The NCAA News - News and Features

March 24, 1997

Legislative assistance

1997 Column No. 12
NCAA Bylaw 17.3.3

Practice and contest dates for NCAA

Divisions I and II basketball

Practice. Division I institutions should note that with the adoption of 1997 NCAA Convention Proposal No. 118, Division I institutions may begin on-court preseason basketball practice sessions on the Saturday nearest to October 15. In this regard, Division I institutions may begin on-court practice in the years 1997-2001 on:

1997-98 academic year -- October 18, 1997

1998-99 academic year -- October 17, 1998

1999-2000 academic year -- October 16, 1999

2000-01 academic year -- October 14, 2000

2001-02 academic year -- October 13, 2001

Division II institutions may not begin on-court preseason practice sessions in any of these years until October 15, pursuant to Bylaw 17.5.2.1. [Note: No proposals were considered at the 1997 Convention by the Division II membership that related to the first permissible practice date in Division II basketball.]

Competition. Division I institutions should note that with the adoption of 1997 Convention Proposal Nos. 119 and 120, Division I men's and women's basketball programs may participate in their first permissible contest one week earlier than currently scheduled (i.e., 136 days prior to the Division I men's basketball championship). In this regard, Division I institutions shall not play their first contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition in basketball prior to:

1997-98 academic year -- November 14, 1997

1998-99 academic year -- November 13, 1998

1999-2000 academic year -- November 19, 1999

2000-01 academic year -- November 17, 2000

2001-02 academic year -- November 16, 2001

Division II institutions should note that during its January 4, 1996, meeting, the NCAA Administrative Committee reviewed several alternatives for determining the first permissible contest date subsequent to the 1996-97 academic year and determined that a Division II institution may not play its first contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition in the sport of basketball before the date that is 136 days (including Sundays) before the Division I men's basketball championship game. Based on the Administrative Committee's decision, a Division II institution may not play its first contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition in the sport of basketball before:

1997-98 academic year -- November 14, 1997

1998-99 academic year -- November 13, 1998

1999-2000 academic year -- November 19, 1999

2000-01 academic year -- November 17, 2000

2001-02 academic year -- November 16, 2001

Finally, note that the exceptions to the first contest date set forth in Bylaw 17.3.3.1 remain applicable. For example, it will continue to be permissible for a Division I or II institution to participate in one game against a foreign team in the United States after November 1 and prior to the first contest date set forth in Bylaw 17.3.3.

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.