question No. 1: What does it mean to be “part of the program?”
Answer: Each individual institution shall be responsible for determining whether a cooperative educational work experience is considered part of the student-athlete’s academic program. This determination shall be based on policies and procedures applicable to all students at the institution.
Question No. 2: Must student-athletes receive credit for the cooperative educational work experience as part of the degree in order to participate?
Answer: No. The student-athlete must be considered enrolled full time by the institution.
Changes highlighted in yellow below were not voted on but were previously official interpretations which wording has been added to the Manual to clarify the Bylaw.
.
- I-2015-1 RECRUITING – OFFICIAL VISIT – ENTERTAINMENT/TICKETS ON OFFICIAL VISIT – STUDENT HOST – CONTRIBUTION OF FUNDS
Bylaws: Amend 13.6.5.5, as follows:
13.6.5.5 Student Host. The institution may provide the following to a student host entertaining a prospective student-athlete:
(a) A maximum of $40 for each day of the visit to cover all actual costs of entertaining the prospective student-athlete (and the prospective student-athlete’s parents, guardian(s), spouse or individual of a comparable relationship) and the student host(s), excluding the cost of meals and admission to campus athletics events. These funds may not be used for the purchase of souvenirs such as T-shirts or other institutional mementos. It is permissible to provide the student host with an additional $20 per day for each additional prospective student-athlete the host entertains. Neither the student host(s) nor the prospective student-athlete may contribute funds toward the cost of the entertainment;
Effective Date: Immediate
- I-2015-3 AWARDS AND BENEFITS – DEFINITION OF CONTACT – CONTACT AT PROSPECTIVE STUDENTATHLETE’S COMPETITION SITE – ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
- Bylaws: Amend 13.02.3, as follows:
13.02.3 Contact. A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives, guardian(s) or individual of a comparable relationship and an institutional athletics department staff member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting. Any such face-to-face encounter that is prearranged (e.g., positions himself/herself in a location where contact is possible) or that takes place on the grounds of the prospective student-athlete’s educational institution or at the site of organized competition or practice involving the prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete’s high school, preparatory school, two year college or all-star team shall be considered a contact, regardless of the conversation that occurs. Any communication (e.g., face-to-face, telephone call or electronic transmission) with a prospective student-athlete at the site of organized competition involving the prospective student-athlete by athletics personnel who are attending the competition or who are aware of the competition also shall be considered a contact.
- Bylaws: Amend 13.1.4.2, as follows:
13.1.4.2 Practice or Competition Site. Recruiting contact may not be made with a prospective student-athlete before any athletics competition in which the prospective student-athlete is a participant during the day or days of competition, even if the prospective student-athlete is on an official or unofficial visit. Such contact includes any communication (e.g., face-to-face, telephone call or electronic transmission) with a prospective student-athlete at the site of organized competition involving the prospective student-athlete by athletics personnel who are attending the competition or who are aware of the competition. Such contact shall be governed by the following: [D]
Effective Date: Immediate
Changes below were not voted on as they were considered noncontroversial legislation and were added by the Management Council. Additions are highlighted in yellow while wording with a strikethrough has been removed.
- NC-2015-5 RECRUITING – OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL VISITS – UNLIMITED COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSIONS
Intent: To specify that an institution may provide, at its discretion, complimentary admissions during an official or unofficial visit to a prospective student-athlete and the individuals accompanying the prospective student-athlete.
- Bylaws: Amend 13.6.5.2, as follows:
13.6.5.2 Complimentary Admissions. During the official visit, complimentary admissions to a home athletics event may be provided to a prospective student-athlete and the prospective student-athlete’s parents, guardian(s), spouse or individual of a comparable relationship individuals accompanying the prospective student-athlete. Providing seating during the conduct of the event (including intermission) for the prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete’s parents, guardian(s), spouse or individual of a comparable relationship in the facility’s press box, special seating box(es) or bench area is specifically prohibited.
- Bylaws: Amend 13.7.2.1, as follows:
13.7.2.1 General Regulations. During an unofficial visit, the institution may not pay any expenses or provide any entertainment except a maximum of three complimentary admissions, to the prospective student-athlete and the individuals accompanying the prospective student-athlete to a home athletics event at any facility in which the institution’s intercollegiate team practices or competes. Additional complimentary admissions may be provided to a prospective student-athlete’s parents, guardian(s), spouse or individual of a comparable relationship accompanying the prospective student-athlete on the visit. Such complimentary admissions are for the exclusive use of the prospective student-athlete and those persons accompanying the prospective student-athlete on the visit and must be issued on an individual-game basis. Seating shall be provided in the general seating area of the facility used for conducting the event. Providing seating during the conduct of the event (including intermission) for the prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete’s parents, guardian(s), spouse or individual of a comparable relationship in the facility’s press box, special seating box(es) or bench area is specifically prohibited.
