National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

March 10, 1997

Legislative assistance

1997 Column No. 10NCAA Council actions
Contest exemptions

NCAA Division I institutions should note that at its January 15, 1997, post-Convention meeting, the Council took the following actions related to contest exemptions:

1. Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico.

a. The sponsoring agency for an exempted event in Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico must be an active NCAA member located in that state or territory.

b. A Division I institution shall be permitted to participate in one exempted event in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, respectively, one time in a four-year period. Accordingly, an institution may not participate in an exempted event in any of these categories if the institution already has participated in that exempted event in the same four-year period (football and basketball only).

c. A Division I institution is permitted in a single season to compete in one exempted event in Alaska or Hawaii or Puerto Rico and also in other competition (nonexempt events) in the respective states and territory that count against the maximum number of contests that may be played by an institution (football and basketball only).

2. Participation in Exempted Contest/Event (sports other than football and basketball). In sports other than football and basketball, a Division I institution that participates in an exempted event once in a four-year period may participate in the event and count the competition in subsequent years of the four-year cycle, provided the institution counts the contests toward the maximum permissible number. Further, it is permissible for more than one team from a conference to participate in these events in any given year. [This amends Bylaw 30.10.3.5.]

3. Football. In the sport of football, the minimum criteria applicable to an exempted contest have been amended to require the sponsoring agency to:

a. Distribute to each participating institution the greater of $600,000 or 60 percent (with 30 percent to each participating institution) of the gross receipts;

b. Secure a $1.5 million letter of credit; and

c. Contribute a minimum of 25 percent of the gross receipts to a charity that is approved by the NCAA Special Events Committee.

4. Basketball Rules. In the sport of basketball, the Special Events Committee is permitted to require the management of an exempted contest to conduct the competition under experimental rules if the NCAA Men's or Women's Basketball Rules Committee makes such a request and it is approved by the Special Events Committee. [Note: The Division I Men's Basketball Committee and the National Association of Basketball Coaches Board of Directors supported this recommendation.]

5. Exemption Request Approvals.

a. Exemptions for the 1997-98 academic year. The following contests are considered exempt for the 1997-98 academic year:

1. Rolex National Intercollegiate Match Play Team Golf Championship; October 26-27, 1997; La Quinta, California.

2. State Farm/NACWAA Women's Volleyball Classic; August 22-23, 1997; Palo Alto, California. [Each of these events may be certified each academic year upon submission of appropriate materials.]

b. Basketball. The following contests are considered exempt by an institution not more than once in a four-year period:

1. NABC Coaches vs. Cancer Classic; December 13, 1997; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

2. NABC Classic (date to be determined); St. Louis, Missouri. [During its February 20, 1997, conference call, the NCAA Administrative Committee used its authority to adopt noncontroversial legislation pursuant to Constitution 5.3.1.1.1 to amend Bylaw 17.5.3.1-(c) to permit an institution to participate in this contest on or after November 8.]

c. Football. The following contests are considered exempt for the 1997 football season:

1. Kickoff Classic XV; August 31, 1997; East Rutherford, New Jersey.

2. Pigskin Classic XIII (date and site to be determined).

d. Volleyball. The following events are considered exempt by an institution not more than once in a four-year period:

1. University of Alaska Fairbanks (date to be determined); Fairbanks, Alaska.

2. Aston's Imua Wahine Invitational; August 29 and 31 and September 1, 1997; Honolulu, Hawaii.

3. Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic; September 5-7, 1997; Hawaii.

e. Soccer. The following events are considered exempt by an institution not more than once in a four-year period:

1. Outrigger Hotels Wahine Festival; August 29 and 31 and September 1 and 3, 1997; Honolulu, Hawaii.

2. University of Hawaii Women's Invitational; September 12-14, 1997; Honolulu, Hawaii.

3. University of Hawaii Women's Tournament; September 26-28, 1997; Honolulu, Hawaii.

This material was provided by the legislative services staff as an aid to member institutions. If an institution has a question or comment regarding this column, such correspondence should be directed to Richard C. Perko, legislative assistant, at the NCAA national office. This information is available on the Collegiate Sports Network.