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Legislative assistance

1996 Column No. 28

Revisions to NCAA Bylaw 17.5 (basketball)
1996-97 NCAA Manual

Member institutions should note the following adjustments to Bylaw 17.5, which relate to the playing and practice season in the sport of basketball:

1. Divisions II and III institutions should note that Bylaw 17.5.3.1-(d) is applicable to all divisions. The reference to Divisions II and III in the margined voting notation inadvertently was omitted in the 1996-97 Manual. Thus, it is permissible for Divisions II and III institutions to participate in basketball games (in the institution's home arena) against a "club" member of USA Basketball and a foreign team after November 1. Division III institutions should note that it is not permissible to exempt from its maximum number of basketball contests any game against a "club" member of USA Basketball. (Divisions II and III only.)

2. The reference in Bylaw 17.5.5.2.2-(f) should be changed to 17.5.5.2.2-(g) [as opposed to 17.5.5.2-(f)]. Accordingly, Bylaw 17.5.5.2.2.-(f) should read as follows:

"Foreign Team In U.S. An exhibition contest against a foreign team in the United States played in the arena in which the member institution regularly plays its home contests. In Division I, an institution may play two exhibition contests against a foreign team in the United States during any year in which it does not utilize the exemption set forth in 17.5.5.2.2-(g) or may play one exhibition contest against a foreign team in the United States and one exhibition contest against a 'club' member of USA Basketball;" (Division I only.)

3. The reference in Bylaw 17.5.5.2.2-(g) should be changed to 17.5.5.2.2-(f) [as opposed to 15.5.5.2-(e)]. Accordingly, Bylaw 17.5.5.2.2-(g) should read as follows:

"USA Basketball Club. For Divisions I and II only, an exhibition contest against a "club" member of USA Basketball played in the arena in which the member institution regularly plays its home contests. In Division I, an institution may play two exhibition contests against a 'club' member of USA Basketball during any year in which it does not utilize the exemption set forth in 17.5.5.2.2-(f) or may play one exhibition contests against a 'club' member of USA Basketball and one exhibition contest against a foreign team in the United States;" (Division I only.)

4. The reference in 17.5.5.4 should be changed to 17.5.5.2.2-(e) [as opposed to 17.5.5.2.2-(h)]. Accordingly, 17.5.5.4 should read:

"Conference Exception. The limitations under 17.5.5.2.2-(e) shall not apply to regular-season contests between two members of the same NCAA conference." (Division I only.)

5. The Division I column in Figure 17-7 (Exemptions: Basketball Contests) should be amended under the Once-in-Four-Year Exemptions category to indicate that an institution may not exempt more than one of the events listed in that column toward the maximum number of basketball contests during any academic year, and may not participate again in that event within a four-year period. Additionally, the asterisk after item No. 4 (foreign tour) in that category should be removed, inasmuch as such a designation is redundant (i.e., a Division I institution that exempts contests on a foreign tour may not participate in another event in the once-in-four-year category during the same academic year.) Accordingly, this column should now appear as follows:

Once-in-Four-Year Exemptions (not more than one opportunity during the same academic year) - 1) Alaska Tournament [17.5.5.3.1-(a)] OR 2) Puerto Rico Tournament [17.5.5.3.1-(b)] OR 3) Preseason NIT and Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament [17.5.5.3.1-(c)] OR Tip-Off Classic [17.5.5.3.1-(d)] OR BCA Basketball Classic [17.5.5.3.1-(g)] OR 4)Foreign tour [17.5.5.3.2-(a)] OR 5) Division I member in Hawaii [17.5.5.3.1-(e)] OR 6) Division II member in Hawaii [17.5.5.3.1-(f)].

The following examples are meant to illustrate the application of the Division I column in Figure 17-7 in the Once-in-Four-Year Exemptions category. These lists are examples only, and do not represent all of the possible combinations of exemption opportunities:

POSSIBLE EXEMPTIONS
(Division I only)

1996-97 - Tip-Off Classic - Alaska Tournament - Tournament sponsored by Division II member in Hawaii. 1997-98 - Preseason NIT - Puerto Rico Tournament - Tournament sponsord by Division I member in Hawaii. 1998-99 - BCA Basketball Classic - Preseason NIT - Alaska Tournament. 1999-00 - Tournament sponsored by Division I member in Hawaii - Foreign tour (tour taken during summer of 1999) - Puerto Rico Tournament.

This material was provided by the legislative services staff as an aid to member institutions. If an institution has a question or comment regarding this column, such correspondence should be directed to Richard C. Perko, legislative assistant, at the NCAA national office. This information is available on the Collegiate Sports Network.