Sports Camps and Clinics Bylaw 13.12

Camp Violations Since January 1, 2018, NCAA Division I institutions have reported 34 violations of camp and clinic legislation!

Institution’s Camp An institution's sports camp or instructional clinic shall be any camp or clinic that is: owned or operated by a member institution or an employee of the member institution's athletics department, either on or off its campus, and in which prospective student-athletes participate.

Purpose of Camps and Clinics An institution's sports camp or clinic shall be one that: (a) Places special emphasis on a particular sport or sports and provides specialized instruction or practice and may include competition; (b) Involves activities designed to improve overall skills and general knowledge in the sport; or (c) Offers a diversified experience without emphasis on instruction, practice or competition in any particular sport.

Umbrella Concepts Camps and Clinics are governed by Recruiting legislation. Camps and Clinics are exceptions to the Tryout prohibition of Bylaw 13.11. Camps and Clinics are opportunities for prospects to visit campus, but such visits cannot be publicized. The restrictions of NCAA Bylaw 13.10.2 still apply.

Timing of Camps In bowl subdivision football, a camp or clinic may be conducted only during 10 days in the months of June and July or any calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) that includes days of those months (e.g., May 28-June 3). **New Legislation** In basketball, camp or clinic shall be conducted only during the months of June, July and August, or any calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) that includes days of those months (e.g., May 28-June 3). In all sports, camps may not be conducted during a Dead Period.

Recent Violation In November 2018, baseball program conducted a hitting clinic during a designated dead period. Specifically, the Director of Baseball Operations (DOBO) and volunteer coach conducted four hitting clinics in November. Clinics were not pre-approved by Compliance, and one clinic occurred on November 13, during a dead period. DOBO thought he had submitted paperwork for review and approval but had not. Two participants at the November 13 clinic were of prospect age. The institution is not recruiting either of the two PSAs. Violation discovered on November 28, when the DOBO submitted post-clinic camp dates and participants to compliance. Penalty: Institution will count impermissible contact and evaluation for two PSAs as one of the permissible contacts and one permissible evaluation opportunity. Institution also will reduce future recruiting opportunities by one contact per PSA involved. Rules education for all Baseball team staff and letter of reprimand for Director of Baseball Operations.

Recent Violation Men's basketball staff conducted an institutional camp during a dead period. The camp began on July 31, 2017, the last day of the July dead period, and ran through August 4, 2017. 129 campers ages 6-17 attended the camp; 36 were PSAs. Director of Basketball Operations, who was no longer employed by time camp occurred, submitted request for camp on dead period date. Associate and Assistant Directors of Compliance, who were tasked with monitoring camps and clinics, approved the camp and then left institution. Penalty: Institution reduced the number of permissible recruiting opportunities from 7 to 6 for all attendees (and counted the impermissible contact as 1 of the remaining contact opportunities) and reduced the men's basketball program's recruiting days by a total of 2 (130 to 128). Rules education to the entire men's basketball staff.

Attendance Restriction Camps must be open to any and all entrants, limited only by number, age, grade level, and/or gender. Men’s and Women’s Basketball: All camps must have the same participation, registration procedure, fee structure, advertisement, and/or logistical experience

Recent Violation In June of 2016 and 2017, the men's basketball staff provided a different logistical experience for summer team camps than what was provided for other basketball camps. The men's basketball staff used an additional gym location during "team" summer camps that was not consistent with the logistical experience offered in other institutional men's and boy's basketball camps. The facility used for the "team" camp was within a mile of institution's campus and is similar to campus facilities. Penalty: Institutional action to create consistent logistical experiences for all campers. Conference action is still pending.

Recruiting at Camps The interaction during sports camps and clinics between prospective student-athletes and those coaches employed by the camp or clinic is not subject to the recruiting calendar restrictions. An institutional staff member employed at any camp or clinic is prohibited from recruiting any prospective student-athlete during the time period that the camp or clinic is conducted (from the time the prospective student-athlete reports to the camp or clinic until the conclusion of all camp activities). Non-Institutional Camps! The prohibition against recruiting includes extending verbal or written offers of financial aid to any prospective student-athlete during his or her attendance at the camp or clinic.

Recruiting at Camps (cont’d) It is permissible to have recruiting conversations between Auburn’s coaches and a participating prospective student-athlete during Auburn’s camps or clinics. Bylaw 13.12.1.5 Remember definition of a PSA: Seventh grade and older for softball and men’s basketball; ninth grade and older for all other sports.

