NCAA Division I Bylaw 11 (Conduct and
Employment of Athletics Personnel)
Charnele Kemper
Kristen Matha
Agenda

New Legislation.

Recent Interpretations.

Scouting of Opponents.
NEW LEGISLATION
Sports Safety Package Proposals

Proposals based on the principle of student-athlete
(SA) well-being.

CPR and AED requirement intended to provide SAs
with initial care prior to more skilled responders
arrival.

Certification requirement provides foundation for
appropriate health care oversight, critical
prevention and response to catastrophic health and
safety issues.

See also NCAA Division I Proposal Nos. 2013-15
and 2013-16.
Proposal No. 2013-17
Effective August 1, 2014

As amended by 2013-17-1.

Requires an institutional staff member with current
certification in first aid, CPR and AED to be present
any time a SA participates in a physical Countable
Athletically Related Activity.

Can be any institutional staff member.

Includes in-season and out-of-season activities.

Does not include requirement that each coach must
have current certification.
Proposal No. 2013-18
Effective August 1, 2015

Strength and conditioning coaches must be
certified and maintain certification through a
nationally accredited strength and conditioning
certification program.

Removes requirement from original proposal
that sport coaches maintain certification.

Changes program from “recognized” to
“accredited”.
Proposal No. 2013-18
Effective August 1, 2015
A nationally accredited strength and conditioning
certification program is one that is:
a.
Accredited by the National Commission for
Certifying Agencies;
b.
Requires an undergraduate college degree;
c.
Requires a continuing education component; and
d.
Requires current first aid, CPR and AED
certification.
Proposal No. 2013-18
Effective August 1, 2015

Institutions have discretion to select
appropriate certifying agency.

National Strength Coaches Association and
Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches
Association are both accredited.
Proposal No. 2013-18
Effective August 1, 2015

Does not apply to noninstitutional fitness
instructors.

Certified strength and conditioning coach has
to be physically present if noncertified coach is
working with SAs.
Triathlon Proposal

USA Triathlon’s female membership has grown
substantially over the past two decades.

162 registered club teams.

Will produce a significant increase in
participation opportunities for women.
Proposal No. 2013-21
Effective August 1, 2014

Adds women’s triathlon to emerging sport list.

Limit of two countable coaches.

Permits three volunteer coaches, one for each
element.
Proposal No. 2013-24
Effective August 1, 2014


Clarifies the actions that cause an individual to
become a countable coach.

Provides technical or tactical instruction related to the
sport to SAs at anytime;

Makes or assists in making tactical decisions related to
the sport during practice or competition; or

Engages in off-campus recruiting activities.
Includes any institutional staff member or
individual outside of the institution.
Proposal No. 2013-24
Effective August 1, 2014

Technical instruction.


Tactical instruction.


Teaching that relates to any sports-related
technique.
Teaches a strategy, maneuver, play, scheme, etc.
Tactical decisions.

A conclusion, determination or judgment related to
a strategy, maneuver, play, scheme, etc.
RECENT INTERPRETATIONS
Athletics Personnel Involvement in
Summer Athletics Activities 4/25/2014
May a manager, undergraduate student-assistant
coach, or graduate-assistant coach perform
managerial or coaching duties, respectively,
during required summer activities in basketball
or football?
Athletics Personnel Involvement in
Summer Athletics Activities 4/25/2014

Yes, must have been enrolled full time at the
conclusion of the regular academic term prior
to the summer or has been accepted for
enrollment as a full-time student for the term
immediately following the summer.

For graduate-assistant coach in bowl
subdivision football, must have been enrolled in
50% of the minimum regular graduate program
or has been accepted in graduate program for
the term immediately following the summer.
Recruiting Service Consultants
Bylaw 11.3.2.5
Institutional athletics department staff members
may not endorse, serve as consultants or
participate on advisory panels for any recruiting
or scouting service.
Endorsement of Recruiting or
Scouting Service

Harrison, a PSA, signed a National Letter of
Intent with Pope College.

According to Recruitu.com, Harrison is a top 10
recruit and is going to make an immediate
impact at Pope next year.

Recruitu.com also has ranked Pope’s recruiting
class in the top 25 nationally.
Endorsement of Recruiting or Scouting
Service

May Pope include a quote from Recruitu.com in
its press release about Harrison?

Yes, provided there is no indication that the
institution endorses the service.

PSA must have committed to the institution per
NCAA Division I Bylaw 13.02.12.1 (exception –
after commitment).

Staff interpretation 8/13/2013.
Endorsement of Recruiting or Scouting
Service

May the press release include a hyperlink to
video of Harrison on Recruitu.com’s website?

No. An institution’s website may not include a
hyperlink to a recruiting or scouting service.

Staff interpretation 8/13/2013.
Endorsement of Recruiting or Scouting
Service

May the press release include video of Harrison
with Recruitu.com’s logo?

No. The inclusion of video with the service’s
logo would be considered an impermissible
endorsement.
Endorsement of Recruiting or Scouting
Service

May Pope issue a release regarding its
recruiting class ranking by Recruitu.com?

Yes, provided there is no indication that the
institution endorses the service and there is not
a hyperlink to the service’s website.
SCOUTING OF OPPONENTS
Bylaw 11.6- Scouting of Opponents

Off-campus, in-person scouting is prohibited.

Future opponents in the same season.

Exception for the same event at the same site (Bylaw
11.6.1.1).

