DIVISION II PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS AND MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Learning Objectives

• Understand what constitutes countable athletically related activities (CARA).

• Accurately apply the playing and practice seasons legislation.

• Differentiate between NCAA Bylaw 17, Bylaw 20 and championships eligibility requirements.

Overview

• CARA.

• Review countable versus noncountable activities.

• Playing and Practice Seasons.

• Daily and weekly hour limitations.

• Start and end of playing season.

• Outside of playing season.

• Summer activities.

Overview

• Bylaw 17 maximum dates of competition.

• Exceptions.

• Annual exemptions.

• Discretionary exemptions.

• Differentiating between Bylaw 17 and Bylaw 20 regulations and championships selection criteria.

• Case studies.

Along the Way

• New legislation.

• Relevant interpretations and educational columns.

• Common interpretive and legislative relief issues.

• Hot topics.

COUNTABLE ATHLETICALLY RELATED ACTIVITIES

Countable Versus Noncountable

Type of Activity

Competition

Countable Noncountable

X Individual workouts required or supervised by coaching staff X Required weight training and conditioning X Skill instruction X Athletics department academic study hall or tutoring X Medical examination or treatments Travel to or from practice and competition X X

Countable Versus Noncountable

Type of Activity

Captain’s practice (at the direction of coaching staff and required for participation).

Captain’s practice (at the direction of a SA without involvement of or at request of coaching staff).

Countable

X (April 20, 2011, Official Interpretation) Required participation as demonstrator at institutional camp or clinic.

Voluntary participation as demonstrator at institutional camp or clinic.

X (July 29, 2014, Official Interpretation)

Noncountable

X (April 20, 2011, Official Interpretation) X (July 29, 2014, Official Interpretation)

Countable Versus Noncountable

Type of Activity

Fundraising, community service or community engagement activity.

Team entertainment activities (e.g., white water rafting, paintball).

Countable Noncountable

X X *provided certain conditions are met (March 26, 2015, Official Interpretation) Teambuilding activities (e.g., ropes course).

X *provided certain conditions are met (March 26, 2015, Official Interpretation)

Team Entertainment Activities With Physical Components

• Physical activities are not countable if: • • • Separate and distinguishable from normal practice or strength and conditioning activities; Occur on an infrequent basis; and No tactical or technical skill instruction provided.

Official Interpretation [Reference: 3/26/15, Item No. 3-e];

PLAYING SEASON REGULATIONS

Playing Season

• Period of time between institution’s first officially recognized practice and date of last practice or contest/date of competition, whichever occurs later.

• Only time CARA can be conducted, except the following activities outside the playing season: • Weight training, conditioning and team activities (including skill instruction) in

sports other than football

; and • Weight training, conditioning and review of game film in

football

.

Bylaws 17.1.1, 17.1.6.2.1, 17.1.6.2.2, 17.1.6.2.3 and 17.1.6.2.4

Playing Season

• First permissible practice date, contest or date of competition: • See first date of practice, contest or date of competition bylaws for each sport.

• See Figure 17-2.

• Legislated exceptions.

• Institutions in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico not required to observe start dates for practice and playing seasons provided do not exceed permissible amount of practice and number of contests or dates of competition.

Bylaw 17.28 and first date of practice, contest or date of competition bylaws

Playing Season

• Daily and weekly hour limitations: • Maximum of four hours per day and 20 hours per week.

• Including for multisport participants.

• All CARA prohibited one calendar day per week, except during participation in one conference and postseason championship, any postseason certified bowl game and NCAA championships.

Bylaws 17.1.6.1, 17.1.6.3.8 and 17.1.6.4

.

End of Playing Season

• When does the season end?

• The simple answer: • All practice and competition must be complete by the conclusion of the championship in that sport.

• The more accurate answer: • It depends.

• See end date of practice and competition bylaws for each sport. • See Figure 17-2.

End date of practice and competition bylaws for each sport

End of Playing Season

• Championships participation in

team sports

: • If reason to believe under consideration for selection, may

practice

beyond last regular-season contest until committee selection.

