The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- June 21, 1999

Legislative assistance

1999 Column No. 13

Summer Practice and Workouts -- Individual Sports

NCAA institutions should note that in accordance with the playing and practice regulations set forth in NCAA Bylaw 17, summer practice that is organized or financially supported by a member institution is prohibited in all sports unless specifically authorized in the bylaws (e.g., foreign tour) or through official interpretations approved by a Management Council. Further, in NCAA Divisions I and II individual sports, a coach may participate in individual workout sessions with student-athletes from the coach's team during the summer, provided the request for such assistance is initiated by the student-athlete. Please note that it is not permissible for the institution to pay fees for the use of the facility.

Employment of Prospects/No Free or Reduced Admission

Division I institutions should note that pursuant to Bylaw 13.13.1.5.1, members of a Division I institution's staff or representatives of its athletics interests shall not employ or give free or reduced admission privileges to a high-school, preparatory school or two-year college athletics award winner. For purposes of this rule, a high school includes the ninth-grade level, regardless of whether the ninth grade is part of a junior-high-school system.

Further, Divisions II and III institutions should note that pursuant to Bylaw 13.13.1.5.2, when operating a sports camp or clinic, members of its staff or a representative of its athletics interests shall not employ or give free or reduced admission privileges to any individual who has started classes for the ninth grade.

Finally, during its November 17, 1993, telephone conference, the former NCAA Interpretations Committee determined that it is permissible for an institution to have a policy that permits free admission only to the children of athletics department staff members to attend the institution's camps or clinics.

Tryout with Professional Team after Enrollment

Institutions should note that in accordance with Bylaw 12.2.1.2, a student-athlete shall not try out with a professional athletics team in a sport or permit a professional athletics team to conduct medical examinations during any part of the academic year (i.e., from the beginning of the fall term through completion of the spring term, including any intervening vacation period) while enrolled in a collegiate institution as a regular student in at least a minimum full-time academic load, unless the student-athlete has exhausted eligibility in that sport. Please note that a student-athlete may try out with a professional organization in a sport during the summer or during the academic year while not a full-time student, provided the student-athlete does not receive any form of expenses or other compensation from the professional organization.

Additionally, in accordance with the provisions of Bylaw 12.2.1.2.1 (medical examination exception), a professional league's scouting bureau is permitted to conduct one medical examination per student-athlete during the academic year without jeopardizing the student-athlete's eligibility in that sport, provided the examination does not occur off campus. Finally, during its January 11-12, 1993, meeting, the former NCAA Council reviewed Bylaw 12.2.1.2.1 and confirmed that the provisions of this bylaw permit medical exams to be administered only by a single scouting bureau recognized by the professional league in a sport.

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