Campus Tours: New Legislation Women’s Basketball: An institutional coaching staff member may engage in recruiting activities (e.g. campus tour, meeting with academic advisor) with prospective student-athletes during an institutional camp or clinic. All Other Sports: An institutional staff member may arrange and conduct a campus tour during an institutional camp or clinic, provided the format of the tour has been approved by an institutional authority outside of athletics.

Recent Violation In July, 2018, the women's rowing coaching staff took prospect-aged campers on a campus tour during an institutional camp. The tour had not been approved by an institutional authority outside the athletics department. The coaches provided a tour showing academic and athletic buildings, dorms, and campus landmarks while walking to needed facilities for the camp; however, none of the tours were approved by the institutional authority outside of athletics. The same tours were provided to all camp participants. The coaches never checked with compliance on the permissibility of the tours. Compliance emailed all coaches in May 2017 and in May 2018 of the approved campus tours that can be provided at institutional camps/clinics. The head women's rowing coach (HC) realized during a rules education meeting in October 2018 that their campus tours during the 2018 summer camps were not permissible. The HC self-reported the violation after the rules education meeting. Penalty: Additional rules education regarding camps/clinics legislation and institutional policies will be provided to the entire Women's Rowing coaching staff prior to camp season.

Advertisements – 13.12.1.6 An institutional camp or clinic advertisement or promotion (e.g., brochure, website, newspaper advertisement) must indicate that the camp or clinic is open to any and all entrants, limited only by number, age, grade level and/or gender. Bylaw 13.4.3.2 This permits use of terms such as “elite” or “select”.

Recent Violation In June 2018, institution posted a graphic on social media (Twitter) to advertise the upcoming football camps and did not include the "open to any and all" language. Conference compliance director notified institution that there was a camp social media post that did not include the "open to any and all" language. Institution immediately removed the post and completed rules education with the football and sports information staff. Penalty: Removed all social media posts that did not include the "open to any and all" language and rules education.

Recent Violation On September 1, 2018, an institutional camp for women's soccer was advertised without including the language that is was "open to any and all entrants". Specifically, the women's soccer director of operations published the camp advertisement without submitting the advertisement for review and approval by the compliance office. As a result, the "open to any and all entrants" language was overlooked. Despite the language missing from the advertisement, the camp was open to any and all participants in accordance with the legislation. The violation was discovered September 2. Penalty: Rules Education will be provided to the women's soccer coaches and staff regarding sports camps and clinics.

Employment of PSA General Rule: An institution shall not employ or provide free or reduced admission privileges to a prospective student-athlete who is an athletics award winner or any individual being recruited by the institution. An institution may offer discounted admission to its camps and clinics based on objective criteria unrelated to athletics abilities (e.g., registration prior to a specific date, online registration, attendance at multiple sessions, group discounts), provided such discounts are published and available on an equal basis to all who qualify.

Recent Violation In summer 2017, the Athletic Department's Camps Office provided free admission to a prospect aged individual and his brother to attend a men's basketball camp. Prior to the camp, a former men's basketball student-athlete reached out to the men's basketball staff to inquire about participant discounts based on financial need. The men's basketball staff directed the inquiry to the Camps Office, who handle all camp logistical questions. The Camps Office believed that since both prospects were under 9th grade, they were not yet considered prospects under NCAA rules and therefore, could be provided free camps admission. The Camps Office was not aware that individuals in the 7th grade and higher are considered prospects in men's basketball and that discounts have to be published and made available to all who qualify. The men's basketball staff were not involved in the arrangement of the discounted admission and were not aware that the individuals received free camp admission.

Penalty: In response to the violation, the institution has issued a letter of education to the Camps Office to clarify the rules related to permissible camp discounts. Additionally, the institution has declared the two individuals ineligible until they repay the value of the impermissible benefit and are reinstated by the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement staff.

Employment of PSA An institution may employ a PSA in camp or clinic, provided he or she has signed an NLI (or written offer of admission/financial aid agreement WITH AUBURN!). Compensation may be paid only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in the locality for similar services. A PSA who only lectures or demonstrates at a camp may not receive compensation for his or her appearance.

