The NCAA News - News Features

Legislative assistance

NCAA Division I institutions should note that the time from December 1, 1996, through February 1, 1997, is considered to be a contact period. According to NCAA Bylaw 30.11.5-(b), an institution is permitted seven in-person, off-campus contacts per prospective student-athlete during this period with no more than one permitted in any one calendar week (defined as Sunday through Saturday) or partial week.

The following are exceptions to this contact period:

1. December 24, 1996, through January 1, 1997, is considered a dead period;

2. The day before the second registration day for the annual Convention of the American Football Coaches Association and the day after the completion of the Convention are considered a quiet period. Accordingly, January 5 and January 9, 1997, are considered a quiet period; and

3. The period from 12:01 a.m. on the second day of registration of the annual Convention of the American Football Coaches Association to 11:59 p.m. on the day of the completion of the Convention is considered a dead period. Accordingly, January 6 through January 8, 1997, is considered a dead period.

Involvement of Division I head football coach

NCAA Divisions I-A and I-AA institutions should note that in accordance with Bylaws 13.02.3.1, 13.02.6.1.1, 13.1.9.7 and 13.1.9.8, any visit to a prospect's high school, preparatory school or two-year college that occurs during the permissible contact period shall count as a contact in the sport of football (for all prospects in that sport at that educational institution) for that particular week (rather than a countable evaluation) even if no contact is made with a prospect. Further, as set forth in Bylaw 13.1.2.7, in Division I-A football, a head coach may make in-person, off-campus contact with a prospect or the prospect's parents or legal guardians only during one calendar day. Such contact may occur both at the site of the prospect's educational institution and away from institutional grounds. Thus, if an institution's head coach observes a prospect participating in any event (e.g., high-school all-star event) that is conducted at the prospect's educational institution during the contact period, such observation would count as an off-campus contact with the prospect. Under such circumstances, it would not be permissible for the head football coach to observe the prospect participating in the event on more than one calendar day (defined as 12:01 a.m. to midnight). Further, the head football coach would be prohibited from making any other off-campus contact (e.g., home visits) with the prospect.

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.