The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- December 21, 1998

Legislative assistance

1998 Column No. 39Bylaws 14.1.6.2.1.2 and 14.1.8

Status of eligibility between terms

NCAA institutions should note that in accordance with Bylaw 14.1.6.2.1.2, to be eligible for competition that takes place between terms, a student-athlete shall: (1) have been registered for the required minimum full-time load at the conclusion of the term immediately preceding the date of competition if the student is continuing enrollment, or (2) be accepted for enrollment as a regular full-time student for the regular term immediately following the date of competition. Further, in accordance with Bylaw 14.1.8, if a student-athlete's academic eligibility changes at the end of a quarter or semester, the student-athlete shall become eligible or ineligible on the date the appropriate institutional authority officially certifies his or her eligibility. In a case in which the student-athlete becomes eligible at the end of the term, the earliest date the student-athlete can become eligible to compete is the day after the date of the last scheduled examination listed in the institution's official calendar for the term that is ending. In a case in which the student-athlete becomes ineligible, the ineligibility shall become effective not later than the first day of classes of the following semester or quarter. In any case, if the student-athlete is academically eligible to compete at the time of the student-athlete's or the institution's first participation in an NCAA championship, he or she remains eligible for the remainder of the championship.

Bylaw 11.02.6

Volunteer coach in sports other than basketball and football -- Division I

Division I institutions should note that in accordance with Bylaw 11.02.6, in sports other than football and basketball, a volunteer coach is permitted only to receive the following: a maximum of two complimentary tickets to home athletics contests in the coach's sport; and compensation from outside the athletics department for performing duties for another department or office of the institution provided: (1) the compensation received for those duties is commensurate with that received by others performing those same or similar assignments; (2) the time devoted to those duties is consistent with the time devoted by others receiving commensurate compensation for the same or similar assignments; and (3) the individual is qualified for and is performing the duties for which the individual is compensated.

Further, please note that a volunteer coach is prohibited from contacting and evaluating prospects off campus or from scouting opponents off campus, and is prohibited from receiving compensation from any institutional sports camp or clinic. Finally, it is not permissible for a volunteer coach to receive a meal, free of charge, in conjunction with a prospective student-athlete's official visit. [Reference: Bylaw 11.02.6 (coach, volunteer), Staff Interpretation 10/29/93, Item a.]

Bylaw 16.8.1.5 (clarification)

Travel to NCAA championships, NGB championships in emerging sports and postseason bowl games during vacation period

In Legislative Assistance Column No. 37, it was stated that if a student-athlete uses team transportation to travel from campus to the event site and back to campus, participates in an event that takes place in the institution's home community, and also has personally paid for a round-trip ticket home during that same vacation period, the student-athlete may be provided actual transportation expenses to travel between campus and home on a second occasion during that same period. All NCAA institutions should note that in accordance with Bylaw 16.8.1.5.1.1(c), if a student-athlete either uses team transportation to travel from campus to the event site and back to campus, or participates in an event that takes place in the institution's home community, and also has personally paid for a round-trip ticket home during that same vacation period, the student-athlete may be provided actual transportation expenses to travel between campus and home on a second occasion during that same period.

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 Kristen L. Davis or Lisa Roesler, membership services representatives, at the NCAA national office. This information is available on the College Sports Network.