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Question: It is permissible for a director of operations (or other non-coaching staff member with sport-specific responsibilities) to attend a local athletics event involving prospective student-athletes and have recruiting conversations with the prospective student-athlete's relatives or legal guardians who are attending the event.
A. True Answer: B- False NCAA Bylaw 13.1.2.1 states that all in-person, on- and off-campus recruiting contacts with a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete's relatives or legal guardian(s) shall be made only by authorized institutional staff members. Such contact, as well as correspondence and telephone calls, by representatives of an institution's athletics interests is prohibited except as otherwise permitted in this section. Violations of this bylaw involving individuals other than a representative of an institution's athletics interests shall be considered institutional violations per Constitution 2.8.1; however, such violations shall not affect the prospective student-athlete's eligibility. (Revised: 8/5/04) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: When may non-coaching staff members telephone prospective student-athletes? Answer: Day after the prospective student-athlete signs a National Letter of Intent with that institution. According to the following NCAA Bylaws... Bylaw 13.1.3.4.1.2 states that after the calendar day on which a prospective student athlete signs a National Letter of Intent, a noncoaching institutional staff member or a coach who does not count toward the numerical limitations in Bylaw 11.7.4 may make telephone calls to or receive telephone calls from the prospective student-athlete (or the prospective student-athlete's parents or legal guardians). For an institution not using the National Letter of Intent in a particular sport, or for a prospective student-athlete who is not eligible to sign a National Letter of Intent (e.g., four-year college transfer), a noncoaching institutional staff member or a coach who does not count toward the numerical limitations in Bylaw 11.7.4 may make telephone calls to or receive telephone calls from a prospective student-athlete (or the prospective student-athlete's parents or legal guardians) after the calendar day on which the prospective student-athlete signs the institution's written offer of admission and/or financial aid. (Adopted: 1/14/08 effective 8/1/08, Revised: 8/8/08) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Dana Digs is a volleyball prospective student-athlete. Dana will be enrolling at Big Time College in the fall and will be participating on the volleyball team. Dana would like to get a jump start on her academic career, so she has decided to attend summer school during the first session at Big Time College. The coach is unable to provide Dana with financial assistance, so she will be paying for her own summer school costs. Once Dana enrolls and attends summer classes, is she still considered a prospective student-athlete? Can she receive benefits like the other student-athletes? Answer: No Please note that this proposal has an immediate effective date. RECRUITING -- DEFINITIONS AND APPLICATIONS -- PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE -- ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE IN SUMMER CLASSES PRIOR TO INITIAL FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT Status: Adopted, 60-Day Override Period Intent: To specify that an individual shall no longer be considered a prospective student-athlete for purposes of the contact limitations in Bylaw 13 and shall be considered a student-athlete for purposes of Bylaw 16 at the point in which he or she officially registers and enrolls and attends classes in an institution's summer term prior to initial full-time enrollment. 13.02.11 Prospective Student-Athlete. A prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individual's relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally. An individual remains a prospective student-athlete until one of the following occurs (whichever is earlier): (a) The individual officially registers and enrolls in a minimum full-time program of studies and attends classes in any term of a four-year collegiate institution's regular academic year (excluding summer); or (b) The individual participates in a regular squad practice or competition at a four-year collegiate institution that occurs before the beginning of any term; or (Revised: 1/11/89, 1/10/90)
(c) The individual officially registers and enrolls and attends classes during the summer prior to initial enrollment and receives institutional athletics aid. (Adopted: 4/28/05)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Cross Bar is a soccer student-athlete at Big North College. Cross graduated in the spring of 2008 but has returned this fall to play his final season. Cross is enrolled in a full-time course load this semester and all the hours can be applied toward the economics degree program. Cross, however, is categorized as an undecided student in the institution's computer system. Does Cross have to actually declare a major? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: It is permissible for a director of operations (or other non-coaching staff member with sport-specific responsibilities) to attend a local athletics event involving prospective student-athletes and have recruiting conversations with the prospective student-athlete's relatives or legal guardians who are attending the event. True or False? Answer: The answer is False. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: The baseball coaches at College USA would like to provide several prospective student-athletes with complimentary admissions to attend a home game on saturday. The game is being played at a ballpark that is not their regular home facility. Can the coaches have contact with these prospective student-athletes after the game? Answer: If the contest takes place outside of a contact period, it would NOT be permissible to have contact with the prospective student-athletes. If it is during a contact period, the coaches may have contact with these prospective student-athletes per NCAA Bylaw 13.1.1.1. Any contact that takes place during a contact period must count as an off-campus contact. 13.7.2.2 Home Games at Site Other than Regular Home Facility Contact with Prospective Student-Athletes at Home Contest at a Site Other than Regular Home Facility (I) [References: Division I Bylaws 13.01.3 (off-campus recruiting), 13.02.4.1 (contact period), 13.1.4 (recruiting calendars), 13.7.2.2 (home games at site other than regular home facility), an official interpretation (4/28/94, Item No. 4), and staff interpretation (12/12/07, Item No. 1), which has been archived] 13.1.1.1 High School Prospective Student-Athletes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Strike Out is a baseball student-athlete at College USA. Strike played in his first game of the season last Saturday. Stirke had pitched a few innings when the game was called on account of lightening. Since the game was not complete, does Strike utilize a season of competition? