Daily Compliance Item- 10.27.16- 14.4.3.5.5- Incomplete Grades

Will Linebacker is a football student-athlete at Ocean State University (OSU). Will took 2 courses this past summer but only completed 1 of them. Per institutional policy, he received an incomplete for the second course and is permitted to finish the work during the fall semester. If Will earns a grade for the summer course during the fall semester, can OSU count the 3 credits earned for that course toward fulfilling the 9 hour requirement that football student-athletes must earn in order to be eligible the subsequent fall term?

No. NCAA Staff Interpretation- 11/7/11- Incomplete Grades and Fulfillment of Credit-Hour Requirements (I)- states that when applying credit-hour requirements, a course taken during the summer but completed during the academic year must be counted during the summer and not during the academic year.

[References: NCAA Division I Bylaws 14.4.3.1 (fulfillment of credit-hour requirements), 14.4.3.1.4 (application of rule), 14.4.3.1.6 (additional requirements — football), 14.4.3.4.5 (incomplete grades) and a staff interpretation (2/28/96, Item No. a), which has been archived]

Jennifer M. Condaras
Deputy Commissioner, NCAA Relations & Administration
Colonial Athletic Association

The opinions expressed in the Daily Compliance Item are the author’s and the author’s alone, and are not endorsed by The COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION or JumpForward. The Daily Compliance Item is not a substitute for a compliance office, case specific research, or the NCAA Bylaws. Do some homework, ask around, and get it right.

Daily Compliance Item- 9.21.16- 14.3.1.2- Academic Redshirts

Allee Oop is a basketball student-athlete at Ocean State University (OSU). Allee’s high school academic record left her a little short of meeting NCAA Initial Eligibility requirements. Consequently she has been deemed an academic redshirt. Which of the following is true?

A. Allee is permitted to receive athletic aid from OSU.
B. Allee is permitted to practice during the first term of residence at OSU
C. Allee is permitted to compete for OSU during her first term of residence.
D. Both A and B

The answer is D. NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.2 states that an academic redshirt may receive institutional athletically related financial aid but may not compete during the first academic year in residence. An academic redshirt may practice only on campus or at the institution’s regular practice facility during the first regular academic term in residence. An academic redshirt must successfully complete nine semester or eight quarter hours of academic credit in each applicable regular academic term in order to be eligible for practice in the immediately subsequent term of his or her initial academic year of residence. An academic redshirt is defined as one who is a high school graduate and who presented the same academic qualifications applicable to qualifiers (see Bylaw 14.3.1.1) except for the following: (Adopted: 10/27/11, Revised: 4/26/12 effective 8/1/16 for student-athletes initially enrolling full time in a collegiate institution on or after 8/1/16)

(a) The required minimum cumulative grade-point average and minimum combined score on the SAT critical reading and math sections or a minimum sum score on the ACT as specified in Bylaw 14.3.1.2.1;

(b) Bylaw 14.3.1.1-(c) shall not apply.

Jennifer M. Condaras
Deputy Commissioner, NCAA Relations & Administration
Colonial Athletic Association

The opinions expressed in the Daily Compliance Item are the author’s and the author’s alone, and are not endorsed by The COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION or JumpForward. The Daily Compliance Item is not a substitute for a compliance office, case specific research, or the NCAA Bylaws. Do some homework, ask around, and get it right.

Daily Compliance Item- 2/13/13- 14.1.3, 14.1.4.3- NCAA Forms

Clay Court is a student at Ocean State University.  Clay decided to try out for the men’s tennis team at the beginning of the spring 2013 term.  Clay has been practicing for five days and will compete in Ocean State University’s home meet this weekend.  Which statement is true?

A.  Clay does not have to complete the NCAA Drug-Testing Consent form until he has participated in countable athletically related activities for 14 days.

B.  Clay must complete the NCAA Drug-Testing Consent form prior to competing in the competition this weekend.

C.  Clay must complete the Student-Athlete Statement prior to competing in the meet this weekend.

D.  Both B & C are true

The answer is D.  NCAA Bylaw 14.1.3 states that prior to participation in intercollegiate competition each academic year, a student-athlete shall sign a statement in a form prescribed by the Legislative Council in which the student athlete submits information related to eligibility, recruitment, financial aid, amateur status, previous positive-drug tests administered by any other athletics organization and involvement in organized gambling activities related to intercollegiate or professional athletics competition under the Association’s governing legislation. Failure to complete and sign the statement shall result in the student-athlete’s ineligibility for participation in all intercollegiate competition. Violations of this bylaw do not affect a student-athlete’s eligibility if the violation occurred due to an institutional administrative error or oversight, and the student-athlete subsequently signs the form; however, the violation shall be considered an institutional violation per Constitution 2.8.1.

