Central Michigan University Athletics Department

Compliance MeetingMay 2, 2007 – 9:00 – IAC Classrooms

2006-17-A ETHICAL CONDUCT -- SPORTS WAGERING ACTIVITIES

10.02.1 Sports Wagering.  Sports wagering includes placing, accepting or soliciting a wager (on a staff member's or student-athlete's own behalf or on the behalf of others) of any type with any individual or organization on any intercollegiate, amateur or professional team or contest.  Examples of sports wagering include, but are not limited to, the use of a bookmaker or parlay card; Internet sports wagering; auctions in which bids are placed on teams, individuals or contests; and pools or fantasy leagues in which an entry fee is required and there is an opportunity to win a prize.

10.02.2 Wager.  A wager is any agreement in which an individual or entity agrees to give up an item of value (e.g., cash, shirt, dinner) in exchange for the possibility of gaining another item of value.

Sports Wagering Activities

Tryouts with Professional Teams

2006-22 AMATEURISM -- INVOLVEMENT WITH PROFESSIONAL TEAMS -- TRYOUT AFTER ENROLLMENT (Effective 8/1/07)

Intent: After initial full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual who has eligibility remaining may try out with a professional athletics team (or participate in a combine including that team) at any time, provided the individual does not miss class; further, to specify that an individual may receive actual and necessary expenses in conjunction with one 48-hour tryout per professional team (or a combine including that team) and that a self-financed tryout may be for any length of time.

Rationale: Permitting a professional team to pay for a student-athlete's actual and necessary expenses associated with a tryout will provide more opportunities for student-athletes who may not be able to afford to pay their own expenses. In addition, this proposal will reduce the pressure on student-athletes to seek funding for these opportunities from impermissible outside sources that jeopardize their eligibility if they wish to return to participation in intercollegiate athletics. This proposal permits an individual to try out with a professional team (or participate in a combine including that team) and receive not more than actual and necessary expenses on one occasion prior to collegiate enrollment and on one occasion after initial collegiate enrollment.

Electronic Transmissions 2006-40 -- RECRUITING MATERIALS -- ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSIONS

(Effective 8/1/07) Intent: To specify that electronically transmitted correspondence that may be sent to a prospective student-athlete is limited to electronic mail and facsimiles

13.4.1.2 Electronic Transmissions.  Electronically transmitted correspondence (that may be sent to a prospective student-athlete is limited to electronic mail and facsimiles. All other forms of electronically transmitted correspondence (e.g., Instant Messenger, text messaging) are prohibited. 

Rationale: The unlimited use of certain forms of electronic communication, such as instant and text messaging, to contact prospects has become problematic. Coaches feel compelled to contact prospects constantly; prospects are distracted at all hours of the day and night and prospects and their parents are bearing the significant costs involved with receiving text messages. In addition, instant and text messaging further removes the parents and the high school coaches from the recruiting process. Prohibiting institutions from sending these intrusive and impersonal forms of electronic communication to prospects and returning to the use of weekly telephone conversations, electronic mail sent to computers, and written correspondence will reduce the burdens that have been created with the overuse of text messaging sent to cell phones and other portable electronic communication devices.

Any ideas for proposed future legislation?? (AEC Cabinet opposed, Basketball opposed, Football opposed) – Board supported motion to support future legislation

Recruiting – Official Visits2006-46-A RECRUITING -- OFFICIAL VISIT REQUIREMENTS(Effective: 8/1/07)

Intent: To specify that an institution shall not provide an official visit to a high school or preparatory school prospective student-athlete until he or she registers with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse and is placed on the institutional request list; further, to specify that an institution shall not provide a high school or preparatory school prospective student-athlete a written offer of athletically related financial aid until he or she has registered with the Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse and the institution places the prospective student-athlete on the institutional request list (IRL) with the Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. ***Academics will place each prospect on IRL list - communication

Rationale: Prospects are best served by early notification of their academic status for purposes of NCAA eligibility. Growing trend of late registration. This leads to an inability to properly advise student-athletes regarding academic deficiencies. These requirements will not prevent institutions from conducting normal admissions and non-athletically financial aid processes.

Eligibility for postseason 2006-60 ELIGIBILITY – (Effective 8/1/07)

Intent: To specify that, in order for any student-athlete to be eligible to compete in postseason competition occurring between regular terms, an institution shall certify that he or she has satisfactorily completed six semester hours or six quarter hours of academic credit during the preceding regular academic term.

