National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

February 24, 1997

Legislative assistance

1997 Column No. 81997 NCAA Convention
general eligibility proposals
1997 NCAA Convention Proposal No. 5
Eligibility -- Outside competition

NCAA institutions should note that with the adoption of 1997 Convention Proposal No. 5 (effective August 1, 1997), NCAA institutions no longer need to seek approval from the NCAA Council related to student-athletes' participation in specified national and international outside competition. NCAA institutions now are permitted to allow student-athletes to participate in any activities identified in NCAA Bylaws 14.7.6.1 or 14.7.6.2 without seeking approval from the NCAA Council through the national office. Please note that in international competition conducted under these circumstances, the team for whom the student-athlete participates must meet the definition of a national team as specified for in Bylaw 30.8.1.

NCAA Bylaw 30.8.1
National-team criteria

In applying the regulation permitting student-athletes to participate in international competition involving national teams represented in the competition, a national team is defined as one that meets the following criteria:

a. It is selected, organized and sponsored by the appropriate Group A member of the United States Olympic Committee (or, for student-athletes representing another nation, the equivalent organization of that nation, or, for student-athletes competing in a non-Olympic sport, the equivalent organization in that sport);

b. Selection for such a team is made on a national qualification basis either through a defined selective process or actual tryouts, publicly announced; and

c. The international competition in question requires that the entries officially represent their respective nations, although it is not necessary to require team scoring by nation.

1997 NCAA Convention Proposal No. 95
Eligibility -- Practice opportunities for Olympics

NCAA institutions should note that with the adoption of 1997 Convention Proposal No. 95 (effective August 1, 1997), a graduate student is permitted to practice with an institution's team, provided the following conditions are met:

a. The individual's participation is recommended by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) or the applicable national governing body;

b. The practice takes place only at the institution(s) the individual currently attends or previously attended as a graduate student;

c. The participation involves an individual sport or the sport of rowing or synchronized swimming;

d. The individual does not participate in any coaching activities; and

e. In the case of a student-athlete with eligibility remaining, the participation occurs during the academic year immediately preceding the Olympic Games.

1997 NCAA Convention Proposal No. 96
Outside competition -- NCAA Division I soccer and women's volleyball

NCAA Division I institutions should note that with the adoption of 1997 Convention Proposal No. 96 (effective August 1, 1997), it is permissible for student-athletes in the sport of men's and women's soccer and women's volleyball to compete on outside teams during the spring outside of the institution's playing and practice season, according to the following conditions:

a. Such participation occurs no earlier than May 1;

b. The number of student-athletes from any one institution does not exceed the applicable limit set forth in Bylaw 17.30.2;

c. The competition is approved by the institution's director or athletics;

d. No class time is missed for practice activities or for competition; and

e. In the sport of women's volleyball, all practice and competition is confined to doubles tournaments in outdoor volleyball, either on sand or grass.

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.