Interpretations

SEC BYLAWS
During an August 9, 2000 conference call, the SEC Presidents passed an expanded and revised, version of SEC Proposal 1-1 as originally passed at the SEC Spring Meeting. The new legislation, which was effective immediately, is set forth below.

14.1.16 Post Season Competition & Continuing Eligibility
To be eligible to represent a SEC institution in post-season competition a student-athlete must pass six hours of degree credit in the academic term that concluded immediately prior to the post-season competition regardless of whether the competition occurs at the end of the term or during the subsequent term. The requisite credit hours must be earned during the academic year.

The Commissioner has answered the following interpretation questions regarding SEC Bylaw 14.1.16.

1. Must the six credit hours be considered degree credits? Yes, The six hours must be acceptable for degree credits toward any of the institution's degree programs. Further, the six hours are not limited to the student-athlete's specific baccalaureate degree program.

2. May credits earned by correspondence courses be considered? No. Correspondence courses may not be used to satisfy the bylaw.

3. May summer credits be used? No. Only credits earned during the academic year may be used.

4. May a student-athlete utilize an incomplete grade to satisfy the bylaw? Yes, provided an acceptable grade for incomplete credit hours is awarded prior to postseason competition. Please note the Conference office is cognizant of the time discrepancy between sports for the completion of incomplete grades.

5. The application of this rule for Cross Country, Volleyball, and Soccer shall begin with the fall 2001 academic term based on the student-athlete's academic record during the spring 2000 term.

6. Does this bylaw apply to graduate students who have received a baccalaureate degree? Yes. Graduate students must still be enrolled in six credit hours despite the fact full-time course load requirements may be less.

7. May waivers of this bylaw be issued? Yes. An institution may apply to the Conference office for a waiver based on the unique circumstances of a case. For example, if a student requires less than the required credit hours to graduate, the student may apply to the Conference office for a waiver.

8. May pass-fail credits be considered as part of the six credit hours? Yes, pass-fail credits may be considered, if the student successfully passes the class and the credits.

NCAA QUESTIONS & ANSWER

Each day the SEC Compliance Staff gets a number of questions regarding NCAA rules and their related interpretations. While most questions are institutionally specific, some may be of interest to the SEC member institutions as a whole. Accordingly, a few interpretations of Conference significance are featured below:

Q: In determining fulfillment of Percentage of Degree Requirements pursuant to 14.4.3.2, may you round up a number to the nearest tenth? (Example: Student-athlete entering fifth year of enrollment as successfully completed 74.75 percent of the course requirements in his/her degree program.)

A: No. Per NCAA staff, an institution must use the actual percentage calculation in determining a student-athletes percentage of degree requirements.

Q: May a student-athlete in the sport of tennis receive expenses and coaching while playing as an amateur in events during the playing and practice season?

A: Yes, if the following conditions are met: The competition is included in the student-athletes limit on the number of dates of competition as set forth in NCAA Bylaw 17.24.5.1.5 and the student-athlete is representing the institution as provided in NCAA Bylaw 16.8.1.2.

Q: Pursuant to the terms of NCAA Bylaw 14.2.3.5 - Participation after 21st Birthday, may a student-athlete exclude participation in organized competition while serving in a foreign county's military service?

A: No. Any participation by a student in organized sports competition during each 12-month period after the student-athlete's 21st birthday and prior to initial full-time enrollment in a collegiate institution shall count as one year of varsity competition in that sport with the proviso that participation in organized competition while in the U.S. Armed Services shall be excepted. This exception ONLY applies to the U.S. Armed Services.

Q: If a sport's playing and practice season begins in the middle of the week may the institution count one of the days during that week prior to the start of the playing and practice season as the required day off?

A: Yes. It is permissible for an institution to provide its student-athletes with a day off on a day during the week that is outside the institution's declared playing and practice season in order to satisfy the provisions of NCAA Bylaw 17.1.5.4, provided no countable athletics activities occur during that specific day. For example, if an institution declares its playing season week as Sunday through Saturday and its first date of practice is scheduled on Wednesday, it is permissible for the institution to use the preceding Sunday, Monday or Tuesday of that week satisfying the day-off requirement.

Q: Can a coach employ a student-athlete as an instructor at his local sports club if the student-athlete would be eligible to work under NCAA employment legislation?

A: An institution's coaching staff member who owns or operates a local sports club or organization may not employ a student-athlete who is a member of his or her own team as a coach for the club or organization outside the institution's playing season. Such employment during the playing season is considered countable athletically related activity.

Q: May an institution provide a non-permissible supplement under the terms of NCAA Bylaw 16.5.2.3 if prescribed by a doctor in the treatment of a student-athlete's injury?

A: No. Per the NCAA staff, institutions are held to the terms of NCAA Bylaw 16.5.2.3 and may only provide nonmuscle building nutritional supplements to student-athletes for the purpose of providing additional calories and electrolytes, provided the supplements do not provide any banned substances. It does not matter if a doctor prescribes the supplements in treating a student- athlete

LEGISLATIVE REVIEW AND INTERPRETATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
To stay abreast of the most recent interpretations of NCAA bylaws check the most recent minutes from LRIS.
http://www.ncaa.org/databases/reports/1/200007mc/200007_di_mc_agenda.htm