Compliance Newsletter - January 2012
SCARLET & GRAY MATTERS
the people. the tradition. the excellence.
NCAA RECRUITING CALENDAR
TOPICS OF THE MONTH
OUTSIDE COMPETITION DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR
Please be reminded about NCAA and Big Ten Conference guidelines regarding student-athlete participation in outside competition during
the academic year.
In sports other than basketball, a student-athlete who participates during the academic year as a member of any outside team in any
non-collegiate, amateur competition becomes ineligible for intercollegiate competition unless eligibility is restored (NCAA Bylaw 14.7.1).
It is permissible for a student-athlete to practice on such a team.
However, a student-athlete may compete outside of the institution’s declared playing and practice season as a member of an outside
team in any non-collegiate, amateur competition during any official vacation period published in Ohio State’s catalog. (Bylaw 14.7.1.1)
Exception for Soccer, Women’s Volleyball, Field Hockey, and Men’s Water Polo (Bylaw 14.7.1.2). In these sports, a studentathlete may compete outside of the institution’s declared playing and practice season as a member of an outside team in any noncollegiate, amateur competition, provided:
• Such participation occurs no earlier than May 1.
• In soccer, women’s volleyball and field hockey, the number of student-athletes from any one institution does not exceed the applicable
time limits set forth in Bylaw 17.32.2.
• The competition is approved by the institution’s director of athletics.
• No class time is missed for practice activities or for competition.
• In women’s volleyball, all practice and competition is confined to doubles tournaments in outdoor volleyball, either on sand or grass.
Additional exceptions permit competition on an outside team during the academic year for high school alumni games, Olympic Games,
official Pan American Games, U.S. National Teams, and official World Championships. Please check with the Compliance Office first to
confirm any questions you have regarding these exceptions. (See Bylaw 14.7.3)
Big Ten Rule 14.7.A requires all student-athletes who wish to participate as an individual during or between terms during the regular
academic year, to obtain written approval from the Director of Athletics, Senior Women’s Administrator, or their designee (who shall not
be a member of the coaching staff) prior to practicing or competing for the event. On our campus, the Compliance Office administers
the approval form which requires a signature from the student-athlete, the head coach, and the Compliance Office prior to practice or
competition for the outside competition.
THANKS FOR ASKING!
E: compliance@ buckeyes.ath.ohio-state.edu
P: 614-292-2681
Doug Archie Chris Rogers Jessica Olms
Michael Warinner Kala Andrews Carly Grimshaw
Phil Wille
Khadian Kelly DID YOU KNOW?
You can sponsor a buckeye in the world’s
largest buckeye necklace where the
proceeds benefit the Stefanie Spielman
Fund. The program ends soon, so head over
to www.buckeyesforacure.com and be a
part of history today!
WORKING TOGETHER TO PROMOTE A COMPLIANCE CONSCIENCE
BASEBALL
January 1 – 6 (12:00 a. m.), 2012: Quiet Period
January 5 (12:01 a.m.) – 9 (12:01 a.m.), 2012:* Dead Period
January 11 (12:01 a.m.) – 31, 2012: Quiet Period
*Dates are based on American Baseball Coaches
Association Convention Jan. 5-8.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
January 1 – 31, 2012*: Evaluation Period
*All live evaluations during academic year shall be limited
to regularly scheduled high school, preparatory school
and two-year college contests/tournaments, practices
and regular scholastic activities involving studentathletes enrolled only at that institution.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
January 1 – 31, 2012*: Evaluation Period
*Women’s basketball staff members shall not exceed
100 recruiting-person days. A recruiting person day
is defined as one coach engaged in an off-campus
recruiting activity of a women’s basketball prospect on
one day; two coaches engaged in recruiting activities on
the same day shall use two recruiting days.
FOOTBALL
January 1 – 3, 2012*: Dead Period
* Institutional staff members may have contact with a
prospective student-athlete who has been admitted for
midyear enrollment, provided the prospect has signed a
National Letter of Intent or other offer of admission and/
or financial aid to attend the institution and is required
to be on campus to attend institutional orientation
sessions for all students.