NCAA Bylaw 14.1.4.3 states that a student-athlete who is “trying out” for a team is not required to complete the form until 14 days from the first date the student-athlete engages in countable athletically related activities or before the student-athlete participates in a competition, whichever occurs earlier.  (Adopted:  4/27/06 effective 8/1/06)

Daily Compliance Item- 1/15/13- 12.4.2.1- Fee-for-Lessons

Lib E. Ro is a volleyball student-athlete at Ocean State University.  Lib has some time in between the end of the fall season and the spring non—championship season, so she decides to teach lessons to earn some spending money.  Lib uses her name to advertise fee-for-lesson sessions. Specifically, Lib distributed brochures advertising private lessons using her name. Lib sought approval of the brochure after she had distributed to local club coaches via email.

Is this permissible?

 

No.  NCAA Bylaw 12.4.2.1 states that a student-athlete may receive compensation for teaching or coaching sport skills or techniques in his or her sport on a fee-for-lesson basis, provided: [R]

(a) Institutional facilities are not used; (Adopted: 4/25/02 effective 8/1/02)

(b) Playing lessons shall not be permitted; (Adopted: 4/25/02 effective 8/1/02)

(c) The institution obtains and keeps on file documentation of the recipient of the lesson(s) and the fee for the lesson(s) provided during any time of the year;   (Adopted: 4/25/02 effective 8/1/02)

(d) The compensation is paid by the lesson recipient (or the recipient’s family) and not another individual or entity; (Adopted: 4/25/02 effective 8/1/02)

(e) Instruction to each individual is comparable to the instruction that would be provided during a private lesson when the instruction involves more than one individual at a time; and  (Adopted: 4/2/03 effective 8/1/03)

(f) The student-athlete does not use his or her name, picture or appearance to promote or advertise the availability of fee-for-lesson sessions.  (Adopted: 4/2/03 effective 8/1/03)

 

This is an actual fact pattern for a secondary infractions case posted on LSDBi.  The institution requested reinstatement for the student-athlete and provided a rules education session for all coaches and student-athletes

Daily Compliance Item- 1/9/13- 16.11.2.2.3- Free Services

Around Tha Horn is a baseball student-athlete at Ocean State University (OSU).  Around went home for the holiday break.  While he was home, Around hit balls at a local batting cage.  The owner is a former baseball student-athlete at OSU and allows Around to hit balls free of charge.  The owner never allows anyone to hit for free.  Is this a violation or is it permissible since the owner is an alumni of OSU?

It is a violation.  NCAA Bylaw 16.11.2.2.3 states that a student-athlete may not receive services (e.g., movie tickets, dinners, use of car) from commercial agencies (e.g., movie theaters, restaurants, car dealers) without charge or at reduced rates, or free or reduced-cost admission to professional athletics contests from professional sports organizations, unless such services also are available to the student body in general.

 

This legislation is applicable to Division I and II.

Daily Compliance Item- 1/3/13- Bylaw 12- Amateurism Reminders

REMINDERS REGARDING THE NFL DRAFT, AGENTS AND TRYOUTS:

Key Dates:

College Advisory Committee evaluation request final deadline (with no guarantee that an evaluation wil be completed)- January 4, 2013

Early-entry deadline for underclassmen- January 15, 2013

Early-entry withdrawal deadline for underclassmen- 72  hours after early-entry deadline (midnight January 18, 2013)

 

Student-Athletes will lose their eligibility IF:

1. They agree orally or in writing to be represented by an agent or any individual acting on behalf of the agent [e.g., runner].

2. They accept any benefits from an agent, a prospective agent or any individual acting on behalf of the agent [e.g., runner].

3. If they participate in a tryout with a professional team that lasts longer than 48 hours, which they have not personally financed.

4. If they tryout with a professional team during the academic year and miss class.

5. If they enter the draft AND do not take the appropriate steps to withdraw and declare their intention to resume intercollegiate participation.

