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Interpretations Committee minutes

Acting for the NCAA Council, the committee issued the following interpretations:

Highlight Film/Contests/Third-Party Distribution

1. Third-Party Distribution of Institutional Contests. The provisions of NCAA Bylaw 12.5.1.9 do not permit any entity other than the institution (e.g., a distribution company) to sell a videotape or audio tape of an institution's contest (e.g., regular-season contest, postseason contest) that includes the names of student-athletes with remaining eligibility. Such an item may be sold only through normal institutionally controlled outlets. [Reference: 12.5.1.9 (promotions by third party of highlight film videotape or media guide)]

Emerging Sports/National Governing Body (NGB)/Championship

2. Transportation to and from NGB Championship -- Emerging Sports for Women. The NGB championship in an emerging sport for women is considered the equivalent of an NCAA championship for purposes of applying regulations that relate to transportation to and from such championships. [References: 16.7.2.1-(c) and 16.7.2.1-(d) (departure/return restrictions -- exceptions), 16.8.1.2.1.1-(c) and 16.8.1.2.1.1-(d) (departure/return expense restrictions -- exceptions), and 16.8.1.4 (travel to NCAA championships and postseason bowl games during vacation period)]

Transportation/Official Visit

3. Coach Accompanying Prospect to or from Official Visit (Divisions I and III). The committee reviewed the provisions of 13.6.2.2.3 and determined the following:

a. It is not permissible under any circumstances for an institution's coach and a prospect being recruited in the coach's sport to travel on the same flight when the prospect is traveling to or from an institution's campus in conjunction with an official visit.

b. If a prospect who does not reside within the institution's state or within 100 miles of the institution's campus is participating in a competition that is occurring in the institution's state or within a 100-mile radius of the institution's campus, it is permissible for an institutional staff member to accompany the prospect from the competition site to the institution's campus. In this scenario, it is not permissible for the coach to accompany the prospect from the institution's campus to the prospect's home.

c. Except as permitted in subparagraph b, if a prospect does not reside within the institution's state or within 100 miles of the institution's campus, it is not permissible for an institutional coaching staff member to accompany a prospect to or from an official visit.

[Reference: 13.6.2.2.3 (transportation on official paid visit -- coach accompanying prospect)]

Financial Aid/Voluntary Withdrawal

4. Athletically Related Aid Awarded to a Second Student-Athlete When Another Student-Athlete Voluntarily Withdraws (Divisions I and II). If an institution has not reached the institutional financial aid limitations in a particular sport as established by the Association for the division of which the institution is a member, the institution may award the financial aid of a student-athlete who voluntarily withdraws from the team to another student-athlete during that same term, even if the award will cause the institution to reach the institutional financial aid limit as imposed by the institution itself. The committee noted that the conference of which the institution is a member, at its discretion, may impose a more stringent standard to preclude the awarding of such aid to another student-athlete during the same term. [Reference: 15.3.4.1-(d) (reduction or cancellation permitted)]

Interpreter/Contact

5. Use of Interpreter During In-Person, Off-Campus Contact (Divisions I and II). An interpreter may be present during an institution's in-person, off-campus contact with a prospect or the prospect's parents (or legal guardians), provided the institution is not involved in any manner in making the arrangements for the use of the interpreter. [References: 13.01.4 (off-campus recruiting), 13.01.5.1 (recruiting by representatives of athletics interest -- Division I), 13.01.5.2 (recruiting by representatives of athletics interests -- Division II), 13.02.11-(c) (representative of athletics interests), 13.1.2.1 (permissible recruiters -- Division I), 13.1.2.1.1 (off-campus recruiters), 13.1.2.2 (permissible recruiters -- Division II) and 13.1.2.2.1 (off-campus recruiters)]

Contact/National Letter of Intent

6. Contacts During National Letter of Intent "Live Period" (Divisions I and II). An authorized institutional staff member may make an in-person, off-
campus contact with the prospect during a permissible contact period that occurs during the "live period" (i.e., the two-week period that begins at the time the institution issues the prospect a National Letter of Intent) for signing the National Letter of Intent, provided the contact is not made for the purpose of signing the National Letter of Intent or other commitment to attend the institution. [Reference: 13.1.7.2 (Letter-of-intent signing )]