The NCAA News - News and Features

February 23, 1998

Legislative assistance

1998 Column No. 8NCAA Bylaws 13.02.4.4, 30.11.1-(f)-(1),

30.11.2-(f), 30.11.3-(h)-(1) and 30.11.4-(h)-(1)

Dead period -- men's and women's basketball

Division I institutions should note that according to NCAA Manual Figures 13-1 and 13-2, dead periods exist in the sport of men's basketball from March 26, 1998, through noon March 31, 1998, as well as from April 6, 1998, through April 9, 1998. Additionally, in the sport of Division I women's basketball, dead periods exist from March 25, 1998, through noon March 30, 1998, and from April 6, 1998, through April 9, 1998.

Division II institutions should note that according to Figures 13-3 and 13-4, in the sport of men's basketball, dead periods exist from March 26, 1998, through noon March 31, 1998, and from April 6, 1998, at 7 a.m. through April 8, 1998, at 7 a.m. Additionally, in the sport of Division II women's basketball, a dead period exists from April 6, 1998, at 7 a.m. through April 8, 1998, at 7 a.m.

Pursuant to Bylaw 13.02.4.4, during a contact, it is not permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts or evaluations on or off the member institution's campus or to permit official or unofficial visits by prospects to the institution's campus. Further, during a dead period, a coaching staff member may not visit a prospect's educational institution nor serve as a speaker or attend a meeting or banquet (at which prospects are in attendance). Finally, a coaching staff member may not attend a high-school all-star contest that takes place during a dead period.

High-school all-star games

NCAA institutions should note that in accordance with NCAA Bylaw 14.6, a student-athlete shall be denied the first year of intercollegiate athletics competition if, following completion of high-school eligibility in the student-athlete's sport and prior to the student-athlete's high-school graduation, the student-athlete competes in more than two all-star football contests or two all-star basketball contests.

In this regard, pursuant to Bylaw 30.2.1.1, a high-school all-star contest is any contest in the sport of football or basketball that meets the following criteria:

1. The teams participating in the contest involve individuals who have completed their high-school eligibility in the sport and have not yet enrolled in and attended classes during a regular term at a collegiate institution.

2. The contest is scheduled and publicized in advance.

3. The competition is sponsored and promoted by an individual, organization or agency.

4. The individuals are selected for participation in the contest on an individual basis and have not yet competed together previously as members of a team that played a regular schedule of games in an organized recreation or interscholastic program.

Contests conducted under the criteria listed in Bylaw 30.2.1.2 shall not be considered all-star competition for purposes of Bylaw 14.6 if one or more of the following conditions are applicable:

1. The contest occurs within a framework of a regularly scheduled recreational program involving participants solely from the community in which the sponsor is located;

2. The competition is limited solely to participants from the community in which the sponsor is located and no revenue, including gate receipts, concessions, program sales or contributions, is generated from the contest;

3. The competition is scheduled within the framework of an established cultural exchange program involving other educational activities; or

4. The contest is scheduled in conjunction with developmental competition sponsored by the national governing body of amateur basketball (USA Basketball) or an active member thereof.

During its February 23, 1981, telephone conference, the NCAA officers (the group that was responsible at that time for issuing official interpretations between meetings of the NCAA Council), determined that all-star contests involving prospective student-athletes would be subject to the high-school all-star criteria even if other individuals whose eligibility is not affected (i.e., prospective student-athletes who have not exhausted their eligibility for high-school competition) are involved as participants. Accordingly, if a high-school basketball all-star contest involved some individuals who have completed their high-school eligibility and some individuals who have not completed their high-school eligibility, the participants who have exhausted high-school eligibility would be subject to the limitations set forth in Bylaw 14.6.

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.