The 2022 NCAA Championships at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan (photo courtesy of Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com)Division: I
Proposal Number: 2021-25
Title: ACADEMIC AND ATHLETICS ELIGIBILITY -- MEN'S WRESTLING ACADEMIC ENHANCEMENT PACKAGE Status: Adopted by Council
Intent: In men's wrestling, to revise legislation related to seasons of competition, progress-toward-degree requirements, financial aid minimums, and outside competition, as specified.
Category: Amendment
A. Bylaws: Amend 12.8, as follows: (August 1, 2022)
12.8 Seasons of Competition: Five-Year Rule. A student-athlete shall not engage in more than four seasons of intercollegiate competition in any one sport (see Bylaws 12.02.6 and 14.3.3). An institution shall not permit a student-athlete to represent it in intercollegiate competition unless the individual completes all seasons of participation in all sports within the time periods specified below:
[12.8.1 through 12.8.2 unchanged.]
12.8.3 Criteria for Determining Season of Competition.
12.8.3.1 Minimum Amount of Competition. Any competition, regardless of time, during a season in an intercollegiate sport shall be counted as a season of competition in that sport, except as provided in Bylaws 12.8.3.1.1, 12.8.3.1.2, 12.8.3.1.3, 12.8.3.1.4, 12.8.3.1.5 and 12.8.3.1.6. This provision is applicable to intercollegiate athletics competition conducted by a two-year or four-year collegiate institution at the varsity or subvarsity level.
[12.8.3.1.1 through 12.8.3.1.6 unchanged.]
12.8.3.1.7 Exception -- Men's Wrestling. In men's wrestling, a student-athlete representing a Division I institution may compete in up to five dates of competition during the student-athlete's initial year of collegiate enrollment without using a season of competition. Competition in a conference championship tournament, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, or any other season-ending championship event shall not be exempted from counting as a season of competition.
[12.8.3.2 through 12.8.3.7 unchanged.]
[12.8.4 through 12.8.6 unchanged.]
B. Bylaws: Amend 14.4, as follows: (August 1, 2022)
14.4 Progress-Toward-Degree Requirements.
[14.4.1 through 14.4.2 unchanged.]
14.4.3 Eligibility for Competition.
[14.4.3.1 through 14.4.3.2 unchanged.]
14.4.3.3 Fulfillment of Minimum Grade-Point Average Requirements. A student-athlete who is entering the second year of collegiate enrollment shall present a cumulative minimum grade-point average (based on a maximum 4.000) that equals at least 90 percent of the institution's overall cumulative grade point average required for graduation. A student-athlete who is entering the third year of collegiate enrollment shall present a cumulative minimum grade-point average (based on a maximum of 4.000) that equals 95 percent of the institution's overall cumulative minimum grade-point average required for graduation. A student-athlete who is entering the fourth or later year of collegiate enrollment shall present a cumulative minimum grade-point average (based on a maximum of 4.000) that equals 100 percent of the institution's overall cumulative grade-point average required for graduation. If the
institution does not have an overall grade-point average required for graduation, it is permissible to use the lowest grade-point average required for any of the institution's degree programs in determining the cumulative minimum grade-point average. The minimum grade-point average must be computed pursuant to institutional policies applicable to all students.
[14.4.3.3.1 unchanged.]
14.4.3.3.2 Timing of Certification -- Sports Other Than Men's Wrestling. A In sports other than men's wrestling, a student-athlete's eligibility under this provision shall be certified by the first date of competition or contest of each regular term of an academic year beginning with that student's second or later academic year (third semester or fourth quarter) of full-time enrollment (see Bylaw 14.02.12). The certification shall be based on the student-athlete's academic record in existence at the beginning of the applicable term.
[14.4.3.3.2.1 unchanged.]
14.4.3.3.3 Exception -- Men's Wrestling. In men's wrestling, a student-athlete who has completed an academic term in residence at the certifying institution shall present either a cumulative minimum grade-point average or a term minimum grade point average of at least 2.000. A student-athlete's eligibility under this provision shall be certified by the first date of competition or contest of each regular term of an academic year beginning with that student-athlete's second term of full-time enrollment. The certification shall be based on the student-athlete's record in existence at the beginning of the applicable term.
