National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

January 20, 1997

Legislative assistance

1997 Column No. 3NCAA Bylaws 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.

  • It is important to note that Bylaws 30.11.1 and 30.11.2 take precedence over the application of Bylaw 13.1.5.1.3. Accordingly, a Division I basketball coach may visit a high school on only one occasion during the time period that permits 40 evaluation days.

  • Exception: The only exception that permits attendance at a high school for more than one day during this time period is as follows:

    According to 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.

    Bylaw 17.1.5.4 Required day off

    Divisions I and II institutions should note that according to Bylaw 17.1.5.4, during the playing season, all countable athletically related activities (per 17.02.1.1) shall be prohibited during one calendar day per week, except during participation in one conference and postseason championship and any postseason certified bowl games or National Invitation Tournaments, and during participation in NCAA championships.

    Please note that during its December 5, 1996, telephone conference, the NCAA Interpretations Committee determined that it is permissible for an institution to provide its student-athletes with a day off on a day during the week that is outside the institution's declared playing season in order to satisfy the provisions of Bylaw 17.1.5.4, provided no countable athletics activities occur during that specific day. For example, if an institution declares its playing-season week as Sunday through Saturday and its first date of practice is scheduled on Wednesday, it is permissible for the institution to use the preceding Sunday, Monday or Tuesday of that week satisfying the day-off requirement, provided no countable athletics-related activities (e.g., weight-training and conditioning activities) occur on that day.

    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.