Intercollegiate Athletics Policy Manual
2.00 Administrative Control
2.05.1 NCAA and Big 12 Conference
As mandated by the NCAA, the President of The University of Texas ensures that an annual review of NCAA and Big 12 Conference rules and regulations is conducted for all departmental coaches, administrative staff members (as appropriate) and student-athletes.
Rationale
The University of Texas is committed to conducting its overall intercollegiate sports program according to the rules and regulations of the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference. These rules and regulations impact the operations of the intercollegiate athletics.
Coaches must be familiar with all rules which either directly or indirectly affect the administration of their particular sport. This is essential, not only to prevent coaches from committing violations themselves, but to enable them to instruct and monitor student-athletes in matters under the jurisdiction of the NCAA and/or the Big 12 Conference, as applicable. Additionally, as departmental staff members, coaches must abide by a diverse set of regulations which affect personal conduct, publicity, expense reimbursement, outside activities, etc.
Administrative staff members are required to abide by NCAA and Conference rules and regulations. A thorough knowledge of all the rules and regulations allows each staff member to function within a system of checks and balances, which helps prevent unintentional violations.
Even though student-athletes are made aware of applicable NCAA rules and regulations through an annual review this provides the student-athletes with information concerning athletics participation and makes them aware of situations which might jeopardize their athletic and academic eligibility.
Review and Education for Coaches, Departmental Staff, and University Support Administrators
The Director of Athletics believes that education of staff members, coaches and student-athletes regarding rules and regulations is vital to maintain an athletics program that remains in compliance with NCAA and Big 12 Conference rules and regulations. The compliance office conducts NCAA and Conference rules and regulations reviews on a continual basis. New rules and/or additional interpretations of existing rules are emphasized at this time.
Review for Student-Athletes
At the beginning of the academic year and as needed throughout the year, the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance, with assistance from appropriate Compliance and Student Services staff members, reviews applicable NCAA and Conference rules and regulations with student-athletes and
their coaches. The review must be completed each academic year before the first practice or any form of athletics participation by student-athletes. Generally, this review is held at the initial team
meeting with attendance mandatory for each student-athlete. During the meeting each student-athlete is required to sign an NCAA Student-Athlete Statement (see Section 5, Compliance: APPENDIX - Bylaw 5.14 in this Policy Manual). Failure to attend the review or sign this statement renders the student-athlete ineligible for intercollegiate athletics participation.
Staff members are reminded that rules review sessions must be pertinent to those student-athletes attending these sessions in order to be effective. Although many NCAA and Conference rules and regulations are inclusive of all sports, several rules and regulations are sport specific. Therefore, whenever possible it is best to have teams meet individually so that rules related to that particular sport may be covered completely without subjecting other student-athletes to rules which may not directly apply to their sport.
Prospective Student-Athletes
When recruiting prospective student-athletes, coaches must ensure that the prospects are made aware of the rules regarding activities that constitute recruiting violations. Head Coaches, with assistance from the Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance, monitor the mailing of brochures and informational publications to prospective student-athletes to ensure only approved materials are released. Included is "The NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete," the official NCAA publication which provides information on recruiting rules and regulations.
Enforcement
Any willful violation of NCAA, Big 12 Conference and/or University regulations regarding intercollegiate athletics may subject a coach, Departmental staff member or other University official to immediate disciplinary action or termination of employment. Such actions are taken in accordance with appropriate University, Big 12 Conference and NCAA policies and procedures.
Likewise, student-athletes found to have violated any NCAA, Big 12 Conference and/or University regulations are also subject to due process following University procedures. In addition, it is the policy of the University to cooperate fully with NCAA or Big 12 Conference representatives whenever suspected violations are investigated. (For additional enforcement information, see Section 5: Compliance - Personnel, Section 13: Personnel – Conduct and Ethics, and Section 16: Student Services – Conduct and Ethics, in this Policy Manual.)
- Notification of Parents
In the event a student-athlete is involved in any investigative procedures conducted by the NCAA, the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the student-athlete receive immediate notification of all alleged violations and proceedings prior to allowing the investigators to speak with the student-athlete. Additionally, the parents and student-athlete are advised of their right to retain private counsel at their expense or to accept the University provided counsel.
last updated: February 11, 2009