The NCAA News - News and Features

March 23, 1998

Legislative Assistance

Male students receiving travel expenses while involved with female teams

Institutions should note that in accordance with NCAA Bylaw 16.8.1.2, it is permissible to provide actual and necessary travel expenses (e.g., transportation, lodging and meals) to a student-athlete for participation in athletics competition, provided the student-athlete is representing the institution (competes in the uniform of the institution) and is eligible for collegiate competition in the applicable sport. Thus, it is not permissible to provide a male student (who is practicing with a women's team) to receive travel expenses to an away-from-home competition, inasmuch as such students will not be representing the women's team in the competition.

During its May 4, 1993, meeting, the former NCAA Interpretations Committee determined that male students who practice with the institution's women's teams on an occasional basis must be verified as eligible for practice in accordance with NCAA Bylaw 14.1.5.1 and have eligibility remaining under the five-year/10-semester rule. Further, if male students practice on a regular basis with the institution's women's teams, those male students must be certified in accordance with all applicable NCAA eligibility regulations (e.g., the individual must be enrolled in a minimum full-time program of studies, the individual must sign a drug-testing consent form and must be included on the institution's squad list).

Additionally, during its October 22, 1992, meeting, the former Interpretations Committee determined that it is not permissible for an institution to provide male students financial assistance (i.e., room and board, tuition and fees, and books) in return for practicing with the woman's team, nor is it permissible for an institution to provide male students' room and board to remain on campus during the vacation period to participate in practice sessions with the women's team.

Finally, although it is permissible for a male student to serve as a team manager for a women's team, the individual's duties should be limited to those traditionally performed as managers. It is not permissible to place a male student in the position of a manager for the purpose of receiving expenses to practice with the women's team on away-from-home competitions.

NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1.1 -- Scouting prohibition -- Division I

Division I institutions should note that pursuant to NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1.1 in Division I basketball, football and women's volleyball, off-campus, in-person scouting of opponents is prohibited, except as provided in 11.6.1.1.1. As set forth in the rationale statement of the legislation, the scouting of opponents in those sports will occur through the mutual exchange of each institution's game films/videotapes. Further, during the discussion of the legislation at the 1994 NCAA Convention, the sponsors indicated that the proposal also precludes an institution from employing or paying the expenses of someone else, including professional scouting services to scout an opponent. Consistent with that intent, it is not permissible for a Division I institution in the sports of football, basketball and women's volleyball to purchase or obtain game films/videotapes from any entity other than its opponent. [Reference: 1994 NCAA Convention Proceedings, page 74]

Finally, please note that as set forth in 11.6.1.1.1, an institution may pay the expenses of a member of its coaching staff to attend a regular-season or postseason tournament in which the institution's intercollegiate team is a participant. Under such circumstances, the individual may scout future tournament opponents also participating in the same tournament at the same site without being subject to the scouting prohibition.

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.