14.1.10.2 Eligibility for Postseason Competition -- Between Terms.  To be eligible to compete in a postseason event (e.g., conference tournament, bowl game, National Invitation Tournament, NCAA championship) that occurs between regular terms (including summer) a student-athlete, shall have satisfactorily completed six-semester or six-quarter hours of academic credit the preceding regular academic term of full-time enrollment (see Bylaw 14.4.3.1 – degree countable hours). 

Rationale: The current eligibility requirement for postseason competition between terms only applies to a student-athlete in his or her final season of competition in the applicable sport. This proposal is intended to ensure the continued academic progress of all student-athletes, regardless of their years of eligibility remaining. In addition, this proposal enhances the integrity and spirit of the progress-toward-degree requirements for postseason competition.

Hardship Waiver Calculation2006-64 ELIGIBILITY -- HARDSHIP WAIVER (Effective Immediately - applicable to student-athletes who initially enrolled full time in a collegiate institution on or after August 1, 2003.)

Intent: To increase the maximum permissible number of contests or dates of competition in which a student-athlete may participate in a season and remain eligible for a hardship waiver to three scheduled or completed contests or dates of competition or 30 percent of the institution's scheduled or completed contests or dates of competition, whichever is greater.

Rationale: The current hardship-waiver legislation (which measures not more than two contests or dates of competition or 20 percent of the institution's scheduled or completed contests or dates of competition, whichever is greater) overly penalizes a student-athlete who becomes injured or ill. The general philosophy of seasons of competition is that a student-athlete should receive four complete seasons to compete in his or her sport. If a student-athlete has competed in more than three contests or dates of competition or 30 percent of the institution's events, he or she has had a much better opportunity to compete for a significant part of the season.

Core Course Time Limitations2006-65-A ELIGIBILITY -- FRESHMAN CORE-TIME LIMITATION (8/1/07)

Intent: To specify that a prospective student-athlete must complete his or her core-curriculum requirements not later than the high school graduation date of the prospect's class [as determined by the first year of enrollment in high school (ninth grade) or the international equivalent as specified in the NCAA Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility]; however, if the prospect graduates from high school within the described time-frame, he or she may use one core course completed in the year after graduation (summer or academic year), but not later than the end of the academic year immediately after the high school graduation date of the prospect's class.

No more preparatory schools!!

Rationale: The current legislation allows, and in some cases, encourages a prospective student-athlete to purposefully delay high school graduation to meet NCAA initial-eligibility requirements. This is not a sound academic practice. This proposal promotes timely high school graduation by requiring that core courses be completed within the normal high school timeframe (e.g., in a student's first eight semesters or 12 quarters). A student-athlete who uses the exception to the core-curriculum time limitation will be able to complete the additional core course at any high school that is recognized by the NCAA (not limited to the high school from which he or she graduated).

Final Season of Competition – Credits?

2006-61 ELIGIBILITY – Postseason eligibility – final season (Effective 8/1/07)

Intent: A student-athlete in the final season of competition and is enrolled in less than a minimum full-time program of studies, but is enrolled in at least six hours, shall have satisfactorily completed six semester or six quarter hours of academic credit during the preceding regular term in order to be eligible to participate in postseason competition occurring between terms; a student-athlete who is in his or her final season of competition in the applicable sport and is enrolled in less than six hours, shall have satisfactorily completed the number of semester or quarter hours of academic credit in which he or she was enrolled during the preceding regular academic term in order to be eligible to participate in postseason competition occurring between terms.

Rationale: Currently, A student-athlete who is enrolled in less than a full-time program of studies is not subject to any eligibility requirements for postseason competition between terms. Therefore, a student-athlete who is enrolled less than full-time during his or her final season of competition may participate in a postseason event, even if he or she fails the courses in which he or she is enrolled.

Recruiting

2006-24 AMATEURISM -- INVOLVEMENT WITH PRO TEAMS – DRAFT(Effective 8/1/07)

Intent: In sports other than basketball and football, to specify that an enrolled student-athlete may enter a professional league's draft one time during his or her collegiate career without jeopardizing eligibility in that sport, provided the student-athlete is not drafted and within 72 hours following the draft he or she declares his or her intention to resume participation in intercollegiate athletics.

