Daily Compliance Item- 12/3/13- 17.1.6.2- Out of Season Workouts

Ocean State University lacrosse coaches would like to continue with out of season workouts and conditioning up until the beginning of finals week.  Is this permissible?

No.  NCAA Bylaw 17.1.6.2 states that:

(a) Sports Other Than Football.  Outside of the playing season, from the institution’s first day of classes of the academic year or September 15, whichever occurs earlier, to one week prior to the beginning of the institution’s final examination period at the conclusion of the academic year, only a student-athlete’s participation in required weight training, conditioning and skill-related instruction shall be permitted.  A student-athlete’s participation in such activities per Bylaw 17.02.1 shall be limited to a maximum of eight hours per week with not more than two hours per week spent on skill-related workouts.  All countable related activities outside the playing season are prohibited one week prior to the beginning of the final examination period for the applicable academic term through the conclusion of each student-athlete’s final exams.  (Revised:  4/27/06 effective 8/1/06, 9/22/06)

(b) Bowl Subdivision Football.  [FBS]  Activities between the institution’s last contest and January 1 are limited to required weight training, conditioning and the review of game film.  A student-athlete’s participation in such activities shall be limited to a maximum of eight hours per week, of which not more than two hours per week may be spent on the viewing of film.  All activities beginning January 1 and outside the playing season shall be conducted pursuant to Bylaw 17.9.6.  (Revised:  12/15/06)

(c) Championship Subdivision Football.  [FCS]  Activities between the institution’s last contest and the start of summer conditioning are limited to required weight training, conditioning and the review of game film.  A student-athlete’s participation in such activities shall be limited to a maximum of eight hours per week, of which not more than two hours per week may be spent on the viewing of film.  All activities beginning with the start of summer conditioning and outside the playing season shall be conducted pursuant to Bylaws 17.9.6.2 and 17.9.6.4.  (Revised:  12/15/06)

 

This legislation is applicable to Division I.

Daily Compliance Item- 10/1/13- 17.3.2.1- Countable Athletically Related Activities- Men’s Basketball

The men’s basketball coaches at Ocean State University are planning out their preseason practice schedule to make sure they do not exceed the 30 day limit.  Do the coaches only include practices in the 30 day limit or do they have to include all countable athletically related activities (CARA)?

All CARA counts against the 30 day limit.  NCAA Staff Interpretation- 9/27/13-  Application of 30 Days of Countable Activities within 42 Days Prior to First Contest — Men’s Basketball (I) – states that, in men’s basketball, any countable athletically related activities that occur within the 42-day period before an institution’s first regular-season contest shall count against the 30 days of countable athletically related activities permitted before its first regular-season contest.

 

[References: NCAA Bylaws 17.02.1 (countable athletically related activities), 17.3.2 (preseason practice — on-court practice), 17.3.2.1 (men’s basketball), 17.3.2.3 (permissible conditioning activities) and 17.3.2.4 (prohibited activities); and an official interpretation (3/4/11, Item No. 6)]

Daily Compliance Item- 8/20/13- 17.1.6.6.3- Preseason Practice Times

The football team at Ocean State University had to practice late last night because of inclement weather.  The team was on the field from 10pm to 1am.  Is this permissible since it is during the preseason period?

No.  NCAA Bylaw 17.1.6.6.3 states that countable athletically related activities shall not occur between midnight and 5 a.m.

There is not a legislative exception for preseason practice.  The institution could certainly file a waiver and include any mitigating factors for needing to practice during that time period.

Daily Compliance Item- 3/25/13- 15.5.1, 15.5.1.1- Institutional Aid

Dub Ell  is a baseball student-athlete at Ocean State University (OSU).  Dub is not on athletic aid, but he is receiving an institutional scholarship based on his academic success.  As part of the application for this scholarship, Dub was asked to list his achievements and extracurricular activities.  Dub included both athletic and academic accomplishments.  Since the application did not specifically request information related to Dub’s athletic participation and the selection committee will not use such information when determining scholarship recipients, can OSU certify that this scholarship is unrelated to athletics ability and therefore not consider Dub to be a counter for the baseball team?

