Indiana University Athletics
Compliance Question Of The Week
Compliance Question Of The Week
Question:
Student-athletes competing for the very first time for IU in exhibition or scrimmage games/matches/meets can still be considered `redshirts', right? Can our freshmen/transfers can get some valuable playing/team competition time at the college level without using a season of competition because these events are not considered in our win-loss record?
Answer:
Au contraire, my friends (that is, if you thought there were no conditions to this - there are always conditions). Freshmen and transfers competing in basketball, field hockey or soccer may compete in pre-season exhibition contests or scrimmages without using a season of competition - as long as they are certified as eligible to compete. Athletes in all other sports will use a season of competition as soon as they enter any competition representing IU against an outside team, regardless of how the event is labeled. Events considered to be scrimmages or exhibition contests by your staff (even if on your schedule) STILL count as team participation, and all student-athletes competing have used a season of competition. Outside and unattached competition is usually different from the above, but always check with us first.
This is not a new rule, but a new educational column was recently published by the NCAA to clear up this issue. Please see below:
Preseason Exhibitions and Preseason Practice Scrimmages During Initial Year of Enrollment (I)
Date Published: November 17, 2009
Educational Column:
NCAA Division I member institutions should note that pursuant to NCAA Bylaw 14.2.3.1.3, a student-athlete in the sports of basketball, field hockey and soccer may compete in preseason exhibition contests and preseason practice scrimmages during his or her initial year of enrollment at the certifying institution without using a season of competition, provided the student-athlete is otherwise eligible to represent the institution in outside competition. Sports other than basketball, field hockey and soccer do not have legislated exceptions in Bylaw 17 that permit preseason exhibition contests and preseason practice scrimmages to occur prior to the first permissible date of competition or contest. Therefore, Bylaw 14.2.3.1.3 does not apply to sports other than basketball, field hockey and soccer, regardless of whether competition in which they participate is classified as a scrimmage or exhibition.
For example, during his or her initial year of enrollment at the certifying institution, a basketball student-athlete is permitted to participate in a preseason exhibition contest against a non-NCAA Division I four-year collegiate institution without using a season of competition. Conversely, during his or her initial year of enrollment at the certifying institution, an ice hockey student-athlete is charged with a season of competition if he or she represents the institution in a contest against outside competition that is classified as a scrimmage or exhibition contest.
[References: NCAA Division I Bylaws 14.2.3.1.3 (preseason exhibitions/preseason practice scrimmages), 17.02.3 (contest, countable, institutional), 17.02.4 (contest, countable, individual student-athlete), 17.02.6 (date of competition, countable, institutional) 17.02.7 (date of competition, countable, individual student-athlete), 17.02.8 (intercollegiate competition) 17.02.9 (outside competition) 17.3.3.1 (exceptions), 17.8.3.1 (exception -- scrimmage/exhibition games) and 17.19.5.1 (exception -- scrimmage/exhibition games)]
Question:
Student-athletes competing for the very first time for IU in exhibition or scrimmage games/matches/meets can still be considered `redshirts', right? Can our freshmen/transfers can get some valuable playing/team competition time at the college level without using a season of competition because these events are not considered in our win-loss record?
Answer:
Au contraire, my friends (that is, if you thought there were no conditions to this - there are always conditions). Freshmen and transfers competing in basketball, field hockey or soccer may compete in pre-season exhibition contests or scrimmages without using a season of competition - as long as they are certified as eligible to compete. Athletes in all other sports will use a season of competition as soon as they enter any competition representing IU against an outside team, regardless of how the event is labeled. Events considered to be scrimmages or exhibition contests by your staff (even if on your schedule) STILL count as team participation, and all student-athletes competing have used a season of competition. Outside and unattached competition is usually different from the above, but always check with us first.
This is not a new rule, but a new educational column was recently published by the NCAA to clear up this issue. Please see below:
Preseason Exhibitions and Preseason Practice Scrimmages During Initial Year of Enrollment (I)
Date Published: November 17, 2009
Educational Column:
NCAA Division I member institutions should note that pursuant to NCAA Bylaw 14.2.3.1.3, a student-athlete in the sports of basketball, field hockey and soccer may compete in preseason exhibition contests and preseason practice scrimmages during his or her initial year of enrollment at the certifying institution without using a season of competition, provided the student-athlete is otherwise eligible to represent the institution in outside competition. Sports other than basketball, field hockey and soccer do not have legislated exceptions in Bylaw 17 that permit preseason exhibition contests and preseason practice scrimmages to occur prior to the first permissible date of competition or contest. Therefore, Bylaw 14.2.3.1.3 does not apply to sports other than basketball, field hockey and soccer, regardless of whether competition in which they participate is classified as a scrimmage or exhibition.
For example, during his or her initial year of enrollment at the certifying institution, a basketball student-athlete is permitted to participate in a preseason exhibition contest against a non-NCAA Division I four-year collegiate institution without using a season of competition. Conversely, during his or her initial year of enrollment at the certifying institution, an ice hockey student-athlete is charged with a season of competition if he or she represents the institution in a contest against outside competition that is classified as a scrimmage or exhibition contest.
[References: NCAA Division I Bylaws 14.2.3.1.3 (preseason exhibitions/preseason practice scrimmages), 17.02.3 (contest, countable, institutional), 17.02.4 (contest, countable, individual student-athlete), 17.02.6 (date of competition, countable, institutional) 17.02.7 (date of competition, countable, individual student-athlete), 17.02.8 (intercollegiate competition) 17.02.9 (outside competition) 17.3.3.1 (exceptions), 17.8.3.1 (exception -- scrimmage/exhibition games) and 17.19.5.1 (exception -- scrimmage/exhibition games)]