National Collegiate Athletic Association

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The NCAA News -- April 12, 1999

Interpretations

In-Person Meeting No. 1

February 18, 1999

Acting for the Division I Management Council, the Legislative Review/Interpretations Subcommittee of the Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet issued the following interpretations:

Automatic Qualification/Men's Basketball Championship

1. Eligibility for Automatic Qualification to the National Collegiate Division I Men's Basketball Championship -- Continuity of Conference Membership. If a "core group" of institutions (i.e., a minimum of three institutions) from one conference realign to form a separate conference, the new entity is not considered a new conference for purposes of determining its eligibility for automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. Under such circumstances, the continuity-of-membership requirements set forth in NCAA Bylaw 31.3.4.3.1 should be applied in determining the conference's eligibility for automatic qualification to the Division I Men's Basketball Championship. Thus, a conference (e.g., the Mountain West Conference) is eligible to receive an automatic bid to the 2000 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship, inasmuch as it has retained a core group of at least six of the same institutions for a period of five preceding academic years, all of which have been members of Division I for the eight preceding academic years.

The subcommittee noted the difficulty in resolving this issue and, although it believes its decision is consistent with precedent, it is uncomfortable with the practical effect of its decision. A minority viewpoint was expressed that the above-mentioned "core-group" principle should be applied only when institutions form a separate conference as a result of the dissolution of a previous conference.

The subcommittee requested that the NCAA Division I Management Council review the "core-group" principle and give consideration to formulating language that clearly defines a new conference for purposes of determining eligibility for automatic qualification in all sports. [References: 31.3.4.3 (additional requirements, Division I men's basketball) and 31.3.4.3.1 (continuity of conference membership).]

Offers and Inducements/Precollege Expense

2. Use of Prepaid Envelopes to Receive a Prospect's Game Film/Videotape. It is permissible for an institution to provide a prepaid envelope to a prospect and/or a prospect's coach for the purpose of receiving a game film/videotape involving the prospect. The subcommittee recommended that the NCAA Division I Management Council modify a previous subcommittee interpretation (reference: 3/24/98, Item No. 3) prohibiting an institution from providing an institutional Federal Express account number to a prospect and/or the prospect's coach for the purpose of receiving game films/videotapes involving the prospect.

The subcommittee believes that an institution, at its discretion, should determine the method of payment for items in which it currently is permissible to cover the mailing costs (e.g., National Letter of Intent, transcripts, game films/videotapes). It noted, however, that an institution may not provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope when sending general correspondence to a prospect. [Reference: 13.2.1 (general regulation); 13.16.1 (prohibited expenses); and former Interpretations Committee 9/3/87, Item No. 4 and 3/24/98, Item No. 3.]

Scouting/Opponents

3. Application of Proposal No. 98-71. The provisions of NCAA Proposal No. 98-71 are applicable to all postseason championships in the sport of Division I men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball. Thus, it is permissible for an institution, subsequent to selection of the championship field until the conclusion of the institution's participation in the championship, to purchase videotapes of opponents from individuals and/or professional scouting services in the above-mentioned sports. [References: Proposal No. 98-71 and new 11.6.1.1.2 (scouting opponents).]

Professional Sports Organization/Sponsorship/Advertising

4. Professional Sports Organization Purchasing Advertising Space in an Institution's Arena. A professional sports organization may purchase advertising space in an institution's arena to be displayed or aired during the conduct of a member institution's contest, provided the advertisement is available to the general public to purchase at the same cost and the professional organization is not recognized officially as a sponsor of the institution's competition. [References: 12.01.2 (clear line of demarcation) and 12.6.1.2 (professional sports organizations -- to collegiate event).]

Practice/Counters

5. Male Student-Athletes Practicing with Women's Team on a Regular Basis. A male student-athlete who is a counter in a men's sport may not engage in practice sessions with an institution's women's team in any sport. [References: 14.1.6.1 (requirement for practice); 15.5.1 (counters); and former Interpretations Committee 12/5/91, Item No. 3; 10/22/92, Item No. 2; and 5/4/93, Item No. 4.]

Financial Aid/Midyear Graduate/Counter/Division I-A Football

6. Use of Midyear Graduate Exception -- Division I-A Football. A Division I-A institution may use the midyear graduate replacement exception only if it previously has provided financial aid during that academic year to the maximum number of overall counters (i.e., 85 total counters) in the sport of football. [References: 15.5.5.3.1 (recruited student-athlete entering in fall term, aided in first year), 15.5.5.3.2 (recruited student-athlete entering after fall term, aided in first year), 15.5.5.3.3 (recruited student athlete, aid received subsequent to first year), 15.5.5.3.4 (nonrecruited student-athlete receiving institutional financial aid) and 15.5.5.3.5 (midyear graduate replacement).]

Banquets/Meetings/Off-Campus Recruiters

7. Coaching Staff Members Attending Recognition Banquets/Meetings for Prospects. A coaching staff member who attends a banquet or meeting that is designed to recognize prospects that occurs during a contact or evaluation period is considered an off-campus recruiter in the applicable sport, regardless of whether the coach is speaking at the banquet/meeting or only attending the function.

In those sports with recruiting calendars (e.g., football, basketball), a coach is not permitted to attend such a recognition banquet or meeting that occurs outside a contact or evaluation period, unless the coach has been asked to speak at the function. [References: 11.7.2.2 (contact and evaluation of prospects limited to full-time coaches), 11.7.3.2 (off-campus contact and evaluation of prospects), 11.7.4 (Division I sports other than football -- limitations on number) and 13.1.11 (banquets and meetings).]

Prospective Student-Athlete/Athletics Representative/Booster Clubs

8. Prospective Student-Athlete Joining Institutional Athletics Booster Club. It is permissible for a prospective student-athlete to join an institution's athletics booster club, provided the prospect is not being recruited by the institution, any tangible items provided to the prospect are included in the cost of admission and all other recruiting regulations related to contacts with prospects (e.g., off-campus contacts, booster contacts) remain applicable. [References: 13.01.5.1 (recruiting by representatives of athletics interests -- Division I), 13.01.6 (time periods for telephone calls and contacts), 13.02.11.1 (recruited prospective student-athlete) and 13.1.2.1 (permissible recruiters -- Division I).]