NCAA Division I Waivers Processed by Student-Athlete Reinstatement

1. NCAA Division I Waivers Processed by Student-Athlete Reinstatement

2. General process. • Review types of waivers processed by NCAA student-athlete reinstatement (SAR). • Documentation standards. • Case examples. • Questions. Overview

3. SAR staff is the initial review authority. • One exception: hardship waiver. • Conference office = initial review authority. • NCAA Division I Committee on Student-AthleteReinstatement is the appropriate appellatebody. • Committee is made up of individuals from the NCAA Division I membership. General Process

4. Hardship Waiver Appeals NCAA Division I Bylaw 14.2.4

5. Criteria: • Incapacitating injury or illness occurs in one of four seasons of competition at a two-year or four-year collegiate institution; • Injury or illness occurs prior to the first competition of the second half of the playing season that concludes with NCAA championship (“championship segment”); and • Injury or illness occurs when SA has not participated in more than three contests or dates of competition or 30 percent. • See NCAA Division I Bylaw 14.2.4-(c) and 14.2.4-(d) regarding team vs. individual sport distinction. Hardship Waiver Appeals Bylaw 14.2.4

6. Only a conference may appeal a denied hardship decision to staff (Bylaw 14.2.4.2.1); • Include conference denial and reason(s) waiver was denied; • Appeals that exceed percentage are generally denied by staff; • Institution must demonstrate injury suffered was “incapacitating;” • SA must compete in order to receive hardship waiver; and • Identify any unique circumstances. Items to Consider Bylaw 14.2.4

7. Five-Year Rule Waiver “Extension Request” Bylaw 14.2.1.5

8. Circumstances Beyond the Control vs. Circumstances Within the Control of Institution or Student-Athlete Bylaw 14.2.1.5

9. Participated in very few contests over career/multiple years = DENIED EXTENSION REQUEST. • Obligation is placed on institution to demonstrate aparticular academic year is deemed a “denied participation opportunity.” • Granted hardship waiver when competed = one denied participation opportunity. • One granted hardship waiver does not equal grantedextension request. Items to Consider Bylaw 14.2.1.5

10. Season-of-Competition Waivers Bylaws 14.2.5 and 14.2.6

11. What was the eligibility status of the SA when competition took place? • Ineligible  filing a waiver under Bylaw 14.2.5. • Also must seek reinstatement. • Eligible  filing a waiver under Bylaw 14.2.6. Season-of-Competition Waivers

12. Season-of-Competition Waiver – Competition While Ineligible Two Categories: Criteria: Bylaw 14.2.5

13. Season-of-Competition Waiver – Competition While Eligible Four Categories: Requirements for the above categories: Bylaw 14.2.6

14. Season-of-Competition Waiver – Competition While Eligible (continued) Four Categories: Requirements: Bylaw 14.2.6

15. Athletics-Activities WaiverBylaw 14.2.1.4

16. Provides an extension to a SA's five-year clock for participation in specific elite training and competition. • Extension is limited to one time during SA'scareer. • Period of extension may not exceed more thanone year per SA, per sport. Athletics-Activities Waiver Bylaw 14.2.1.4

17. Documentation and other information to be submitted with waiver: • The specific legislative participation criteria met. • Type of activity. • Timeframe [date(s) and name(s) of event(s)]. • Inability of SA to participate in intercollegiate athletics. • Documentation from appropriate National GoverningBody. • Otherwise eligible. Athletics-Activities Waiver (continued) Bylaw 14.2.1.4

18. Documentation Standards(for all waivers)

19. Contemporaneous or other appropriate medical documentation, from a physician (medical doctor) who administered care at the time of injury or illness, that establishes SA's inability to compete as a result of injury or illness shall be submitted. Injury or Illness Medical Documentation Standards Bylaws 14.2.1.5 and 14.2.4.3.3

20. Three key components: • Contemporaneous diagnosis of injury or illness. • Acknowledgment that injury or illness is incapacitating. • Establish length of incapacitation. Injury or Illness Medical Documentation Standards (continued) Bylaws 14.2.1 and 14.2.1.5

21. Injury or Illness Medical Documentation Standards (continued) Legislative Requirement: What to submit: Bylaws 14.2.1.5 and 14.2.4.3.3