January 4 - 7, 2012X*: Contact Period
XQuiet Period in effect for all junior college prospective
student-athletes intending to enroll mid-year at member
institution.
January 8, 2012: Quiet Period
January 9 - 12, 2012**: Dead Period
**Institutional staff members may have contact with a
prospective student-athlete who has been admitted for
midyear enrollment, provided the prospect has signed a
National Letter of Intent or other offer of admission and/
or financial aid to attend the institution and is required
to be on campus to attend institutional orientation
sessions for all students.
January 13 – 28, 2012 Contact Period
January 29, 2012 Quiet Period
January 30-31 Dead Period
RECRUITING MATERIALS ON WEBSITES
To include any recruiting material or highlight videos on the individual sport website,
it must be permissible to include such material and information on the university
athletics website. All printed recruiting materials must conform to NCAA Bylaw
13.4.1, and all recruiting-related audio or video footage must conform to NCAA Bylaw
13.4.2.
It is not permissible for the sport website or the athletics department website (or
a coach’s personal page on any site) to include a hyperlink to a recruiting/scouting
service or publication website or the website of a non-institutional publication that
reports primarily on athletics program. In addition, it is not permissible to include any
information related to prospects, either directly (e.g., photos of prospects, comments
on prospect’s visit to campus) or indirectly (e.g., via hyperlinks).
COMPLIANCE BRIEFS
MID-YEAR ENROLLEES:
Reminders for new Winter 2012 student-athletes:
1. New Big 10 Tenders must be signed by the end of the first day of classes.
2. Roster Additions must be completed before a new (or returning student-athlete
not in attendance during the fall quarter) is officially added to (or activated on) the
team roster and can practice or compete. The Compliance Office notifies the coach of
the student-athlete’s practice and competition status after the process is completed.
3. New first- year freshmen must be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center in order
to be eligible for Athletics Grant-In-Aid, practice and competition. 4. Prospect Early Housing Form is required to document where prospects are living if
they arrive in Columbus prior to the start of their full-time enrollment.
5. Transfer Students (2-4 or 4-4): Generally, a transfer student must obtain the
necessary credit hours for the applicable transfer exception and progress toward
degree requirements prior to enrollment at Ohio State as a full-time student. If a
student does not, there may be negative ramifications. In all cases, please contact
the Compliance Office to notify the staff of newly enrolled transfer students.
RE-CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY: Student-Athletes must be registered full time,
have fees paid, and have any academic issues resolved by the end of the first day of
classes to be eligible to practice and compete winter quarter.
NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNING PERIOD: Applicable to Field Hockey,
Soccer, Track & Field, Cross Country, and Football as of February 1, 2012. Coaches,
please start the process by submitting tender request forms to the Compliance Office
as soon as possible (no later than January 23rd) to allow adequate time for processing
by the first signing date.
HOT HEADLINES
“Arne Duncan urges NCAA leaders to continue changes”
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan credits the NCAA for picking up the pace to
fix college sports. He just believes more needs to be done in 2012 — perhaps even
more quickly…
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/story/2012-01-11/arne-duncan-ncaaconvention-rules/52502436/1
“Big East, West Virginia ordered to go to mediation over lawsuits.”
A Rhode Island judge has ordered West Virginia University and the Big East to enter
non-binding mediation in their competing lawsuits over WVU’s plans to quit the
conference and join the Big 12.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/01/11/big.east.west.virginia.
ap/index.html?sct=cb_t2_a11
THE PEOPLE. THE TRADITION. THE EXCELLENCE.
“Former St. Joe’s center Todd O’Brien denied NCAA waiver.”
NCAA denied O’Brien’s latest appeal for a waiver that would have allowed him to
play in games for the Blazers immediately.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/seth_davis/01/09/Todd.O.Brien/index.
html?sct=cb_t2_a14
COMPLIANCE EDUCATION
Reminder to Coaches: Remember to schedule your individualized coach education
sessions with your compliance officer!
