The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- September 13, 1999

Interpretations

Conference No. 5
July 21, 1999

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

Two-Year College Transfer/Correspondence Courses/Degree Progress

1. Two-Year College Transfers -- Use of Correspondence Courses in Satisfying Degree Percentage Requirements. It is not permissible for a two-year college transfer in the sport of football or men's basketball who is a partial qualifier or nonqualifier to use correspondence courses taken at another institution other than the two-year college at which the student was enrolled as a full-time student to satisfy the percentage-of-degree requirements set forth in NCAA Bylaw 14.5.4.1.3.1. The subcommittee requested that the Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet Subcommittee on Continuing Eligibility review this issue and, if it deems appropriate, recommend legislation to permit the use of correspondence coursework taken at any collegiate institution to satisfy the percentage-of-degree requirements set forth in Bylaw 14.5.4.1.3.1. [References: Bylaws 14.4.3.4.5 (correspondence and extension courses from another institution) and 14.5.4.1.3.1 (exception -- partial and nonqualifier -- football and basketball).]

Financial Aid/Exhausted Eligibility/

Professional Sports Agent

2. Institutional Financial Aid to a Student-Athlete Under Contract With an Agent. An institution, at its discretion, may award financial aid to a student-athlete who remains under contract with an agent during the academic year subsequent to exhausting his or her four seasons of eligibility, provided the student-athlete is not under contract with a professional sports organization. [References: NCAA Bylaws 15.3.1.4 (institutional financial aid to professional athlete) and 15.3.1.4.1 (exception for former professional athlete).]

Strength and Conditioning Coach/

Voluntary Summer Conditioning

3. Involvement of Strength and Conditioning Coach in Voluntary Summer Conditioning Programs. The subcommittee reviewed the guidelines established by the Collegiate Commissioners Association Compliance Administrators (CCACA) Group related to the involvement of institutional strength and conditioning coaches and enrolled student-athletes in voluntary summer conditioning activities. The subcommittee expressed concern regarding the development of any list of permissible voluntary summer activities involving the strength and conditioning coach and enrolled student-athletes primarily because it believes that the membership has, or should have, a general understanding of the intent of the legislation and that the issuance of any list of activities may result in a proliferation of unnecessary interpretations.

The subcommittee agreed that conferences and institutions should be emphasizing three primary principles when providing guidance related to voluntary summer conditioning activities. First, it is not permissible for an institution's coach to mandate a student-athlete's involvement in such activities or in any particular activity that a student-athlete engages in as part of his or her voluntary conditioning program. Second, any supervision, monitoring or assistance provided by the strength and conditioning coach must be for safety purposes. Third, it is not permissible for the strength and conditioning coach to conduct actual workouts.

The subcommittee reaffirmed that it would be necessary to amend the current legislation if the Division I membership desires to permit strength and conditioning coaches to engage in the following activities: (1) conduct summer workouts involving enrolled student-athletes; or (2) monitor, supervise or assist in voluntary summer workouts for reasons other than safety purposes.

Announcement of Signing/Use of Videotape

4. Use of Video Clips of Prospects During Announcement of Signing. It is permissible for an institution to show video clips of a prospect through its normal media outlets (e.g., television, Web sites) during its announcement of the prospect's signing, provided such publicity occurs only after the prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent or subsequent to the prospect's signed acceptance of the institution's written offer of admission and/or financial aid with the institution. Further, an institution may produce a single highlight film (per sport) that includes all of its signed prospects to show to its boosters in conjunction with booster club functions. The subcommittee noted that although other prospects may appear in the video clips, the focus of the clip must be related to the prospect who has committed to the institution. [References: NCAA Bylaws 13.11.8 (announcement of signings), 13.11.8.1 (media outlets), 13.11.8.2.1 (one-time exception -- announcement of all signings), 13.11.8.5 (press-release content), and former Interpretations Committee 2/17/94, Item No. 1.]