Yes.  NCAA Official Interpretation- 3/12/12- Certification of Institutional Aid Unrelated to Athletics Ability (I)- states that an institution is not permitted to certify that a student-athlete’s institutional financial aid is unrelated in any degree to athletics ability if the student-athlete’s athletics participation or achievements are criteria specifically requested as part of the application process for such aid. An institution may certify that the student-athlete’s aid is unrelated in any degree to athletics ability (even if the student-athlete lists athletics participation or achievements as part of his or her extracurricular activities), provided such factors were not specifically requested as part of the application process and were not taken into consideration in awarding the institutional aid to the student-athlete.

[References: NCAA Division I Bylaws 15.5.1 (counters), 15.5.1.1 (no athletics aid — certification required), 15.5.1.2 (football or basketball, varsity competition); and a staff interpretation (09/12/11, Item No. a), which has been archived]

 

PLEASE NOTE:  There are several secondary violations posted on LSDBi involving certification of non-countable financial aid.  Institutions need to make sure that the official certification of a student-athlete’s noncounter status is completed by the institution prior to the first competition…this includes obtaining signatures on the designated forms.

Daily Compliance Item- 1/24/13- 17.1.6.2.1.1.4- Summer Activities- Men’s Basketball

The men’s basketball coaches at Ocean State University will soon begin working on summer workout schedules.  With regard to the 8 weeks of required activities, can the coaches create individual student-athlete schedules or do all student-athletes have to be on the same schedule?

You can create individual schedules.  NCAA Educational Column- 1/23/13-NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Summer Athletics Activities (I)– states that the following questions and answers are intended to assist the membership in applying NCAA Division I legislation as it relates to summer athletics activities in men’s basketball.

Question No. 1: Is there a limit on the number of student-athletes who may participate in skill-related instruction as part of the required summer athletics activities?

Answer: No.

Question No. 2: May an institution declare a new definition of its “week,” or is it required to use the week it used during the academic year?

Answer: The institution may declare a new definition of its “week” for the summer.

Question No. 3: May the eight weeks of required summer athletics activities be determined on an individual basis?

Answer: Yes.

Question No. 4: Is it permissible to conduct required summer athletics activities during the week before finals and the final exam period of the summer term(s)?

Answer: Yes.

Question No. 5: May coaches be present during and/or conduct weight training and conditioning activities that are part of the eight hours per week of required summer athletics activities?

Answer: Yes.

Question No. 6: If an institution has multiple summer sessions, do the eight weeks of required summer athletics activities have to be continuous?

Answer: No. The eight weeks do not have to be consecutive or continuous. However, unless a student-athlete meets the exception to the summer-school requirement, workouts are only permissible during the time period (term or terms) in which the student-athlete is enrolled, which includes only the time from the opening day of classes through the last day of final exams for each applicable term.

Question No. 7: Are there exceptions for the service academies for situations when their student-athletes are assigned to summer work at a location (e.g., military base) that is separate from the service academy? May the coaching staff conduct workouts with those student-athletes assigned to another area of the country?

Answer: If a student-athlete is enrolled in a summer-school session, or meeting an exception to the enrollment requirement, it is permissible for the coaching staff to conduct workouts at the assigned location.

Question No. 8: When may an institution begin to conduct summer athletics activities with its men’s basketball student-athletes? When must summer athletics activities end?

Answer: Summer athletics activities may begin the day following the institution’s spring commencement exercises. Summer athletics activities must end by the day before the first day of classes for the fall term. Note that unless a student-athlete meets the exception to the summer-school requirement, workouts are only permissible during the time period (term or terms) in which the student-athlete is enrolled, which includes only the time from the opening day of classes through the last day of final exams for each applicable term.

Question No. 9: Must incoming student-athletes (freshmen and transfers) sign the drug-testing consent form before participating in required summer athletics activities?

Answer: No. Summer drug testing is part of the previous academic year testing.

Question No. 10: Must an incoming student-athlete be certified as eligible to practice in order to participate in required summer athletics activities?

Answer: No.

Question No. 11: Are institutions required to provide student-athletes any days off during the eight weeks in which they are participating in required summer athletics activities?

Answer: No. There is no requirement to provide a day (or days) off during the eight weeks of required activities. However, student-athletes are limited to a maximum of eight hours per week, with not more than two hours per week spent on skill-related instruction.