Rationale: For several years, football and basketball student-athletes have had the opportunity to gather information about their potential professional draft status and still declare their intention to return to the institution in a reasonable time frame. Student-athletes in all sports should have the same opportunity to "test the waters" of a professional career under the prescribed conditions and be permitted to return to intercollegiate athletics participation. This proposal currently affects student-athletes in soccer, lacrosse and softball who have opportunities to enter professional league drafts. In addition, the proposal provides the same opportunity for student-athletes in all sports other than football and basketball to enter other drafts, including international drafts, which may currently exist or may be established in the future.

Recruiting – 4 yr. Transfers 14.5.5.4 – Eligibility for Athletic Financial Aid – 4 yr. transfers:

A transfer student from a four-year institution may receive institutional athletically related financial aid during his or her first academic year at the certifying institution only if he or she would have been academically eligible to compete during the next regular academic term had the student-athlete remained at the previous institution.   A student-athlete who transfers from a four-year institution to a two-year institution and then to the certifying institution shall complete at least one regular academic term of enrollment at the two-year institution to be eligible for institutional athletically related financial aid at the certifying institution. (Effective: 8/1/07)

In order to utilize the one-time transfer exception, a student does not need to meet their % of degree at their previous institution in order to qualify for the transfer exception. A transfer could then be eligible for competition in the fall 2007 semester, but ineligible for athletic aid. Please make sure you notify both Compliance and Academics re: all transfers as soon as you become aware!

2006-69 ELIGIBILITY for FIN AID-- 4-2-4 COLLEGE TRANSFER (Effective 8/1/07)

Intent: To specify that a student-athlete who transfers from a four-year institution to a two-year institution and then to the certifying institution shall complete at least one regular academic term of enrollment at the two-year institution in order to be eligible for athletically related financial aid at the certifying institution.

Rationale: A student-athlete seeking to transfer from one four-year institution to another must have been academically eligible for competition for the next academic term at the previous four-year institution in order to be eligible to receive institutional athletically related financial aid at the certifying institution. It has become apparent that a student-athlete could circumvent the legislation by enrolling in a two-year institution for a brief period of time (e.g., two days) prior to transferring to the certifying institution. This proposal would remove this "loophole" by requiring a student-athlete to attend a two-year institution for at least one regular academic term to be eligible for institutional athletically related financial aid at the certifying institution.

Eligibility for Athletics Aid – 4-2-4 transfer

Expenses – National Tryouts 2006-77 AWARDS, BENEFITS AND EXPENSES -- NATIONAL TEAM TRYOUT

COMPETITION (Effective 8/1/07)

16.8.1.3 Other Competition. During an academic year in which a student-athlete is eligible to represent an institution in athletics competition (or in the following summer), an institution may provide actual and necessary expenses related to participation in the following activities:

(a) Established national championship events (including junior national championships);

(b) Specific competition (e.g., Olympic Trials) from which participants may directly qualify for the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, World Championships, World Cup and World University Games; and

"(c) One national team tryout competition event from which participants are selected for the national team that will participate in the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, World Championships, World Cup or World University Games.  Although national team participants may be selected from multiple tryout events for a particular listed competitive event, an institution may provide expenses for only one such tryout event for each of the listed competitive events."

Expenses – National Tryouts

Rationale: Current legislation and interpretations do not permit an institution to pay for expenses related to participation in national team tryout competition event if there are multiple opportunities that will lead to participation in the same qualifying event. This proposal would allow an institution the discretion to provide expenses for a student-athlete to attend one national team tryout competition event for each of the listed elite events per academic year. Actual and necessary expenses could be provided for one event even if there are multiple qualifying competition events for the elite competition (e.g., multiple national team tryout events). Finally, the institution will be able to continue to provide expenses for student-athletes to participate in the specific events by which the national teams qualify to the listed elite international competitions.

Question:   How does the proposal apply to tryouts in which participation in a series of events is necessary in order to be selected to a national team?

                                                       Answer:      The institution would be permitted to provide actual and necessary

expenses for only one event in a series.

Coaches Recruiting Exam Wednesday, May 23 @ 9:00 – IAC Computer Lab

Wednesday, June 6 @ 9:00 – IAC Computer Lab

All coaches, graduate coaches, volunteer coaches are required to take recruiting test….

RSVP to Sue King for the exam and the review sessions

Permitted to use both new legislation sheet and NCAA Manual

REVIEW SESSIONS:

Wednesday, May 16 @ 10:00 – IAC Classrooms

Tuesday, May 29 @ 10:00 – IAC Classrooms

High School Fundraising

13.15.1.2 Fundraising for High School Athletics Program:

An institution may not provide funding, directly or through paid advertisements, to benefit a high school athletics program. 

