Daily Compliance Item- 11/16/14- 14.5.5.5- Basketball Student-Athlete Transferring in the Spring

Trav L. Ling is currently a basketball student-athlete at Bay State College.  Trav will be transferring and enrolling at Ocean State University (OSU) this January.  Due to the extenuating circumstances surrounding the transfer, Trav received a waiver of the one year residence requirement.

Since Trav is permitted to compete in January with the waiver and assuming he meets all NCAA PTD requirements, can he compete for OSU starting in the spring 2015 semester?

No.  NCAA Bylaw 14.5.5.5 states that in baseball and basketball, a student-athlete who initially enrolls at the certifying institution as a full-time student after the conclusion of the first term of the academic year and qualifies for an exception to the one-year residence requirement shall not be eligible for competition until the ensuing academic year.  (Adopted:  6/24/09)

Daily Compliance Item- 11/25/14- 11.01.4, 11.01.6- Undergraduate Asst. Coach/Manager Enrolled Less Than Full-Time

Fair Ball is an undergraduate student assistant coach for the baseball team at Ocean State University.  Here is Fair’s academic record:

At the conclusion of the fall semester, Fair will have a total of 8 hours left to fulfill graduation requirements.  Unfortunately two of the three classes he needs are taught at the same time during the spring 2015 semester.  Is it permissible for Fair to enroll in 6 hours this spring and complete the final 2 hour class this summer and graduate?

Yes.  NCAA Educational Column- 11/24/14- Undergraduate Student Assistant Coach or Manager Enrolled Less Than Full-Time During Penultimate Term (I)-states that institutions should note that an undergraduate student assistant coach or manager may be enrolled less than full-time during the penultimate term (i.e., term before the final term) of his or her degree program, provided he or she is carrying for credit all the degree-applicable courses necessary to complete his or her degree requirements that are offered by the institution during that term. Institutions are reminded that the interpretation does not apply to student-athletes, and an institution must submit a progress-toward-waiver for less than full-time enrollment during a student-athlete’s penultimate term.

The following scenarios are designed to assist member institutions in applying the staff interpretation regarding an undergraduate student assistant coach or manager’s enrollment that is less than full-time during his or her penultimate term:

Scenario 1: An undergraduate student assistant coach must enroll in three classes to complete her degree requirements. Due to the institution’s prescribed course sequencing, she is only permitted to enroll in two of the three classes during her penultimate term, and will complete the third class during her final term. May the undergraduate student assistant coach be enrolled less than full-time during her penultimate term?

Answer: Yes.

Scenario 2: A manager must complete five classes to finish his degree requirements. The institution offers all five classes during the fall semester. However, he is only able to enroll in three of the classes during the fall term because several of the course offerings conflict with one another. He will enroll in the remaining two classes in the spring term. May the manager be enrolled less than full-time during his penultimate term?

Answer: Yes.

Scenario 3: A manager will complete his student teaching during his final term. Prior to student teaching, he must repeat a course because he did not receive a passing grade the first time he took the course. He will only enroll in that course during his penultimate term, and will complete the student teaching requirement during his final term. May the manager be enrolled less than full-time during his penultimate term?

Answer: Yes.

Scenario 4: An undergraduate student assistant coach must complete five classes to finish her degree requirements and complete an externship during the summer. Due to the institution’s prescribed course sequencing, she is only permitted to enroll in two of the five classes during the fall term. She will complete the remaining three classes during the spring term and complete her required externship during the summer. May the undergraduate student assistant coach be enrolled less than full-time during the fall term?

Answer: No. The interpretation only applies to the penultimate term. In this scenario, the undergraduate student assistant coach will complete her degree requirements during the summer term. Therefore, the spring term is her penultimate term, and she must be enrolled full-time during the fall term.

[References: NCAA Division I Bylaws 11.01.4 (coach, undergraduate student assistant) and 11.01.6 (manager), and staff interpretation (11/7/14, Item No. a)]Notice about Educational Columns: Educational columns and hot topics are intended to assist the membership with the correct application of legislation and/or interpretations by providing clarifications, reminders and examples. They are based on legislation and official and staff interpretations applicable at the time of publication. Therefore, educational columns and hot topics are binding to the extent that the legislation and interpretations on which they are based remain applicable. Educational columns are posted on a regular basis to address a variety of issues and hot topics are posted as necessary in order to address timely issues.

