NCAA Giving Institutions and Conferences Affected by Hurricane Katrina Latitude to Make Rules Decisions

INDIANAPOLIS --- Due to the unprecedented circumstances in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the NCAA has developed guidelines that allow institutions and conferences needed flexibility to assist student-athletes and their families. 

The guidelines address situations involving financial aid and extra benefits, recruiting and personnel, eligibility, and playing and practice seasons.

"Our number one priority is with the safety and well being of student-athletes, their families and the entire Gulf Coast population,” said NCAA President Myles Brand.  “This unprecedented natural disaster is a reminder to us of what is really important.  We need to keep things in perspective—sport is a game and this is about life.”

Steve Mallonee, NCAA managing director of membership services, said, “The effects of this disaster are outside the scope of the intentions of NCAA bylaws.  The normal activities of athletics programs do not apply to those affected by the hurricane and, therefore, the normal application of NCAA rules doesn’t work.”

Mallonee added that institutions and conferences should have the latitude to make decisions that are in the best interest of student-athletes and their families.

The NCAA has begun to identify the most immediate needs and questions that might be facing athletics personnel and student-athletes.  However, Mallonee noted it is impossible to predict all the issues that will arise as the hurricane recovery effort continues.

Thus far, the NCAA has developed the following broad guidelines:

FINANCIAL AID AND EXTRA BENEFITS

• Affected institutions and conferences may provide necessary expenses and benefits to accommodate the immediate needs of student-athletes and their families.  This includes, but is not limited to, providing clothing, housing, meals and medical assistance to student-athletes and their families.
• Student-athletes affected by the disaster and their families may accept financial assistance from outside sources for educational expenses or expenses related to the disaster.  Sources of this assistance may include boosters and other academic institutions.
• Affected institutions and conferences may provide additional expenses and benefits related to practice and competition in any location.  Examples of this type of assistance include, but are not limited to, room, board and travel expenses.
• Institutions may make financial arrangements to have student-athletes attend other institutions.

RECRUITING AND PERSONNEL

• Institutions whose physical campus is directly affected by the hurricane may provide official and unofficial visits to locations other than the main campuses.  Examples of such locations include temporary campuses, playing and practice facilities.
• Institutions affected by the hurricane may use the “temporary replacement exception” at their discretion to meet the coaching needs of their institutional teams.  The exception allows institutions to temporarily replace coaches due to extenuating circumstances.
• Any athletics department staff members may recruit off campus when coaches or traditional permissible recruiters are unavailable.

ELIGIBILITY

• Eligible student-athletes at affected institutions may represent their current institution in practice or competition activities without satisfying the minimum full-time enrollment requirements or while enrolled at another institution.

PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS

• Institutions forced to cease practice or competition activities due to the hurricane may resume such activities at a later date without that break counting as an official segment break.

Mallonee said the NCAA recognizes that these guidelines only address some of the more immediate needs and concerns.

Additional issues will surely arise with regards to division membership requirements, initial eligibility requirements, seasons of competition, length of playing seasons and championships participation.  National office staff is assisting institutions and student-athletes in working through those issues.

Likewise, the NCAA is examining issues related to transfer situations involving student-athletes who are natives of the affected areas or are enrolled at campuses there.

"We recognize the unique challenges this disaster poses to student-athletes.  We believe that by giving increased flexibility to conferences and schools, they can best assess the particular needs of the student-athletes within their campus communities,” said Brand.