In-person meeting
February 22, 2001

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

Offers and Inducements/Recruiting

Academic Support Services/Use of Training-Room Facilities for a Prospect who has Signed a National Letter of Intent. The provisions of Bylaw 13.2.7 are applicable only to a prospective student-athlete who has signed a National Letter of Intent and is enrolled in that institution's summer term. A prospective student-athlete who has signed a National Letter of Intent and is enrolled in a member institution as a part-time student during the regular academic year may not be provided academic support services by the institution or use the institution's training room facilities. [References: Bylaw 13.2.7 (academic support services/use of training-room facilities) and 04/02/87 official interpretation, Item No.7-b.]

March 7, 2001

Promotional Activities/Meals

1. Benefit Provided to Student-Athletes In Conjunction with Promotional Activities. Pursuant to NCAA Bylaw 12.5.1.1-(f), a student-athlete may receive legitimate and normal expenses (for example, travel, meal) during participation in a permissible promotional activity. It is not permissible for a student-athlete to receive any additional benefits (for example, additional meals, free vacation) in conjunction with the promotional activity. [References: Bylaws 12.5.1.1 (institutional, charitable, educational or nonprofit promotions), 16.12.2.1 (general rule) and 16.12.2.2.1 (free or reduced-cost services).]

Recruiting/Media Activities Related to Prospects

2. Involvement of Coaching Staff Members in Media Activities Related to Prospects. At any time subsequent to the receipt of a prospect's signed National Letter of Intent, written offer of admission and/or financial aid, a coach may participate in media activities (for example, interview) devoted exclusively to discussing the prospect(s), provided the institution does not initiate or arrange the media activity. The subcommittee noted that it is not permissible for the coach to make any comment on a prospect who has not signed a National Letter of Intent or a written offer of admission and/or financial aid with the institution. [References: Bylaws 13.11.8 (announcement of signing); 04/10/86 official interpretation, Item No. 15.]

Summer Financial Aid/Basketball/Before Initial Enrollment

3. Summer Financial Aid Before Initial Full-Time Enrollment-Basketball. In the sport of basketball, it is not permissible for an institution to provide athletically related financial aid to a prospect (for example, entering freshman, 2-4 transfer) to attend the institution during the summer prior to initial full-time enrollment for the purpose of completing initial-eligibility (that is, prospects with learning disabilities) or continuing-eligibility (that is, transfer eligibility, satisfactory-progress) requirements. [References: Bylaws 15.2.7.1.3 (summer financial aid - before initial full-time enrollment), 14.3.1.2.1(core-curriculum time limitation-students with learning disabilities), and 14.5.4.6.2 (credit earned at a four-year institution).]

Playing and Practice Seasons/Spring Football Practice

4. Calculation of Practice Sessions During Spring Football Practice Period. The subcommittee confirmed that during the spring football practice period, it is not permissible for student-athletes to engage in more than 20 hours of countable athletically related activities per Bylaw 17.02.1 (including conditioning activities and review of game film) during a given week. Further, all countable athletically related activities shall be prohibited during one calendar day per week. An institution, however, is not required to count as one of its 15 designated days any day during which countable athletically related activities are limited solely to required conditioning activities and/or review of game film. [References: Bylaws 17.02.6.1 (out-of-season athletically related activities -- spring practice), 17.01.2.1 (countable athletically related activities) and 17.10.6 (out-of-season athletically related activities).]