Central Michigan University Athletics Department

Compliance Meeting March 4, 2009

Updated Recruiting Calendar Recruiting Calendar—February / March

Men’s Basketball: March 1 – March 15 = Evaluation Period / March 16-22 =Contact Period / April 2 = Quiet Period / April 3 – 9 (noon) = DEAD Period / April 9 (noon) – April 12 = Contact Period / April 13 – 16 = Dead Period / April 17 – 22 = Contact Period

Women’s Basketball: March 1 – April 2 = Contact Period / April 3 – April 9, April 13 – 16 = DEAD Period / April 10 – 12 = Quiet Period / April 17 – 21 = Evaluation period (Evaluations permitted at non-scholastic events April 17-19) / April 22 – July 5 = Quiet Period

Football: March 1 – Apr. 14 = Quiet Period / April 15th – start of Evaluation Period

Baseball/Volleyball/Softball/Gymnastics/Wrestling: March 1 – April 30 = Contact Period, except April 6 - 9 = DEAD Period

Track / CC: February/March/April – Contact Period except for March

13 – 15 = DEAD PERIOD

Gambling Institutional staff members and student-athletes are prohibited from

gambling on professional or intercollegiate sports that the NCAA sponsors.

Institutional staff member:

-An individual who performs work for the institution or athletic department even if the individual is a student (manager, student trainers, game workers) or is not receiving compensation (volunteer coach, undergraduate coach, graduate volunteers).

Violation? Pay entry fee or bet (tangible value) and have a possibility to receive prize (t-shirt, $$$, dinner -tangible value)

Examples: bracket pools for any sports, fantasy leagues, betting on individual games or championship outcomes, “friendly wager”, etc. NCAA TOURNAMENT BRACKETS!!

No public display of brackets in athletics department allowed!!!

Case Study – U of Washington

Major Infraction – 2000 Institutional Staff Gambling

• Head football coach participated in “auction” on NCAA basketball tournament with a group that bid on several teams. His net winnings over a 2-yr. period were over $11,000.

• Between 2000 and 2003, men’s basketball office pools were conducted in the football office. The cost to enter the pools was $3-$5.

• Equipment manager participated in office pools for two years - $5 entry fee.

• 5 athletic trainers participated in office pool in 2003 - $5 entry fee

• Former compliance director participated in $5 pool outside institution

Head Coach: “institution did not adequately educate its employees and staff concerning gambling issues…. Also contended that the NCAA gambling bylaw, as written, is vague.

University of Washington

Boosters: between 1999-2003, the institution permitted a booster to have impermissible contacts with numerous prospective student-athletes in the sport of football and their parents on official paid visits to the institution’s campus when the representative provided boat rides to the young men and their parents between the institution’s campus and the home of the former head coach.

Anyone not employed by Central Michigan University (boosters, alums) is prohibited from contacting a prospect or prospect’s family to encourage him/her to participate in CMU Athletics (on or off campus)

The former director of athletics was present at the former head coach’s home on at least two occasions on which prospects were transported on the boosters yacht, witnessed the representative in contact with prospects and their parents, yet did not recognize or report a violation of NCAA legislation.

University of Washington

AD: "My last comment to (the former head coach) was to run everything by compliance, the details. My assumption, and it was the wrong assumption, when I saw (the representative) at the breakfast, my assumption was I looked at (the representative) and I thought compliance has approved this. It was my mistake not to follow up on it.“

YOUR RESPONSIBILIY: Report all possible violations of NCAA rules and regulations to the compliance office. Self-reporting violations are considered a mitigating factor in determining penalties. (32.2.1.2)

NCAA: Had the former director of athletics questioned the booster’s presence at the former head coach's home and pursued it through appropriate compliance channels, it is likely that at least some of the violations could have been prevented.

University of Washington

In response to numerous violations committed under the watch of former head coach at Washington and Colorado, an assistant coach stated that he was "going with the culture" established by the coach during recruiting. It was to "push the envelope, not break the law, but to be more creative than anyone else.”

