The NCAA News - News and Features

November 24, 1997

Legislative assistance

1997 Column No. 42 - NCAA Bylaws 13.02.7, 13.1.5.1.1, 30.11.1 and 30.11.2 - Evaluation period

NCAA Division I institutions should note that the time between November 20, 1997, and March 15, 1998, is an evaluation period for men's basketball, and the time between October 8, 1997, and the last day in February 1998 is an evaluation period for women's basketball. During these time periods, per Bylaw 13.02.7, a member institution may select not more than 40 evaluation days for each sport, which are to be selected at the discretion of the member institution and designated in writing to the office of the director of athletics. Further, Division I institutions should note that two coaches making evaluations on the same day shall use two evaluation days. The combined total of such days for all staff members in either men's or women's basketball shall not exceed 40.

Please note that during its August 12-13 meeting, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors used its authority pursuant to NCAA Constitution 4.2.2-(c) (duties and responsibilities) to amend Bylaw 30.11.1-(d) in the sport of Division I men's basketball and 30.11.2-(d) in the sport of Division I women's basketball to eliminate the restriction that coaches in those sports may visit a prospect's educational institution only one time during the entire basketball evaluation period that occurs during the academic year. Accordingly, during this time period, an institutional staff member now may visit a prospect's educational institution on not more than one day per week [Bylaws 30.11.1-(d) and 30.11.2-(d)].

Finally, pursuant to Bylaw 13.1.5.1.1, all visits to a prospect's educational institution must receive the approval of the executive officer of the prospect's educational institution. During its May 25, 1995, telephone conference, the former NCAA Interpretations Committee determined that an institutional staff member who visits a prospect's educational institution during a contact or evaluation period must receive approval of the executive officer of the prospect's educational institution only if the visit occurs during the academic day (i.e., the time period when classes are being conducted for all students). Accordingly, a coaching staff member who wishes to evaluate a prospect in a contest that occurs at that high school after the academic day would not need the approval of the executive officer of the prospect's educational institution to attend the contest.

NCAA Bylaw 16.8.1.6 - Incidental expenses at NCAA championships -- NGB championships in emerging sports and certified bowl games

NCAA institutions should note that pursuant to Bylaw 16.8.1.6, an institution may provide $20 per day to each member of the squad to cover unitemized incidental expenses during travel and practice for NCAA championship events or NGB championship events in emerging sports during a period limited to the maximum number of days of per diem allowed for the involved championship or, for certified postseason bowl contests, for a period not to exceed 10 days. The $20 per day may be provided only after the institution's team departs for or reports to the site of the championship or postseason bowl contest.

Further, pursuant to Bylaw 16.8.1.6.1, when a sponsoring agency provides a per diem in excess of a student-athlete's actual and necessary expenses, it is not permissible for the institution to provide the student-athlete with the cash differences between the amount allocated for per diem by the sponsoring agency and the actual cost of the individual's room-and-board expenses.

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.