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Pooch Kick is a football prospective student-athlete who will be initially enrolling at College USA in the fall. Pooch really wants to be prepared for preseason camp, so he decides to start practicing on his own. In order to get used to College USA's equipment, Pooch asks the coaching staff if he can purchase a few balls and tees. College USA will be having a public sale at the end of April. Can Pooch purchase balls and tees at this public sale? Answer: Yes Used equipment may be purchased by the student-athlete on the same cost basis as by any other individual interested in purchasing such equipment and may be offered to student-athletes before other interested parties are aware of the opportunity to purchase the equipment. Further, it is not permissible to sell equipment to prospective student-athletes unless the sale of equipment is made available to the general public. The sale of equipment must be publicized to the public generally and made available to all individuals on the same terms and conditions. [References: NCAA Division I Bylaws 13.2 (offers and inducements); 16.02.3 (extra benefit); 16.12.1.6 (Retention of Athletics Apparel and Equipment); an October 21, 1993 official interpretation (item reference: 1); and an October 23, 1986, official interpretation (item reference: p)]. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: With this week commencing NCAA postseason basketball tournaments, all institutional/conference staff members (including full-time, part-time, and student workers) are reminded that it is not permissible to engage in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate athletics or professional athletics, through the internet, a bookmaker, a parlay card, or any other method employed by organized gambling. This prohibition also includes participation in NCAA/NIT Tournament Bracket sheets in which an entry fee is required and money or any item of tangible value may be won. Previous NCAA major infractions cases involving staff members' participation in organized gambling activities have resulted in a number of institutional corrective actions, including termination of employment. For more information concerning sports wagering, please visit the NCAA's interactive sports wagering website at www.dontbetonit.org. NCAA Bylaw 10.02.1 Sports Wagering NCAA Bylaw 10.02.2 Wager NCAA Bylaw 10.3 Sports Wagering Activities (a) Staff members of an institution's athletics department; Answer: Don't Bet On It! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: During the summer vacation period, a student-athlete voluntarily asks to meet with the head coach regarding goals for the upcoming academic year. Is this permissible? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Ground Ball is a baseball student-athlete at College USA. At the beginning of the season, Ground was issued a pair of tennis shoes. Because Ground was still using a pair of shoes from last year, he only wore the new pair 2-3 times. At the end of the season a friend of Ground's asked if he could buy the shoes, and Ground sold them for $50.00. Since Ground was allowed to keep his shoes at the end of the season, was it permissible for him to sell them and keep the money? Answer: No The above fact pattern is an actual violation from the 2006-07 academic year. The student-athlete was declared ineligible and needed to have his eligibility reinstated by the NCAA. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: The men's soccer coaches at College USA want to make sure their student-athletes stay in great shape during the summer while they are at home. The coaches have worked with the strength and conditioning coaches to create suggested work out programs for the student-athletes to take home with them. The coaches really want to make sure the student-athletes are following these programs, so they have also provided the student-athletes with forms to log their conditioning activities. The coaches would like to see these reports on a weekly basis, so they will provide them with pre-paid postage envelopes to mail the reports back to the coaches. Is it permissible for the coaches to provide such envelopes to the student-athletes? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Cent R. Line is a prospective student-athlete that signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) with Eastern College to play volleyball next year. Cent has also been approached by the basketball coaches about practicing with the team after the volleyball season is over. If Cent practices with the basketball team, does her scholarship still count against the volleyball team limits? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: First N. Goal is a prospective student-athlete who is going to sign a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday to play football at Western College. The Head Coach at Western College would like to invite First's parents to the press conference announcing the incoming recruiting class. Is this permissible? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Full Twist is a diving prospective student-athlete that signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) with State College in November. Full still needs to submit a few documents to complete her admissions and housing applications for fall 2008 enrollment. The coaches would like to send Full a text message to remind her of these important deadlines. Is it permissible for the coaches at State College to send Full text messages? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: The men's and women's track and field teams at College America are competing in the Winter Invitational this weekend. The invitational is an open meet, so not all participants will be collegiate student-athletes. A few of the participants will be prospective student-athletes that the coaches at College America are recruiting. Will the coaches at College America use evaluations when watching these prospective student-athletes compete against their student-athletes? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: The men's basketball coaches at Eastern College are recruiting And One, a prospect on the west coast. The coaches were only able to watch And in person a few times, so they contact his high school and ask to purchase game film for the entire season. The high school normally charges $100 for the videos. The cost includes blank DVDS, postage and a fee for the service provided. Is it permissible for Eastern College to purchase the game film at this cost? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Point Guard is a basketball student-athlete that transferred to State College in January 2007. Point served his residency requirement during the spring 2007 and fall 2007 semesters, and he has been certified as eligible to compete. The fall semester officially ends on Friday, December 14th. The basketball team will be competing on Saturday, December 15th. The team will be leaving campus on Thursday, December 13th to travel to the game. Can Point travel with the team since they are leaving prior to the conclusion of the fall 2007 semester? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: On the initial day of the early signing period for the National Letter of Intent (NLI), the men's basketball program at College USA released the names of the prospective student-athletes that signed with their institution. The men's basketball program subsequently signs an additional prospective student-athlete during the spring signing period. The sports information office would like to update the biographies of the prospects who signed during the fall period, as during the interim two of the signees were named all-state and another won the state basketball championship. Is it permissible for the institution to release additional information about NLI signees? