The ever-changing landscape of college athletics makes defining amateurism increasingly difficult. With different sports come different expectations and meanings of the team.

NCAA President Cedric W. Dempsey said the subcommittee's work with hockey coaches and commissioners "has"While some in the hockey community may have a certain level of discomfort about the amateurism deregulation," Dempsey said, "they have never refused to make their own recommendations or consider alternatives. I believe that as a result of this invaluable partnership, the amateurism proposals address the unique aspects and concerns of ice hockey and show what can be accomplished."

The subcommittee collected as much information as possible through letters, e-mails and conference calls with the hockey community to find out what the recruitment process is and what path the majority of prospective student-athletes take after high-school graduation. The subcommittee then recommended exceptions to the overall package for ice hockey.

"The NCAA really deserves a lot of credit for finding out what hockey's issues were and helping shape the legislation to fit our sport," Anastos said.

The proposals

The amateurism proposals, which were discussed at the NCAA Convention in January, would allow prospective student-athletes to:

* Accept prize money based on place finish.

* Enter the draft and be drafted.

* Sign a contract for athletics participation.

* Accept pay for athletics participation.

The subcommittee found that many prospective student-athletes who fall into the criteria above are not "elite" athletes and therefore should not be denied the ability to attend college and participate on an athletics team.

One part of the amateurism package, however -- the "organized-competition rule" -- which would require prospective student-athletes to lose some eligibility or sit out a season before playing in college, would affect a vast number of prospective ice hockey student-athletes who generally are recruited by NCAA institutions.

After working with the ice hockey community, the subcommittee forwarded two exceptions to the organized-competition rule for ice hockey. One allows a student-athlete two years to play in a USA Hockey or Canadian Hockey Association-sanctioned league, beginning on the day of high-school graduation.

The other exception allows for Major Junior competition, a route many hockey student-athletes take before college. Whether it occurs before or after high-school graduation, playing Major Junior hockey will result in the loss of a season of collegiate competition for every year of Major Junior participation.

"Hockey people were concerned about the rule for their sport," said Lisa Dehon, a former NCAA staff member who now is a consultant on the amateurism issue. "The commissioners documented that about 90 percent of incoming freshmen had some experience in a USA Hockey league or the Canadian equivalent."

Dehon said that the hockey community's input made the exceptions a priority.

"Hockey was the exception for competitive advantage, because there really was none," she said. "Most players have had some experience (outside of high school). Those involved in ice hockey really took an active role in this legislation. They truly used the collective voice they have."

Dehon said Major Junior players are pointed to the professional ranks, while USA Hockey leagues are more focused on funneling student-athletes to colleges before the professional leagues.

The exceptions to the proposal -- while not universally cheered -- have been generally accepted by the college hockey world. Eastern College Athletic Conference Commissioner Phil Buttafuoco thought the process was fair and the amount of communication allowed for both sides to understand each other.

"The ECAC is pleased with the exceptions that have been made in the proposals, specifically for ice hockey," Buttafuoco said. "It's safe to say that the hockey commissioners, along with the institutions, have been pleased with the amount of input we've been able to give and how much we've been involved in the process."

The commissioners' involvement was as important to the subcommittee as it was to college hockey constituents.

"We do not have an ice hockey expert on the committee, and once we made the decision to try and understand as much as we could, we relied on the commissioners and others in hockey to tell us how hockey as a sport operates," said Grant. "I received a great education on ice hockey."

Another wrinkle relating to hockey is the pool of players and where they come from. A large number come from Canada, which is not something the subcommittee was aware of until the process started.

"There was a genuine understanding that we were not only dealing with student-athletes from the United States, but also Canada," Grant said. "There are not many countries where another has as strong or stronger players as the American players. This is the case in ice hockey."

Major Junior

Hockey is one of the few NCAA sports that competes with other leagues for student-athletes. Anastos, a former player at Michigan State University, understands this relationship and sees the proposal as a way to clear up some confusion in recruiting.

"The unique thing about hockey is that we recruit against Major Junior teams," Anastos said.

Buttafuoco said bringing closure to this issue will give NCAA institutions stronger footing on the recruiting trail.

"At this point, people really want to know what is going to happen," he said. "Major Junior leagues are using the amateurism proposals against us in the recruiting wars. It needs to be voted on."

Amateurism deregulation was approved by Division II institutions at the NCAA Convention in January. The package in Division I is in the comment period and is scheduled for Management Council review in April. If passed, the legislation would take effect for the 2002-03 season. In Division III, a task force has been established to study the issue.

No matter what happens, the amount of thought and communication displayed by the ice hockey community and the NCAA bodes well for the future.

"There was no ranting and raving," Grant said. "(The hockey commissioners) were reasoned people helping us understand their sport and trying to make the best decision for their student-athletes. It was a very positive experience."

Case studies of how the amateurism proposals would affect prospective student-athletes in ice hockey:

Case 1

At age 16, player decides to try Major Junior. After a year, he decides to return to high school. The player goes to a USA Hockey program for two years after high-school graduation with his expected class. Upon entering college, the player will be required to fulfill an academic year in residence, has lost one season of NCAA eligibility for the year he played in Major Junior and then has three years of eligibility remaining.

Case 2

A player decides to play Major Junior for two years after high school. The player then decides to attend college. He sits his year in residence and has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Case 3

A player decides to join a USA Hockey-sanctioned league after high school. The player plays for one season and then enrolls in college. The player has four years of eligibility remaining.

Case 4