Question No. 12: May an institution conduct required summer athletics activities on a vacation day during the summer?

Answer: Yes. However, the activities must count toward the eight hours per week limitation and any skill instruction must also count toward the week’s permissible two hours of skill instruction.

Question No. 13: May student-athletes participate in unlimited hours of countable activities with their coaches during an institutional vacation period (e.g., Memorial Day, Independence Day) while engaging in required summer athletics activities?

Answer: No, a student-athlete engaging in required summer athletics activities is limited to a maximum of eight hours per week with not more than two hours per week spent on skill-related instruction

Question No. 14: May an institution publicize its skill-related instruction sessions or conduct them in view of a general public audience?

Answer: No. The general prohibition on publicizing and conducting skill-related instruction in view of a general public audience applies to the skill-related instruction that is conducted as part of summer athletics activities.

Question No. 15: May an institution conduct a skill-related instruction session during an institutional camp or clinic with the campers as an audience?

Answer: No. The campers would constitute a general public audience.

Question No. 16: May a student-athlete who has been certified as a nonqualifier participate in required summer athletics activities during the summer prior to initial full-time enrollment at the certifying institution?

Answer: Yes, provided he is enrolled in summer school and the activities are conducted during the time period (term or terms) in which the student-athlete is enrolled, which includes only the time from the opening day of classes through the last day of final exams for each applicable term.

Question No. 17: If a student-athlete was certified as a nonqualifier during the academic year, when may he begin to engage in required summer athletics activities after the year in residence?

Answer: Such a student-athlete may begin to participate in required summer athletics activities the day following the institution’s spring commencement exercises, provided the student-athlete is enrolled in summer school or meets the exception to summer school enrollment.

Question No. 18: Does a student-athlete’s temporary certification period begin when he starts participating in required summer athletics activities?

Answer: No.

Question No. 19: May a student-athlete who is enrolled in consecutive summer school sessions during the same summer (e.g., the first and second summer school sessions) engage in required summer athletics activities during the time in between sessions?

Answer: Only student-athletes who met the exception to summer-school enrollment at the end of the preceding regular academic term (e.g., spring semester, spring quarter) may engage in required summer athletics activities between terms.

Question No. 20: How does the required summer athletics activities legislation apply to an institution that offers only one summer session, and the session lasts less than eight weeks?

Answer: Prospective student-athletes (freshmen or transfers) are only permitted to participate in required athletics activities during the time period (term) in which the student-athlete is enrolled, which includes only the time from the opening day of classes through the last day of final exams for the term. Continuing student-athletes would be subject to the same application as prospective student-athletes unless they meet the appropriate provisions of the exception to summer-school enrollment. A continuing student who meets the exception may continue to engage in any remaining portion of the eight weeks of required summer activities until the day before the first day of classes for the fall term.

Question No. 21: May coursework from an early summer school session (e.g., first four-week session) from that same summer be considered when determining whether a student-athlete is meeting the exception to the summer-school requirement for the remaining weeks of the required summer athletics activities?

Answer: No. In order to meet the exception to summer-school enrollment, the student-athlete must have successfully completed the applicable academic requirements by the end of the preceding regular academic term (e.g., spring semester, spring quarter).

Question No. 22: May remedial, tutorial or noncredit courses be used to satisfy the requirements of the exception to summer-school enrollment?

Answer: Yes, provided such courses meet the requirements of NCAA Bylaw 14.4.3.4.4.

Question No. 23: Must a student-athlete who has just completed four semesters or six quarters have declared a degree program (and have completed 50 percent of the program) in order to meet the exception to summer-school enrollment?

Answer: No. Pursuant to Bylaw 14.4.3.1.7, a student-athlete must designate a degree program prior to participation in competition that occurs during or immediately before the third year of enrollment. Further, pursuant to Bylaw 14.4.3.1.7, during the first two years of enrollment, a student-athlete may use credits acceptable toward any of the institution’s degree programs. Therefore, a student-athlete may fulfill the 50 percent requirement based on credits acceptable toward any of the institution’s degree programs.

Question No. 24: May an institution provide room and board to returning student-athletes to participate in required summer athletics activities if the individuals are not enrolled in summer school?