During one recruiting visit, the former head coach reportedly parked outside a recruit's home, called him on a cell phone and told him to come to the door. The two then talked by phone. Because he was in his car and the recruit was in his home, the coach denies breaking rules by having a prohibited face-to-face visit.

Former assistant coach told the NCAA that the former head coach "attempted to avoid reviewing matters relating to compliance ... because he wanted to avoid getting a 'no' answer."

Recent Questions

Q: May a current student-athlete use host money on an official visit to pay for the entertainment of other current student-athletes as well as the entertainment for the official visitor?

A: No, the host money may only be used to pay for the entertainment of the host and the official visitor.  For example, if the host and several current teammates want to take an official visitor bowling, the host could pay for himself/herself and the visitor out of the entertainment money, but the other current CMU student-athletes would have to pay for their own bowling.

Q: If I watch film with one of my student-athletes, is this included in the 2 hr. skill instruction limitation outside the playing season?

A: Yes, film review must be included in the 2 hr. skill instruction period. Outside the playing season, only required lifting, conditioning and skill instruction is permitted for a max of 8 hrs. per week, with no more than 2 hrs. of skill instruction.

In sports other than football, outside of the playing season, only a student-athlete's participation in required weight-training, conditioning and individual skill instruction shall be permitted. Football has no skill instruction, just 2 hrs. of film review per week outside the season!

Max of 8 hours per week with no more than 2 hours of individual skill instruction. Number of SA’s involved in skill instruction:

 September 15 – April 15: Unlimited number of student-athletes may be involved in skill instruction

Prior to September 15 and after April 15: Maximum of 4 student-athletes from one team may be involved in skill instruction at any one time in any facility

All athletically related activities outside the playing season are prohibited one week prior to the beginning of final exam week through the conclusion of each student-athlete’s final exams. (i.e., NO athletic activities from April 27 – through the completion of each student-athlete’s final exams).

***Final Exam Period: May 4 – 8, 2009

Skill Instruction – Outside Playing Season

Q: Is it permissible for a booster to contact a prospect once he/she has signed a National Letter of Intent with CMU?

A: NO. A prospect remains a prospect even after he/she has signed an NLI with an institution. Boosters may not have on- or off-campus contact with a prospect. In addition, boosters may not contact a prospect via telephone, written or electronic correspondence.

Q: Once a prospect signs a NLI with CMU, is it permissible for the prospect to participate in workouts with the coaching staff?

A: NO. It is not permissible for a coach to workout with a prospect or for the coach to watch the prospect participate in recreational activities with current student-athletes.

Recent Questions

Case Study

Chicago State University

Major Infraction – 2003 Playing and Practice Season / Ethical Conduct

• Over 2 year period head coach:

• Exceeded Weekly/Daily Hour practice time limitations

•instructed sa’s to miss class for practice activities or were not released in time for class activities

•Organized pick-up games outside season with captains and received accounts of attendance and performance (e.g., summer conditioning, open gyms, captain’s practice)

Chicago State University

Time Limitations: The assistant coach stated as the team got close to the weekly time limitations, he notified the head coach. She responded that the time did not start until all the student-athletes appeared for practice. Asst. coach stated that the team exceeded 20 hours per week many times, but the practice records were altered every week to make it appear the team complied with the daily and weekly limitations. Asst. coach estimated that the team exceeded weekly limits 70 percent of the time. Assistant coach A said the head coach rationalized that if a team meeting was not completely about basketball, the time did not count.

Assistant coach stated that the head coach frequently used excuses such as:

“Weight training is only scheduled for 30 minutes. If they can’t get it done in 30 minutes, that’s on them. We’re only counting 30 minutes.

Chicago State University Asst. coach recalled that the head coach told the team that the

time did not start until all of the student-athletes were out of the training room and on the floor. However, the student-athletes already in the gym were required to start practice without the student-athletes in the training room.

