Division II Tryouts, Camps and Clinics

2. Division II Tryouts, Camps and Clinics 2012 NCAA Regional Rules Seminar Natasha Oakes Stephanie Quigg Smith

3. Session Overview • The basics of tryouts and camps and clinics. • Tryouts – sickle cell solubility testing. • Tryouts – out-of-season activities of current student-athletes. • Camps and clinics – purpose; employment of prospects. • Case studies. • Open forum – concepts regarding amendments to tryouts and camps and clinics legislation.

4. Session Outcomes • Understanding the basics of tryouts and camps and clinics. • Be able to explain when tryouts of prospects may occur on campus. • Gain a clearer understanding of what is permissible for institutional camps and clinics. • Ideas for possible amendments to tryouts and camps and clinics for ease of burden.

5. Learning Objectives • Review general tryouts and camps and clinics regulations. • Demonstrate how general playing-season regulations effect activities associate with tryouts. • Address frequently asked questions staff received regarding camps and clinics. • Discuss new legislation relative to tryouts and camps and clinics.

6. Tryouts • May conduct a tryout of a prospect only on campus or site at which practice or competition is normally conducted. • Not more than one tryout per prospect per sport. • Limited in length to two hours. • Prospect must undergo medical exam prior to tryout (includes sickle cell solubility test). NCAA Bylaw 13.11.2

7. Tryouts – Sickle Cell Solubility Test • Required medical exam prior to a prospect’s tryout must include a sickle cell solubility test (SCST). • SCST not required if: • Documented results of a prior test are provided to the institution; or • Prospect declines the test and signs a written release. • Effective for prospects participating in a tryout on or after August 1, 2012. NCAA Proposal No. 2012-14

8. Tryouts – Sickle Cell Solubility Test • Institution may conduct the SCST as part of a medical exam during an official or unofficial visit. • Institution may pay for the SCST of a prospect trying out for one of its teams. • If prospect declines SCST and signs the written release, the signature of a parent or guardian is required if the prospect is a minor.

9. Case Study No. 1 • Holly Hitter is invited to participate in a tryout with the women’s volleyball team at Spike University in spring 2013. • Coach spoke with Holly’s parents, and was told that she tested negative for sickle cell trait at birth. • Holly performed great during the tryout.

10. Case Study No. 1 – Conclusion • Results of a sickle cell solubility test must be provided to an institution prior to a prospect’s participation in athletically related activities. • Failure to have results on file will constitute an institutional violation, but does not require reinstatement.

11. Case Study No. 1 – Other Options • If the SCST results were not available, Spike University had the following options to avoid a violation: • Cancel the tryout; or • Require that Holly sign a written release.

12. Case Study No. 1 – Written Release • Holly Hitter decides to enroll at Spike University and participate on the women’s volleyball team in fall 2013. • If Holly signed the written release prior to the tryout in spring 2013, what are the next steps before she participates in athletics activities in the fall?

13. Case Study No. 1 – Written Release • Request that Holly provide the results of the SCST from birth. • Encourage Holly to undergo a SCST. • If Holly declines the SCST, she can sign the written release. • Written release is required every year prior to participation. • Recommend education on sickle cell trait.

14. Timing of Tryouts

15. Tryouts • May include tests to evaluate strength, speed and agility. • May provide equipment and clothing on an issue and retrieval basis. • May videotape a permissible tryout. Bylaw 13.11.2.1 and 12/08/04 staff interpretation

16. Tryouts • May not conduct a tryout on a day the prospect has competition in any sport. • May include competition in certain sports. • May include competition against the institution’s team, provided it occurs during the academic year and is countable. Bylaws 13.1.7.2 and 13.11.2.1

17. Tryouts of Prospects and Bylaw 17.1.6.2 • Bylaw 17.1.6.2 regulates activities of student-athletes outside of the playing season during the academic year. • Weight training, conditioning, team activities and skill instruction. • Current student-athletes may not participate in a tryout of a prospect during the period of time when out-of-season activities are not permitted.

18. Case Study No. 2 • Slam Dunk University completed the men’s basketball regular season with a loss in the conference tournament February 26, 2012. • The institution scheduled a few tryouts with prospects over the next three weekends. • Current men’s basketball student-athletes participated in the tryouts by competing against the prospects. • The Division II championship was March 24.

