In-person meeting
September 6, 2001
Indianapolis

Acting for the Division I Management Council, the Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet Subcommittee on Legislative Review/Interpretations issued the following interpretations:

Benefits/Former Student-Athletes

1. Student-Athletes Receiving Benefits After Exhausting Eligibility. It is permissible for a former student-athlete to receive a benefit of nominal value (for example, meal, ride, overnight lodging) on an occasional basis from an institutional athletics representative or institutional staff members, provided the institution is not engaged in recruiting any relative of the former student-athlete. [References: NCAA Bylaws 13.2.1(general regulation), NCAA Bylaws 16.02.3 (extra-benefit) and 16.12.2.1 (general rule) and a 1/6/89 official interpretation, Item No. 2-f-1.]

Financial Aid /Initial Counters/Basketball

2. Initial Counter Status of a Student-Athlete Who Changes to the Sport of Men's Basketball. A student-athlete who previously received institutional aid for at least two years in a sport other than men's basketball is considered to be an initial counter in the sport of men's basketball during the first year in which he or she competes in the sport and receives countable aid. [References: NCAA Bylaws 15.02.3.1 (initial counter) and 15.5.8 (changes in participation).]

Championships/Eligibility

3. Eligibility for Championship Participation -- New Sport. An active Division I member institution that adds a sport is not subject to the two-year conformity requirement before being eligible to enter a team or individual in an NCAA championship, since the requirement is intended to apply only to a member institution that is in the Division I reclassification process. [References: NCAA Bylaws 18.4.2.2 (championships-eligibility) and NCAA Bylaw 3.2.4.4.1(intent to sponsor varsity sport).]

Benefits/Legal Representation

4. Institution (or Representatives of Its Athletics Interest) Covering the Cost of Student-Athlete's Legal Representation. An institution (or representative of its athletics interest) may not cover the cost of a student-athlete's legal representation from proceedings brought by a student-athlete against the Association relating to his or her eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics, unless such proceedings are a direct result of the student-athlete's participation in that member institution's practice or competition. [References: Bylaw 16.3.2-(f) and a 2/1/96 official interpretation, Item No. 3.]

Recruiting/Telephone Calls

5. Toll-Free Telephone Calls to a Coach's Residence. It is not permissible for an institutional coaching staff member to have a toll-free telephone line established at his or her residence for the purpose of receiving telephone calls initiated by prospects. [References: Bylaw 13.1.3.6 (collect and toll-free telephone calls) and 13.16.2.2 (collect and toll-free telephone calls).]