Recent Violation In June 2018, institution impermissibly employed two baseball PSAs at institution’s camp prior to admission or signing written offers of financial aid. Specifically, PSA1, a recruited, 2-4 transfer PSA, was employed at institutional baseball camp June 11-15, 2018, and earned $450 for work actually performed which is same rate for all counselors. PSA2 was employed from June 18-22, 2018 as a summer camp coach and was paid $450 for work actually performed at same rate for all counselors. Institutional policy requires all camp employees to be approved by the compliance staff using the Staff Approval Form. Director of baseball operations (DOBO) did not provide an updated Staff Approval Form to the compliance staff for review prior to the camps taking place. Violation discovered July 3, 2018, during assistant athletics director for compliance's review of post camp reconciliation forms. Penalty: 1. A letter of admonishment was issued to DOBO; 2. violation will be reviewed at camps and clinics rules education session; 3. Institution has declared PSA1 ineligible and sought reinstatement with national office SAR staff.

Other Compensation to PSA An institution may not permit or arrange for a prospective student-athlete, at the prospective student-athlete's own expense, to operate a concession to sell items related to or associated with the institution's camp. A booster may not pay a prospective student-athlete's expenses to attend a member institution's sports camp or clinic.

Recent Violation In Summer 2017, institution impermissibly provided transportation expenses for two prospective student-athletes. Specifically, institution's volleyball coaches requested an interpretation from compliance staff as to whether or not they could provide transportation to individuals who are serving as camp counselors. Compliance office responded stating it would not be permissible to provide transportation to PSAs working an institutional summer volleyball camp. Head coach misunderstood compliance office's response and believed he could provide transportation for PSAs if he established precedent for such payment. Head coach decided he would set precedent by first providing round trip airfare to the PSAs. PSA1 received $201.96 and PSA2 received $276.40 in round trip airfare. Violation discovered when assistant volleyball coach reached out to compliance office to see how they could arrange transportation permissibly for an incoming PSA for 2018-19 who is on to work summer camp as a counselor.

Penalty: Both student-athletes have been declared ineligible pending reinstatement with a community service agreement if approved by the staff. Rules education will be provided to the coaching staff and the situation will be highlighted in a 2018-19 compliance newsletter. The head coach will receive a letter of admonishment.

Camp Employment – 13.12.2 Student-athletes (mirrors PSA): (a) Must perform duties that are of a general supervisory character in addition to any coaching or officiating assignments.  (b) Compensation shall be commensurate with the going rate for camp or clinic counselors of like teaching ability and camp or clinic experience and may not be paid on the basis of the value that the student-athlete may have for the employer because of the athletics reputation or fame the student-athlete has achieved.  It is not permissible to establish varying levels of compensation for a student-athlete employed in a sports camp or clinic based on the level of athletics skills of the student-athlete. (c) If only lectures or demonstrates at a camp/clinic may not receive compensation for his or her appearance at the camp/clinic. (d) Must complete Auburn compliance employment forms.

Camp Employment (cont’d) A member institution (or employees of its athletics department) may employ its student-athletes as counselors in camps or clinics, provided the student-athletes do not participate in organized practice activities other than during the institution's playing season in the sport.

Camp Employment (cont’d) High School, Preparatory-School, Two-Year College Coaches: The individual receives compensation that is commensurate with the going rate for camp counselors of like teaching ability and camp experience; and  The individual is not paid on the basis of the value he or she may have for the employer because of his or her reputation or contact with prospective student-athletes. Compensation or reimbursement is not based on the number of campers the coach sends to the camp. In Football and Men’s Basketball, an individual associated with a recruited student-athlete shall not be employed at an institution’s camp or clinic.

Recent Violation A prospective student-athlete received an inducement as a result of an employment arrangement that was not publicly available to other individuals and did not use an objective standard. During the summer of 2018, it was discovered that an employment arrangement had occurred at the institution’s gymnastics camp in 2017 and 2018. The institution's gymnastics coach entered into the camp employment trade agreements in 2017 and 2018 that stipulated that a club gymnastics coach would work the institution's gymnastics camp in exchange for an admission into the institution’s camp and the institution's coach would work the club’s noninstutional camp. In 2017, this arrangement was made with three gymnastics club coaches. Two of the club coaches were from the same club. The two coaches from the same club brought one individual who was a prospective student-athlete and one individual who was not a prospective student-athlete. The employment arrangement that took place in 2017 in which PSA received admission into the camp was impermissible because the arrangement was not publicly available to other individuals and did not use an objective standard. The employment arrangement that took place would have been permissible if it would have been publicly available and used an objective standard. It was not intended as a recruiting benefit or advantage as it was also provided to individuals who are not of prospective student-athlete age and are not being recruited by the women's gymnastics program.

