Indiana University Athletics
Compliance Question Of The Week
Compliance Question Of The Week
Question:
Can we know the future of college athletics rules or predict the next move by the NCAA?
Answer:
Not a chance. Just be ready for anything and everything; good or bad. Here's a classic example of how strangely the system sometimes works - and believe it or not, it's a good example!
Interpretation published by the NCAA on October 20, 2011:
Staff Interpretation
Student-Athlete Performing Required Work other than Regular Employment
The academic and membership affairs staff confirmed that any work performed by a student-athlete (e.g., field or facility preparation for practice or competition) that is required, supervised or monitored by a coaching staff member (including strength and conditioning coaches) or noncoaching staff member with sports specific responsibilities, other than regular employment in accordance with NCAA employment legislation, is a countable athletically related activity.
Now, as you can imagine, your loyal and industrious compliance staff was a tad nonplussed by this interpretation, which - if taken to its logical conclusion - could mean that many activities which are not currently counted, like baseball /softball players prepping the field, wrestlers rolling out mats, rowers prepping boats and much more, would now start to count as hours. So we collectively complained.
Yesterday, this happened:
Official Interpretation
Student-Athlete Performing Required Field or Facility Preparation or Maintenance
The committee determined that field or facility preparation or maintenance that is performed by a student-athlete, related to practice or competition and required, supervised or monitored by a coaching staff member is not a countable athletically related activity.
So, don't give up the fight, my fellow rule watchers. From "Staff" level to "Official", this thing turned 180, because people noticed, and questioned it.
Question:
Can we know the future of college athletics rules or predict the next move by the NCAA?
Answer:
Not a chance. Just be ready for anything and everything; good or bad. Here's a classic example of how strangely the system sometimes works - and believe it or not, it's a good example!
Interpretation published by the NCAA on October 20, 2011:
Staff Interpretation
Student-Athlete Performing Required Work other than Regular Employment
The academic and membership affairs staff confirmed that any work performed by a student-athlete (e.g., field or facility preparation for practice or competition) that is required, supervised or monitored by a coaching staff member (including strength and conditioning coaches) or noncoaching staff member with sports specific responsibilities, other than regular employment in accordance with NCAA employment legislation, is a countable athletically related activity.
Now, as you can imagine, your loyal and industrious compliance staff was a tad nonplussed by this interpretation, which - if taken to its logical conclusion - could mean that many activities which are not currently counted, like baseball /softball players prepping the field, wrestlers rolling out mats, rowers prepping boats and much more, would now start to count as hours. So we collectively complained.
Yesterday, this happened:
Official Interpretation
Student-Athlete Performing Required Field or Facility Preparation or Maintenance
The committee determined that field or facility preparation or maintenance that is performed by a student-athlete, related to practice or competition and required, supervised or monitored by a coaching staff member is not a countable athletically related activity.
So, don't give up the fight, my fellow rule watchers. From "Staff" level to "Official", this thing turned 180, because people noticed, and questioned it.