 

This information was taken from the November 30, 2012 letter sent to football student-athletes from the NCAA.

Daily Compliance Item- 12/5/12- Fundraiser for Apparel Items

The Ocean State University Men’s Golf team is required to wear a coat and tie when traveling to away from home competitions.  Several of the student-athletes do not have jackets, so they decide to run a car wash to raise money for the jackets.  Is this permissible?

No.  NCAA Staff Interpretation- 11/4/87- Car wash used to earn money to purchase apparel items– states that it would not be permissible per Constitution 3-1-(g)-(5), for student-athletes to conduct a car wash to earn money to purchase apparel items (e.g., travel blazer, jacket) that are not directly related to athletic participation.

Daily Compliance Item- 11/30/12- 13.6.7.5- Student Host During Vacation Period

The men’s soccer coaches at Ocean State University are hosting a few prospects on official visits during the holiday break in between the fall and spring semesters.  Although the season is over, a few soccer student-athletes will be in town and available to serve as student hosts. These student-athletes live in the dorms, which are closed for the holiday at the time of the official visits.  Is it permissible for the coaches to provide room expenses to these student-athletes since they are serving as student hosts?  Can the student-athletes stay in the hotel with the prospects?

It is not permissible to provide lodging expenses to student hosts during a vacation period.  NCAA Staff Interpretation- 12/20/91-Student host receiving expenses during official vacation period- states that an institution financing an official visit to a prospective student-athlete may not provide lodging expenses to a student-athlete serving as a student host; further, a student-athlete serving as a student host during the institution’s official vacation period would be permitted to receive meals.

NCAA Staff Interpretation- 4/13/94- Student Host Staying in Hotel Room With Prospect- states that an institution, at its discretion, may allow a student host to stay in the prospective student-athlete’s hotel room during an official visit, provided the official visit does not occur during a vacation period.

 

This legislation applies to Division I and II.

Daily Compliance Item- 11/9/12- Current Event

Grad transfer exception gains in popularity, scrutiny

USAToday.com

 

In this world of immediate gratification, there’s nothing better for a college basketball transfer than knowing that he’ll be able to play immediately at his new school.

There’s one sure-fire way to do it. Graduate students who have not previously transferred can use the one-time transfer exception to play right away at their new school. If a player has completed his undergraduate coursework and has a year of eligibility remaining, he’s good to go. No waiver is necessary — a change implemented at the start of the 2011-12 season, according to the NCAA — so it’s easier than ever for graduates to play immediately.

Former Xavier guard Mark Lyons used the exception. This season, he’ll play at Arizona for the coach who originally recruited him to the Musketeers, Sean Miller. Former Louisville forward Jared Swopshire will play at Northwestern this season, too. Same exception, same result.

Last season, 15 college basketball players played as graduate student transfers — including Brandon Wood, who graduated from Valparaiso and then played at Michigan State.

“Sometimes, in life you have to make selfish decisions,” Wood told USA TODAY Sports this spring. “If players handle their business and do what they have to do in the classroom and have the opportunity to do this, take advantage of this rule to better themselves, then I think it’s something people should look into doing.”

Daily Compliance Item- 11/5/12- 16.9.1- Local Transportation

Several Ocean State University student-athletes are registered to vote in the locale of the institution.  The athletic department administrators and coaches want to encourage the student-athletes to vote, so they would like to coordinate transportation to and from the polling places.

Is this permissible?

If there are not any administrators available to drive the student-athletes, is it permissible for the athletic department to provide them with a vehicle for purposes of getting to and from the voting sites?

It is permissible for the athletic department administrators/coaches to drive the student-athletes to vote.  NCAA Bylaw 16.9.1(f) states that it is permissible for an institution to provide the following travel expenses not related to practice or competition: [R] 

Local Transportation.  Reasonable local transportation to student-athletes on an occasional basis. (Adopted: 1/10/95)

It is not, however, permissible for an institution to provide a vehicle for the student-athletes to use.  NCAA Official Interpretation- 12/12/94-Awards and Benefits — Transportation Expenses- states that the committee reviewed Proposal Nos. 18 and 19, which permit an institution to provide student-athletes with reasonable, local transportation on an occasional basis, and determined that it is not permissible for an institution to provide a vehicle for a student-athlete to use for the purposes outlined in the proposals.

 

This is applicable for Divisions I and II.