19. Case Study No. 2 – Conclusion • It is not permissible for the current student-athletes to participate in competition during a tryout of a prospect when out-of-season activities are not permitted. • Out-of-season activities are not permitted between the conclusion of the Slam Dunk University’s men’s basketball season and the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship. Bylaw 17.1.6.2.1-(e)

20. Case Study No. 3 • Slam Dunk University invited two women’s basketball prospects to a tryout in early April. • Tryout occurred during a voluntary open gym. • Prospects competed against student-athletes. • Student-athletes participated in two hours of skill instruction with a coach earlier in the week. • Women’s basketball coaches observed.

21. Case Study No. 3 – Conclusion • Competition against student-athletes is not permissible when it is considered a voluntary athletically related activity. • Tryout was held during the off season, during a voluntary activity (e.g., open gym). Bylaw 13.11.2.1-(e)

22. Case Study No. 3 – Other Issues • Student-athletes exceeded the two-hour limit of skill instruction during the academic year outside of the playing season. • Secondary violation results in a two-for-one penalty on countable athletically related activities outside of the season. • Student-athlete reinstatement not required. Bylaw 17.1.6.2.1-(e)

23. Camps and Clinics – Purpose • Special emphasis on a sport and provides specialized instruction, practice or competition; • Activities to improve overall skills and general knowledge; or • Offers a diversified experience without emphasis on a particular sport. Bylaw 13.12.1.1.1

24. Camps and Clinics • An institution may conduct a camp that only includes practice or competition. • Camp does not require an educational component or specialized instruction. • May not conduct a tryout camp. Bylaws 13.11.1.5, 13.12.1.1.1 and5/7/12 official interpretation

25. Camps and Clinics • May provide an institutional camp brochure to a prospect at any time. • May provide an institutional camp brochure in an electronic format. • May provide a campus tour with a recruiting presentation. Bylaw 13.4.1.1.1 and 4/1/09 official interpretation

26. Camps and Clinics • May employ a prospect that: • Has signed an NLI or written offer of admission or financial aid at the institution. • Has not signed an NLI or written offer of admission or financial aid at ANY institution. • Employment must meet certain conditions. Bylaw 13.12.2.1

27. Camps and Clinics • May not provide free or reduced admissions to prospects. • May offer discounted admissions based on objective criteria. • Example: registration prior to a specific date. • May have a policy for reduced camp admission for children of institutional staff members. Bylaw 13.12.1.5; 08/27/09 and 05/24/11 staff interpretations

28. Case Study No. 4 • Coach Kicks, a men’s soccer coach, would like to email a camp brochure to Bill Stops, a talented goalie who will be a sophomore in high school in 2012-13. • The brochure is attached as a PDF document. • In the body of the email, Coach tells Bill that his institution would be a great fit for Bill and that they are looking for a new goalie in 2015-16.

29. Case Study No. 4 – Conclusion • It is permissible for Coach to email the PDF brochure to Bill. • It is not permissible for the institution to send Bill electronic transmissions related to recruitment until June 15 immediately preceding his junior year in high school.

30. Case Study No. 5 • Coach Rawlings wants to conduct a weekly baseball clinic every Wednesday night for eight consecutive weeks. • The clinic was scheduled and advertised in advance on the institution’s website and through the distribution of clinic brochures. • Coach is interested in working with a couple of local standouts and wants to make sure they attend his clinic, so he holds space for them during registration.

31. Case Study No. 5 – Conclusion • It would not be permissible for Coach to hold space for specific prospects to participate in the clinic. • The length of a camp or clinic is not regulated in the legislation. • Institutions must be comfortable they are offering a camp or clinic rather than private lessons.

32. Case Study No. 5 – Camp/Clinic versus Private Lessons • Institutions should consider all details and logistics of events, including, but not limited to: • Timing of how activity was planned; • How widely it was advertised; • Whether it is open to the general public; and • How participants are selected.

33. Open Forum Concepts regarding Tryouts and Camps and Clinics

34. Tryouts

35. Ease of Burden Concepts – Tryouts • What are some of the compliance challenges associated with tryouts? • Should the timing of tryouts be amended to mirror the timing of other recruiting functions (e.g., June 15 immediately preceding the junior year in high school)? • Should it be permissible to conduct a tryout during a prospect’s sport season before he or she exhausts eligibility? • Should prospects be allowed to tryout more than one time with an institution?

36. Camps and Clinics

37. Ease of Burden Concepts – Camps and Clinics • What are some of the compliance challenges associated with camps and clinics? • Should the employment of prospects at institutional camps or clinics be deregulated? 3. Other ideas for changing the rule?

38. Questions? Thank you for attending!