National Collegiate Athletic Association

NCAA News Archive - 2010

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Mar 23, 2010 9:14:24 AM

Attempts to suspend two Division I legislative proposals failed to reach the minimum of 100 override requests by the March 17 deadline.

The NCAA national office received 61 requests to override a proposal loosening amateurism restrictions and setting limits on delayed enrollment for prospective student athletes. An attempt to override a new rule restricting the location of camps and clinics in sports other than football was supported by 82 requests. Because 100 requests are needed to suspend the legislation, both rules remain in the books until they are reconsidered by the Legislative Council next month.

The effective date for the amateurism legislation is August 1, 2010, though the Council will also consider a delayed effective date for that measure. The camps and clinics rule was effective immediately.

Most institutions requesting the override of the amateurism legislation object to the delayed-enrollment portion, which requires prospects who participate in organized competition to enroll in college within a year of high school graduation or be subject to seasons-of-withholding conditions. Currently, prospects in most sports are charged a season of competition for every 12-month period they participate in organized competition after the 21st birthday and before full-time enrollment.

Much of the objection to the camps and clinics legislation comes from non-basketball interests. The proposal originally was introduced by the Championships/Sport Management Cabinet by way of the Men's Basketball Issues Committee and was supported by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

The Legislative Council will reconsider both proposals in April, along with other suggestions for modifying the amateurism rule introduced by other groups. If the Council agrees to change its position, the proposals will be defeated and will not be sent for further membership comment. If the Council maintains its positions, the Division I Board of Directors will review the measure at its April 29 meeting. If the Board does not address the proposal at that time, the membership will vote on the proposals at the 2011 NCAA Convention in San Antonio.

The Council also could modify the proposal to narrow the scope (such as limiting the camps and clinics rule to basketball). If the Council takes this approach and adopts a modified proposal for either rule, it would be subject to another 60-day override period.

The Legislative Council meets April 19-20 in Indianapolis.