It is not permissible for an institution's athletics department, in response to requests from high school (or preparatory school or two-year college) groups, to provide items (e.g., autographed balls, jerseys) to assist in raising money for its programs (athletics or other). This also applies to any AAU teams or any athletic team that will benefit prospects!

Contributing to High School Through Participation in Golf Outing

Athletics department staff members (e.g., coaching staff member) may not provide any financial contributions to a high school athletics program through participation in a fund-raising event (e.g., paying green fees to participate in a golf outing when any portion of the greens fees will go to benefit the high school athletics program)

Generally, it is not permissible to individually purchase admission to attend events (i.e., banquets, meetings, competitions) where the primary purpose of the events to to fundraise for prospects.

High School Fundraising Case Study: The video coordination staff used institutional funds to participate

in a fundraising tournament for a local high school. The staff paid the tournament entry fee and provided raffle gifts for a total value of $395.

An institution is prohibited from sponsoring a table, provide memorabilia or otherwise providing institutional support in conjunction with a banquet or other function that will directly or indirectly benefit prospective student-athletes (e.g., awards banquet conducted by a sports foundation, high school athletics banquet. Therefore, if a sports foundation provides benefits to prospects (e.g., scholarships, donations to high school athletics programs), it would not be permissible for an institution to provide memorabilia or sponsor a table at any of the foundation's functions. 

Subject to applicable recruiting calendar restrictions, athletics department staff members may purchase admission to attend events (e.g., athletics banquets or meetings, competitions) where funds from the admission fee ultimately will benefit prospects, provided the primary purpose of the event is not to raise funds for prospects. 

If another department of CMU is asked to provide donations to benefit prospects, such activity is permissible only if the donations are not earmarked specifically for an athletics purpose or to used for athletic purposes

Outside Athletically Related Income

Outside Athletically Related Income (July 2006 – June 2007)

• Sports Camps / Clinics

• Country Club Benefits

• Speaking Engagements

• Endorsement or consultation contract

Everyone in the athletic department (except OP’s) will be required to complete year-end record of any outside CMU athletic income

All income > $1000 must receive Presidential pre-approval

All income <$1000 must be summarized

Fresno State UniversityMajor Infraction – April 2006 – Phone Calls

The vast majority of the violations in this case consisted of 457 impermissible phone contacts with prospective student-athletes made by the former head coach and members of his staff from April 2002 through October 2004. Among other violations, the coaches made multiple weekly calls during recruiting periods when only one call was allowed per week, phoned a potential transfer 12 times without obtaining permission from his institution, called high school prospects prior to June 21 of their junior year and called prospects more than once per week during

the July evaluation period.

NCAA: The institution demonstrated a lack of institutional control in that it failed to monitor the telephone calls made by the men's

basketball program from April 2002 through October 2004.

Recruiting RecordsAt the hearing, the former head coach explained that he did not consider a call to have been made unless he had actual contact with the prospect. He claimed to not understand that return calls, calls in which he only talked to parents and calls in which "non-recruiting information" was discussed counted as the one permissible call per week. He blamed the violations on four factors: 1) poor record keeping; 2) poor communication among the members of the coaching staff; 3) a misunderstanding of the contact rule; and 4) a bad habit he brought with him from his previous institution.

Penalties: The men's basketball program ended its 2005-06 season after its last regularly scheduled game and did not participate in postseason play; Official recruiting visits for the men's basketball program will be reduced by 50 percent, 33 percent reduction in the recruiting-day limitation, other self-imposed penalties,

KEEP DETAILED NOTES!!!!! (i.e., message calls)

Recruiting Records

Recruiting Records

• Recruiting Record Policy– Make sure you and your staff record all contacts / evaluations / phone calls / ALWAYS RECORD MESSAGE CALLS

• Each coaching staff member should be clearly marked on records for calls / evaluations / contacts

• Final Audit -- Will be reviewed this summer! Will request a complete set of records by the end of June (July 2006 – June 2007 recruiting cycle)

• Warning: Expense Vouchers & Mileage Reimbursement Requests that claim “recruiting expenses” should have supporting contact or evaluation records – WE DO AUDIT THESE RECORDS!

Summer Financial Aid

Please communicate with your student-athletes on what they will be receiving for summer $$$ (final spreadsheets will be sent to each sport)

Student-athletes may have signed up for numerous summer courses, and they may not be receiving full payment for all of the requested courses

SA’s will either need to drop courses, or secure alternative financial aid (loans)

Have a great summer!!