The head coach also did not count stretching in the countable hours. Asst. coach said the student-athletes questioned the hours, which were recorded on practice logs. He said it was a running joke with the student-athletes that if they did not sign the logs, then they would have to take it up with the head coach. He added some student-athletes began to keep track of the hours on their own.

Some of the head coach’s friends reported back to the head coach about performance of sa’s during open gyms; coach instructed seniors to “teach freshman plays”; coach would be seen in balcony watching open gym, coach communicated with captains (i.e., summer workouts)

Chicago State University

NCAA: It was evident to the committee that the head coach was a domineering individual who not only intimidated her student-athletes, but her assistant coaches as well. In this environment of intimidation, the student-athletes and assistant coaches unquestionably did what they were told to do by the head coach. Until the aforementioned letter was sent to the university from assistant coach A, no one was willing to come forward and report violations to the proper authorities at the institution.

Head Coach: “If you walk in late (for class), its no big deal. If you miss a day (of class) it’s not like you haven’t missed a day on your own before. What’s the difference if you’re skipping for the team.” The assistant athletic trainer also recalled the head coach telling the student-athletes that they were students and athletes, but they were her athletes, not her students.

Advice: Make sure your student-athletes clearly understand what constitutes the start of practice and what activities are considered “required”, “countable”, or “mandatory”.

Countable Athletic Activities??

Practices

Athletic meetings with a coach initiated or required by a coach (e.g., end of season individual meetings)

Competition ****No practice after a competition (including watching game film) – exception – multi-day tournament

Field, floor or on-court activity (e.g., stretching conducted by coach)

Required weight training and conditioning activities

Required participation in camps / clinics

Individual skill instruction outside the playing season (sports other than football)

Film instruction

NCAA Initial Eligibility

Q: A senior prospect that signed an NLI looks like they will be 1 core class short in Math. What do I do?

14.3.1.2.1 – Core Course after High School Graduation: If a prospective student-athlete graduates from high school within the core-curriculum time limitation, he or she may use one core course, completed in the year after graduation (summer or academic year), but not later than the end of the academic year immediately after the high school graduation date of the prospective student-athlete's class, to satisfy the core-curriculum or minimum grade-point average requirements or both.  The prospective student-athlete may complete the core course at a location other than the high school from which he or she graduated and may initially enroll full time at a collegiate institution at any time after completion of the core course.  A prospective student-athlete may not use a core course completed after graduation if he or she receives institutional financial aid while enrolled in the course during the summer after the high school graduation date of his or her class (see Bylaw 15.2.8.1.4).

Make sure your sport Academic Advisor has all transcripts from every

institution at the earliest opportunity when “seriously” recruiting a prospect!

Transfer Review 2-4 Transfer (Qualifier) in order to be immediately eligible:

Complete at least one term as a full-time student (excluding summer).

Earn an average of 12 transferable credits per full-time semester.***Beware % of degree entering 3rd year

Earn a GPA of 2.0 at 2-yr.

2-4 Transfer (Non-Qualifier) in order to be immediately eligible for practice, financial aid, and competition immediately:

Complete at least three semesters as a full-time student (excluding summer school).

Earn a 2-Year degree.

Earn 48 transferable credit hours (including 6 hrs. of transferable English credits and 3 hrs. of transferable math credit – effective for PSA’s enrolling after 8.1.2009**Beware % of degree entering 3rd year (minimum of 50 hrs. required for

the minimum degree program at CMU (124)

Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the 2-yr. college.

Additional rules apply for ALL transfers (pass 6 hrs. previous full-time semester, passed minimum hrs. based on enrollment at JUCO)

Recruiting - Transfers Can you provide transfers with an official visit?

If a student-athlete attending a four-year institution desires to transfer and that institution provides the permission required (per Bylaw 13.1.1.3), it is permissible for a second institution to provide the student-athlete one official visit to that institution's campus.

CMU must have permission to contact first and we must have a copy of the prospect’s transcripts from the 4-yr. institution.