NCAA Staff Interpretation- 11/7/14- Undergraduate Student Assistant Coach or Manager Enrolled Less Than Full-Time During Penultimate Term (I)– states that an undergraduate student assistant coach or manager may be enrolled less than full-time during the penultimate term (i.e., term before the final term) of his or her degree program, provided he or she is carrying for credit all the degree-applicable courses necessary to complete his or her degree requirements that are offered by the institution during that term.[References: NCAA Division I Bylaws 11.01.4 (coach, undergraduate student assistant) and 11.01.6 (manager)]

 

Daily Compliance Item- 11/24/14- 13.1.3.2.1- Sending Electronic Correspondence During a Game

Ocean State University (OSU) women’s basketball team was playing a home contest last night.  There was a last minute decision to stream the game live on OSU’s website, so right after tip-off the director of operations sent a text message to all of their junior and senior recruits to let them know of the opportunity to watch the game.   Was is permissible for the director of operations to text these recruits during OSU’s game last night? Yes.  NCAA Staff Interpretation- 11/21/14- Permissible Electronic Correspondence Sent During an Institution’s Athletics Contest (I)– states that an institutional staff member may send permissible electronic correspondence (e.g., electronic mail, Instant Messenger, facsimiles and text messages) to prospective student-athletes during the conduct of the institution’s intercollegiate athletics contests. [References: NCAA Division I Bylaws 13.1.3.2.1 (during conduct of athletics contest), 13.4.1 (recruiting materials and electronic correspondence — general rule), 13.4.1.4 (electronic correspondence — general rule), 13.4.1.4.1 (exception — cross country/track and field, football and swimming and diving), and staff interpretation (10/14/98, Item No. c), which has been archived]

Daily Compliance Item- 11/21/14- Current Event

NCAA eyes Cuse internship program

ESPN.com

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — An internship program that placed Syracuse University athletes at a YMCA is part of an inquiry into possible NCAA violations by the school’s athletic department, according to a newspaper report.

The Post-Standard of Syracuse reports that NCAA investigators asked about a former YMCA employee in nearby Oneida who had exceptional access to Syracuse men’s basketball players and was sued for allegedly misappropriating close to $350,000 from the Y.

The paper said it is unclear if any of those funds were given to athletes.

The NCAA completed its investigation into the Syracuse athletic department more than two weeks ago. The two-day hearing before the NCAA Committee on Infractions concluded Oct. 31 in Chicago.

School spokesman Kevin Quinn declined to offer details but said none of the potential violations involves current student-athletes.The inquiry involves issues with both the men’s basketball program and football. The school has said those issues occurred years ago, with the exception of some in basketball between 2010 and early 2012.

This article was selected for educational purposes only.

Daily Compliance Item- 11/20/14- 14.4.3.1.6, 14.4.3.1.6.1- Additional Football Eligibility Requirements

Back Field is a junior football student-athlete that transferred to Ocean State University (OSU) in January of 2014. Back earned 8 hours during the fall 2013 semester at his previous institution and a total of 27 hours by the conclusion of the 2014 summer term at OSU.    Academic Summary:   *Back did not complete 9 hours during the fall term at previous institution– not eligible to compete in the first four games during the next season (fall 2014) per Bylaw 14.4.3.1.6.   *Back earned 27 hours prior to the start of the fall 2014 semester (fall 2013- 8 hours at previous institution; spring 2014- 13 hours at OSU; summer 2014- 6 hours at OSU).  For purposes of this example, all hours earned were acceptable toward any degree program at the respective institutions and Back met all other NCAA/OSU PTD requirements.   *Back regained eligibility for the third and fourth football contest during the 2014 season per Bylaw 14.4.3.1.6.1.   *Back is serving a transfer year in residence at OSU from January 2014 to December 2014.   Because Back was not eligible to compete during the 2014 season, does the 2 game penalty apply to the 2014 season or is it delayed until the 2015 season?   The penalty is applied to the next season (fall 2014) regardless of whether Back was eligible to compete.  NCAA Staff Interpretation- 4/5/12-Football Additional Credit Hour Requirements — Application of the Two- or Four-Game Penalty to the Following Playing Season (I)- states that, in football, the two- or four-game penalty for failure to successfully complete at least nine-semester hours or eight-quarter hours of academic credit during the fall term and earn the Academic Progress Rate (APR) eligibility point for the fall term applies to the immediately ensuing playing season. Further, that the penalty is satisfied if the student-athlete does not compete in that season, regardless of whether the student-athlete is eligible for competition (e.g., fulfilling a transfer residence requirement, enrolled less than full-time, etc.). [References: NCAA Division I Bylaws 14.4.3.1 (fulfillment of credit-hour requirements), 14.4.3.1.6 (additional requirements — football), 14.4.3.1.6.1 (regaining eligibility for two contests), 14.4.3.1.6.2 (regaining full eligibility — one-time exception), and staff interpretations (1/20/12, Item No. a), (2/16/12, Item No. a) and (2/16/12, Item No. b)]

Daily Compliance Item- 11/19/14- 16.6.1.2- Lodging at Postseason Events for Family Members

Ocean State University (OSU) men’s soccer team is participating in the first round of the NCAA tournament this weekend. A lot of parents are traveling to the game and asked if OSU can help secure rooms for them at the same discounted price that the team is receiving.

Is is permissible for OSU to secure rooms for student-athletes’ family members at a discounted price?

