The NCAA News - News & Features

Special events situation is clarified

The Council issued three interpretations that altered previous applications of the relevant legislation by the NCAA Special Events Committee:

* Not more than one Division I institution from a conference shall be permitted to compete in an exempted event. The Special Events Committee had held that more than one institution from a conference could participate in an exempted event, as long as only one used the contest exemption.

* That an institution may compete in an exempted event only once in a four-year period. The Special Events Committee had held that an institution may compete every year in an exempted event, so long as it used the contest exemption only once in four years.

* That an institution from Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico must compete in an exempted event in those locales in order for the event to be certified.

A staff review has determined that the events approved for the 1996-97 academic year will not be affected by the first two interpretations. Review continues on how the legislation applies to certain events in Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico.

Several events -- including a golf tournament scheduled for the last weekend in October and the Great Eight Basketball Festival -- would have been required to make last-minute changes if the Council's interpretation had been strictly applied to this year's events (the University of Kentucky and Mississippi State University -- both from the Southeastern Conference -- are to appear in the Great Eight in early December, for example).

However, it was determined that no institution or event should be disadvantaged for having relied on information supplied by the Special Events Committee. Any 1996-97 event with more than one team from a conference will be permitted to go on as planned as an exempted event.

Regarding the once-in-four-years matter, it was determined that there is no immediate concern since this is the first year for the legislation to apply.

However, institutions are advised that the Council's interpretation will apply in the future and that no school will be permitted to compete in an exempted event more than once in a four-year period, regardless of whether it uses the contest exemption.

Likewise, beginning in 1997-98, not more than one institution from a conference will be permitted to compete in an exempted event in a given year.