The NCAA News - News and Features

January 27, 1997

Legislative assistance

The following is a summary of those 1997 Convention proposals that were adopted by the NCAA membership and have an immediate effective date:

1. Proposal No. 59

Bylaw 12.5.3 -- Media activities -- Divisions I and II.

During The Playing Season. During the playing season, a student-athlete may appear on local radio and television programs (e.g., coaches shows) or engage in writing projects when the student-athlete's appearance or participation is related in any way to athletics ability or prestige, provided the student-athlete does not receive any remuneration for the appearance or participation in the activity. The student-athlete shall not make any endorsement, expressed or implied, of any commercial product or service. The student-athlete may, however, receive legitimate and normal expenses directly related to the appearance or participation in the activity, provided it occurs within a 30-mile radius of the institution's main campus. The institution also may provide such expenses for a student-athlete to appear on radio or television in the general locale of an institution's away-from-home competition.

Outside The Playing Season. Outside the playing season, a student-athlete may participate in media activities (e.g., appearance on radio, television, in films or stage productions or participation in writing projects) when such appearance or participation is related in any way to athletics ability or prestige, provided the student-athlete is eligible academically to represent the institution and does not receive any remuneration for such appearance or participation. The student-athlete may not make any endorsement, expressed or implied, of any commercial product or service. The student-athlete may, however, receive legitimate and normal expenses directly related to such appearance or participation, provided the source of the expenses is the entity sponsoring the activity.

Bylaw 12.5.3 -- Media Activities -- Division III.

A student-athlete may participate in media activities (e.g., appearance on radio, television, in films or stage production, or participate in writing projects) when the student-athlete's appearance or participation is related in any way to athletics ability or prestige. A student-athlete may receive legitimate and normal expenses directly related to such an appearance or participation. The student-athlete may engage in such activities at any time and may receive compensation at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locale for similar services. Further, the student-athlete's name may be used to advertise his or her participation in such activity, provided the student-athlete's status as a student-athlete is not used for promotional purposes.

As a result of the adoption of Proposal No. 59, the provisions of Bylaw 16.1.7.4 are rendered moot, effective immediately.

2. Proposal No. 98

De minimus violations -- prospective and enrolled student-athletes.

NCAA institutions should note that with the adoption of Proposal No. 98, certain infractions will be considered de minimus violations which will not render a prospect or enrolled student-athlete ineligible, but will retain the fact that such an infraction will be considered an institutional violation. In this regard, when a de minimus violation occurs (pursuant to Proposal No. 98), an institution will not have the responsibility to declare the prospective or enrolled student-athlete ineligible; however, the institution shall remain obligated to report the infraction to the NCAA enforcement staff. The following is a list of those provisions specified in Proposal No. 98:

A. Bylaw 13.7.5.7.2 -- Meals on Official Visit. (Division III only)

B. Bylaw 13.11.1 -- Presence of Media During Recruiting Contact. (All Divisions)

C. Bylaw 13.11.2 -- Comments Prior to Signing. (All Divisions)

D. Bylaw 13.11.4 -- Publicity of Prospect's Visit. (All Divisions)

E. Bylaw 13.11.5 -- Introduction of Visiting Prospect. (All Divisions)

F. Bylaw 13.11.6 -- Publicizing Prospect's Intent to Enroll.(All Divisions)

G. Bylaw 13.11.8 -- Announcement of Signing. (All Divisions)

H. Bylaw 14.1.3.1 -- Student-Athlete Statement -- Content and Purpose. (All Divisions)

I. Bylaw 14.1.4.1 -- Drug-Testing Consent Form -- Content and Purpose. (All Divisions)

J. Bylaw 14.10.2 -- Squad-List Form. (All Divisions)

3. Proposal No. 106

Recruiting -- Electronic transmissions -- Division II.

NCAA Division II schools should note that with the adoption of Proposal No. 106 (effective immediately), facsimiles and electronic mail are subject to the restrictions on general correspondence, rather than the restrictions applicable to telephone calls. Accordingly, institutional personnel should make appropriate revisions to Bylaw 13.02.13 (telephone calls) and Bylaw 13.4.1-(b) (printed recruiting materials) to reflect this change.

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.