• May engage in regular-season

competition

championship and NCAA championship if: between conference • Team has not participated in maximum number of contests or dates of competition; • Competition appears as regular-season competition in declaration of playing season for the sport; and • Competition occurs prior to committee selection.

Bylaw 17.1.7(a)

End of Playing Season

• Championships participation in

team sports

: • If not selected to participate or eliminated from championship, cannot continue to practice or compete.

Bylaw 17.1.7(a)

End of Playing Season

• Championships participation in

individual sports

: • Only squad members necessary for effective practice by SAs preparing for NCAA championships may practice.

• May engage in regular-season

competition

championship and NCAA championship if: between conference • Individual or team has not participated in maximum number of contests or dates of competition; • Competition appears as regular-season competition in declaration of playing season for the sport; and • Competition occurs prior to committee selection.

Bylaw 17.1.7(b)

End of Playing Season

• Championships participation in

individual sports

: • If not selected to participate or eliminated from championship, cannot continue to practice or compete.

Bylaw 17.1.7(b)

Case Study No. 1

• William Ferrell, individual men’s tennis SA at National University (NU), has qualified for the NCAA championship.

Case Study No. 1

• Who can help the SA train?

• Only squad members that are necessary to help William practice effectively.

• How much and how often can the SA train?

• Maximum of four hours per day and 20 hours per week, but no required day off.

Case Study No. 2

• The men’s basketball team at NU, led by star center Jackie Moon, has completed the conference tournament and is under consideration for the NCAA championship.

Case Study No. 2

• Can the team practice?

• Yes. Team can practice until committee selection.

• Can the team compete?

• Yes. Team can compete until committee selection if team has not reached maximum number of contests and competition is regular season competition prior to committee selection.

Outside the Playing Season

• Following final contest or date of competition, no CARA is permitted for a 14-consecutive calendar-day period.

Bylaw 17.1.6.2.1-(e)

Outside the Playing Season

• Outside playing season during academic year for

sports other than football

: • Only a SA’s participation in weight training, conditioning, team activities and/or skill instruction is permitted.

• Limited to eight hours per week, of which not more than two hours per week may be spent on team activities and/or skill instruction.

• All CARA prohibited two calendar days per week.

• Effective August 1, 2015 (NCAA Division II Proposal No. 2015-17).

Bylaws 17.1.6.2.1-(e) and 17.1.6.5

Outside the Playing Season

• Outside playing season during academic year for

football

: • Only a SA’s participation in weight training, conditioning and review of game film is permitted.

• Limited to eight hours per week, of which not more than two hours per week may be spent on review of game film.

• All CARA prohibited two calendar days per week.

Bylaws 17.1.6.2.3 and 17.1.6.5

Vacation Periods

• Outside playing season, SA may not participate in CARA during a vacation period (e.g., summer, academic year). • During playing season, hour limitations do not apply to CARA during official vacation periods and during academic year between terms when classes are not in session.

Bylaws 17.1.6.2.6 and 17.1.6.3.6

Final-Examination Periods

• Outside playing season, all CARA prohibited one week prior to beginning of final-examination period through conclusion of final examinations.

• During playing season, hour limitations apply to CARA during final-examination periods.

Bylaws 17.1.6.2.5 and 17.1.6.3.7

Summer Activities

• SAs are not permitted to engage in CARA during the institution’s summer vacation period.

• But what about voluntary workouts?

Bylaws 17.02.1 and 17.1.6.2.6

Summer Activities – Winter and Spring Sports

• Only strength and conditioning personnel

may monitor

voluntary individual workouts during the summer for safety purposes. • Workouts must be voluntary and at request of SAs.

• Strength and conditioning coaches

may not direct or conduct

voluntary workouts.

Bylaws 17.02.13 and 17.1.6.2.6; Official Interpretation [Reference: 12/16/08, Item No. 6]; 2/27/13 and 1/14/15 Educational Columns

Summer Activities – Winter and Spring Sports

• What are examples of

monitoring

a workout?

• Observing and watching closely to ensure safe and controlled environment. • Demonstrating proper technique and giving advice to ensure workout is taking place in appropriate fashion.

