ELIGIBILITY -- GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS -- MALE PRACTICE PLAYER ELIGIBILITY -- REQUIREMENTS

Convention Year: 2008

Date Submitted: August 22, 2007

Status: Adopted Final

Effective Date: August 1, 2008

SPOPL Number: 7

Official Notice Number: 2008-8

Source: NCAA Division III Presidents Council [Management Council (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee)]

Proposal Category: Presidents Council

Topical Area: Eligibility

Intent: To specify that the participation of male practice players in a women's team sport shall be limited to the traditional segment in the sport and one practice per week; further, to specify that the number of male practice players who participate in a particular practice shall not exceed half the number of student-athletes of a typical starting unit in the sport, noting that any computation of half of the starting unit that results in a fractional portion of a player shall be rounded to the next whole number.

Bylaws: Amend 14.1.11, as follows:

Rationale: The involvement of male practice players has the potential to reduce practice opportunities for women as female student-athletes are relegated to the bench in favor of their teammates scrimmaging against males; however, male practice players also enable some women's teams with small rosters to field an appropriate number of players for competitive drills. Women's athletics have developed significantly in the past 25 years and it is no longer appropriate to rely on male practice players to serve as scout teams or to focus only on males to simulate a taller or faster female opponent. Following discussion at the 2007 NCAA Convention, which revealed the need for greater data to be gathered about the use of male practice players, a survey instrument was sent to Division III institutions. The results of that survey indicate that 54.9 percent of Division III institutions completing the survey favor some restrictions on the involvement of male practice players. Individual conferences or campuses that prefer a total prohibition on male practice players can still exercise their discretion whether to permit their involvement. It should be noted that existing legislation already requires that male practice players be certified as eligible under all applicable NCAA eligibility requirements (e.g., the individual must be enrolled in a minimum full-time program of studies, sign a student-athlete statement and drug-testing consent form and have eligibility remaining under the 10-semester/15-quarter rule). Further, under existing legislation, male practice players do use seasons of participation when participating with women's teams.

Budget Impact: None.

Co-sponsorship - Conference:
  None

Co-sponsorship - Institution:
  None

Additional Information: January 14, 2008 -- NCAA Convention 8 Adopted 223-206-17 Call for Vote to Reconsider 8 Defeated 203-229-3

Convention Vote:
  Date of Vote: January 14, 2008
    For: 223
    Against: 206
    Abstain: 17
    Not Present:

Legislative References

Division	Number	Title
III	14.1.11	Male Practice Player Eligibility.