22. Specific event; • Negative financial impact; and • SA is unable to participate (i.e., timing). Examples of documentation: • Tax documents, including federal income tax returns; • Tax or property liens; • Bankruptcy fillings; and • Documentation from an employer regarding alayoff/downsizing. Extreme Financial Difficulties Documentation Standards Bylaws 14.2.1.5 and 14.2.6

23. Case Studies

24. Conference forwarded hardship waiver for a football SA, denied due to competition in second half of season. • SA competed in second and seventh contests out of 12. • While competing in second contest, SA suffered a shoulder injury. • SA underwent rehabilitation and treatment and was cleared to return to competition for the seventh contest. • SA competed in only 11 plays of the seventh contest before suffering a season-ending toe injury which required surgery. • In total, SA competed in only two of 12 contests. Hardship Waiver Appeal Case Study No. 1 NCAA Bylaw 14.2.4

25. Conference forwarded hardship waiver for a men's soccer SA, denied due to competition in second half of season. • During fifth contest of the season, SA complained of stomach pain and could not continue in the contest. • Institution's team physician diagnosed SA with abdominal muscle strain, prescribed meds and limited activity. • SA attempted to train at practice, but could not compete. • SA underwent an x-ray two weeks later, which did not show hernia or any significant injury. Hardship Waiver Appeal Case Study No. 2 NCAA Bylaw 14.2.4

26. Head coach, believing SA had already burned a season, and that SA's injury was not significant enough to warrant a hardship, played SA in 12th contest out of 20. • When SA's health did not improve, he underwent MRI, which revealed a hernia. SA subsequently had surgery and was incapacitated for the remainder of the season. • Team physician indicated he misdiagnosed SA's injury initially, and had it been diagnosed originally, SA would have had immediate surgery and been incapacitated for the remainder of the season. Hardship Waiver Appeal Case Study No. 2 (continued)

27. 2006-07: Women's basketball SA redshirted, did not compete. • 2007-08: SA competed in the sport of women's basketball. • 2008-09: SA competed in the sport of women's basketball. • 2009-10: SA competed in the sport of women's basketball. • 2010-11: SA was severely injured in an automobile accident caused by a drunk driver one week prior to first practice of her final season. SA was in intensive care for eight days and was cleared for a gradual return to athletics March 31, 2011. Extension RequestCase Study No. 1 NCAA Bylaw 14.2.1.5

28. 2006-07:Institution No. 1; SA competed in the sport of softball. • 2007-08:Institution No. 1; SA did not compete. SA was deemed academically ineligible for the 2008 spring semester and subsequently left the softball program due to dispute with the coach. • 2008-09:Institution No. 2; SA competed in the sport of softball. • 2009-10:Institution No. 2; SA suffered a fractured orbital bone during a contest April 1, 2008. SA underwent immediate surgery and remained incapacitated for the remainder of the season. SA was subsequently granted a hardship waiver by institution's conference office. • 2010-11: Institution No. 2; SA competed in the sport of softball. Extension RequestCase Study No. 2 NCAA Bylaw 14.2.1.5

29. Baseball SA was serving a transfer year-in-residence during the 2009-10 academic year. • Head baseball coach allowed SA to pitch in one inning of alumni contest September 20. • Baseball staff were under the impression SA would be able to compete in alumni contest, since the contest was exempted competition and not counted toward permissible contests for baseball. • What are the important factors to consider here? Season-of-Competition Waiver – Competition While Ineligible Case Study NCAA Bylaw 14.2.5

30. Walk-on men's basketball student-athlete played in three regular season contests during the first half of the season prior to his father's business being forced to close its door December 12, 2010. • As a result, SA needed to obtain employment in order to pay for his books, housing and other costs, which interfered with his ability to fulfill basketball obligations. • SA, therefore, worked for the remainder of the 2010-11 academic year. Season-of-Competition Waiver – Competition While Eligible Case Study NCAA Bylaw 14.2.6

31. SA's father obtained new employment while SA was at home the following summer. • Institution provided documentation of SA's father's business closing in December 2010, family's lack of income during spring 2011, and SA's father's date of hire with his new employer. Season-of-Competition Waiver – Competition While Eligible Case Study (continued)

32. Questions…