Bylaws 17.02.13 and 17.1.6.2.6; Official Interpretation [Reference: 12/16/08, Item No. 6]; 2/27/13 and 1/14/15 Educational Columns

Summer Activities – Winter and Spring Sports

• What are examples of

directing or conducting

a workout?

• Telling SA to complete certain activities or lifts.

• Blowing a whistle or providing verbal or nonverbal cues to direct or pace drills.

Bylaws 17.02.13 and 17.1.6.2.6; Official Interpretation [Reference: 12/16/08, Item No. 6]; 2/27/13 and 1/14/15 Educational Columns

Summer Activities – Winter and Spring Sports

• Coaching staff member may only serve as strength and conditioning coach and monitor voluntary summer workouts if he or she performs such duties for all intercollegiate teams.

• Exception also applies during playing and practice season (for all sports).

Bylaws 17.02.13 and 17.1.6.2.6; Official Interpretation [Reference: 12/16/08, Item No. 6]; 2/27/13 and 1/14/15 Educational Columns

Summer Activities – Fall Sports

• From June 1 through conclusion personnel of an institution’s summer vacation period, strength and conditioning

may design, direct and conduct workout programs

for SAs.

• Effective June 1, 2015, for fall sports other than football (Proposal No. 2015-16).

• Intent is to provide safe and controlled environment.

• Workouts must be voluntary and at request of SAs.

Bylaws 17.02.13 and 17.1.6.2.6.1; Official Interpretation [Reference: 12/16/08, Item No. 6]; 2/27/13 and 1/14/15 Educational Columns

Summer Activities – Fall Sports

• Strength and conditioning coach

designing and conducting

workouts must: • Perform strength and conditioning duties for more than one of the intercollegiate teams during the academic year; • Maintain current certification in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillator (AED) use; and • Certified through a national strength and conditioning program.

Bylaws 17.02.13 and 17.1.6.2.6.1; Official Interpretation [Reference: 12/16/08, Item No. 6]; 2/27/13 and 1/14/15 Educational Columns

Summer Activities – Individual Sports

• Coach is permitted to participate in individual workouts with SAs provided SAs initiate request.

• Safety exception allows coach to be present during voluntary individual workouts in regular facilities when using equipment to provide safety or skill instruction but not to conduct workout. • Applies to equestrian, fencing, gymnastics, skiing, rifle, rowing, swimming and diving, track and field, water polo and wrestling.

Summer practice and safety exception bylaws; Official Interpretation [Reference: 10/21/13, Item No. 3]

Summer Activities - Safety

• Mandatory medical examination requirements must be met prior to participation in: • Voluntary summer workouts designed or conducted by strength and conditioning personnel; • Voluntary individual workouts in individual sports; and • Voluntary individual workouts pursuant to the sport-specific safety exceptions.

Bylaw 17.1.5.2

Summer Activities - Safety

• Returning SA satisfies mandatory medical examination or updated medical history requirement prior to participation in voluntary summer activities provided that SA has medical examination or updated medical history on file from prior academic year.

Official Interpretation [Reference: 3/26/15, Item No. 13]

BYLAW 17 MAXIMUM CONTESTS OR DATES OF COMPETITION

Maximum Number of Contests or Dates of Competition

• Maximum number of contests or dates of competition.

• Limit for the playing schedule with outside competition.

• See Figure 17-1 of Manual.

• Exemptions.

• Contests or dates of competition that may be exempted from maximum number of contests or dates of competition.

• Distinction between an exemption and an exception to the first permissible date of competition.

Bylaw 17.28 and maximum limitations and discretionary and annual exemption bylaws

Annual Exemptions

• Types of annual exemptions: • • Conference championship; Independents’ championship; • Season-ending tournament; • Alumni game; and • Contests or dates of competition in Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and Canada either against or under sponsorship of active member institution in these locations.

Discretionary Exemptions

• May not exempt more than three annually.

• Can be played prior to first permissible start date during playing season.

• Can be played at any time during the playing and practice season.

