LSDBi
Division I Proposal - 2017-63
PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS -- WEEKLY HOUR LIMITATIONS -- OUTSIDE THE PLAYING SEASON -- SKILL INSTRUCTION -- PUBLICITY -- SPORTS OTHER THAN FOOTBALL AND MEN'S BASKETBALL
Status: Adopted Final
Intent: In sports other than football and men's basketball, to eliminate the restrictions that preclude skill-related instruction from being publicized and conducted in view of a general public audience.
Bylaws: Amend 17.1.7.2, as follows:
17.1.7.2 Weekly Hour Limitations -- Outside the Playing Season.
[17.1.7.2-(a) through 17.1.7.2-(c) unchanged.]
[17.1.7.2.1 unchanged.]
17.1.7.2.2 Skill Instruction -- Sports Other Than Football. Participation by student-athletes in skill-related instruction in sports other than football is permitted outside the institution's declared playing season, from the institution's first day of classes of the academic year or September 15, whichever occurs earlier, to one week prior to the beginning of the institution's final examination period at the conclusion of the academic year [see Bylaw 17.1.7.2-(a)]. Skill-related In men's basketball, skill-related instruction shall not be publicized and shall not be conducted in view of a general public audience.
[17.1.7.2.3 through 17.1.7.2.4 unchanged.]
Source: American Athletic Conference and Atlantic 10 Conference
Effective Date:Immediate
Proposal Category: Amendment
Topical Area: Playing and Practice Seasons
Rationale: The current legislation was intended to prohibit an institution from creating a celebrity atmosphere during a prospective student-athlete's campus visit as well as to prohibit sport programs from combining permissible skill instruction and permissible promotional activities to allow a practice before the official start of season. However, the legislation does allow a prospective student-athlete and those individuals accompanying him or her on an official or unofficial visit to view a skill instruction session. In addition, a member of the general public could walk into a facility where a team is involved in skill-related instruction on his or her own (i.e., not invited to watch) and permissibly observe the skill instruction session. Thus, there are still opportunities for individuals to watch the skill instruction session, and there are no restrictions on publicizing (e.g., website, social media) the skill instruction session after it has concluded. With the increased use of social media, it should be permissible to live-stream skill-related instruction or use other social media platforms to share skill-instruction sessions with fans across the country. Such a change would allow the general public to view such sessions without creating a celebratory atmosphere. In addition, it remains impermissible for an institution to publicize the participation of a former student in a practice session, including skill instruction, and it remains impermissible to celebratize a prospective student-athlete's campus visit. These restrictions should be sufficient to minimize the concerns related to the initial intent of prohibiting the publicity of skill instruction and prohibiting the sessions from being conducted in view of a general public audience.
Estimated Budget Impact: None.
Impact on Student-Athlete's Time (Academic and/or Athletics): None.
History
| Aug 31, 2017: | Submitted to National Office | |
| Sep 29, 2017: | In Progress | |
| Feb 8, 2018: | Ready for Vote | |
| Apr 18, 2018: | Adopted by Council | Amended to remove men's basketball. |
| Apr 25, 2018: | No Board Action | |
| Apr 25, 2018: | Adopted Final |
Legislative References
| Division | Number | Title |
|---|---|---|
| I | 17.1.7.2 | Weekly Hour Limitations -- Outside the Playing Season. |
| I | 17.1.7.2.2 | Skill Instruction -- Sports Other Than Football. |