The NCAA News - News and FeaturesSeptember 22, 1997
Legislative assistance
1997 Column No. 33NCAA Bylaw 12.5.5
Use of logos on equipment, uniforms and apparel
NCAA institutions should note that a student-athlete may use athletics equipment or wear athletics apparel that bears the trademark or logo of an athletics equipment or apparel manufacturer or distributor in athletics competition and pre- and postgame activities (e.g., celebrations on the court, pre- or postgame press conferences), provided the following criteria are met:
(a) Athletics equipment (e.g., shoes, helmets, baseball bats and gloves, batting or golf gloves, hockey and lacrosse sticks, goggles and skis) shall bear only the manufacturer's normal label or trademark as it is used on all such items for sale to the general public.
The application of 12.5.5-(a) requiring that athletics equipment bear only the manufacturer's normal label or trademark that is used on all such items for sale to the general public would apply to racing shells utilized in the sport of rowing, if the institution includes rowing in those sports used to meet the minimum criteria for sports sponsorship.
(b) The student-athlete's institution's official uniform (including numbered racing bibs and warm-ups) and all other items of apparel (e.g., socks, head bands, T-shirts, wrist bands, visors or hats, swim caps and towels) shall bear only a single manufacturer's or distributor's normal label or trademark (regardless of the visibility of the label or trademark), not to exceed 21/4 square inches in area (i.e., rectangle, square, parallelogram) including any additional material (e.g., patch) surrounding the normal trademark or logo.
Design elements considered as additional logo: An institution's official uniform cannot bear a design element similar to the manufacturer's logo (e.g., Adidas soccer shirt bearing three descending strips on the shirt's shoulder, Umbro soccer shirt with the Umbro diamond repeated around the rib knit collar) that is in addition to another logo or that is contrary to the size restriction of Bylaw 12.5.5-(b).
Wearing apparel items (e.g., hat, visor, shirt) that display logos during competition: A student-athlete representing an institution in intercollegiate competition is limited to wearing apparel items that include only the logo (not to exceed 21/4 square inches) of an apparel manufacturer or distributor. The student-athlete may not wear any apparel (e.g., hat, visor, shirt) that identifies any other entity other than the student-athlete's institution.
Apparel manufacturer's or distributor's logo on towels: The restriction that a single manufacturer's or distributor's normal label or trademark on items of apparel may not exceed 21/4 square inches is applicable as it relates to towels, only to swim towels and towels that are worn by student-athletes while participating in competition.
Laundry label: If an institution's uniform or any item of apparel worn by a student-athlete in competition contains washing instructions on the outside of the apparel on a patch that also includes the manufacturer's or distributor's logo or trademark, the entire patch must be contained within a four-sided geometrical figure (i.e., rectangle, square, parallelogram) that does not exceed 21/4 square inches.
Pre- or postgame activities: The restriction on the size of a manufacturer's or distributor's logo is applicable to all apparel worn by student-athletes during the conduct of the institution's competition, which includes any pre- or postgame activities (e.g., postgame celebrations on the court, pre- or postgame press conferences) involving student-athletes.
Please note that it is necessary to consult the playing rules for each sport to determine if a sport has a more restrictive standard regarding the use of logos on uniforms.
Finally, violations of Bylaw 12.5.5 shall be considered institutional violations per 2.8.1; however, they shall not affect the student-athlete's eligibility.
NCAA Bylaw 17.1.6.2.1
Skill instruction
NCAA Divisions I and II institutions should note that participation by student-athletes in individual skill-related instruction in sports other than football is permitted outside the institution's declared playing season, provided not more than three student-athletes from the same team are involved in skill-related instruction with their coaches at any one time in any facility and the student-athlete requests the instruction. Thus, it is not permissible for more than three student-athletes from the same team to be involved in such sessions at any one time in any facility. Further, student-athletes are limited to two hours per week of skill-related instruction under this regulation. Please note that this rule applies only during the academic year outside of the playing season, and does not apply during any institution's vacation period, either during the summer or the academic year.
This material was provided by the membership 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 or Kristen L. Davis, membership services representatives, at the NCAA national office. This information is available on the Collegiate Sports Network.
|
