1. UAlbany Compliance Corner
March 2019 Edition
Spot The Violation
Joe Alumni, a former UAlbany baseball student-athlete, maintains his relationship with his alma mater by donating money to athletic department on an annual basis. Once every baseball season after a big win he likes to take the time to host the entire team at his home for a celebratory meal. This season, however, he decides to bring the team to his favorite restaurant in the Albany area. After a Saturday afternoon victory Joe provides transportation to the restaurant from campus. He pays for the meal and provides return transportation back to campus.
Can you spot the violation?
IN THE NEWS
The University of Oregon was penalized by the Committee on Infractions for violations involving impermissible staff participation in coaching activities in men's and women’s basketball, impermissible recruiting aids in football, and academic misconduct in track and field. In men’s basketball, the director of operations participated in and observed voluntary workouts. In women’s basketball the strength coach participated in on-court basketball related activities during and after practice. In football, the staff used impermissible video-board recruiting aids during visits. In track and field, institutional policy was not followed by a professor when changing a student-athlete’s grade.
KEY TAKEAWAYS: 1. Any activities performed by a strength coach beyond conducting flexibility, warm-up, and physical conditioning activities will render the strength coach a countable coach; and 2. This case illustrates the dangers that are present when a head coach becomes too complacent with longstanding and trusted staff members, which can lead to the head coach being responsible for the violations,
Amateurism Certification
Just a reminder, that beginning April 1st PSAs can request final amateurism certification. To do this they must log into their Eligibility Center account, open “My Planner” and click on “Request Final Amateurism.” Please advise all your incoming PSAs to do this when available.
Freshman Survival Guide
You should all have been ed the Freshman Survival Guide, which provides answers to many questions for your incoming student-athletes. Please remember to provide this to them as it will help with their transition to UAlbany.

2. Spot the Violation Answer:
Myth Buster
Myth: When a student-athlete provides written notification of transfer, they are quitting the team.
Fact: Unless the student-athlete specifically states that they are quitting the team, providing written notification of transfer does not constitute a voluntary withdrawal from the team.
Spring Break Tips
Using HS Facilities for Practice or Competition: It is permissible to hold a practice or competition at a HS. As long as no funds are realized by the HS for the contest or practice held at the HS facility, beyond normal rental expenses to use the facility.
Practices on the Road: It is permissible to provide SA’s with expenses to practice on the road without engaging in any competition (e.g. hold practices in Florida with no competition).
Entertainment: Reasonable entertainment (but not cash) can be provided to the team in conjunction with practice or competition.
Scouting Opponents: Off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited. Except for future opponents also participating in the same event at the same site.
Compliance Staff
Melissa Peach
Associate Athletics Director for Compliance
@UAlbanyBylaws
Dan VanDenburgh
Assistant Athletic
Director for Compliance
Stephen McGahey
Compliance Intern
Spot the Violation Answer:
The first person to me with the correct answer and bylaw will win a gift card!!
Bylaw  : A student-athlete or the entire team in a sport may receive an occasional meal from a representative of athletics interests on infrequent and special occasions under the following conditions: (a) The meal may only be provided in an individual's home, on campus or at a facility that is regularly used for home competition and may be catered; and (b) A representative of the institution's athletics interests may provide reasonable local transportation to student-athletes to attend the meal function only if the meal function is at the home of that representative.
The meal was not provided at a permissible location.