[14.4.3.4 through 14.4.3.10 unchanged.]
C. Bylaws: Amend 15.5, as follows: (August 1, 2023; effective for student-athletes who initially enroll full time at any four-year collegiate institution on or after August 1, 2023.)
15.5 Maximum Institutional Grant-in-Aid Limitations by Sport.
[15.5.1 through 15.5.2 unchanged.]
15.5.3 Equivalency Sports.
15.5.3.1 Maximum Equivalency Limits.
15.5.3.1.1 Men's Sports. There shall be a limit on the value (equivalency) of financial aid awards (per Bylaw 15.02.5.2) that an institution may provide in any academic year to counters in the following men's sports:
Cross Country/Track and Field 12.6 Swimming and Diving 9.9
Fencing 4.5 Tennis 4.5
Golf 4.5 Volleyball 4.5
Gymnastics 6.3 Water Polo 4.5
Lacrosse 12.6 Wrestling 9.9
Rifle 3.6
Skiing 6.3
Soccer 9.9
15.5.3.1.1.1 Minimum Equivalency Value -- Men's Wrestling. In men's wrestling, an institution shall provide each counter athletically related and other countable financial aid that is equal to or greater than 20 percent of an equivalency.
15.5.3.1.1.1.1 Exception -- Need-Based Athletics Aid Only. In men's wrestling, an institution that awards athletically related financial aid based solely on demonstrated financial need, as determined for all students by the institution's financial aid office using methodologies that conform to federal, state and written institutional guidelines (including institutional financial aid that is considered athletically related financial aid
based on the intervention of athletics department staff), is not subject to the 20 percent minimum equivalency value per counter.
15.5.3.1.1.1.2 Exception -- Final Two Years of Eligibility and Not Previously Aided. An institution may provide less than 20 percent of an equivalency to a student-athlete, provided the student-athlete is in the final two years of eligibility and has not previously received athletically related financial aid in men's wrestling at any collegiate institution.
[15.5.3.1.2 through 15.5.3.1.4 unchanged.]
[15.5.3.2 unchanged.]
[15.5.4 through 15.5.11 unchanged.]
D. Bylaws: Amend 17.33, as follows: (August 1, 2022)
17.33 Outside Competition, Effects on Eligibility. The eligibility of a student-athlete who engages in outside competition (see Bylaw 17.02.11) is affected as set forth in the following regulations.
17.33.1 Outside Competition -- Sports Other Than Basketball. A student-athlete in any sport other than basketball who participates during the academic year as a member of any outside team in any noncollegiate, amateur competition becomes ineligible for intercollegiate competition unless eligibility is restored by the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement. A student-athlete is permitted to practice on such a team.
[17.33.1.1 unchanged.]
17.33.1.2 Exception -- Women's Wrestling. In women's wrestling, a student-athlete may compete outside the institution's declared playing and practice season as a member of an outside team in any noncollegiate, amateur competition during any official vacation period, except a vacation period that occurs between the beginning of the institution's academic year and November 1. The number of student-athletes from any one institution shall not exceed the applicable limits set forth in Bylaw 17.31.2.
17.33.1.3 Exception -- Men's Wrestling. In men's wrestling, a student-athlete may compete outside the institution's declared playing and practice season as a member of an outside team in any noncollegiate, amateur competition during any official vacation period, except a vacation period that occurs between the beginning of the institution's academic year and November 1 and any vacation period that occurs during the student-athlete's first academic term of full-time enrollment. A student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade-point average, as specified in Bylaw 14.3.3.3.3, to participate in outside competition. The number of student-athletes from any one institution shall not exceed the applicable limits set forth in Bylaw 17.31.2.
[17.33.1.3 through 17.33.1.7 renumbered as 17.33.1.4 through 17.33.1.8, unchanged.]
17.33.1.89 Competition as Individual/Not Representing Institution. It is permissible for a student-athlete to participate in outside competition as an individual during the academic year in the student-athlete's sport, as long as the student-athlete represents only the student-athlete in the competition and does not engage in such competition as a member of or receive expenses from an outside team.
