Division II Tryouts,
Camps and Clinics
2012 NCAA Regional Rules Seminar
Natasha Oakes
Stephanie Quigg Smith
Session Overview
 The basics of tryouts and camps and clinics.
 Tryouts – sickle cell solubility testing.
 Tryouts – out-of-season activities of current student-athletes.
 Camps and clinics – purpose; employment of prospects.
 Case studies.
 Open forum – concepts regarding amendments to tryouts
and camps and clinics legislation.
Session Outcomes
 Understanding the basics of tryouts and camps and
clinics.
 Be able to explain when tryouts of prospects may occur on
campus.
 Gain a clearer understanding of what is permissible for
institutional camps and clinics.
 Ideas for possible amendments to tryouts and camps
and clinics for ease of burden.
Learning Objectives
 Review general tryouts and camps and clinics
regulations.
 Demonstrate how general playing-season regulations
effect activities associate with tryouts.
 Address frequently asked questions staff received
regarding camps and clinics.
 Discuss new legislation relative to tryouts and camps
and clinics.
Tryouts
 May conduct a tryout of a prospect only on campus or site at
which practice or competition is normally conducted.
 Not more than one tryout per prospect per sport.
 Limited in length to two hours.
 Prospect must undergo medical exam prior to tryout
(includes sickle cell solubility test).
NCAA Bylaw 13.11.2
Tryouts – Sickle Cell Solubility Test
 Required medical exam prior to a prospect’s tryout
must include a sickle cell solubility test (SCST).
 SCST not required if:
 Documented results of a prior test are provided to the
institution; or
 Prospect declines the test and signs a written release.
 Effective for prospects participating in a tryout on or after
August 1, 2012.
NCAA Proposal No. 2012-14
Tryouts – Sickle Cell Solubility Test
 Institution may conduct the SCST as part of a medical
exam during an official or unofficial visit.
 Institution may pay for the SCST of a prospect trying out
for one of its teams.
 If prospect declines SCST and signs the written release,
the signature of a parent or guardian is required if the
prospect is a minor.
Case Study No. 1
 Holly Hitter is invited to participate in a tryout with the
women’s volleyball team at Spike University in spring
2013.
 Coach spoke with Holly’s parents, and was told that she
tested negative for sickle cell trait at birth.
 Holly performed great during the tryout.
Case Study No. 1 – Conclusion
 Results of a sickle cell solubility test must be provided to
an institution prior to a prospect’s participation in
athletically related activities.
 Failure to have results on file will constitute an institutional
violation, but does not require reinstatement.
Case Study No. 1 – Other Options
 If the SCST results were not available, Spike University
had the following options to avoid a violation:
1. Cancel the tryout; or
2. Require that Holly sign a written release.
Case Study No. 1 – Written Release
 Holly Hitter decides to enroll at Spike University and
participate on the women’s volleyball team in fall 2013.
 If Holly signed the written release prior to the tryout in
spring 2013, what are the next steps before she
participates in athletics activities in the fall?
Case Study No. 1 – Written Release
1. Request that Holly provide the results of the SCST from birth.
2. Encourage Holly to undergo a SCST.
3. If Holly declines the SCST, she can sign the written release.
 Written release is required every year prior to participation.
 Recommend education on sickle cell trait.
Timing of Tryouts
High School Student Two-Year College
Student
Four-Year College
Student
Must be a senior in
high school.
Must have written
permission to
contact.
After the conclusion
of the sport season;
or
Enrolled in a term
Anytime after
other than traditional eligibility has
season for that sport; exhausted.
or
Completed high
school eligibility in
the sport.
After the conclusion
of the sport season.
Tryouts
 May include tests to evaluate strength, speed and agility.
 May provide equipment and clothing on an issue and
retrieval basis.
 May videotape a permissible tryout.
Bylaw 13.11.2.1 and
12/08/04 staff interpretation
Tryouts
 May not conduct a tryout on a day the prospect has
competition in any sport.
 May include competition in certain sports.
 May include competition against the institution’s team,
provided it occurs during the academic year and is
countable.
Bylaws 13.1.7.2 and 13.11.2.1
Tryouts of Prospects and Bylaw 17.1.6.2
 Bylaw 17.1.6.2 regulates activities of student-athletes
outside of the playing season during the academic year.
 Weight training, conditioning, team activities and skill
instruction.
 Current student-athletes may not participate in a tryout
of a prospect during the period of time when out-ofseason activities are not permitted.
Case Study No. 2
 Slam Dunk University completed the men’s basketball
regular season with a loss in the conference tournament
February 26, 2012.
 The institution scheduled a few tryouts with prospects
over the next three weekends.
 Current men’s basketball student-athletes participated in
the tryouts by competing against the prospects.
 The Division II championship was March 24.
