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The NCAA News -- June 21, 1999

Cabinet calls for amatuerism legislation to be developed

BY JANE JANKOWSKI
STAFF WRITER

INDIANAPOLIS -- For nearly two years, the Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet Subcommittee on Amateurism and Agents has analyzed, researched, debated, sweated, agonized and finally, reached consensus regarding several concepts for changing the way the NCAA approaches amateurism with prospective student-athletes.

Now the cabinet is joining in the discussion, instructing the subcommittee to continue its study and to seek comment from other constituents. The call for continued study and development of proposed legislation followed a three-hour presentation by the subcommittee, chaired by Christine H. Grant, director of women's athletics at the University of Iowa, at the cabinet's June 8-9 meeting.

"Our discussion about amateurism has been guided by two core values, a commitment to the welfare of prospective student-athletes and a commitment to competitive equity for student-athletes," Grant said.

Some months ago, the subcommittee decided to address issues affecting pre-enrolled students only, leaving discussion about amateurism rules affecting current student-athletes for later discussion. As it analyzed difficult issues, Grant said the subcommittee continuously asked the question, "How is competitive equity affected?"

The conclusions the subcommittee reached have resulted in two major concepts outlined by Grant: advocating expansion of what is commonly known as the "tennis rule" to all sports and allowing prospective student-athletes to accept money in some circumstances before enrolling in college.

In essence, the tennis rule, Bylaw 14.2.4.2, says that in Division I, following high-school graduation, a student-athlete has one year to enroll to remain immediately eligible and retain the opportunity for four seasons of competition (meeting all other requirements). A student-athlete who doesn't enroll in one year will lose one year of intercollegiate tennis eligibility for each year subsequent to the grace year. Also, after the one-year grace period the student-athlete must fulfill an academic year in residence before being eligible for intercollegiate tennis.

"Expansion to all sports would allow a prospective student-athlete to make choices and to explore other competitive opportunities for a limited period knowing what the collegiate eligibility consequences are," said Grant.

The second concept would permit prospective student-athletes to accept prize money before collegiate enrollment. "The subcommittee reached the conclusion that there is no justification for denying prize money," said Grant. "The receipt of prize money alone does not result in a competitive advantage for a prospective student-athlete."

Continued review

The cabinet authorized the subcommittee to continue its comprehensive look at all aspects of amateurism. Some of the specific topics to be reviewed are allowing prospective student-athletes to enter a draft or sign a contract with a professional team before collegiate enrollment, allowing prospects to compete with professionals on teams before enrollment, and allowing prospects to receive payment for athletics participation before enrollment.

In opening comments to the cabinet, NCAA President Cedric W. Dempsey encouraged members to think about the welfare of prospective student-athletes. "Throughout its work, the subcommittee has placed primary importance on deregulation of some portions of the NCAA's bylaw regarding amateurism that would be in the best interests of prospective student-athletes," he said.

In other actions, the cabinet:

  • Unanimously approved two recommendations to sponsor legislation regarding core courses for initial eligibility developed in conjunction with representatives from the high-school community.

    The first would change the definition of a core course, eliminating the 75 percent instructional-content requirement and establishing new criteria that provide flexibility to change as high-school curricula change. To qualify as a "core course" according to the criteria, the course must be a recognized course and qualify for graduation credit in one or a combination of the areas of English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, computer science or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy; be considered college preparatory; be at the Algebra I level or higher in math; and be taught by a qualified instructor and be taught at or above the high school's regular academic level.

    The other recommendation would permit a core course to include courses taught via the Internet, distance learning, independent study, individualized instruction, correspondence courses and courses taught by similar means that meet certain conditions.

    Both recommendations now will be considered by the Division I Management Council. The Division II Academic Requirements Committee also soon will consider the recommendations.

  • Approved a recommendation that legislation be sponsored to create a Foreign Student Records Committee, which would replace the current Foreign Student Records Consultant group. The committee would report to the cabinet's Subcommittee on Initial-Eligibility Issues and the Division II Academic Requirements Committee.