INTERPS. OF INTEREST
FORMER STUDENT-ATHLETES PARTICIPATING IN OCCASIONAL PRACTICE
SESSIONS WITH FORMER TEAM
Under NCAA and Big Ten rules, it is permissible for an alumnus (e.g., former OSU
student-athlete) to practice with their former team on an occasional basis per
NCAA Official Interpretation from December 3, 1992. The Big Ten Conference has
provided guidance that “occasional” is defined by each institution. We have defined
“occasional” as it relates to a former student-athlete practicing with an Ohio State
team as once per month (or no more than 9 times per academic year). Remember
that while an alumnus (e.g., former OSU student-athlete) is permitted to participate in
practice, such an individual is not permitted to coach our student-athletes.
ALUMNI INTERACTION WITH RECRUITS AND THEIR FAMILIES
NCAA rules prohibit recruits from having contact with individuals considered to
represent a university’s athletic interests (i.e., boosters and alumni). Therefore
prospects may not have interaction with boosters and alumni during visits (official or
unofficial) to Ohio State’s campus. Here are some reminders and tips to keep in mind
while a prospect is on-campus:
1.All in-person, on- and off-campus recruiting contacts with a prospect or the
prospect’s relatives or legal guardian(s) shall be made only by authorized institutional
staff members and such contact by a booster is prohibited.
2.It is not permissible for boosters to have recruiting contacts (e.g., promoting Ohio
State, encourage coming to Ohio State) with a prospect or the prospect’s relatives or
legal guardian(s).
3.Boosters may not interact with a prospect during a prospect’s visit; even if the
prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent and/or accepted an offer of
financial aid from the institution.
4.If the prospect is with an institutional staff member and is approached by a
booster, the staff member is required to take steps to prevent the prospect
from having contact with the booster (e.g., politely explain to the booster that
while we appreciate their support of Ohio State athletics, NCAA rules prohibit
fans, boosters, etc. from helping in the recruiting of prospects). Recruiting contacts
between boosters and prospects (or the prospects relatives or legal guardian) is a
violation of NCAA rules.
5.While there is an exception in NCAA Bylaw 13.1.2.2 (g) for unavoidable or
incidental contact with a booster…such contact is not considered unavoidable
or incidental if the staff member is present, arranges or permits the contact.
NCAA RECRUITING CALENDAR
continued
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
January 1, 2012: Quiet Period
January 2 - 31, 2012: Contact Period
MEN’S LACROSSE
January 1, 2012: Dead Period
January 2 - 16, 2012: Contact Period/No Evaluations
January 17 - 31, 2012: Quiet Period
SOFTBALL
January 1, 2012*: Quiet Period
January 2 - 31, 2012: Contact Period
*Each institution is limited to 50 evaluation days (August
1 - July 31) per Bylaw 13.02.6.2, which do not include
employment of coaches in instructional camps/clinics or the
observation of prospects participating in high school softball
competition.
TRACK AND FIELD & CROSS COUNTRY
January 1- 2, 2012: Quiet Period
January 3 – 29, 2012: Contact Period
January30-31,2011: DeadPeriod(Initial SigningPeriodforNLI) WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
January 1 - 13, 2012: Quiet Period
January 14 - 31, 2011*: Contact Period
*In states that play the high school volleyball season in
the winter, contacts and evaluations shall be permissible
January 1 through the Friday prior to the Presidents’
Weekend Tournaments.
FIELD HOCKEY
January 1 – 29, 2012 Contact Period
January 30-31, 2012 Dead Period (Initial signing period for NLI)
MEN’S/WOMEN’S SOCCER
January 1 – 29, 2012 Contact Period
January 30-31, 2012 Dead Period (Initial signing period for NLI)
ALL OTHER SPORTS
January 1 - 31, 2011: Contact Period