The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- November 8, 1999

Legislative assistance

Web Site Information

During its September 30 conference, the NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet Subcommittee on Legislative Review/Interpretations determined that it is permissible for an NCAA Division I institution's Web site or an athletics department staff member's personal Web site to include information related to the institution's athletics programs. It also can include a hyperlink to the institution's athletics Web site, provided neither the institution's Web site nor the athletics department staff member's personal Web site contains: (a) information regarding prospective student-athletes, except as permitted under NCAA Bylaw 13.11.8; (b) any hyperlink to the Web site of a recruiting/scouting service or a noninstitutional publication that reports primarily on the institution's athletics program; (c) recruiting videos or other audio/video materials, except as permitted under Bylaw 13.4.2.1.

Impermissible Contact Outside of the Contact Period

Division I institutions are reminded that in accordance with Bylaw 13.02.3, any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or the prospect's parents, relatives or legal guardian(s) in excess of a greeting is considered a contact. Further, any such face-to-face encounter that is prearranged or that takes place on the grounds of the prospect's educational institution or at the site of organized competition or practice involving the prospect or the prospect's high-school, preparatory school, two-year college or all-star team shall be considered a contact, regardless of the conversation that occurs. As a result, such contact, outside of the contact period as defined in Bylaw 13.02.4.1, is not permissible. For example, it would be considered an impermissible contact if, outside the contact period, a member of the coaching staff "bumps" into a prospective student-athlete regardless of who arranges the "bump."

"4-2-4" College Transfers/One Calendar Year Requirement

Division I institutions are reminded that in accordance with Bylaw 14.5.6, student-athletes must complete 24-semester or 36-quarter hours of degree credit at the two-year college, earn a 2.000 grade-point average and an associate's degree. Further, pursuant to NCAA Bylaw 14.5.6, one calendar year must elapse since the student-athlete's departure from his or her previous four-year institution. During its September 30 telephone conference, the NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet Subcommittee on Legislative Review/Interpretations determined that this calendar year begins on the date that the student-athlete takes formal action with the appropriate institutional authorities (as required for all students) at the previous four-year institution to indicate that he or she is leaving the institution and no longer will be attending classes.

Correction -- Contact Period Division I Men's Basketball

Division I institutions should note that in the October 25 issue of The NCAA News, Legislative Assistance Column Number 21 incorrectly stated that the contact period for NCAA Division I men's basketball was April 5, 2000, through April 13, 2000. Please note that the correct dates for the Division I men's basketball contact period are April 5, 2000, through April 19, 2000.

Membership Services Hours of Operation

Membership services has established extended phone hours to improve service and accommodate the membership. The new hours of operation will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the year (except for Wednesdays from 9 to 10:30 a.m.). Designated callers from colleges and conferences should use the NCAA membership services interpretations line to request interpretations. Please refer to the October 22 memorandum from Kevin C. Lennon to Divisions I, II and III conference commissioners and compliance coordinators to obtain this number. Finally, please note that Indianapolis is on Eastern Standard Time throughout the year. The effect is that from November through March, Indianapolis is on Eastern time. From April through October, Indianapolis time is the same as Central Daylight Time.

Video Conferences

For information about upcoming video conferences, see page 2 of this issue. The Division I and II video conference is November 12, and the Division III video conference is December 3.

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.