The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- April 26, 1999

Legislative assistance

1999 Column No. 9

Baseball-Bat Waivers

NCAA Divisions II and III institutions should note that during their January meetings, the NCAA Divisions II and III Presidents Councils agreed to adopt noncontroversial legislation to permit waivers for institutions that might have to forfeit or cancel games during the 1999 season if they opt not to compete against teams that will use bats that do not conform to the August 1, 1999, proposed performance standard. This waiver is available only to those institutions that have designated baseball as one of their four sports for men in order to meet the minimum sports-sponsorship requirements for Division II or III membership.

If your institution sponsors more than four sports and more than two team sports for men, you do not need to submit a waiver. If your institution uses the sport of baseball to meet the minimum sports-sponsorship requirements and does not complete the minimum number of 24 baseball contests in Division II or 12 baseball contests in Division III due to bat-related forfeitures and/or cancellations, your institution may apply for the waiver.

To apply for this waiver, an institution must submit its 1999 baseball schedule, a list of all games forfeited or canceled due to the baseball-bat issue, and a signed cover letter from the institution's director of athletics requesting the waiver.

The waiver request should be forwarded to the NCAA membership services staff at the national office not later than June 4, 1999. If you have any questions regarding this waiver, please contact Chris Martin, membership services representative, at the national office.

NCAA Bylaw 16.12.1.8

Retention of Athletics Apparel and Equipment

Member institutions should note that in accordance with Bylaw 16.12.1.8, a student-athlete may retain athletics apparel items (not equipment) at the end of the individual's collegiate participation. Used equipment may be purchased by the student-athlete on the same cost basis as by any other individual interested in purchasing such equipment.

It should be noted, however, that the NCAA Administrative Committee, during its October 23, 1986, meeting, confirmed that apparel items that are not reusable by other team members in subsequent seasons (subject to the discretion of the institution) could be considered the property of the involved student-athlete. Equipment items (that the institution does not plan to use in subsequent seasons) must be made available on the same cost basis to any interested individual (including nonathletes) when dispensing such items.

Finally, in accordance with Bylaw 16.12.1.9, a student-athlete may retain and use institutional athletics equipment (per the institution's normal equipment policy) during a summer vacation period. A student-athlete would not be charged with a season of competition per Bylaw 14.02.6 for the use of such equipment during a summer vacation period. Summer is defined as the period following the last date of final examinations for the spring term through the first permissible day of preseason practice or first date of classes, whichever occurs earlier.

Correction -- Dead Period -- Women's Gymnastics -- Division I

The National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships were held April 22-24, 1999. Therefore, the dead period as published on page 128 of the 1998-99 NCAA Division I Manual is incorrect.

The current dead period is published as: "April 14, 1999, through noon April 18, 1999 (Wednesday prior to the National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships to noon on the Sunday after the championships). The corrected language should read: April 21, 1999, through noon April 25, 1999 (Wednesday prior to the National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships to noon on the Sunday after the championships).

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.