Two-Year College Transfers? - A student-athlete who is not a qualifier (i.e., non-qualifier, not certified) who is enrolled in his/her first year at a junior college cannot be contacted in person on or off campus (no unofficial / official visits). Even if a prospect is a great student, but is not a final qualifier, they cannot visit (unofficial/official) in their first year of residence at the JUCO.

However, you can continue to e-mail/write and call the prospect once per week

They can be provided one official visit post Oct. 15 following the completion of high school (need transcripts) – only qualifiers!

Recruiting - Transfers

Four-Year College Transfers

•Athletics staff shall not make contact with the student-athlete of another NCAA or NAIA four-year collegiate institution, directly or indirectly, without first obtaining written permission.” (Prospect calls you, notify them of NCAA regulations)

This includes:

- Contact with parents

- High school coaches

- Club coaches

- Friends of the prospect - Media (no comments to media about potential contribution of

prospect at CMU)

Always notify compliance first regarding any transfer inquiries!

APR Update - Transfers Transfers to a 4-yr. institution may not lose the retention point… A student-

athletes who meet the following criteria will earn an automatic APR adjustment and be a “1/1” in the last term at CMU:

Student-athlete (SA) has a 2.6 or higher cumulative GPA

SA is eligible and earns the “eligibility” point in the last term at our institution

SA transfers immediately to another 4-year institution (documentation required)

SA has been enrolled at least 2 full-time terms at our institution

Waivers for anyone who does not meet the standards above (e.g., 2.5 GPA). Please make sure you are keeping track of student-athletes that depart your program to make sure they are eligible at the time of departure and you know where they are transferring. Sport administrator and Academics will also monitor.

If an SA transfers to a 2-yr. college, they are not eligible for this bonus point – only SA’s who transfer immediately to a 4-yr. institution.

Caffeine CaffeineCannot distribute Cannot distribute Cannot distribute

Recent media and blog coverage, including the February 10, 2009, AdAge.com post “Vitaminwater Runs Afoul of NCAA Banned-Substance Rule,” incorrectly states that student-athletes should not drink six of Vitaminwater’s varieties or they might test positive for banned substances.

In fact, normal daily consumption of any of the 13 Vitaminwater varieties will not place a student-athlete at risk for testing positive for banned substances.

Eight of the varieties, including Revive, the only NCAA-branded variety featured at NCAA Championships, contain no impermissible or banned substances and may be provided by member institutions to student-athletes.

Three Vitaminwater varieties (Power-c, B-relaxed, and Balance) contain ingredients that categorize them as impermissible under NCAA extra benefit rules. As such, schools cannot provide these varieties to student-athletes as a nutritional supplement, but they can be purchased and consumed by student-athletes on their own without any risk to their NCAA eligibility.

Two Vitaminwater varieties, Energy and Rescue, contain an ingredient or ingredients--caffeine and guarana seed extract (a caffeine source)—that are included on the NCAA’s drug-testing list of banned substances. The NCAA places a limit on the amount of caffeine that can be legally found in the urine of a student-athlete. This level was set to allow ordinary consumption of caffeine-containing beverages, such as cola, tea or coffee. Vitaminwater Energy and Vitaminwater Rescue contain low levels of caffeine. To put it in perspective, an average sized healthy man would have to drink ten 20 oz. bottles of Vitaminwater Energy or Rescue within several hours of competition to reach the level that could potentially create a positive NCAA urine test.

The NCAA and Vitaminwater’s parent company, Coca-Cola, have diligently researched issues surrounding student-athlete consumption of these products prior to the October 2008 announcement of Revive being featured on sideline equipment at NCAA championships. At no time has student-athlete eligibility been put at risk for those who choose to drink Revive or any of the other varieties under normal daily consumption standards.

FOR THE RECORD: NCAA Corrects Inaccurate Media Coverage of the NCAA/Vitaminwater Relationship 2/11/09

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