Yes.  NCAA Bylaw 16.6.1.2 states that an institution may reserve or secure lodging at any postseason event (other than a conference event) at a reduced or special rate for the family members of a student-athlete who is a participant. It is not permissible for an institution to cover any portion of the cost of lodging, including any cost associated with reserving or securing lodging. [R] (Adopted: 10/28/99, Revised: 1/19/13 effective 8/1/13)

 

Daily Compliance Item- 11/18/14- 14.4.3.4- Change in Eligibility Status

Front Court is a basketball student-athlete at Ocean State University (OSU). Front was certified as academically ineligible at the start of the fall 2014 semester.  If Front earns a C or better in all four of his classes this term, he will be eligible for competition for the spring 2015 semester.  Here is a brief calendar for the men’s basketball team next month:

December 8-12- OSU Final Exam Week

December 9- Fron’t last scheduled exam

December 13- Competition at West College College

Because the team will be done with finals and Saturday’s game is in California, the team will be leaving on Thursday the 11th.

As long as Front earns the necessary grades and meets all other NCAA PTD requirements to regain his eligibility, is it permissible for him to receive travel expenses prior to the conclusion of the fall semester?

Yes.  NCAA Official Interpretation- Student-athlete receiving travel expenses when eligibility status changes- 11/19/92– states that a student-athlete who will become academically eligible at the end of a term may receive travel expenses prior to the conclusion of the term to attend a competition that occurs after the date of the last scheduled examination listed in the institution’s official calendar for that term, provided the institution can certify that the student-athlete will become eligible during that trip, and the student-athlete does not represent the institution in competition until the day after the date of the last scheduled examination.

[References: 14.12 (change in eligibility status) and 16.8.1.2 (competition while representing institution)]

 

Daily Compliance Item- 11/17/14- 16.2.1.1- Student-Athlete Providing Comp Admission to a HS Coach

Flee Flicker is a football student-athlete at Ocean State University.  This is Flee’s senior year, and he will be participating in his last home game next weekend. Flee is really good friends with his high school coach and would like to provide him a complimentary admission to attend next week’s game.  Is it permissible for Flee to provide his high school coach with a complimentary admission? Yes with conditions.  NCAA Staff Interpretation- 10/10/13- Student-Athlete Complimentary Admissions to Coaches or Others Involved with Prospective Student-Athletes (I)- states that a student-athlete may provide home or away complimentary admissions to a high school, preparatory school or two-year college coach or any other individual responsible for teaching or directing an activity in which a prospective student-athlete is involved as long as the complimentary admissions are not provided to the coach or other individual at the direction of an institutional staff member. [Reference: NCAA Division I Bylaws 13.8.1 (entertainment restrictions), 16.2.1.1 (institutional events in the student-athlete’s sport) and 16.2.1.1.1 (exception — post season events)]

Daily Compliance Item- 11/14/14- 16.8.2.1- Bowl Game Expenses for Midyear Enrollees

With last night’s win, Ocean State University (OSU) football team has qualified to participate in a bowl game. The Director of Football Operations at OSU is researching travel options for the potential bowl games they could be selected for in late December.   OSU has three prospects that will be initialling enrolling at OSU in January.  Can OSU pay expenses for these individuals to attend the bowl game? No.  NCAA Bylaw 16.8.2.1 states that in bowl subdivision football, an institution may not provide expenses (e.g., travel, room and board, entertainment, incidental expenses, etc.) to a student-athlete who is a midyear enrollee (freshman or transfer) for participation in a postseason bowl game that occurs before or during the student-athlete’s initial term of full-time enrollment at the institution. [R] (Adopted:  4/28/05 effective 8/1/05, Revised:  12/15/06)

Daily Compliance Item- 11/13/14- 13.10.2.1- Comments Prior to Signing NLI

The men’s basketball program at Ocean State University (OSU) is slated to have two prospects sign NLIs at the end of this week during the early signing period.  The coaches and student-athletes are very excited and tell the local media that both individuals will be able to contribute right away and will fit in nicely with OSU’s playbook.   Is it permissible for the coaches to make such comments prior to the prospects’ signing an NLI?  Is it permissible for current student-athletes to make such comments?   No, it is not permissible for either the coaches or student-athletes to make such comments before signing the NLI.   NCAA Bylaw 13.10.2.1 states that before the signing of a prospective student-athlete to a National Letter of Intent or an institution’s written offer of admission and/or financial aid or before the institution receives his or her financial deposit in response to its offer of admission, a member institution may comment publicly only to the extent of confirming its recruitment of the prospective student-athlete.  The institution may not comment generally about the prospective student-athlete’s ability of the contribution that the prospective student-athlete might make to the institution’s team; further, the institution is precluded from commenting in any manner as to the likelihood of the prospective student-athlete committing to or signing with that institution.  [D] (Adopted: 1/19/13 effective 8/1/13) NCAA Official Interpretation- 8/6/91-  Student-athletes making comments regarding prospect’s ability – states that prior to the signing of a prospect to a National Letter of Intent or institutional tender of financial aid, a student-athlete may not provide comments to the media regarding a prospect other than confirming the institution’s recruitment of the prospect.