For the first time since the cost-reduction legislation of the 1990s, new NCAA legislation has been proposed concerning cost containment in the area of media guides and recruiting publications.
In January, the Division I Management Council will have its first reading of proposed legislation (2003-32 Recruiting -- Printed Recruiting Materials and 2003-88 Recruiting – Recruiting Materials – Printed Recruiting Materials). Both of these proposals eliminate the mailing of media guides or other printed recruiting materials to potential athletic recruits and were submitted by the Recruiting sub-committee of the Academics/Eligibility/ Compliance Cabinet.
The rationale behind proposals 2003-32 and 2003-88 is technology has created other, less costly, means of providing information to prospective student athletes. As a result, the cabinet feels that these proposals would significantly reduce the amount of monitoring needed and the cost of printed recruiting materials.
Proposal 2003-32 lists the materials that can be sent to a recruit or the recruit’s coach. The list includes general correspondence, questionnaires, camp brochures, institutionally prepared (nonathletics) publications available to all students, NCAA educational materials and business cards. Also the legislation restricts institutional staff from printing the items on the web and sending them to a recruit.
Proposal 2003-88 specifically spells out that an institution may provide a recruiting brochure/ media guide only through electronic means. After discussions with the NCAA, the feeling was that an institution would not be permitted to print and provide a media guide/recruiting brochure to a prospect on an official visit.
If this legislation passes, it would go into effect August of 2004. The schedule for passage is as follows: first reading by the Management Council, January 2004; second reading by the Management Council, April 2004; vote upon by the Board of Directors, April 2004.
Sports Information Directors are encouraged to discuss this legislation with your athletics directors and their respective conference offices as to whether they want these items to pass.
Below are the legislative proposals for your review.
2003-32 RECRUITING -- PRINTED RECRUITING MATERIALS
Status: Management Council Initial Formal consideration
Intent: To permit an institution to send to prospects, prospects' coaches and any other individual responsible for teaching or directing an activity in which a prospect is involved only general correspondence, questionnaires, camp brochures, institutionally prepared (nonathletics) publications available to all students, NCAA educational materials and business cards; further, to permit all other recruiting materials to be posted on the institution's Web site; however such items may not be printed from the Web and providing them to prospects via mail or during visits. Source: NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet (Subcommittee on Recruiting).
Effective Date: August 1, 2004
Proposal Category: Amendment
Topical Area: Recruiting
Rationale: This proposal would significantly reduce monitoring of printed recruiting materials, and technology has created other less costly means of providing information to prospective student-athletes.
Estimated Budget Impact: The costs of printing and mailing for institutions may decrease.
Impact on Student Athlete's Time: None.
2003-88 RECRUITING -- RECRUITING MATERIALS -- PRINTED RECRUITING MATERIALS
Status: Management Council Initial Formal consideration
Intent: To specify that an institution may produce either a recruiting brochure or media guide (but not both) in each sport it sponsors and provide it to a prospect only through electronic mail or the institution's Web site.
Source: NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet (Atlantic Coast Conference).
Effective Date: August 1, 2004
Proposal Category: Amendment
Topical Area: Recruiting
Rationale: Printing athletics publications, specifically media guides, has resulted in significant cost expenditures for institutions. Media guides have grown larger in size over the years as institutions continue to include an increasing amount of information in the publications in an effort to bolster its recruiting efforts. This has created a financial burden on institutions to produce and distribute these publications. With
advancements in technology, these publications are being placed on institution's Web sites for easy accessibility. This proposal will reduce the significant costs associated with the production and distribution of these materials, while permitting institutions and conferences to develop such materials and include them on institutional and conference Web sites or deliver them via electronic mail.
Estimated Budget Impact: Various for institutions.
Impact on Student Athlete's Time: None.
Position Statement(s)
Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet: The cabinet unanimously recommends that the Management Council support Proposal No. 2003-88. The cabinet agreed with the rationale set forth in the proposal. Printing athletics publications, specifically media guides, has resulted in significant cost expenditures for institutions. This has created a financial burden on institutions to produce and distribute these publications. With advancements in technology, these publications are being placed on institution's Web sites for easy accessibility. This proposal will reduce the significant costs associated with the production and distribution of these materials, while permitting institutions and conferences to develop such materials and include them on institutional and conference Web sites or deliver them. Furthermore, the cabinet noted that this proposal is similar, although not as expansive, as Proposal No. 2003-32 previously sponsored by the subcommittee as part of the deregulation package. The cabinet continues to urge support of Proposal No. 2003-32 but also supports Proposal No. 2003-88 in the event Proposal No. 2003-32 is defeated.