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: The Head Volleyball Coach at Western College arranges for an off-campus contact with Outside Hitter, a prospective student-athlete, on Monday, November 19th. Outside has not signed an NLI during the early signing period, and the coach hopes to be able to convince her to sign with Western College before the deadline expires on November 21st. The coach brings the NLI to Outside's home and presents it to her in an effort to secure a signature. Is this permissible? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Red Flag is a prospective student-athlete that will be initially enrolling full-time at a collegiate institution in January 2008. Red completed 14 core courses, earned the minimum GPA/test score combination and will graduate in December. One of Red's 14 core courses was earned through credit-by-examination. Can Red use this course to meet NCAA initial eligibility requirements? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Big State University was approached by a local high school to participate in their annual fundraiser. The money raised will be used to buy equipment and uniforms for the athletic department. The high school requested a BSU t-shirt and hat and asked if BSU's conference office could also donate a t-shirt and hat. Is it permissible for BSU to provide items for the high school's fundraiser? Is it permissible for BSU's conference office to provide items for the high school's fundraiser? Answer: No to both questions Although NCAA Bylaw 13.15.1.2 does not specifically identify conference offices in the prohibition of participating in high school fundraisers, it is not permissible because conference offices are required to adhere to the same rules and regulations as their member institutions. Constitution, Article 3.3.4.1, states that member conferences of this Association agree to administer their athletics programs in accordance with the constitution, bylaws and other legislation of the Association. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Pen L. Tee is a soccer student-athlete from England. Prior to enrolling at Big State University, Pen played for a club team in his home town. The club team only provided Pen with actual and necessary expenses during the season, but a few of the players were provided a salary. Did Pen play on a professional team? Answer: Yes (a) Provides any of its players more than actual and necessary expenses for participation on the team, except as otherwise permitted by NCAA legislation. Actual and necessary expenses are limited to the following, provided the value of these items is commensurate with the fair market value in the locality of the player(s) and is not excessive in nature: (Revised: 4/25/02 effective 8/1/02) (1) Meals directly tied to competition and practice held in preparation for such competition; (b) Declares itself to be professional (see Bylaw 12.1.2.4.1.1). (Revised: 8/8/02) In situations like this, the institution will need to work with the NCAA Eligibility Center and/or the NCAA Reinstatement staff to determine the student-athlete's eligibility for intercollegiate sports. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Switch Hitter is a softball student-athlete at State College. Switch is interested in providing pitching lessons to earn extra money during the off-season. Can Switch use State College's facilities when providing these lessons? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Big State College men's basketball team is getting ready for their first official on-court practice on Friday, October 12th. They are going to practice from 7 pm - 8 pm and then have "midnight madness" with the women's team from 8 pm to 9 pm. If the team has not yet used their permissible 2 hours of individual skill-related instruction for the week that includes Oct. 12th, can they participate in individual skill-related instruction earlier in the day on the 12th (2 pm - 4 pm) while also still participating in practice at 7 pm? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Walk Off, Hr. is a freshman student at Big Time University. Walk decides to try out for the baseball team during the second week of classes. Walk makes the team and is told that he has to finish his registration with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Because Walk had already started classes at Big Time University, he asked the admissions office to send his SAT score to the NCAA Eligibility Center. Is that permissible? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Three N. Out, a senior prospective student-athlete, is being recruited by College USA in the sports of football and track. With the dead period for football occurring the week of the National Letter of Intent, would it be permissible for the track coaches to contact three off-campus during the football dead period? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Kris Kringle, Head Women's Basketball Coach at Big Time University, wants to buy and send Christmas cards to her 8 NLI signees. Is this permissible? Answer: No As specified below, an institution may provide the following printed materials to prospective student-athletes, coaches of prospective student-athletes or any other individual responsible for teaching or directing an activity in which a prospective student-athlete is involved: (Adopted: 4/28/05 effective 8/1/05 for publications prepared for the 2005-06 academic year and after) (a) General Correspondence. General correspondence, including letters and postcards issued by the U.S. postal service (i.e., blank cards) and institutional note cards may be sent to a prospective student-athlete only by mail. Attachments to general correspondence may include materials printed on plain white paper with black ink. The content of all general recruiting correspondence to prospective student-athletes (or prospective student-athletes' parents or legal guardians) must be prepared by the head coach or one of the assistant coaches who count toward the numerical limitations in Bylaw 11.7.4 (see Bylaw 11.7.1.2). It is not permissible for an institution's president or chancellor or director of athletics to prepare general correspondence to prospective student-athletes. (Revised: 3/8/06) (b) Business Cards. (c) Camp Brochures. Camp brochures may be provided to a prospective student-athlete. Brochures are not restricted by content or design, but are restricted to a single two-sided sheet, not to exceed 17" X 22" when opened in full. (Note: These brochures may be provided to a prospective student-athlete prior to September 1 at the beginning of the prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school.) (See also Bylaw 12.5.1.7). (d) Questionnaires. An institution may provide questionnaires to a prospective student-athlete prior to September 1 at the beginning of the prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school. (e) Nonathletics Institutional Publications. An institution may provide nonathletics institutional publications available to all students at any time (e.g., official academic, admissions and student-services publications published by the institution and available to all students). (f) NCAA Educational Material Published by the NCAA (e.g., NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete). (Note: This information may be provided to a prospective