NCAA
DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIPS/COMPETITION CABINET
AWARDS/TRAVEL
POLICIES/BYLAW 16 SUBCOMMITTEE
ACTION ITEMS.
1. Legislative
Items.
a. NCAA
Proposal No. 2007-76 Awards, Benefits and Expenses -- Senior Scholar-Athlete
Award -- Maximum Amount of Award.
(1) Recommendation. The subcommittee recommends the cabinet support
NCAA Proposal No. 2007-76 as written, which would increase the maximum
permissible amount of the postgraduate scholarship that may be awarded as part
of a senior scholar-athlete award from $5,000 to $10,000.
(2) Rationale. The subcommittee agreed with the
rationale of the sponsor but noted that an August 1, 2008 effective date may be
more appropriate to allow for adjustments in
b. Proposal
No. 2007-77 Awards, Benefits and Expenses -- Complimentary Admissions and
Ticket Benefits -- General Regulations -- De Minimis Violation.
(1) Recommendation. The subcommittee recommends the cabinet support
Proposal No. 2007-77 as written, which would specify that a violation in which
a student-athlete's complimentary admissions are provided as hard tickets shall
be considered an institutional violation per Constitution 2.8.1; however, such
a violation shall not affect the student-athlete's eligibility.
(2) Rationale. The subcommittee agreed with the
rationale of the sponsor.
c. Proposal
No. 2007-78 Awards, Benefits and Expenses -- Housing and Meals -- Meals Incidental to Participation -- Home and Away-From-Home
Competition -- Discretionary Meals.
(1) Recommendation. The subcommittee recommends the cabinet support
Proposal No. 2007-78 as written, which would permit an institution to provide
meals at home and away-from-home competition student-athletes at its discretion
beginning with the evening before competition and continuing to the end of
competition.
(2) Rationale. The subcommittee agreed with the
rationale of the sponsor; however, it noted some concern over the interpretive
questions that may arise when applying the rules with away-from-home
competition. Thus, the subcommittee
requested that the staff develop an educational document on this proposal and
Proposal 2007-79 to ensure that the membership fully understands the
application.
d. Proposal
No. 2007-79 Awards, Benefits and Expenses -- Housing and Meals -- Meals
Incidental to Participation -- Meals Following Home and Away-From-Home
Competition -- Meal or $15.
(1) Recommendation. The subcommittee recommends the cabinet support
Proposal No. 2007-79 as written, which would permit an institution to provide
student-athletes at home and away-from-home competition with either a postgame
meal or cash in lieu of the meal not to exceed $15, on release by institutional
personnel.
(2) Rationale. The subcommittee agreed with the
rationale of the sponsor and noted its desire for education on the application
of this proposal in combination with 2007-78.
e. Proposal
No. 2007-80 Awards, Benefits and Expenses -- Expenses Provided by the
Institution for Practice and Competition -- Departure/Return Expense
Restrictions -- Exceptions -- Conference Championship.
(1) Recommendation. The subcommittee recommends the cabinet
oppose Proposal No. 2007-80 as written, which would specify that travel prior
to competition in a conference championship event is exempt from the requirement
that a student-athlete depart for competition no earlier than 48 hours prior to
the start of the actual competition in order to receive actual and necessary
travel expenses to represent the institution in athletics competition.
(2) Rationale. The subcommittee expressed concern over
the lack of a time limit for departures under this proposal. Further, the subcommittee noted that
there are not a high number of waivers currently submitted and some members of
the subcommittee like having the NCAA, a neutral party, review the waiver
requests.
f. Proposal
No. 2007-81 Awards, Benefits and Expenses -- Expenses Provided by the
Institution for Practice and Competition -- Departure/Return Expense
Restrictions -- Exceptions -- Conference-Administered Waiver -- Conference
Championship.
(1) Recommendation. The subcommittee recommends the cabinet
oppose (4-4) Proposal No. 2007-81 as written, which would specify that a
conference may grant a waiver of the 48-hour departure restriction for
extenuating circumstances associated with travel prior to competition in a
conference championship event.
(2) Rationale. The subcommittee was split evenly on
this proposal. Some members of the
subcommittee believe it is more appropriate to have the conference office, as
opposed to the NCAA, review waivers for the conference championships due to
their knowledge of the institution’s specific situation and the logistics
surrounding their championship. As
noted above, some members believe it is more appropriate to have the NCAA review
the requests.
2. Nonlegislative
Items.
a. Priority of Budget
Items.
(1) Recommendation. The subcommittee reviewed
recommendations under its purview that have budget implications and recommend
that the following items be approved (in priority order):
1. Tie–Women’s
Gymnastics (one additional travel party – safety) $21,400
Men’s
Gymnastics (one additional travel party – safety) $6,500
2. Women’s
Lacrosse (Squad size increase from 28 to 32 and travel party increase from 34
to 38) $56,800
3. Men’s
Soccer (Squad size increase from 21 to 22 and travel party increase from 27 to
28) $48,000
The
following items were not approved:
1. Men’s Lacrosse
(squad size increase from 32-36 and travel party increase from 40-44)
2. Women’s
Gymnastics (awards to all six teams at finals site)
3. Women’s
gymnastics (reimbursement for teams qualifying for regionals)
4. Track and Field
(individual awards to 1st – 5th place event
finalists and 1st – 3rd place relay teams at each
of four outdoor regionals)
5. Track and Field (team
awards to 1st – 4th place at the four outdoor
regional sites)
6. Men’s and
Women’s Tennis (presentation of awards at first- and second-round sites)
(2) Rationale. The increase of one in the travel party
for both men’s and women’s gymnastics treats the sports equitably
and reestablishes the safety exception once in effect for the women’s
championships.
The
women’s lacrosse increases reflect the growth of the women’s game
and provide more access to females during NCAA competition. The increases also bring the
women’s lacrosse numbers more in line with the men’s squad size and
travel party.
The
men’s soccer increase fulfills the request made during the last
(3) Estimated
Budget Impact. $132,700. The
subcommittee understands that there are other recommendations that will impact
the budget and if the recommendations mentioned are approved, they will need to
be prioritized with the other recommendations receiving cabinet support.
(4) Student-Athlete
Impact. None.
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS.
1. Review of
traveling party priorities and squad size comparisons. The subcommittee
agreed that it should focus its priorities over the next year on reviewing
changes to squad sizes, rather than traveling parties. Over the course of the
year, the staff will distribute a survey to the membership to gather
information on current squad size limits in Division I conferences.
2. Per diem allowance variances for different locations. The subcommittee continued its
discussion related to establishing varying per diem allowances based on the
location of the championship so that institutions participating in
championships in high cost locations may receive higher reimbursements. The subcommittee noted the logistical
issues with such a policy; however, it will continue to study the options that
may be available. The members of
the subcommittees will gather information from their colleagues on which
locations have caused the most concern over the last few years.
3. Nutritional
supplement policy review. At the request
of the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport, the
subcommittee discussed the concept of adopting legislation to permit institutions
to provide fruit and bread products to student-athletes at any time (as opposed
to during practice, competition).
Similar to the concerns raised during its review of the current meals
legislation over the last year, the subcommittee noted that there could be a
significant
Subcommittee
Chair: Susan Delaney-Sheetz,
Staff
Liaisons: Wayne Burrow,
Brad Hostetter,
Membership Services