[17.33.1.8.1 renumbered as 17.33.1.9.1, unchanged.]
17.33.1.9.2 Exception -- No Competition During First Term -- Men's Wrestling. In men's wrestling, a student-athlete shall not participate in outside competition as an individual during the student athlete's first full-time term of collegiate enrollment. Thereafter, a student-athlete shall meet the minimum grade-point average requirement specified in Bylaw 14.3.3.3.3 in order to be eligible to compete in outside competition as an individual.
[17.33.1.9 through 17.33.1.12 renumbered as 17.33.1.10 through 17.33.1.13, unchanged.]
[17.33.2 through 17.33.5 unchanged.]
Source: NCAA Division I Council (Committee on Academics)
Effective Date:
Sections A, B, D: August 1, 2022
Section C: August 1, 2023; effective for student-athletes who initially enroll full time at any four-year collegiate institution on or after August 1, 2023.
Topical Area: Academic Eligibility
Rationale: Recent review of the Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) data for men's wrestling prompted a detailed examination of the issues impacting the academic success of Division I men's wrestling student athletes, specifically the trends most commonly seen during the first year of college. That study, led by the Division I Wrestling Academic Enhancement Group, resulted in a comprehensive legislative proposal to support the academic success, retention and well-being of Division I men's wrestling student-athletes.
Specifically, the proposal raises and standardizes the cumulative grade-point average progress-toward degree requirement for men's wrestling student-athletes, applicable immediately during the first year of college, to incentivize early academic performance and focus. The proposal further requires all counters in men's wrestling to receive at least a 20% equivalency, to decrease the financial pressures historically experienced by some men's wrestling student-athletes. To better position an institution's ability to directly support the health and overall well-being of men's wrestling student-athletes who are redshirted during their first-year, this proposal would allow student-athletes to compete in up to five dates of regular-season competition without using a season of competition. Lastly, providing access to the proposed five contest date exception warrants prohibiting outside competition during a student-athlete's first term of enrollment, and moving forward, requiring all student-athletes to maintain a 2.000 grade-point average to engage in outside competition during the academic year.
Estimated Budget Impact: None.
Impact on Student-Athlete's Time (Academic and/or Athletics): None.
History:
Nov 11, 2021 In Progress
Feb 7, 2022 Ready for Vote
Apr 13, 2022 Tabled Tabled based on the pending work of the Transformation Committee.
Jun 15, 2022 Ready for Vote
Jun 15, 2022 Adopted by Council
Legislative References
Legislative Cite Title
12.8 Seasons of Competition: Five-Year Rule.
12.8.3 Criteria for Determining Season of Competition.
12.8.3.1 Minimum Amount of Competition.
14.4 Progress-Toward-Degree Requirements.
14.4.3 Eligibility for Competition.
14.4.3.3 Fulfillment of Minimum Grade-Point Average Requirements.
14.4.3.3.2 Timing of Certification.
Legislative Cite Title
15.5 Maximum Institutional Grant-in-Aid Limitations by Sport.
15.5.3 Equivalency Sports.
15.5.3.1 Maximum Equivalency Limits.
15.5.3.1.1 Men's Sports.
17.33 Outside Competition, Effects on Eligibility.
17.33.1 Outside Competition -- Sports Other Than Basketball.
17.33.1.2 Exception -- Wrestling.
17.33.1.8 Competition as Individual/Not Representing Institution.
Student-Athlete Success/Well-Being: Yes. The proposed standards and new provisions are intended to help all men's wrestling student-athletes achieve an academic foundation during their initial year of college, while also helping to provide financial and well-being support.
Enforceable and Merits Outweigh Monitoring Burdens: Yes. The merits of implementing standards intended to improve the academic success and overall well-being of men's wrestling student-athletes outweigh the monitoring burdens.
Consequential or Nationally Significant: Yes. Legislation applicable to all men's wrestling student-athletes is nationally significant.
Division I Commitment: The Commitment to Sound Academic Standards.
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