National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News Features

November 25, 1996

Legislative assistance

NCAA Bylaws 13.1.5.1.3, 13.1.5.1.3.1, 30.11.1 and 30.11.2
Visits during evaluation period -- Division I basketball

NCAA Division I institutions should note that the time between November 21, 1996, and March 15, 1997, is an evaluation period for men's basketball, and the time between October 8, 1996, and the last day in February 1997 is an evaluation period for women's basketball. During these time periods, a member institution may select not more than 40 evaluation days for each sport (per Bylaw 13.02.7), which are to be selected at the discretion of the member institution and designated in writing in the office of the director of athletics. During this time period, an institutional staff member may visit a prospect's educational institution on not more than one calendar day [Bylaws 30.11.1-(d) and 30.11.2-(c)].

Pursuant to Bylaw 13.02.7, an evaluation day is defined as one coach engaged in the evaluation of any prospect on one day (12:01 a.m. to midnight); two coaches making evaluations on the same day shall use two evaluation days. The combined total of such days for all staff members in either men's or women's basketball shall not exceed 40.

Pursuant to Bylaw 13.1.5.1.1, all visits to a prospect's educational institution must receive the approval of the executive officer of the prospect's educational institution. During its May 25, 1995, telephone conference, the NCAA Interpretations Committee determined that an institutional staff member who visits a prospect's educational institution during a contact or evaluation period must receive approval of the executive officer of the prospect's educational institution only if the visit occurs during the academic day (i.e., the time period when classes are being conducted for all students). Accordingly, a coaching staff member who wishes to evaluate a prospect in a contest that occurs at that high school after the academic day would not need the approval of the executive officer of the prospect's educational institution to attend the contest.

The application of Bylaws 30.11.1 and 30.11.2 (as referenced above) renders a portion of Bylaw 13.1.5.1.3 moot. This regulation states that in Division I basketball, institutional staff members may visit a prospect's educational institution on not more than one occasion during a particular week within an evaluation period. This language incorrectly implies that a coaching staff member may visit a prospect's educational institution during an evaluation period on more than one occasion. In this regard, the only evaluation period to which Bylaw 13.1.5.1.3 applies is that time period listed above that permits an institution 40 evaluation days to be selected at the institution's discretion. Since this time period [as referenced in Bylaws 30.11.1-(d) and 30.11.2-(c)] permits an institutional staff member to visit a prospect's educational institution on only one calendar date, the language in Bylaw 13.1.5.1.3 that permits one visit per week is misleading.

Further, during its August 5, 1996, telephone conference, the Interpretations Committee determined that the provisions of Bylaw 13.1.5.1.3, which restrict institutional staff members to visiting a prospect's educational institution on not more than on occasion during a particular week within an evaluation period in Division I basketball, are not applicable during the summer (i.e., during the July evaluation period). Accordingly, Division I institutions should note that in accordance with Bylaw 13.1.5.1.3, an institutional staff member may visit a prospect's educational institution on not more than one occasion.

Additionally, per Bylaw 13.1.5.1.3.1, a visit to a prospect's educational institution on consecutive days during a particular week to observe a tournament or a tier of a tournament shall count as a single visit. During this 40-day evaluation period from November 21, 1996, to March 15, 1997, in men's basketball and from October 8, 1996, through the last day of February in women's basketball, if an institutional member visits a prospect's educational institution on consecutive days during a particular week to observe a tournament or a tier tournament, each day at the prospect's educational institution counts as one of the permissible 40 days of evaluation.

Correction
1996 Legislative Assistance Column No. 40

NCAA Division III member institutions should note that information that appeared in 1996 Legislative Assistance Column No. 40 (reference: November 11, 1996, edition of The NCAA News) incorrectly states the conditions under which a Division III institution shall be permitted to host a high-school contest in all sports held in conjunction with intercollegiate contests. In this regard, each of the items listed under No. 1 in that column do not apply to Division III institutions. Accordingly, a Division III institution shall be permitted to host a high-school contest in all sports held in conjunction with an intercollegiate contest, provided the following conditions are met:

a. All high schools, preparatory schools or two-year colleges must be located within a 50-mile radius of the institution hosting the event.

b. All such competition must occur on the institution's campus.

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.