Exception for conference
or NCAA championships
(Bylaw 11.6.1.2).
Case Study No. 1
Question: May State’s
coaching staff scout College
at College’s game against
University September 20,
during the
nonchampionship segment?


College is scheduled to play
University September 20.
College is scheduled to play
University February 22.
Answer: No, because State
is scheduled to compete
against College February
17, so College is considered
a future opponent.
Scouting

Future opponents and same season.

Appears on the team’s schedule in the remainder of the
same season.

Same season includes nonchampionship and
championship segments.

A potential conference or NCAA tournament opponent is
not a future opponent until it is scheduled.

Attending a conference or NCAA championship in which
a future opponent participates is not prohibited.
Case Study No. 2
Question: May State’s
coaching staff scout College at
College's game against
University February 22,
during the championship
segment, knowing they may
compete against College in
the conference tournament?


College is scheduled to play
University September 20.
College is scheduled to play
University February 22.
Answer: Yes, because the
conference tournament
schedule has not been set, so
College is not considered a
future opponent.
Case Study No. 3

Tech is hosting a multiteam
field hockey competition
beginning Friday and ending
Sunday.

The teams include: Tech, State
and College.


Tech will play State Friday.

State will play College Saturday.

Tech will play College Sunday.
The teams will compete at the
same site but the competition
is not a tournament or doubleheader.
Question: Is it
permissible for State and
College to scout future
opponents during the
multiteam competition?
Answer: Yes, this series
of contests is considered
an “event” and are
occurring at the same site,
so it is an exception to the
off-campus scouting
prohibition.
Case Study No. 4


State’s assistant
women’s lacrosse coach,
Meredith Grey, has been
invited to return to her
alma mater, University,
to play in the lacrosse
program’s alumni game.
State and University are
scheduled to compete
later in the season.
Question: Is Coach
Grey’s participation in the
alumni game contrary to
the off-campus, in-person
scouting prohibition?
Answer: No, the intent of
the legislation was not to
preclude this type of
activity.
 Purpose of the alumni
game is not to scout.

Coach was invited by the
institution to participate.
Case Study No. 5

State’s home facility is
located on campus.

During the field
hockey season, College
is playing Tech at
State’s facility.

Both College and Tech
are future opponents
of State in the same
season.
Question: May State’s
coaching staff scout the
College v. Tech game?
Answer: Yes, because
the competition occurs
on the institution's
campus (September 9,
2013, Staff
Interpretation).
Case Study No. 6

State’s home soccer field
is located off campus
and is privately owned.
Question: May State’s
coaching staff scout the
College v. Tech game?

During the soccer
season, College is
playing Tech at State’s
facility.
Answer: No, because the
game is taking place at an
off-campus facility.

Both College and Tech
are future opponents of
State in the same
season.
Scouting and Home Facilities

Institution’s coaching staff may scout a competition
involving a future opponent that occurs on the
institution’s campus (September 9, 2013, Staff
Interpretation).

Does not extend to an off-campus, privately owned
facility used to host the institution's home contests.

Coaching staff would be precluded from scouting a
competition involving a future opponent at an offcampus, privately owned facility.
Case Study No. 7

College’s men’s basketball
program is scheduled to
play against Tech later in
the season.
Question: May College
arrange for the team to
scout the Tech v. University
game?

Tech is competing at
University, which is
located in College’s locale.

College’s coaching staff
plans to bus the team to
University to watch the
game following practice.
Answer: No, it is not
permissible for an
institution to pay expenses
for its team to scout a
future opponent as
entertainment in
conjunction with practice or
competition (March 17,
2014, Staff Interpretation).
Case Study No. 8

College’s men’s
basketball program is
scheduled to play
against Tech later in
the season.

Tech is competing at
University, which is
located in College’s
locale.

Several College players
plan to drive to
University to watch the
game following practice.
Question: May College’s
players attend the Tech v.
University game?
Answer: Yes, provided
they do not attend at the
direction of the coaching
staff, do not receive any
expenses from the
institution and do not
report back to the
coaching staff.
Scouting, Expenses and Student-Athletes

Institution may not pay expenses for the team to scout a
future opponent as entertainment in conjunction with
practice or competition (March 17, 2014, Staff
Interpretation).

Exception if participating in the same event at the same
site even if expenses are associated.

Student-athletes may attend a future opponent’s
competition provided they:

Do not attend at the direction of the coaching staff;

Do not report back to the coaching staff; and

Do not receive any expenses from the institution to attend the
competition.
Scouting and Family

Coaching staff may attend contests of future
opponents if the coaching staff member is the:

Parent, legal guardian, sibling or spouse/partner of
a participant (e.g., player, coach) (September 27,
2013, Staff Interpretation).
Summary of Exceptions

Same event at the same site (Bylaw 11.6.1.1).

Conference or NCAA championships (Bylaw 11.6.1.2).

Attending an immediate family member’s contest
(September 27, 2013, Staff Interpretation).

Contest that occurs on the institution’s campus
(September 9, 2013, Staff Interpretation).
NAVIGATING THE PROCESS
Interpretative Assistance

Requests and Self-Reports Online (RSRO).
 Service standard for nonurgent cases is three (3) to five (5)
days.
 Complex cases may exceed service standard.

Urgent requests.
 Review within the next two (2) business days.
 Reasons for expedited review.
• Timing of event other than competition (e.g., campus
visit, contact, promotional activity).
• Admissions or financial aid deadlines.
• Other (must provide an explanation).

If the staff determines that the case does not meet the
urgency guidelines then they will contact the institution and
update the assessment in RSRO.