LOCAL SPORTS CLUB POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
In accordance with NCAA guidelines, it is only permissible for a Robert Morris University coach to be involved with a prospect aged individual on a regular basis if it is done through an organized local sports club.
The qualifications/specifications for a sports club are as follows:
- It must be an established club that is separate from the University
- It must have a name
- It must be incorporated
- It must have rules
- It must have insurance
- It must participate in competition against outside teams (it cannot be used to just practice with the individuals).
Please note that any activity with prospects throughout the year may only be done in accordance with the requirements set forth in the camp and clinic documentation or the local sports club documentation. All other activity with a prospect will be deemed an NCAA violation.
PRIOR TO ANY PARTICIPATION WITH SUCH A CLUB, ALL COACHES MUST COMPLETE AND SUBMIT A LOCAL SPORTS CLUB PARTICIPATION FORM to the Office of Athletic Compliance for approval.
General Rule
A member institution, on its campus or elsewhere, shall not conduct (or have conducted on its behalf) any physical activity (e.g., practice session or test/tryout) at which one or more prospects reveal, demonstrate or display their athletics ability in any sport. For purposes of the tryout rule, the prospect includes any individual who has started classes for the ninth grade. (NCAA Bylaws 13.11.1 and 13.11.1.1).
Exception
In sports other than Division I and II basketball, an institution’s coach may be involved as a participant or in instructional or coaching activities in the same sport for a local sports club or organization located in the institution’s home community, provided all prospects participating in said activities are legal residents of the area (within at 50-mile radius or the institution). (NCAA Bylaw 13.11.2.3).
Multiple Teams/Sports
If the local club sponsors multiple teams or multiple sports, the 50-mile radius is applicable only to the team with which the institution’s coach is involved; however, it is not permissible for the coach to assign a prospect who lives outside the 50-mile area to another coach of the club.
Below Ninth Grade.
A coach of the local club team may be involved in activities with individuals who are not of prospect age (i.e., prior to ninth grade) regardless of where such individuals reside.
50 Mile Radius Restriction
The 50-mile radius restriction shall not apply to a prospect who resides outside a 50-mile radius of the institution, provided the institution documents that the local sports club is the closest opportunity for the prospect to participate in the sport.
Institutional Sponsorship
Neither an institution’s athletics department nor an institution’s athletics booster club may sponsor a local sports club that includes prospects. It is permissible for a department of the institution that operates independent of the athletics department (physical education department, recreation department) to sponsor a local sports club that includes prospects, provided no athletics department staff member is involved with the club team.
Coach Organizing Own Club
If an institution’s coach wishes to organize his or her own local sports club pursuant to 13.11.2.3, such a club must be an established, ongoing club that is engaged in competitive activities and is not formed only to provide instruction to prospects. (NCAA Interp 9/16/93). The coaching staff member who is organizing his or her own local sports club may use his or her own funds, independent of the institution, to establish and/or operate the club. (NCAA Interp 9/26/96).
Private Instruction
An institution’s coaching staff member who is not employed by a local sports club may not provide individualized instruction to prospects (e.g., private lessons). If the coaching staff member is employed by a local sports club (e.g., tennis club, swim club), the coach may provide individual instruction to prospects or serve as a coach for the club’s team that involves prospects, provided the club is an established, ongoing club, and all prospects participating in said activities are legal residents of the area (within a 50-mile radius of the institution). (NCAA Interp 9/16/93).
Legal Resident
A prospective student-athlete who relocates within a 50-mile radius of an institution on a temporary basis is not a "legal resident of the area" of the institution regardless of whether the prospect meets a legal standard of state or local residency for governmental purposes. Therefore, an institution's coach may not be involved with a local sports club team in the coach's sport that includes such a prospect (Bylaw 13.11.2.3.2).
Employment of Student-Athlete
An institution’s coaching staff member who owns or operates a local sports club or organization may employ a student-athlete who is a member of his or her own team as a coach/counselor for the club or organization, provided no countable athletically related activities occur as a result of the employment (NCAA Interp. 3/10/04 and Per NCAA Bylaw 17.02.1). The student-athlete may be paid only for hours actually worked at the going rate for similar employment in that locale. (NCAA Bylaw 15.2.7). No benefits may be provided to student-athletes that are not provided to other club staff (e.g., transportation, meals, etc.).
Membership Dues
An individual may receive expenses from a sports club or outside organization to cover membership dues to a local sports club as long as the dues are related to actual and necessary expenses for participation on the team as specified in NCAA Bylaws 12.02.4 and 12.1.1.1.4.3. (NCAA Interp 12/18/02).
Use of Institution’s Facility
A local sports club may use a member institution’s facility, provided the local sports club is charged the same rental rate other outside groups would be charged to use the facility. (NCAA Interp 9/23/92).
Definition of Home Community
For purposes of NCAA Bylaw 13.11.2.3, the institution’s home community should be considered equivalent to an area within a 50-mile radius of the member institution. (NCAA Interp 6/3/92).
Evaluation Limitations
If an institution’s coaching staff member is involved with a local sports club during the academic year, the institution does not use one of its permissible evaluations for any prospect participating in any competition against the local team the individual coaches. Any other contest observed by the coaching staff member involved prospects (e.g., scouting future opponents for the club team) must count as an evaluation for each prospect participating in the contest. (NCAA Interp 2/13/92 and 03/04/92).
Use of Institution’s Accounting Services
An institution’s department of athletics may provide an outside club team (whose coach also is the coach of the local club team) with accounting and financial services, only if the department of athletics offers these services to other outside agencies that involve institutional athletics department staff members and the club pays for such services at the going rate. (NCAA Interp 9/22/89).
Mixing Club Duties With Institutional Duties
An institution may not pay a coach’s expenses to attend a contest in which the coach’s local sports club is participating if the coach also will be performing recruiting duties related to his position at the institution. (NCAA Interp 08/11/89).
Using an Institution’s Weight Room
Prospective student-athletes who are members of a local sports club may use the institutional weight room facility provided the club rents such facilities at the normal rate and such facility usage is related to legitimate club activities (e.g., conditioning activities).
ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY
COOPERATION, CONSCIENCE, COMPLIANCE... COLONIALS!
