NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Reinstatement Dialogue 2017

Session Overview Student-Athlete Reinstatement (SAR). Level III/Secondary Enforcement. Public and Media Relations (PMR). Case Study and Discussion. Key Takeaways.

Cases Processed by SAR SA involved in a violation that affects eligibility and requires reinstatement. Student-athlete reinstatement request. SA unable to compete in four seasons in a five-year period. Extension of eligibility waiver. Athletics activity waiver.

Cases Processed by SAR SA unable to complete a season due to extenuating circumstances or medical hardship. Hardship waiver (independent institutions). Hardship waiver appeal. Season-of-competition waiver.

SAR Analysis Facts. Committee guidelines. Mitigation. Case precedent. SA culpability. Institutional involvement. Committee guidelines. Case precedent. Totality of circumstances.

Intersection of Level III/Secondary Enforcement and SAR Nearly all situations requiring reinstatement also are institutional violations. Most are Level III/Secondary Not every violation requires reinstatement. Create a related case in RSRO.

Intersection of Level III/Secondary Enforcement and SAR Prioritize submissions. Don’t wait on Level III/Secondary decision to address eligibility issues. Address In-Season sports. Circumstances and information reported should be consistent.

Cases Processed by Level III/Secondary Enforcement Level III – Breach of Conduct. Isolated or limited in nature; Provide no more than a minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantage; and Provide no more than a minimal impermissible benefit.

Level III/Secondary Enforcement Process Assess circumstances to determine processing. Consider facts and any mitigation in each case. Review institution and conference responses. Determine if additional corrective/punitive actions are necessary.

Level III/Secondary Enforcement Process Standard Penalties Document. Head Coach Responsibilities – Level III Violations Coaching Suspensions Document. Case Precedent. Level III/Secondary Enforcement Staff. RESOURCES

What does NCAA Public and Media Relations (PMR) do? Educate and inform about college sports issues. Tell the benefits of athletics in higher education. Collaborate with national office staff, the membership and others. Use clear and concise language in all communications.

How does PMR collaborate? Work with SAR and member schools before issues break, during the review and through the decision. Monitor media stories and social media. Correct inaccurate information. Assist in the development of communication strategy surrounding decision. SAR/ENF PMR INST

PMR Best Practices Consult with university relations, athletics communications and NCAA public and media relations. Have a clear media strategy, communication plan. Monitor issues via social media sites, local and national outlets, etc. Beware of information leaks. Include all relevant facts of the case (excluding confidential information).

PMR Communications Clarify NCAA process and rules. Correct inaccuracies in media reports. Proactive vs. reactive statements. Joint statement vs. individual statements. PMR slide

Case Study - Facts Morning of Selection Monday for the 2017 Division I Women’s Basketball Championship. Institution is projected number two seed. Director of compliance saw following Twitter post by women’s basketball student-athlete:

Enforcement – Conducting an Investigation Member Resource Guide (found on www.ncaa.org/enforcement). Information on conducting a campus investigation and preparing a report to the enforcement staff for possible Level I/II violations. Develop institutional investigative policy. Contact the enforcement staff. Develop a case strategy. Analyze the information. Report the violations.

Case Study - Facts SA is in her first year at the institution. SA is originally from Canada and previously spent two seasons at a two-year institution. After further investigation, institution determines: Individual who responded to SA’s tweet is a booster of institution. SA stayed at home of booster family on several occasions. Boosters paid for SA’s meals.

Communications Plan After seeing the tweet, local media calls to question the eligibility of SA Becky Wolf - What do you do?

Communications Plan Proactive vs. reactive (facts are still being developed). Is she a high-profile SA? Will this be resolved prior to selection show? Will this require reinstatement? Is this going to be a major investigation? What is the best course of action at this point? Who else on campus needs to know (communications)?

Case Study – Additional Information How did SA meet booster? SA was introduced to booster family fall 2016 when she first arrived at institution. Director of basketball operations arranged for SA to meet booster when booster was in athletics department office picking up season tickets. Head coach requested booster family serve as surrogate family to SA.

Case Study – Additional Information How many times did SA stay with booster family? Four days over winter break. Four additional days during 2017 spring semester. How many meals did SA receive from booster family? Seven meals during winter break. Two meals associated with the other times SA stayed with booster family. Three additional meals during course of 2016-17 academic year.

Case Study – Additional Information Did SA receive any additional benefit from booster family (e.g., gifts, use of family car, or other items)? No. Any other questions?

Case Study – Lodging Value Based on the Division I Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement guidelines. Rental value of the property is the basis for the valuation. May divide rental value by the number of people staying in the household on a per-night basis. If no actual value of the property is available, must explain why.

Case Study – Lodging Value Calculation. Rental value of booster’s home = $6,500 per month. $6,500 per month divided by 30 days = $216.67 per day. $216.67 per day divided by the number of people in the home at the time SA stayed (3) = $72.22. SA stayed with the booster family for eight days (8 x $72.22). Total value = $577.76.

Case Study – Meals Value Seven meals were at the booster’s home and five meals were at a restaurant. Institution’s policy permits SAs to participate in one occasional meal per month. Occasional meals must occur at home of booster. Can subtract four meals from the seven meals at booster’s home.

Case Study – Meals Value Value of meals at a restaurant. Based on actual value (credit card statement) or cost of menu item + tip. Total = $84.62. Value of meals at booster’s home. Based on cost of similar meals at local restaurants. Total = $33.50. Total meal value = $118.12.

Case Study – Valuation Total value of impermissible benefits received by SA: Lodging = $577.76. Meals = $118.12. Total value = $695.88.

SAR Mitigation Discussion Mitigation Education Institutional Involvement Relationship with booster SA well-being SA culpability SAR Mitigation Discussion

SAR Guidelines and Case Precedent Bylaw 16 guideline. Value of benefit ranging from $400-$700 = withholding of 20 percent and repayment. Community service guideline. Permits SAs, in some circumstances, to perform community service in lieu of a portion of repayment. Case precedent. Mitigation discussion. Decision Mitigation Case Precedent Guidelines

SAR Decision and Rationale Reinstated. Withholding? Repayment and/or community service? Rationale?

Communicating the Decision Work with individuals on your campus, including communications, to develop a plan to notify involved individuals about the decision. Once decision is communicated on campus, the likelihood that it will become public increases. Contact NCAA PMR staff to discuss media strategy. Monitor social media and other statements made by involved individuals, including student-athletes, coaches, third parties, etc.

Key Takeaways Communicate with NCAA from onset of process, especially if URGENT matter and competition is pending. Determine relevant facts and mitigation; don’t rely on unreliable sources. Report violations in a timely manner.

Key Takeaways Use available resources. Division I Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement guidelines. www.ncaa.org/enforcement. Include appropriate institutional staff members in process, including media relations staff where appropriate. Have a media strategy, communication plan.

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