The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- July 19, 1999

Interpretations

Conference No. 4

May 13, 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:

Football/Maximum Contest

Limitations/Preseason Contest

1. Participation in Preseason Contest and 12th Regular-Season Contest During the 2002 Playing Season. The subcommittee requested that the Division I Management Council use its authority set forth in NCAA Constitution 5.4.1.1.1 to modify the wording of Proposal No. 98-90 to clarify that an institution may not participate in both a preseason exempted football contest and a 12th regular-season football contest during the 2002 football playing season. It noted that the intent of the Football Issues Committee, the original sponsor of Proposal No. 98-90, was to permit institutions to participate in either a preseason exempted football contest or a 12th regular-season football contest during the 2002 football season. [References: Bylaw 17.10.5.1 (maximum limitations -- institutional) and Proposal No. 98-90.]

Foreign Tour/Season of Eligibility

2. Student-Athlete Participating in Summer Foreign Tour Subsequent to the First Preseason Practice Date. The subcommittee determined that for purposes of Bylaw 14.2.4.7, the summer period is that period between the institution's final examination period for the regular academic year and the start of preseason practice for that sport. Thus, a student-athlete who participates in intercollegiate competition during a summer foreign tour that occurs subsequent to the institution's first permissible date of preseason practice would be charged with a season of competition for the subsequent academic year. [References: Bylaws 14.2.4.7 (foreign-tour competition) and 30.7.2 (eligibility of student-athletes) and Proposal No. 97-25.]

In-Person Meeting No. 3
June 8, 1999

Evaluations/NCAA Division I Football

1. On-Campus Evaluations Outside Contact or Evaluation Period -- Football. The subcommittee noted that NCAA Bylaw 13.1.10, which permits an institution's football or basketball staff members to participate in evaluation activities outside a contact or evaluation period when a prospect is participating on the institution's campus in a different sport, is no longer applicable inasmuch as it is no longer permissible to engage in any on- or off-campus evaluation activities outside a contact or evaluation period. It noted that with the adoption of Bylaw 13.02.6.1 at the 1991 NCAA Convention, the definition of an evaluation includes the observation of prospects at any site, either on- or off- campus. Thus, the subcommittee agreed to editorially delete the provisions of 13.1.10 from the 2000-01 NCAA Division I Manual. [References: Bylaws 13.02.6.1 (evaluation -- Division I) and 13.1.10 (evaluations outside contact or evaluation periods)]

Academic Honor Award/Division I-AA Football

2. Application of Proposal No. 98-52 in Division I-AA Football. An entering student-athlete in the sport of Division I-AA football whose only source of aid from the institution is an academic honor award that satisfies the provisions of Proposal No. 98-52 may be excluded from the institution's total number of counters (initial and overall). [References: Bylaws 15.5.1.2.1 (Division I football or basketball, varsity competition); 15.5.3.7 (recruited student-athlete, varsity competition) and Proposal No. 98-52.]

Pregame Meal/Snack

3. Snack on Morning of Competition in Addition to Pregame Meal on Evening Before Competition. An institution may provide the institution's pregame meal during the evening prior to a contest that occurs on the following morning, provided the institution does not provide an additional pregame meal or snack on the day of the contest. [References: Former Interpretations Committee 11/7/93, Item No. 4; Subcommittee on Legislative Review/Interpretations 3/23/99, Item No. 5; and Bylaw 16.5.1-(d) (meals incidental to participation).]

Core-Curriculum Grade-Point Average/Yearly Grades

4. Use of Yearly Grades in Core-Curriculum Grade-Point Average Calculations. The subcommittee agreed to forward a recommendation to the NCAA Division I Management Council to revise a former NCAA Council interpretation to permit the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse to provide a yearly grade by averaging grades achieved during terms within that academic year after receipt of the high-school transcript (without requiring the high school to provide official documentation verifying the averaging of the grades), provided the high school has awarded the prospect with one full unit of credit for the course. The subcommittee noted that, consistent with the previous interpretation, the prospect must continue to seek relief through the initial-eligibility waiver process if the prospect has been certified as not eligible and a high school subsequently submits documentation advocating for a more liberal averaging policy. [References: Former Council 8/14/96, Item No. 5-i-3 and Bylaw 14.3.1.3.5 (grade value of core courses).]

Apparel/Logo/Trademark

5. Institutions Traditional Uniform that Bears Design Elements Similar to an Apparel Company's Logo/Trademark. If an institution's traditional uniform includes design elements (e.g., three stripes, diamonds) similar to an apparel manufacturer's or distributor's logo or trademark, such elements are excluded from the application of the restrictions set forth in Bylaw 12.5.5-(b), provided: