The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- September 27, 1999

Legislative assistance

NCAA Academic Requirements for Official Visit

NCAA Divisions I and II institutions should note that pursuant to NCAA Bylaw 13.7.1.2.3.1, a Division I or II institution may not provide an expense-paid visit to a high-school or preparatory school prospect who has not presented the institution with a score from a PSAT, an SAT, a PLAN (or PACT Plus) or an ACT test taken on a national testing date under national testing conditions. The score must be presented in writing through an official high-school or testing-agency document but does not have to be received directly from the testing agency. A foreign or disabled prospect who requires a special administration of the PSAT, SAT, PLAN (or PACT Plus) or ACT may present such a score upon the approval of the NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet, the NCAA Division I Initial-Eligibility Waiver Committee, or the Division II Academic Requirements Committee. For example, a student with a disability who has taken a nonstandard test may not use that test score to fulfill the requirements of Bylaw 13.7.1.2.3.1 unless documentation of the disability has been received and approved by the NCAA. The student must submit the professional diagnosis of the disability, including diagnostic test results used in diagnosing the disability. Additionally, the student must submit a current copy of his or her Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Individual Transition Plan (ITP) or 504 Plan. This information must be no more than three years old to show that the current level of performance is indicative of disabilities.

Involvement of Strength and Conditioning Coach in Voluntary Summer Conditioning Programs

During its July 21, 1999, telephone conference, the NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet Subcommittee on Legislative Review/Interpretations 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: (a) conduct summer workouts involving enrolled student-athletes; or (b) monitor, supervise or assist in voluntary summer workouts for reasons other than safety purposes.

Reclassification/Multidivision Classification Issues/Appropriate Application of Legislation

In accordance with NCAA Bylaw 20.5.1, a member institution may request a change of division membership according to the provisions of this section. A member of Division I or Division III may petition to change its membership to Division II, and a member of Division II may petition to change its membership to either Division I or Division III. Additionally, Bylaw 20.6.1 also now allows a Division I institution, under certain criteria, to change its membership to Division III.

Further, in accordance with Bylaws 20.5.2.3 and 20.6.2.3, if the member has met all applicable membership criteria for the division to which it intends to transfer and has complied for the two years (three years when reclassifying from Division I to Division II) preceding June 1 with all other division bylaw requirements (other than the Division III financial aid requirements set forth in Bylaw 15.4, except that athletically related financial aid may not be awarded to incoming freshmen or transfer students), the member shall be transferred to the new division effective the September 1 that the institution selects as its effective date.

During its August 13, 1986, meeting the former Interpretations Committee determined that an institution petitioning for reclassification must be in compliance with all rules of its desired division for a period of two years. The institution must be in compliance with Bylaw 20 at the time of petition. The maximum awards requirement of Bylaw 20 refers to the provisions of Bylaw 15. It is required that the petitioner comply with the stronger rule. Therefore, such an institution must be in compliance with the bylaw maximum awards criteria of its desired division for a period of two years at the time of petition.

Therefore, when an institution declares its intent to reclassify, the institution must comply, during the appropriate time period, with the legislation of its desired division, except in these instances where the legislation governing its current membership division is more stringent. In these cases, the institution must apply the more stringent rule inasmuch as it is still classified as an active member in that division.

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.