The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- March 15, 1999

Interpretations

Conference No. 5 December 15, 1998

Acting for the Division II Legislation Committee, the Interpretations Subcommittee issued the following interpretations:

English as a Second Language

1. English as a Second Language Course. It is permissible to use an advanced-level English as a Second Language (ESL) course to satisfy core-curriculum requirements, provided it is reviewed through the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Waiver process. Other ESL courses taught in disciplines other than English (for example, social studies) may satisfy a core-course requirement, provided they are qualitatively and quantitatively the same as the comparison course in the regular course offering. [Reference: 14.3.1.3.4 (courses for students with disabilities).]

Conference No. 1 February 1, 1999

Male Student-Athlete Practicing with Women's Team

1. Male Student-Athlete Practicing with Women's Team on a Regular Basis (Division II). An institution is not permitted to allow a male student-athlete who is receiving athletically related financial aid in another sport (for example, baseball, tennis) to practice with a women's team on a regular basis. [Reference: 15.5.7 (multiple-sport participants).]

Joint College/High-School Program

2. Joint College/High-School Program (Division II). An individual who enrolls as a full-time student in a joint college/high-school program that allows participation on either the high- school athletics team or the college athletics team utilizes a semester or quarter upon matriculation in the program, even when participation on the high-school team renders the individual ineligible for subsequent participation on the college team. [Reference: 14.2.3.3 (joint college/high school program).]

Professional Sports Organization/Advertisement Space

3. Professional Sports Organization Purchasing Advertisement Space on the Scorers' Table During the Conduct of a Member Institution's Contest (Division II). It is permissible for a professional sports organization to purchase advertisement space on a scorers' table displayed during the conduct of a member institution's contest without rendering the organization a sponsor of the event, as long as the professional sports organization does not further sponsor a specific event. [Reference: 12.6.1.2 (professional sports organizations -- to collegiate events).]

Use of Prepaid Envelopes

4. Use of Prepaid Envelopes (Division II). An institution is permitted to provide a prepaid envelope to prospects and prospects' coaches for the purpose of receiving game films/videotapes involving the prospects. [References: 13.2.1 (offers and inducements) and 13.16.1 (precollege expenses -- prohibited expenses).]

Pregame and Postgame Meal/Snack on Competition Day

5. Student-Athletes Receiving Pregame and Postgame Meal/Snack on Competition Day (Division II). If an institution provides its student-athletes a pregame meal as a substitute for one of the student-athlete's regular meals (for example, lunch, dinner), it is permissible for the student-athlete also to receive a postgame meal or snack on competition day. Further, an institution, at its discretion, may provide student-athletes with cash in an amount equal to the cost of a postgame meal or snack following home and away-from-home contests in lieu of the postgame meal or snack that normally is provided by the institution. [Reference: 16.5.1 (housing and meals -- permissible -- meals incidental to participation).]