Answer: No. It is not permissible to provide room and board to student-athletes who are not enrolled in summer school. Room and board may be provided, pursuant to Bylaw 15.2.8, to student-athletes who are enrolled in summer school.

Question No. 25: May an institution provide training table meals to student-athletes who are participating in required summer athletics activities?

Answer: No.

Question No. 26: Is it permissible to provide entertainment to student-athletes who are participating in required summer athletics activities?

Answer: No. Bylaw 16.7.1 does not apply to summer athletics activities.

 

[References: Bylaws 13.11.3.9 (required summer athletic activities — men’s basketball), 13.11.3.9.1 (exception — national service academies — incoming freshmen — men’s basketball), 14.02.13.1 (academic year of residence), 14.1.4.1 (content and purpose), 14.3.4 (residence requirement — nonqualifier), 14.3.5.1.1 (temporary certification, recruited student-athlete), 14.3.5.1.2 (temporary certification, nonrecruited student-athlete), 14.4.3.1.7 (designation of degree), 14.4.3.4.4 (remedial, tutorial and noncredit courses), 15.2.8 (summer financial aid), 16.5.2 (permissible housing and meals), 16.7.1 (away from home contests and vacation periods), 17.1.6.2.1.1.4 (summer athletic activities — men’s basketball), 17.1.6.2.1.1.4.1 (exception to summer school enrollment — academic requirements — men’s basketball), 17.1.6.2.1.1.4.1.1 (application to transfer student-athletes), 17.1.6.2.2 (skill instruction — sports other than baseball and football) 17.1.6.3.3 (definition of week) and 17.6.1.6.3.6 (vacation periods and between terms)]

Daily Compliance Item- 12/6/12- 17.1.6.2- Out of Season Activities

Ocean State University softball coaches would like to continue with out of season workouts and conditioning up until the beginning of finals week.  Is this permissible?

No.  NCAA Bylaw 17.1.6.2 states that:

(a) Sports Other Than Football. Outside of the playing season, from the institution’s first day of classes of the academic year or September 15, whichever occurs earlier, to one week prior to the beginning of the institution’s final examination period at the conclusion of the academic year, only a student-athlete’s participation in required weight training, conditioning and skill-related instruction shall be permitted.  A student-athlete’s participation in such activities per Bylaw 17.02.1 shall be limited to a maximum of eight hours per week with not more than two hours per week spent on skill-related workouts.  All countable related activities outside the playing season are prohibited one week prior to the beginning of the final examination period for the applicable academic term through the conclusion of each student-athlete’s final exams.  (Revised:  4/27/06 effective 8/1/06, 9/22/06)

(b) Bowl Subdivision Football.  [FBS]  Activities between the institution’s last contest and January 1 are limited to required weight training, conditioning and the review of game film.  A student-athlete’s participation in such activities shall be limited to a maximum of eight hours per week, of which not more than two hours per week may be spent on the viewing of film.  All activities beginning January 1 and outside the playing season shall be conducted pursuant to Bylaw 17.9.6.  (Revised:  12/15/06)

(c) Championship Subdivision Football.  [FCS]  Activities between the institution’s last contest and the start of summer conditioning are limited to required weight training, conditioning and the review of game film.  A student-athlete’s participation in such activities shall be limited to a maximum of eight hours per week, of which not more than two hours per week may be spent on the viewing of film.  All activities beginning with the start of summer conditioning and outside the playing season shall be conducted pursuant to Bylaws 17.9.6.2 and 17.9.6.4.  (Revised:  12/15/06)

 

This legislation is applicable to Division I.

Daily Compliance Item- 10/29/12- 17.1.6.4.2- Cancelled Competition

The men’s soccer team at Ocean State University had a contest scheduled yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.  Because of Hurricane Sandy, the game was cancelled ten minutes into play in the first half.  The student-athletes did not participate in any other countable athletically related activities on Sunday.  Can the coaches consider Sunday to be the required day off?

Yes.  NCAA Bylaw 17.1.6.4.2 states that when an institution’s competition is canceled prior to the start of competition or canceled prior to the competition being considered a completed event in accordance with the playing rules of that sport, an institution may use that day as its required day off, provided the institution does not engage in any further countable athletically related activities during that day. (Adopted: 1/16/93)

This is also applicable to Division II.