The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- December 20, 1999

Legislative assistance

NCAA Bylaws 14.1.6.2.1.2 and 14.1.8

Status of Eligibility Between Terms

NCAA institutions should note that in accordance with Bylaw 14.1.6.2.1.2, to be eligible for competition that takes place between terms, a student-athlete should: (a) have been registered for the required minimum full-time load at the conclusion of the term immediately preceding the date of competition if the student is continuing enrollment, or (b) be accepted for enrollment as a regular full-time student for the regular term immediately following the date of competition. Further, in accordance with Bylaw 14.1.8, if a student-athlete's academic eligibility changes at the end of a quarter or semester, the student-athlete shall become eligible or ineligible on the date the appropriate institutional authority officially certifies his or her eligibility.

In a case in which the student-athlete becomes eligible at the end of the term, the earliest date the student-athlete can become eligible to compete is the day after the date of the last scheduled examination listed in the institution's official calendar for the term that is ending. In a case in which the student-athlete becomes ineligible, the ineligibility shall become effective not later than the first day of classes of the following semester or quarter.

In any case, if the student-athlete is eligible academically to compete at the time of the student-athlete's or the institution's first participation in an NCAA championship, he or she remains eligible for the remainder of the championship.

Expenses for Regular-Season Competition During Vacation Period

NCAA institutions should note that it is permissible for an institution to purchase a ticket to cover any of a student-athlete's transportation expenses (for example, expenses from home to the event and back to campus) in conjunction with regular-season competition during a vacation period, provided the student-athlete reimburses the institution the value of any portion of the trip from the campus to the student-athlete's home and back to campus for which the student-athlete has not paid. Under such circumstances, the student-athlete must reimburse the institution before his or her departure for the competition.

[Reference: November 29, 1994, former NCAA Interpretations Committee.]

Bylaw 13.7.2.1

Commencing the 48-Hour Period for Official Visits

NCAA institutions should note that in accordance with Bylaw 13.7.2.1, the 48-hour period of the official visit begins at the time the prospect arrives on the institution's campus, rather than with the initiation of the prospect's transportation by a coach or the time of the prospect's arrival at the airport or elsewhere in the community (see Bylaw 13.7.2.1.1). Further, it is permissible for an institution to pay a prospect's actual costs for reasonable expenses (for example, meals, lodging) incurred while traveling to and from campus on the official visit without beginning the 48-hour time period. However, if a prospect lodges with a student-athlete or is entertained by the student-athlete, the 48 hours commences at that time.

Additionally, please note that a prospective student-athlete may receive a meal at the prospect's off-campus place of lodging when he or she arrives too late in the community to begin the official visit that day, inasmuch as the prospect is considered to be in transit to the institution's campus.

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.