Discretionary Exemptions

• Types of discretionary exemptions: • Foreign team in the United States; • • Non-Division II four-year collegiate institution; Scrimmages without official scoring; and • USA club team (basketball only).

• Official scoring: • No signing of scorebook by official and score not used for individual or seasonal statistics.

• Releasing score to media no longer constitutes official scoring.

• Promoting contest and/or charging admission does not constitute official scoring.

DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN BYLAW 17, BYLAW 20 & CHAMPIONSHIPS SELECTION CRITERIA

What’s the Difference?

Bylaw 17 Maximum contest/dates of competition limitations Bylaw 20 – Minimum requirements for sport sponsorship • Number of contests.

• Number of participants.

Championships – Criteria for championships selection • Developed by sport committees.

• May be more stringent than Bylaws 17 or 20.

Case Study No. 3 – Men’s Soccer

Bylaw 17 Maximum contest limitations • SAs - maximum 18.

• Institutions - maximum 18.

Bylaw 20 – Minimum requirements for sport sponsorship • Number of contests - minimum10. Championships – Criteria for championships selection • Selection criteria - minimum 10 in region contests.

Case Study No. 3 – Men’s Soccer

• National University has a varsity men’s soccer team in 2015-16.

• NU has eight countable in-region contests scheduled.

• NU has two countable non-region contests scheduled.

• Is NU within the Bylaw 17 institutional maximum number of contests?

• Yes. Bylaw 17 maximum number of contests is 18.

Case Study No. 3 – Men’s Soccer

• Is NU at or above the Bylaw 20 minimum number of contests?

• Yes. Bylaw 20 minimum number of contests is 10.

• Will NU’s schedule allow its team to be selected for the Division II Men’s Soccer Championship?

• No. The selection criteria requires a minimum of 10 in-region contests. NU only played eight in-region contests.

NU has eight in-region contests & two non-region contests

Case Study No. 3 – Men’s Soccer

• NU also has a junior varsity men’s soccer team that is scheduled to play nine games in 2015-16. The coach wants SA Phil Weston to compete with both teams.

Case Study No. 3 – Men’s Soccer

• Is NU still within the Bylaw 17 institutional maximum number of contests?

• Yes, provided no more than 50 percent of the players on the junior varsity team play in more than 50 percent of the varsity team’s games. [References: official interpretation (7/9/87, Item No. 8) and staff interpretation (11/2/90, Item No. c)].

• Can Phil play in all of the junior varsity and varsity games?

• No, he is limited to competing in 18 contests.

NU varsity has eight in-region contests & two non-region contests NU junior varsity has nine contests

Case Study No. 4 – Outdoor Track and Field

Bylaw 17 Maximum date of competition limitations • SAs – maximum 18 between indoor & outdoor.

• Institutions – maximum 18 between indoor & outdoor.

Bylaw 20 – Minimum requirements for sport sponsorship • Minimum of four contests with at least 14 participants. • Different numbers required for indoor track and field.

Championships – Criteria for championships selection • Selection Criteria – Minimum of four contests with at least 14 participants.

• Double duals do not count toward the minimums.

Case Study No. 4 – Outdoor Track and Field

• NU’s track and field team is scheduled to compete in four outdoor track and field events, including one double dual, in 2015-16: • The institution also sponsors indoor track and field.

• All 14 of the team’s members will compete in each event.

Case Study No. 4 – Outdoor Track and Field

• Is NU within the Bylaw 17 institutional maximum number of contests?

• Yes, provided that the SAs and institution do not exceed the Bylaw 17 maximum of a combination of 18 events between indoor and outdoor.

• Is NU at or above the Bylaw 20 minimum number of contests?

• Yes. The Bylaw 20 minimum is participation in a minimum of four contests by at least 14 SAs.

NU has four outdoor meets – one is a double dual

Case Study No. 4 – Outdoor Track and Field

• Will NU’s schedule allow its team or SAs to be selected for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championship?

• No. Although the selection criteria requires participation by at least 14 SAs at four events, double duals do not count toward the minimum.

NU has four outdoor meets – one is a double dual

QUESTIONS?