National Collegiate Athletic Association

NCAA News Archive - 2010

back to 2010 | Back to NCAA News Archive Index

Apr 13, 2010 3:32:26 PM

The Division I Legislative Council, acting at its spring meeting in response to an override request by the Division I membership, delayed the effective date of the delayed-enrollment/organized-competition portion of a proposal dealing with the amateurism of incoming student-athletes. Proposal No. 2009-22 as modified now will be subject to a second override period.

The proposal, which loosens regulations prohibiting prospective student-athletes from participating on teams with teammates receiving more than actual and necessary expenses, also has eligibility ramifications for prospects who do not enroll in college within a year of high school graduation (six months for tennis) or at the earliest opportunity after high school graduation (whichever is earliest).

Prospects who delay enrollment and compete in organized competition will be charged a season of competition for each year of participation and be required to sit out a year upon enrollment at the NCAA institution. Only the effective date for the delayed-enrollment/organized-competition portion was changed.

The delayed-enrollment/organized-competition portion will not take effect until August 1, 2011 (August 1, 2012 for tennis student-athletes). The Amateurism Cabinet recommended the change, and the Legislative Council agreed that allowing extra time will help with education efforts.

Prospective student-athletes in sports other than tennis, swimming and diving, and, beginning August 1, women's volleyball, will continue to be subject to the "21st birthday rule" (which charges a season of competition for every year a prospect participates in organized competition after the 21st birthday and before full-time enrollment), until August 1, 2011 (2012 for tennis).

Men's ice hockey and skiing were removed from the proposal before adoption.

The delayed effective date will provide greater notice for institutions to adjust to the new rule and provide ample time to address additional issues related to the application of the proposal. The Amateurism Cabinet intends to introduce legislation in the 2010-11 cycle that will address prospects who delay enrollment to train for the Olympics or other international competition and participate in competition as part of that training.

The Council and the Amateurism Cabinet (which originally proposed the legislation) believe the two portions should be tied together to address competitive-equity concerns, to emphasize the importance of academics and to level the playing field by ensuring relatively similar competitive opportunities before college enrollment.

The Board of Directors will have the opportunity to review the Legislative Council action at its April 29 meeting. The legislation will also be subject to a 60-day override period, during which the Division I membership has the opportunity to request an override of the proposal as modified. At least 30 requests to override must be received for the legislation to be revisited. At least 100 override requests are required to suspend legislation.