Teleconference No. 3
February 24, 2003

The Interpretations Subcommittee of the Division II Legislation Committee issued the following interpretations:

Waiver of Contact Period

1. Qualification for a Waiver of Contact Period. The provisions of NCAA Bylaw 13.1.4.1 do not apply to an institution that has rolling-admissions procedures. Further, such a waiver is not contingent on an institution's participation, or lack thereof, in the National Letter of Intent program. [Reference: Bylaw 13.1.4.1 (waiver of contact period).]

Staff Involvement During a Dead Period

2. Institutional and Coaching Staff Involvement During a Dead Period. It is permissible for an institution's coaching staff members and/or individuals with sport-specific responsibilities to be involved in the conduct or administration of a campus event involving prospects (as permitted under NCAA tryout exceptions) during a dead period, provided the campus event involving prospects satisfies the specified requirements of the tryout exception(s). [References: Bylaws 13.02.3.4 (dead period), 13.1.7.2.1 (approved events), 13.12.3.2 ("open" events), 13.12.3.4.2 (administration of "state games") and 13.12.3.5 (high-school, preparatory school and two-year college contests).]

Transfers -- Major Course of Study

3. Student-Athlete Transferring Before Designating a Major Course of Study. There is no authority under current legislation to permit an institution to use the discontinued academic program transfer exception when an institution has announced its intention to discontinue an academic program and a student-athlete has not designated the degree program at the time of transfer. [References: Bylaw 14.5.5.3.3 (discontinued academic program exception) and a 01/30/92 official interpretation, Item No. 4.]

4. Cancellation of Prospect's Financial Aid Before Practice/Enrollment. It is not permissible for an institution to reduce or cancel a prospective student-athlete's institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability between the time the prospective student-athlete signs the financial aid agreement and the first day of classes or practice, whichever occurs first, except under the conditions set forth in Bylaw 15.3.4.1. [References: Bylaws 15.3.4.1 (reduction or cancellation permitted), 15.3.4.3 (reduction or cancellation not permitted) and 15.3.4.3.2 (decrease not permitted).]

5. Olympic and National Teams Developmental Program Exception. The provisions of Bylaw 17.__.8.1.2.2 are applicable only to development programs that are conducted and administered by the national governing body (NGB). The NGB shall be responsible for selecting coaches who will be involved in coaching activities as part of the Olympic or National Team Development Program. Further, the NGB or the selected coaches shall select the involved participants. [References: Bylaw 17.18.8.1.2.2 (Olympic and national team development program) and a 03/16/89 official interpretation, Item No. 1-e.]