The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit has upheld the NCAA's "two-in-four" rule regarding participation in certified contests.

In a decision released November 15, the 6th Circuit overturned a lower-court decision that prevented the NCAA from enforcing the rule, which allows Division I institutions to participate in certified contests not more than twice every four years.

The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed in late 2000 by Worldwide Basketball and Sport Tours and a group of other college basketball promoters. The suit alleged many of the preseason tournaments would fold if the two-in-four rule was upheld.

In their ruling, the 6th Circuit judges said Worldwide Basketball and Sport Tours and the other promoters failed to demonstrate how the two-in-four rule restricts free trade.

The NCAA rule was instituted to allow student-athletes at different schools the opportunity to participate in the tournaments, instead of limiting participation to perennial favorites.

STAFF CONTACT: Elsa Cole (ecole@ncaa.org)

SPORTS WAGERING

Task force works toward release of recommendations in January

The NCAA Sports Wagering Task Force reviewed more than 50 preliminary recommendations during its final in-person meeting November 11 in Indianapolis. The group was charged earlier this year with examining the impact of sports wagering on student-athletes and recommending ways to improve the culture.

It worked to finalize a report that is expected to be ready for release in January.

The task force focused on three areas: compliance and policy, education awareness, and law enforcement and government relations. The recommendations, which have yet to be finalized, target several education-delivery mechanisms such as the Internet, videos and in-person presentations, as well as "best practices" from a compliance standpoint that are designed to change behaviors. The final report also will focus on efforts to build coalitions among coaches associations, law enforcement agencies and higher education organizations to collectively use resources to raise awareness.

Task force Chair Rev. Edward A. Malloy, president at the University of Notre Dame, praised the group's work in anticipation of a final document in January that will help NCAA member institutions convey to student-athletes the dangers inherent in sports wagering.

"The task force's work will increase awareness about sports wagering not only for NCAA members but also for the various publics that have an interest in intercollegiate athletics," Malloy said.

STAFF CONTACT: Bill Saum (bsaum@ncaa.org)

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