The NCAA News - News and Features

February 3, 1997

Interpretations Committee minutes
Conference No. 15

December 17, 1996

Acting for the NCAA Council, the committee issued the following interpretations:

Academic Counseling

1. Institution's Athletics Department Producing Portfolio. It is permissible for an institution's athletics department to produce a portfolio or publication (e.g., corporate playbook) that includes the resumes and pictures of student-athletes and distribute the publication to potential employers in order to assist the student-athletes in securing employment following graduation. [References: NCAA Bylaws 16.02.3 (extra benefit) and 16.3.2-(d) (academic and other support services -- permissible)]

Financial Aid/Professional Organization

2. Financial Aid to Professional Athlete. An institution, at its discretion, may (but is not required to) reduce or cancel a student-athlete's institutional financial aid if the student-athlete participates for a professional sports organization and receives only actual and necessary travel, and room and board expenses (i.e., the student-athlete does not sign a written contract with or receive a salary from the professional team). [References: 15.3.1.4 (institutional financial aid to professional athlete) and 15.3.4.1-(a) (reduction or cancellation permitted)]

Official Visits/Entertainment

3. Entertainment on Official Visits (Divisions I, II and III). It is permissible for a student host to use the entertainment allowance to purchase conference tournament, NCAA championship or other postseason contest tickets for a prospect on an official visit to the institution's campus, provided the tickets are purchased in the same manner as any other member of the general public. [References: 13.02.5.1-(e) [permissible recruitment activities for enrolled student-athletes (official visits)], 13.7.5.2.1 (conference tournaments), 13.7.5.2.2 (NCAA championships or other postseason contests) and 13.7.5.5 (student host)]

Divisions I-A and I-AA Football/Off-Campus Recruiting

4. Limitations on Number of Coaches Who May Engage in Off-Campus Contact and Evaluation of Prospects -- Divisions I-A and I-AA Football (Divisions I-A and I-AA). The principles set forth in 11.7.5.1.1.1 related to transportation delays and 11.7.5.1.1.2 related to combining nonrecruiting travel with a recruiting trip are applicable to the limitations on the number of coaches who may engage in off-campus contact and evaluation of prospects during any one calendar week in the sport of Divisions I-A and I-AA football. [References: 11.7.2.2 (contact and evaluation of prospects limited to full-time coaches), 11.7.3.2 (off-campus contact and evaluation of prospects), 11.7.5.1.1.1 (transportation delay) and 11.7.5.1.1.2 (recruiting travel combined with other travel)]

Core Curriculum/Time Limitation

5. Use of Core Courses Subsequent to Completion of High-School Graduation Requirements (Division I). The committee confirmed that the provisions of 14.3.1.3.1-(a) are applicable to a prospect who has completed all necessary requirements for high-school graduation. Thus, any additional core courses used to satisfy the initial-eligibility core-curriculum requirements must be taken at the high school from which the student has met the requirements for graduation. [Reference: 14.3.1.3.1-(a) (core-curriculum time limitation)]