Compliance Question Of The Week - Indiana University Athletics

Compliance Question Of The Week
For the week of: March 2, 2006

Question 1:

Proposal 2005-106, which was recently adopted and became immediately effective, permits an enrolled student-athlete to use equipment during the academic year that is received from the institution and includes institutional identification without such use constituting intercollegiate competition. This means that unattached (i.e., redshirts or ineligible) student-athletes can now use IU equipment without using a season of competition. Does this legislation extend to apparel?

Answer:

No. Bylaws 14.02.6-(b) and 17.02.8-(b) still state that wearing any apparel received from the institution that includes institutional identification would trigger intercollegiate competition (and thus use one of the four seasons of competition). However, both bylaws expressly exclude apparel that is no longer utilized by the institution. So, a student-athlete could use discarded apparel without triggering a season of competition per a 6/22/88 SI, provided last year's uniforms are non-reusable as defined by the 5/11/90 SI below. Marty Clark will need to determine whether "discarded" apparel will be considered the property of the involved student-athlete or whether it is to be retained by the athletics department for the annual sale.

NCAA Staff Interpretation: Retention of Athletics Apparel Subsequent to the Academic Year: Reviewed Bylaw 16.12.1.5 (retention of athletics apparel), 01/04/87 Administrative Committee minutes, and 10/23/86 Administrative Committee minutes in regard to whether a member institution may permit a student-athlete to retain apparel items (e.g., warm-ups or uniform) subsequent to an academic year and prior to the end of the individual's collegiate participation; determined that in order for such items to be provided to the student-athlete, they must not be reusable (e.g., they must have received normal usage through practice and competition) by other team members in subsequent seasons and then subject to the discretion of the institution, may be considered the property of the involved student-athlete; noted further that under such circumstances, such items may not be sold by the involved student-athletes. [05/11/90]

NCAA Staff Interpretation: Use of Nonreusable Uniforms During the Summer Vacation Period: Reviewed Administrative Committee interpretations dated 10/23/86 and 1/4/87 as it relates to 2/19/87 LIC; determined that for purposes of these interpretations, apparel items shall include uniforms; thus, student-athletes are permitted to compete in the institution's uniform during a summer vacation period without such action constituting the student- athlete's participation as a representative of the institution, provided the uniform is not reusable by other team members in subsequent seasons and such use is subject to the discretion of the institution, inasmuch as these apparel items are considered the property of the involved student- athlete. [06/22/88]

Question 2:

What are some examples of apparel that are not permitted to be worn by an unattached (i.e., redshirt or ineligible) student-athlete if it was received from IU and included IU logos or other identification?

Answer:

T-shirts, shorts, socks, head bands, wrist bands, visors, hats, swimsuits, swim caps, towels, uniforms, warm-ups. participant.

Question 3:

What are some examples of equipment that would be permitted to be used by an unattached student-athlete without jeopardizing one of his/her four seasons of competition, even if the equipment included IU identification on it?

Answer:

Shoes, golf bags or clubs, tennis bags or racquets, helmets, baseball bats and gloves, batting or golf gloves, hockey or lacrosse sticks, goggles. br>

Question 4:

Shoes are considered equipment?

Answer:

Yes, however, in consultation with the chair of the NCAA Interpretations Committee, the legislative services staff determined that although shoes are considered equipment under NCAA legislation, a student-athlete is permitted to retain such items if they are no longer reusable at the end of the institution's playing season. [SI 07/28/94]