The NCAA News - News & Features

Division II membership will consider 21-year-age rule

The proposed legislation, which was recommended to the Council by the NCAA Division II Steering Committee, is identical to a rule that went into effect August 1 in Division I.

The Division I rule, adopted in 1995 as one of the NCAA Legislative Review Committee's proposals for deregulation and simplification of Bylaw 14, requires that an athlete who participates in organized competition after turning 21 but before enrolling in college for the first time will be charged with a season of competition for any such competition during each 12-month period following that birthday.

The Division II Steering Committee recommended extending the Division I rule to Division II following discussion during its August 13-14 meeting in Hot Springs, Virginia, of alternatives for restricting prospective student-athletes' organized sports participation after the 21st birthday.

The rule's purpose is to minimize competitive advantages that certain student-athletes may gain as a result of participation in organized competition before enrolling in college. Such student-athletes may benefit from experience or physical strength gained in such competition.

Such a rule potentially could affect international student-athletes' participation in Division II programs. Older international student-athletes have been prominent competitors in recent Division II championships in several sports, but if a 21-year-age rule is adopted, such athletes' eligibility for participation could be affected.

Reclassification of sport

In another action, the Council agreed to sponsor proposed legislation that would prevent a Division II institution seeking to reclassify a specific sport in Division I from participating in the Division II championship in that sport during the time period between the petition and when reclassification goes into effect.

Legislation already exists that prevents an institution seeking to reclassify its entire program to Division I from participating in Division II championships. Under Bylaw 20.5.3.1, a Division II institution seeking reclassification for all sports becomes ineligible for Division II championships on the date that it petitions for reclassification in Division I.

Perceiving inconsistency between the handling of such institutions and those seeking to reclassify only one sport, the Division II Steering Committee recommended that Bylaw 20.4.1.2 be modified to make a single sport ineligible for Division II competition following a petition for reclassification of that sport in Division I.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Division II Steering Committee
August 13-14/Hot Springs, Virginia

* Agreed to endorse Division II restructuring proposals proposed for sponsorship at the 1997 Convention by the Division II Presidents Council Transition Team and Division II Management Council Transition Team. Included are proposals to create a Division II Administrative Committee and Division II Budget/Finance Committee; establish a Division II committee structure, including eight general committees as well as sports committees for sports in which a Division II championship is conducted; refine the organizational structure and duties of the Presidents and Management Councils; and change the effective date for Division II legislative-sponsorship requirements from August 1, 1997, to immediately upon adjournment of the 1997 Convention. The NCAA Council subsequently agreed to join the NCAA Presidents Commission as sponsors of the proposals.

* Discussed but took no action on a Division II Management Council Transition Team recommendation that Division II provisional members be required to complete a compliance "assessment" before earning active Division II membership (see August 19 issue of The NCAA News).

* Endorsed enhancement of the Division II Institutional Self-Study Guide for the purpose of making the ISSG the focus of efforts to strengthen Division II rules education and compliance. The Council subsequently agreed, using its authority under Constitution 6.3.1, to enact proposed revisions in the content and administration of the ISSG. The revisions include the addition of questions regarding diversity and sportsmanship and ethical conduct, as well as adoption of a requirement that institutions attach to the ISSG a written plan for addressing compliance problems identified in the study. Institutions will continue to complete the ISSG every five years and retain the completed ISSG and related documents on file, and institutional chief executive officers will verify completion of the ISSG in writing to the NCAA national office.

* Recommended to the Council that it sponsor a proposal at the 1997 Convention to modify the Division II philosophy statement (see August 19 issue of the News). The Council agreed to sponsor the proposed legislation.

* Denied a request by the University of Hawaii, Hilo, for a waiver of legislation requiring Division II institutions that sponsor an event in Hawaii or Alaska to reimburse participating institutions for expenses in order for the event to be exempted from contest-limitations legislation. The steering committee also denied Hawaii-Hilo's request for a waiver of the requirement that an institution managing such an event must compete in the event in order to receive a contest-limitations exemption. Hawaii-Hilo sponsors a women's basketball tournament for Division I institutions and does not have a women's basketball program.