Penalty Since PSA received an impermissible inducement, it will be necessary for her to be reinstated prior to her signing a National Letter of Intent with the University. To be reinstated, she will be required to repay the value of the benefit to a charity of her choice. The program will cease to provide the employment arrangement. The Head Coach will receive a letter of admonishment. The compliance office will provide rules education specific to camps and clinics. Conference Action: The conference compliance staff traveled to the institution to provide in-person rules education regarding head coach responsibility with the women's gymnastics staff.

Athletics Staff Employment No athletics department staff member may be employed (either on a salaried or a volunteer basis) in any capacity by a camp or clinic established, sponsored or conducted by an individual or organization that provides recruiting or scouting services concerning prospective student-athletes. 

Recent Violation The head women’s basketball coach (HC) and assistant coach (AC) attended a speaking engagement that was sponsored by a recruiting service. Specifically, a third party, who was not affiliated with the recruiting service, contacted the HC and AC and asked them to speak at the event. The third party did not give any indication that a recruiting service was involved with the event, and the HC and AC knew staff members from other programs had already committed to attend. Therefore, the HC and AC assumed attending the event was permissible and did not seek the compliance staff’s approval. The compliance office was notified of the violation by another institution. The other institution contacted the compliance staff to find out if the HC and AC received a waiver. This inquiry by the other institution prompted the compliance office to review the event as well as interview the HC and AC.

Penalty The women’s basketball staff was provided additional rules education regarding outside speaking engagements and camps/clinics, and reminded to seek approval from the compliance office prior to engagement in such activities.

Sport-Specific Reminders In basketball, an institution's coach or noncoaching staff member with responsibilities specific to basketball may be employed only at his or her institution's camps or clinics. In volleyball and baseball, it is not permissible for a coach or noncoaching staff member with responsibilities specific to the sport to be employed (either on salaried or a volunteer basis) in an institutional camp or clinic or a noninstitutional, privately owned camp or clinic that is conducted off the institution's campus during a quiet period.

Sport-Specific Reminders (cont’d) In Softball, it is only permissible for a coach or noncoaching staff member with responsibilities specific to the sport to be employed (either on salaried or a volunteer basis) in a noninstitutional, privately owned camp or clinic that is conducted off the institution's campus during a period when evaluations at nonscholastic practice or competition is permissible.

Sport-Specific Reminders (cont’d) In Bowl Subdivision Football, an institution's coach (including a graduate assistant coach who has successfully completed the coaches’ certification examination) may be employed (either on a salaried or volunteer basis) in any capacity (e.g., counselor, guest lecturer, consultant) only by his or her institution's camps or clinics or another four-year, NCAA member institution's camps or clinics. A noncoaching athletics department staff member with responsibilities specific to football may be employed only by his or her institution’s camps or clinics. Employment in such a camp or clinic is limited to 10 days in the months of June [or any calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) that includes days in June (e.g., May 28-June 3)] and July. The dates must be on file in the office of the athletics director. It is not permissible for a football coach to be employed at a noninstitutional, privately owned camp or clinic. It is not permissible for a noncoaching staff member with responsibilities specific to football to be employed at other institutional camps or clinics or at noninstitutional, privately owned camps or clinics.

Sport-Specific Reminders (cont’d) In sports other than baseball, basketball, football, softball, and women's volleyball, an institution's athletics department personnel may serve in any capacity (e.g., counselor, guest lecturer, consultant) in a noninstitutional, privately owned camp or clinic, provided the camp or clinic is operated in accordance with restrictions applicable to institutional camps.

Trending Issues Non-Institutional Camps: Outside camp must comply with NCAA legislation on camps (i.e., no dead periods, no employment of PSAs, must be open to any and all entrants, etc.) Three of these violations reported in the last month, roughly 1/3 of the camp violations in the last 13 months!

Proposals 2018-59 In basketball and football, to eliminate the requirement that an institution's camp or clinic must include an educational session. Ready to vote. 2018-61 Eliminate July football camps (June only!) Any sport-specific proposal creating a dead period Varying stages in legislative process.

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