The NCAA News - News and Features

June 2, 1997

Legislative assistance

1997 Column No. 22
Procedures for amending NCAA legislation

Divisions II and III NCAA Divisions II and III institutions should note that a memorandum was sent to chief executive officers May 5, 1997, summarizing the procedures and deadlines for submitting amendments for consideration at the 92nd NCAA Convention to be held January 10-14, 1998, in Atlanta. This column is intended to remind administrators at Divisions II and III institutions of certain key components of the legislative process.

1. Number of sponsors -- Division II

a. Amendments to NCAA bylaws affecting Division II may be submitted by 15 or more active Division II member institutions or two active Division II member conferences. Amendments must be submitted either by written or wired transmission received at the NCAA national office (as distinguished from the post office or a fast-mail delivery center, for example) by 5 p.m. (Central time) Tuesday, July 15, 1997. Please note that facsimile (fax) transmissions should be submitted to the NCAA legislative services staff not later than 5 p.m. (Central time) July 15 at 913/339-0032.

b. As referenced above, at least two chief elected or executive officers (e.g., conference commissioners) of member conferences with voting privileges may submit legislation on behalf of 15 or more active conference members, provided the amendment specifies the members that are sponsoring the amendment. The amendment also must be signed by the president who chairs the conference's official presidential administrative group or at least two chief executive officers of the conference's member institutions if the conference has no presidential administrative group.

2. Number of sponsors -- Division III

a. Amendments to NCAA bylaws affecting Division III may be submitted by eight or more active Division III member institutions or one active Division III member conference on behalf of its member institutions. Amendments must be submitted either by written or wired transmission received at the NCAA national office (as distinguished from the post office or a fast-mail delivery center, for example) by 5 p.m. (Central time) Tuesday, July 15, 1997. Please note that facsimile (fax) transmissions should be submitted to the NCAA legislative services staff not later than 5 p.m. (Central time) July 15 at 913/339-0032.

b. As referenced above, the chief elected or executive officer (e.g., conference commissioner) of a member conference with voting privileges may submit legislation on behalf of eight or more active conference members, provided the amendment specifies the members that are sponsoring the amendment. The amendment also must be signed by the president who chairs the conference's official presidential administrative group or at least two chief executive officers of the conference's member institutions if the conference has no presidential administrative group.

3. Use of proper forms

a. The forms attached to the May 5, 1997, memorandum, or copies or facsimiles thereof, should be used. A separate form or copy should be used for each amendment submitted. [Additional copies may be obtained by contacting the membership services staff at the NCAA national office.]

b. Please note that there is a separate form to be used if the institution is submitting an amendment on behalf of a member institution and a separate form to be used for submitting an amendment on behalf of a member conference.

4. Intent statement

A clear and concise statement of intent must be provided, stating what the proposed amendment is designed to accomplish. The intent statement is not to be used to argue the merits of the proposal.

5. Proper submission

a. The proposal should identify the specific legislative provision(s) to be amended, based on the 1997-98 Division II or III Manual.

b. Proposed changes in the current language of the legislation should be indicated by typing hyphens through the wording to be deleted and underlining the wording to be added.

6. Effective date

All amendments shall become effective not earlier than the first day of August following adoption of the proposal by the Convention (i.e., August 1, 1998). However, a voting delegate may propose an immediate or alternative effective date to a proposal. This immediate or alternative effective date must be approved at the Convention by a two-thirds majority of all delegates present and eligible to vote on the proposal.

7. Contact person

All amendments sponsored by the membership shall designate a primary contact person, who does not have to be from among the proposal's sponsors. The designation should include the contact person's address and telephone number.

8. Rationale statement

All amendments (except for resolutions) shall include a separate statement of rationale, not to exceed 200 words in length. The rationale statement may be used to argue the merits of the proposal. The sponsors shall make any changes in the rationale statement by the deadline for the sponsor-modification process (i.e., September 15).

Outside competition

Coach's involvement

NCAA institutions should note that during its March 17, 1997, telephone conference, the NCAA Interpretations Committee determined that a member institution's coaching staff member may be involved with an outside team that includes student-athletes with eligibility remaining from the coach's institution who participate in a sport other than the coach's sport.

Additionally, according to Bylaw 17.02.1.2.2, in individual sports only in Divisions I and II, a coach may participate in individual workout sessions with student-athletes from the coach's team during the summer, provided the request for such assistance is initiated by the student-athlete. Please note that this regulation would not permit a member institution's coach to supervise or be involved in any manner with an individual student-athlete from that institution's team in summer competition (e.g., caddying during a summer golf competition for a student-athlete), unless the coach is involved as a coach of an outside team of which the student-athlete is a member and the outside team is entered in the competition.

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.