Effective Date: Immediate
- NC-2015-6 AWARDS AND BENEFITS – TEAM ENTERTAINMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH PRACTICE AND COMPETITITION – DEREGULATING
Intent: To specify that an institution, conference or the NCAA may provide reasonable entertainment (but may not provide cash for such entertainment) to student-athletes in conjunction with practice or competition.
Bylaws: Amend 16.7.1, as follows:
16.7.1 Away-from-Home Contests and Vacation Periods. The institution may pay the actual costs (but may not provide cash) for reasonable entertainment that takes place within a 100-mile radius of where a team plays or practices in connection with an away-from-home contest or en route to or from such a contest. It is not permissible for a team to depart more than 48 hours before, or to remain more than 36 hours after, an event or to transport the team to another area for entertainment purposes. In addition, an institution may pay the actual costs (but may not provide cash) for reasonable entertainment that takes place within a 30-mile radius of the institution’s campus or practice site during vacation periods when the team is required to reside on campus (or at a practice site normally used by the institution) and classes are not in session (see Bylaw 16.7.2). Entertainment in Conjunction With Practice and Competition. An institution, conference or the NCAA may provide reasonable entertainment (but may not provide cash for such entertainment) to student-athletes in conjunction with practice or competition. [R]
16.7.1.1 Exceptions. The time limitations related to the provisions of travel expenses do not apply to the circumstances listed in Bylaw 16.8.1.2.1.1.
16.7.2 Professional Sports Tickets. Complimentary tickets to professional sports contests shall not be provided to student-athletes, unless the tickets are provided by the institution (or by a representative of athletics interests through the institution) for entertainment purposes to student-athletes involved in an away-from-home contest. Under the latter circumstances, the institution may pay actual costs for reasonable entertainment that takes place during a team trip (see Bylaw 16.10.1.6). [R]
16.7.3 Films/Movies/Videotapes. The institution may rent a film or movie, provide pay-per-view movies in the student-athletes’ hotel rooms or take its intercollegiate team to the movies in conjunction with the student-athletes’ home or away-from-home contest (immediately before or during the road trip), the night before a contest without the film or movie being considered an extra benefit not available to the student body. Such entertainment the night before a contest is considered a benefit incidental to the student-athletes’ participation. [R]
16.7.42 Practice Sites on Road Trips. Any practice on an extended road trip shall take place either at the competition site, on a direct route between the institution’s campus and the first competition site or on a direct route between two consecutive competition sites. It is not permissible for an institution to schedule practice sessions at other locations to provide entertainment opportunities for team members. [D]
Effective Date: Immediate
- NC-2015-7 FINANCIAL AID – FINANCIAL AID FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES – ATHLETICS LEADERSHIP, ABILITY, PARTICIPATION OR PERFORMANCE AS CRITERION
Intent: To specify that a student-athlete may receive financial aid through an established and continuing program for the recognition of outstanding high school graduates which considers athletics criterion, provided the award is made on one occasion, the recipient’s choice of institutions is not restricted by the donor of the aid and there is no direct connection between the donor and the student-athlete’s institution.
Bylaws: Amend 15.2.3.5, as follows:
15.2.3.5 Athletics Leadership, Ability, Participation or Performance as a Major Criterion. A student-athlete may receive financial aid through an established and continuing program for the recognition of outstanding high school graduates, which may consider athletics leadership, ability, participation or performance, provided the following conditions are met:
(a) The award shall be made on the basis of the recipient’s past performance and overall record, as measured by established criteria of which athletics leadership, ability, participation or performance may be a major criterion; made on only one occasion but may be disbursed over multiple years;
(b) The recipient’s choice of institutions shall not be restricted by the donor of the aid; and
(c) The awarding individual or organization and the donor of the aid shall not be representatives of the athletics interests or an athletics booster group of a member institution;
(d) The value of the award alone or in combination with other aid per Bylaw 15.1.1 shall not exceed the value of cost of attendance;
(e) The award may be provided to the recipient on only one occasion; and
(f) The award is not received from an outside sports team or organization that conducts a competitive sports program by a member of that team.
(c) There shall be no direct connection between the donor and the student-athlete’s institution.
Effective Date: Immediate