Case Study No. 2 – Conclusion
 It is not permissible for the current student-athletes to
participate in competition during a tryout of a prospect
when out-of-season activities are not permitted.
 Out-of-season activities are not permitted between the
conclusion of the Slam Dunk University’s men’s basketball
season and the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball
Championship.
Bylaw 17.1.6.2.1-(e)
Case Study No. 3
 Slam Dunk University invited two women’s basketball
prospects to a tryout in early April.
 Tryout occurred during a voluntary open gym.
 Prospects competed against student-athletes.
 Student-athletes participated in two hours of skill instruction
with a coach earlier in the week.
 Women’s basketball coaches observed.
Case Study No. 3 – Conclusion
 Competition against student-athletes is not permissible
when it is considered a voluntary athletically related
activity.
 Tryout was held during the off season, during a voluntary
activity (e.g., open gym).
Bylaw 13.11.2.1-(e)
Case Study No. 3 – Other Issues
 Student-athletes exceeded the two-hour limit of skill
instruction during the academic year outside of the
playing season.
 Secondary violation results in a two-for-one penalty on
countable athletically related activities outside of the
season.
 Student-athlete reinstatement not required.
Bylaw 17.1.6.2.1-(e)
Camps and Clinics – Purpose
 Special emphasis on a sport and provides specialized
instruction, practice or competition;
 Activities to improve overall skills and general
knowledge; or
 Offers a diversified experience without emphasis on a
particular sport.
Bylaw 13.12.1.1.1
Camps and Clinics
 An institution may conduct a camp that only includes
practice or competition.
 Camp does not require an educational component or
specialized instruction.
 May not conduct a tryout camp.
Bylaws 13.11.1.5, 13.12.1.1.1 and
5/7/12 official interpretation
Camps and Clinics
 May provide an institutional camp brochure to a prospect at
any time.
 May provide an institutional camp brochure in an electronic
format.
 May provide a campus tour with a recruiting presentation.
Bylaw 13.4.1.1.1 and
4/1/09 official interpretation
Camps and Clinics
 May employ a prospect that:
 Has signed an NLI or written offer of admission or financial
aid at the institution.
 Has not signed an NLI or written offer of admission or
financial aid at ANY institution.
 Employment must meet certain conditions.
Bylaw 13.12.2.1
Camps and Clinics
 May not provide free or reduced admissions to prospects.
 May offer discounted admissions based on objective criteria.
 Example: registration prior to a specific date.
 May have a policy for reduced camp admission for children of
institutional staff members.
Bylaw 13.12.1.5; 08/27/09 and
05/24/11 staff interpretations
Case Study No. 4
 Coach Kicks, a men’s soccer coach, would like to email a
camp brochure to Bill Stops, a talented goalie who will
be a sophomore in high school in 2012-13.
 The brochure is attached as a PDF document.
 In the body of the email, Coach tells Bill that his
institution would be a great fit for Bill and that they are
looking for a new goalie in 2015-16.
Case Study No. 4 – Conclusion
 It is permissible for Coach to email the PDF brochure to
Bill.
 It is not permissible for the institution to send Bill
electronic transmissions related to recruitment until
June 15 immediately preceding his junior year in high
school.
Case Study No. 5
 Coach Rawlings wants to conduct a weekly baseball
clinic every Wednesday night for eight consecutive
weeks.
 The clinic was scheduled and advertised in advance on
the institution’s website and through the distribution of
clinic brochures.
 Coach is interested in working with a couple of local
standouts and wants to make sure they attend his clinic,
so he holds space for them during registration.
Case Study No. 5 – Conclusion
 It would not be permissible for Coach to hold space for
specific prospects to participate in the clinic.
 The length of a camp or clinic is not regulated in the
legislation.
 Institutions must be comfortable they are offering a camp
or clinic rather than private lessons.
Case Study No. 5 – Camp/Clinic versus
Private Lessons
 Institutions should consider all details and logistics of
events, including, but not limited to:
 Timing of how activity was planned;
 How widely it was advertised;
 Whether it is open to the general public; and
 How participants are selected.
Open Forum
Concepts regarding Tryouts and Camps and
Clinics
Tryouts
Ease of Burden Concepts – Tryouts
1.
What are some of the compliance challenges associated
with tryouts?
2.
Should the timing of tryouts be amended to mirror the
timing of other recruiting functions (e.g., June 15
immediately preceding the junior year in high school)?
3.
Should it be permissible to conduct a tryout during a
prospect’s sport season before he or she exhausts
eligibility?
4.
Should prospects be allowed to tryout more than one time
with an institution?
Camps and Clinics
Ease of Burden Concepts –
Camps and Clinics
1.
What are some of the compliance challenges
associated with camps and clinics?
2.
Should the employment of prospects at institutional
camps or clinics be deregulated?
3. Other ideas for changing the rule?
Questions?
Thank you for attending!