student-athlete prior to September 1 at the beginning of the prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school.) (g) Athletics Publications. An institution may produce a recruiting brochure or media guide (but not both) and provide the publication to a prospective student-athlete. The publications may have only one color printing inside the cover and may not exceeding 8 1/2 by 11 inches in size and 208 pages in length. An institution may not produce a separate media guide that is intended to supplement the one permissible recruiting brochure or media guide. Such supplemental information (e.g., historical information, records) may be posted on the institution's Web site and may be printed in black and white, and provided to the media. An institution may not create a portfolio of information (e.g., pictures) to be shown to prospective student-athletes during the recruiting process unless it is considered the institution's one permissible athletics recruiting publications. An institution may produce additional media publications for separate purposes (e.g., postseason media guide, spring football practice guide), provided the additional publications are not provided to prospective student-athletes. (Revised: 3/23/05, 4/28/05, 5/12/05) (h) Game Programs. Game programs (which may not include posters) may be provided to prospective student-athletes only during official and unofficial recruiting visits and may not be mailed. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Now that his institution has accepted a bowl invitation, a football student-athlete would like to make sure his family gets a hotel room for the game. Because the institution will be purchasing a large number of rooms, the hotel is offering a special rate to all persons associated with the institution. Is it permissible for the institution to provide this special rate information to the player's family? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Big Time University has a game this weekend at 1:00pm. The student-athletes will be provided breakfast and a lunch (pre-game meal) at the team hotel. The coaches would like to give the student-athletes $20 cash for dinner and a snack after the competition. Is it permissible for the coaches to provide the players with $20 cash for a post-game dinner and snack? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: First Down, a football student-athlete, wants to transfer from College USA. He asks his coach for permission to speak to other schools. The Coach tells First Down that he can be contacted by other schools at the end of the fall semester. Is First Down entitled to a hearing, since permission to speak was not granted until the end of the semester? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Big Time University football team has a home game this weekend at 7:00pm. The student-athletes will be provided breakfast and a lunch (pre-game meal) at the team hotel. The coaches would like to give the student-athletes money for dinner and a snack after the competition. Is this permissible? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: A prospect in women's basketball signs a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period (November 8 - 15). Prior to her signing, the institution committed an NCAA violation in her recruitment. The institution reported the violation and the prospect's eligbility was reinstated by the NCAA before she signed the NLI. Is the NLI that she signed valid? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: College USA sponsors both men's and women's swimming and diving. The coaching staff members are involved in practice activities and competition for both the men's and women's teams on a daily basis. There is a big event being held this weekend that includes both male and female participants. College USA would like to send four coaches to the event. Is this permissible? Answer: Yes NCAA Bylaw 11.7.4.1 states that a member institution that conducts a combined program in a sport (i.e., one in which all coaching staff members in the same sport are involved in practice activities or competition with both the men's and women's teams on a daily basis) may employ the total number of coaches specified separately for men and for women in that sport. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: A volleyball prospective student-athlete wants to play for a club team in her home country. The club team required her to sign a contract which would allow her to play for that team as well as a professional team within the same organization. Assuming she does not compete for the professional team, does signing this contract jeopardize her amateur status? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Head Baseball Coach at College USA would like to schedule the following out of season activities for his team this week: Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Donna is a prospect who is interested in joining the swim team at State next fall and would like to major in industrial engineering. A prominent State alum, someone with an esteemed career in this industry, decides to write Donna a letter telling her how great the industrial engineering program is and what an honor it is to be a student-athlete at State. Is this permissible? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Long Jump is a student-athlete on the track team at Institution A. During her season she was invited to appear on a local sports TV show for an interview. The interview is part of Institution A's conference-sponsored media day. The interview was to take part during the day and Long Jump would be missing one class. Is it permissible for Long Jump to attend the interview? Answer: Yes (b) Outside the Playing Season. Outside the playing season, a student-athlete may participate in media activities (e.g., appearance on radio, television, in films or stage productions or participation in writing projects) when such appearance or participation is related in any way to athletics ability or prestige, provided the student-athlete is eligible academically to represent the institution and does not receive any remuneration for such appearance or participation. The student-athlete may not make any endorsement, expressed or implied, of any commercial product or service. The student-athlete may, however, receive legitimate and normal expenses directly related to such appearance or participation, provided the source of the expenses is the entity sponsoring the activity. (Revised: 1/16/93, 1/14/97) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Ace, a student-athlete at University X, competes in an open swim meet at another institution. Representing himself, Ace paid his own expenses, did not score points for University X and wore his own apparel. He did receive care from the host institution's athletic trainer and coaching from his coach at University X, who were both at the meet. Did Ace use a season of competition? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Field Goal, a football prospect, took an unofficial visit to Big University. Prior to every game, the football team takes part in the ceremonial march from the parking lot to the stadium. Field Goal was asked to take part in the pre-game ritual. Is it permissible for him to do so? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: A prospect graduated from high school in June 2006. She used all five permissible official visits during her senior year in high school, but she did not enroll in college in the fall of 2006. Can an institution's coach offer her an official visit in the fall of 2006? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Slam Dunk, a men's basketball PSA, took an official visit at Big Time University. Slam Dunk called the Head Coach a week later to thank him for the visit. When the call was made, the Head Coach was out of the office and a message was left. The message was received by the director of operations. Is it permissible for the director operations to call Slam Dunk back on the behalf of the Coach? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: The men's soccer team at University X will be participating in a read-a-thon with elementary school children. The coach would like the student-athletes to wear University X apparel during the event. Is it permissible for University X to provide shirts to student-athletes for this event? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: An institution's basketball coach would like to have his student-athletes participate in skill instruction starting on the first day of classes. Is this permissible? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Several athletes from an institution's swimming team enter a fantasy football league, one that costs $5 to sign up for and awards a $500 grand prize to the winner at season's end. Have they engaged in gambling activities? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Three members of the men's basketball coaching staff are engaging in off-campus recruiting activities. During this time, can an additional coach leave campus to engage in contact or evaluation of prospects? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Which of the following materials are considered permissible attachments to general correspondence sent to prospects? A. Custom-made recruiting brochure Answer: B, D. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Before an official visit can be made, what materials must a prospect provide to the institution? Answer: The prospect must provide an official test score (PSAT, SAT, PLAN or ACT) and an academic transcript from their applicable high school/college. (Bylaws 13.6.2.2.2.1, 13.6.2.2.2.2) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: A student-athlete transfers from one four-year institution to another and begins his full-time studies during the 2006 summer term. When will he be eligible for intercollegiate competition? (Assume he is enrolled full-time in following semesters) A. After the Fall 2006 semester Answer: C ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Which of the following is NOT required of incoming student-athletes in order to obtain "qualifier" status? A. Specified minimum SAT or ACT score Answer: All of the above clauses are required by the NCAA in order to earn qualifer status (Bylaws 14.02.9.1 and 14.3.1.1) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: During the summer term, how many hours per week may student-athletes participate in countable athletically related activities? (Assume it is outside the playing season) A. 8 Answer: C. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: A student-athlete successfully completes 15 credits during her first year of enrollment (fall and spring semester). Over the summer term, she completes 9 more. Is she eligibile for competition when her second year of school begins? A. Yes Answer: No. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: On what date may currently enrolled student-athletes begin receiving telephone calls from prospects? (Assume the student-athlete's participation is not at the direction of a coach or booster and such telephone calls are financed by the prospect.) A. April 1 of the prospect`s junior year of high school. Answer: C ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: A head diving coach at an institution wants to evaluate a 7th grader next week during the late National Letter of Intent Signing Period. Can the coach evaluate the 7th grader, during a dead period, since he is not of prospect age yet? A. Yes Answer: No. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Since Institution A's women's basketball team is hosting the first and second rounds of the WNIT tournament, several local recruits would like to come and cheer on the team. Can Institution A provide complimentary admissions to recruits to attend the WNIT tournament? A. True Answer: No. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: An enrolled student-athlete is going home for the Christmas holidays and the head coach reminds the studentathlete that the athlete's former high school will be participating in a tournament. The institution is recruiting a prospect on the student-athlete's former high school team. The coach reminds the student-athlete to make sure contact is made with the prospect. This is a permissible recruiting contact. A. True Answer: False. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: An individual was a member of a booster support organization for the University of Louisville Cardinal Football Team and contributed money to the program in 2000, 2001, and 2003. He is no longer a member of the booster support organization and has not made contributions during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Is he still considered a booster? Answer: Yes, once an individual is considered a booster, and acts as an "athletic representative", that individual is always considered a booster. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: In order for a student-athlete to be eligible for competition at the certifying institution for any regular academic term, what is the number of degree-credit hours that the student-athlete must have successfully completed in the previous term? Answer: 6 - A student-athlete must successfully complete a minimum of six (6) semester hours to be eligible for competition the following semester. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: A student-athlete at Institution A would like to transfer and notifies the institution regarding the desire to transfer. Institution B contacts Institution A about the student-athlete's interest; however, Institution A informs B that it will not permit contact with the student-athlete to any institution. What is required of Institution A now that it has denied the student-athlete's and Institution A's request? Answer: C - Inform the student-athlete of a hearing opportunity to appeal the denial of contact. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Is it permissible for a student-athlete, with remaining eligibility, to participate in a sports camp, at their institution, as a demonstrator only, outside of the playing season? Answer: No, it is not? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: A prospect who was a non-qualifier is enrolled in his first year at a two-year college. What can you do to recruit the prospect? Answer: C - You may only call the prospect. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: Which of the following activities are considered non-countable athletically related activities? Answer: All of the above (NCAA Bylaw 17.02.13 Voluntary Athletically Related Activities) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: A non-recruited basketball prospect attends a basketball contest at an institution and encounters a member of the coaching staff after the game. They have a non-sports related conversation and go their separate ways. The visit was financed by the prospect and was not prearranged. Two weeks later, a member of the coaching staff attends a basketball game at the prospects high school, initiates a sports related conversation with the prospect and invites the prospect to visit the institution. How many countable contacts were there? Was there an official visit? One, the conversation at the basketball game was not a contact because the visit was not prearranged or financed by the institution; however, the conversation at the prospects school was a contact and an evaluation. Answer: There was a countable contact and an evaluation; however, there was no official visit. Question: A prospect may take a maximum of _____ expense-paid visits to any Division I and Division II institution while in high school, with no more than one permitted per institution and regardless of whether the prospect is involved in more Answer: C. Five (See Bylaw 13.7.1.2) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Which of the following methods of communication is/are not permissible? Answer: C - A videotaped message to the prospect placed on CD Rom. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Can a coach hand deliver the National Letter of Intent to a prospect while on UofL's campus? Answer: Yes. NCAA Bylaw 13.1.6.2.1 specifically prohibits in-person, OFF-campus delivery of the National Letter of Intent. However, the NLI may be hand delivered to a prospect that is on UL's campus, provided it is not during a DEAD period, and the prospect may only sign an NLI during a permissible signing period.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Cross Bar is a soccer student-athlete at Big North College. Cross graduated in the spring of 2008 but has returned this fall to play his final season. Cross is enrolled in a full-time course load this semester and all the hours can be applied toward the economics degree program. Cross, however, is categorized as an undecided student in the institution's computer system. Does Cross have to actually declare a major? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: It is permissible for a director of operations (or other non-coaching staff member with sport-specific responsibilities) to attend a local athletics event involving prospective student-athletes and have recruiting conversations with the prospective student-athlete's relatives or legal guardians who are attending the event. True or False? Answer: The answer is False. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: The baseball coaches at College USA would like to provide several prospective student-athletes with complimentary admissions to attend a home game on saturday. The game is being played at a ballpark that is not their regular home facility. Can the coaches have contact with these prospective student-athletes after the game? Answer: If the contest takes place outside of a contact period, it would NOT be permissible to have contact with the prospective student-athletes. If it is during a contact period, the coaches may have contact with these prospective student-athletes per NCAA Bylaw 13.1.1.1. Any contact that takes place during a contact period must count as an off-campus contact. 13.7.2.2 Home Games at Site Other than Regular Home Facility Contact with Prospective Student-Athletes at Home Contest at a Site Other than Regular Home Facility (I) [References: Division I Bylaws 13.01.3 (off-campus recruiting), 13.02.4.1 (contact period), 13.1.4 (recruiting calendars), 13.7.2.2 (home games at site other than regular home facility), an official interpretation (4/28/94, Item No. 4), and staff interpretation (12/12/07, Item No. 1), which has been archived] 13.1.1.1 High School Prospective Student-Athletes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Strike Out is a baseball student-athlete at College USA. Strike played in his first game of the season last Saturday. Stirke had pitched a few innings when the game was called on account of lightening. Since the game was not complete, does Strike utilize a season of competition? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Pooch Kick is a football prospective student-athlete who will be initially enrolling at College USA in the fall. Pooch really wants to be prepared for preseason camp, so he decides to start practicing on his own. In order to get used to College USA's equipment, Pooch asks the coaching staff if he can purchase a few balls and tees. College USA will be having a public sale at the end of April. Can Pooch purchase balls and tees at this public sale? Answer: Yes Used equipment may be purchased by the student-athlete on the same cost basis as by any other individual interested in purchasing such equipment and may be offered to student-athletes before other interested parties are aware of the opportunity to purchase the equipment. Further, it is not permissible to sell equipment to prospective student-athletes unless the sale of equipment is made available to the general public. The sale of equipment must be publicized to the public generally and made available to all individuals on the same terms and conditions. [References: NCAA Division I Bylaws 13.2 (offers and inducements); 16.02.3 (extra benefit); 16.12.1.6 (Retention of Athletics Apparel and Equipment); an October 21, 1993 official interpretation (item reference: 1); and an October 23, 1986, official interpretation (item reference: p)]. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: With this week commencing NCAA postseason basketball tournaments, all institutional/conference staff members (including full-time, part-time, and student workers) are reminded that it is not permissible to engage in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate athletics or professional athletics, through the internet, a bookmaker, a parlay card, or any other method employed by organized gambling. This prohibition also includes participation in NCAA/NIT Tournament Bracket sheets in which an entry fee is required and money or any item of tangible value may be won. Previous NCAA major infractions cases involving staff members' participation in organized gambling activities have resulted in a number of institutional corrective actions, including termination of employment. For more information concerning sports wagering, please visit the NCAA's interactive sports wagering website at www.dontbetonit.org. NCAA Bylaw 10.02.1 Sports Wagering NCAA Bylaw 10.02.2 Wager NCAA Bylaw 10.3 Sports Wagering Activities (a) Staff members of an institution's athletics department; Answer: Don't Bet On It! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: During the summer vacation period, a student-athlete voluntarily asks to meet with the head coach regarding goals for the upcoming academic year. Is this permissible? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Ground Ball is a baseball student-athlete at College USA. At the beginning of the season, Ground was issued a pair of tennis shoes. Because Ground was still using a pair of shoes from last year, he only wore the new pair 2-3 times. At the end of the season a friend of Ground's asked if he could buy the shoes, and Ground sold them for $50.00. Since Ground was allowed to keep his shoes at the end of the season, was it permissible for him to sell them and keep the money? Answer: No The above fact pattern is an actual violation from the 2006-07 academic year. The student-athlete was declared ineligible and needed to have his eligibility reinstated by the NCAA. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: The men's soccer coaches at College USA want to make sure their student-athletes stay in great shape during the summer while they are at home. The coaches have worked with the strength and conditioning coaches to create suggested work out programs for the student-athletes to take home with them. The coaches really want to make sure the student-athletes are following these programs, so they have also provided the student-athletes with forms to log their conditioning activities. The coaches would like to see these reports on a weekly basis, so they will provide them with pre-paid postage envelopes to mail the reports back to the coaches. Is it permissible for the coaches to provide such envelopes to the student-athletes? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Cent R. Line is a prospective student-athlete that signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) with Eastern College to play volleyball next year. Cent has also been approached by the basketball coaches about practicing with the team after the volleyball season is over. If Cent practices with the basketball team, does her scholarship still count against the volleyball team limits? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: First N. Goal is a prospective student-athlete who is going to sign a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday to play football at Western College. The Head Coach at Western College would like to invite First's parents to the press conference announcing the incoming recruiting class. Is this permissible? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Full Twist is a diving prospective student-athlete that signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) with State College in November. Full still needs to submit a few documents to complete her admissions and housing applications for fall 2008 enrollment. The coaches would like to send Full a text message to remind her of these important deadlines. Is it permissible for the coaches at State College to send Full text messages? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: The men's and women's track and field teams at College America are competing in the Winter Invitational this weekend. The invitational is an open meet, so not all participants will be collegiate student-athletes. A few of the participants will be prospective student-athletes that the coaches at College America are recruiting. Will the coaches at College America use evaluations when watching these prospective student-athletes compete against their student-athletes? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: The men's basketball coaches at Eastern College are recruiting And One, a prospect on the west coast. The coaches were only able to watch And in person a few times, so they contact his high school and ask to purchase game film for the entire season. The high school normally charges $100 for the videos. The cost includes blank DVDS, postage and a fee for the service provided. Is it permissible for Eastern College to purchase the game film at this cost? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Point Guard is a basketball student-athlete that transferred to State College in January 2007. Point served his residency requirement during the spring 2007 and fall 2007 semesters, and he has been certified as eligible to compete. The fall semester officially ends on Friday, December 14th. The basketball team will be competing on Saturday, December 15th. The team will be leaving campus on Thursday, December 13th to travel to the game. Can Point travel with the team since they are leaving prior to the conclusion of the fall 2007 semester? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: On the initial day of the early signing period for the National Letter of Intent (NLI), the men's basketball program at College USA released the names of the prospective student-athletes that signed with their institution. The men's basketball program subsequently signs an additional prospective student-athlete during the spring signing period. The sports information office would like to update the biographies of the prospects who signed during the fall period, as during the interim two of the signees were named all-state and another won the state basketball championship. Is it permissible for the institution to release additional information about NLI signees? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: The Head Volleyball Coach at Western College arranges for an off-campus contact with Outside Hitter, a prospective student-athlete, on Monday, November 19th. Outside has not signed an NLI during the early signing period, and the coach hopes to be able to convince her to sign with Western College before the deadline expires on November 21st. The coach brings the NLI to Outside's home and presents it to her in an effort to secure a signature. Is this permissible? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Red Flag is a prospective student-athlete that will be initially enrolling full-time at a collegiate institution in January 2008. Red completed 14 core courses, earned the minimum GPA/test score combination and will graduate in December. One of Red's 14 core courses was earned through credit-by-examination. Can Red use this course to meet NCAA initial eligibility requirements? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Big State University was approached by a local high school to participate in their annual fundraiser. The money raised will be used to buy equipment and uniforms for the athletic department. The high school requested a BSU t-shirt and hat and asked if BSU's conference office could also donate a t-shirt and hat. Is it permissible for BSU to provide items for the high school's fundraiser? Is it permissible for BSU's conference office to provide items for the high school's fundraiser? Answer: No to both questions Although NCAA Bylaw 13.15.1.2 does not specifically identify conference offices in the prohibition of participating in high school fundraisers, it is not permissible because conference offices are required to adhere to the same rules and regulations as their member institutions. Constitution, Article 3.3.4.1, states that member conferences of this Association agree to administer their athletics programs in accordance with the constitution, bylaws and other legislation of the Association. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Pen L. Tee is a soccer student-athlete from England. Prior to enrolling at Big State University, Pen played for a club team in his home town. The club team only provided Pen with actual and necessary expenses during the season, but a few of the players were provided a salary. Did Pen play on a professional team? Answer: Yes (a) Provides any of its players more than actual and necessary expenses for participation on the team, except as otherwise permitted by NCAA legislation. Actual and necessary expenses are limited to the following, provided the value of these items is commensurate with the fair market value in the locality of the player(s) and is not excessive in nature: (Revised: 4/25/02 effective 8/1/02) (1) Meals directly tied to competition and practice held in preparation for such competition; (b) Declares itself to be professional (see Bylaw 12.1.2.4.1.1). (Revised: 8/8/02) In situations like this, the institution will need to work with the NCAA Eligibility Center and/or the NCAA Reinstatement staff to determine the student-athlete's eligibility for intercollegiate sports. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Switch Hitter is a softball student-athlete at State College. Switch is interested in providing pitching lessons to earn extra money during the off-season. Can Switch use State College's facilities when providing these lessons? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Big State College men's basketball team is getting ready for their first official on-court practice on Friday, October 12th. They are going to practice from 7 pm - 8 pm and then have "midnight madness" with the women's team from 8 pm to 9 pm. If the team has not yet used their permissible 2 hours of individual skill-related instruction for the week that includes Oct. 12th, can they participate in individual skill-related instruction earlier in the day on the 12th (2 pm - 4 pm) while also still participating in practice at 7 pm? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Walk Off, Hr. is a freshman student at Big Time University. Walk decides to try out for the baseball team during the second week of classes. Walk makes the team and is told that he has to finish his registration with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Because Walk had already started classes at Big Time University, he asked the admissions office to send his SAT score to the NCAA Eligibility Center. Is that permissible? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Three N. Out, a senior prospective student-athlete, is being recruited by College USA in the sports of football and track. With the dead period for football occurring the week of the National Letter of Intent, would it be permissible for the track coaches to contact three off-campus during the football dead period? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Kris Kringle, Head Women's Basketball Coach at Big Time University, wants to buy and send Christmas cards to her 8 NLI signees. Is this permissible? Answer: No As specified below, an institution may provide the following printed materials to prospective student-athletes, coaches of prospective student-athletes or any other individual responsible for teaching or directing an activity in which a prospective student-athlete is involved: (Adopted: 4/28/05 effective 8/1/05 for publications prepared for the 2005-06 academic year and after) (a) General Correspondence. General correspondence, including letters and postcards issued by the U.S. postal service (i.e., blank cards) and institutional note cards may be sent to a prospective student-athlete only by mail. Attachments to general correspondence may include materials printed on plain white paper with black ink. The content of all general recruiting correspondence to prospective student-athletes (or prospective student-athletes' parents or legal guardians) must be prepared by the head coach or one of the assistant coaches who count toward the numerical limitations in Bylaw 11.7.4 (see Bylaw 11.7.1.2). It is not permissible for an institution's president or chancellor or director of athletics to prepare general correspondence to prospective student-athletes. (Revised: 3/8/06) (b) Business Cards. (c) Camp Brochures. Camp brochures may be provided to a prospective student-athlete. Brochures are not restricted by content or design, but are restricted to a single two-sided sheet, not to exceed 17" X 22" when opened in full. (Note: These brochures may be provided to a prospective student-athlete prior to September 1 at the beginning of the prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school.) (See also Bylaw 12.5.1.7). (d) Questionnaires. An institution may provide questionnaires to a prospective student-athlete prior to September 1 at the beginning of the prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school. (e) Nonathletics Institutional Publications. An institution may provide nonathletics institutional publications available to all students at any time (e.g., official academic, admissions and student-services publications published by the institution and available to all students). (f) NCAA Educational Material Published by the NCAA (e.g., NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete). (Note: This information may be provided to a prospective student-athlete prior to September 1 at the beginning of the prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school.) (g) Athletics Publications. An institution may produce a recruiting brochure or media guide (but not both) and provide the publication to a prospective student-athlete. The publications may have only one color printing inside the cover and may not exceeding 8 1/2 by 11 inches in size and 208 pages in length. An institution may not produce a separate media guide that is intended to supplement the one permissible recruiting brochure or media guide. Such supplemental information (e.g., historical information, records) may be posted on the institution's Web site and may be printed in black and white, and provided to the media. An institution may not create a portfolio of information (e.g., pictures) to be shown to prospective student-athletes during the recruiting process unless it is considered the institution's one permissible athletics recruiting publications. An institution may produce additional media publications for separate purposes (e.g., postseason media guide, spring football practice guide), provided the additional publications are not provided to prospective student-athletes. (Revised: 3/23/05, 4/28/05, 5/12/05) (h) Game Programs. Game programs (which may not include posters) may be provided to prospective student-athletes only during official and unofficial recruiting visits and may not be mailed. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Now that his institution has accepted a bowl invitation, a football student-athlete would like to make sure his family gets a hotel room for the game. Because the institution will be purchasing a large number of rooms, the hotel is offering a special rate to all persons associated with the institution. Is it permissible for the institution to provide this special rate information to the player's family? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Big Time University has a game this weekend at 1:00pm. The student-athletes will be provided breakfast and a lunch (pre-game meal) at the team hotel. The coaches would like to give the student-athletes $20 cash for dinner and a snack after the competition. Is it permissible for the coaches to provide the players with $20 cash for a post-game dinner and snack? Answer: No ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: First Down, a football student-athlete, wants to transfer from College USA. He asks his coach for permission to speak to other schools. The Coach tells First Down that he can be contacted by other schools at the end of the fall semester. Is First Down entitled to a hearing, since permission to speak was not granted until the end of the semester? Answer: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Big Time University football team has a home game this weekend at 7:00pm. The student-athletes will be provided breakfast and a lunch (pre-game meal) at the team hotel. The coaches would like to give the student-athletes money for dinner and a snack after the competition. Is this permissible? Answer: No |
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