NCAA requirements

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

NCAA Summer Coaching Certification
Requirements Explained--(May 14, 2002)

Please Note: This is a two-part analysis of the NCAA Summer Event Coaching Requirements for 2002. You must also read the second part of this article at this link.

You must also read the information at the SECA (Summer Event Coach's Approval) website. Do it now. Don't delay.

There has been a lot of confusion about what is required this summer in order for event operators to have their events certified by the NCAA. Do coaches participating have to also be "licensed" or "certified"? Apparently so.

In fact, as you'll see below, the bare minimum requirement to participate in coaching at NCAA certified events is that a coach must be certified by a governing body in the sport (e.g., AAU, etc).

But who, specifically, has to perform the certification? What is the process and where can coaches go to get certified? Is it sufficient for these travel team coaches to simply buy a $50 AAU card online from the AAU? Or must they take a course either in person, or online? And if so, what organizations are offering such courses?

We can't pretend to answer all of these questions, but we can and will pass along the official NCAA requirements as they are contained in the "Summer Events Coaching" Packet which the NCAA has prepared.

The NCAA, which really has its heart seemingly set on throwing up as many roadblocks as possible to the summer recruiting events, is apparently happy to keep everyone in the dark about what is required and what isn't of individuals who will be coaching at camps, tournaments and other "noninstitutional organized events" this summer. Don't believe us? Try to find the information about "Coaching Approval" at the NCAA's website....See, you won't find it there. In fact, you won't find this stuff anywhere. The NCAA has imposed a bunch of requirements and hoops for people to jump through, but they've sort of hidden exactly where the hoops are located. We were fortunate to get hold of a copy of the NCAA's forms, so we're going to pass them along, while there's still some time left to comply with them before the summer gets rolling.

So what is required?

When event operators (e.g., camp and tournament organizers) apply to the NCAA for certification under NCAA Bylaw 30.16, they receive a package of documents, including an "Attachment Packet" with forms and precautionary statements, a "Rules Education Packet" which is just what it says, an "Application" packet for certification of their event, and a "Legislation Packet" describing the NCAA Bylaws.

But to the best of our knowledge, even though there are some new onerous requirements for individuals to be certified as coaches by the NCAA, they don't include those materials for distribution.

Larry McKay, the executive director of the adidas Las Vegas Big Time Tournament, did however, get a copy of the NCAA's new "Men's Basketball Summer Event Coach's Approval Package" which consists of three parts: An explanatory sheet, a formal application, and an authorization from coaches to the NCAA for the release of any DMV and other law enforcement agency information concerning coaches. Presumably the NCAA will use these forms solely for the purpose of granting or denying approval to individual coaches, but that's not so clear from the forms.

Please note: There are three documents we've reproduced below. Each of these documents is extremely important and you need to read each of them carefully. If you are a travel or club team coach and you plan to participate in any events this summer which will be NCAA certified, you must comply with these requirements, or you can't coach.

If you are a club or travel coach, you must be approved to coach by the NCAA, and in order to obtain this approval, you have to comply with the requirements contained in these forms.

According to the NCAA, copies of the documents must be sent to the NCAA itself, as well as to the particular "event operator" holding the event you intend to coach at, not less than 21 days prior to the event.

This means that if you will be coaching at a camp in July, you've got to submit the forms together with the necessary criminal background information, no later than 21 days before the start of the event. Ditto for tournaments which are also NCAA certified.

If you don't do this, you won't be permitted to coach at the event.

You will also need to become "certified" as a coach. We're not sure exactly how that's supposed to work at the moment, because the NCAA hasn't completely explained what will be a sufficient certification, but they do say that it's the "bare minimum" requirement and that the Coaches' Approval Package is in addition to receiving a coaching certification.

If you have questions about these forms or what to do with them, contact the NCAA, Enforcement Division, and ask for Jan R. Gentry. She can be reached at 317-917-6012. Tell them we sent you.....

Pay particular attention to the financial disclosure requirements in the Coach's Approval form as well. While such disclosures don't appear to be a condition of approval or denial of approval, the NCAA will likely not tolerate a wilful non-disclosure, or a concealment or misrepresentation. The forms clearly state that if any of the information provided is untrue, the NCAA has the right to ban any coach for a period of 5 years from participating in any additional certified events. So be careful and answer the questions truthfully.

Again, here's the Bottom Line: If you expect to be a summer coach at any "certified event" (and here's a link to the list of events which thus far have been certified by the NCAA....the list grows daily so check back often...) you'll have to comply.

The forms are reproduced below. Print them if you need them.

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION

Men's Basketball Summer Event
Coach's Approval Package

General Instructions: Each individual who plans to engage in coaching activities at an NCAA certified men's basketball summer event must be granted approval prior to participation in the event. The NCAA guidelines and procedures for the approval of coaches are the ninimum requirements that must be met in order for coaches to engage in coaching activities during an NCAA certified event. The approval or certification of a coach issued by a scholastic or athletics organization (e.g. Amateur Athletics Union, National Federation of State High School Associaitions) is sufficient to permit an individual to engage in coaching activities at an NCAA certified men's basketball summer event provided that all of the NCAA minimum requirements are met.

Each applicatn must submit a complete Coach's Approval Package to the event operator at least 21 days prior to the stat of the event in order to be considered for approval under the NCAA guidelines. A complete Coaches' Approval Package consists of the following:

        1. A Coach's Approval Application, with all of the required information provided;

        2. An official criminal background check issu8ed by the state police agency exercising jurisdiction in the applicant's state of legal residence;

        3.   A copy of a driver's license or identification card issued by the state of the applicant's legal residence;

        4. An Authorization and Release of Information.

Criminal Records Disclosure (Coach's Approval Application)

All individual applying for or granted approval for participation in coaching activities at an NCAA men's summer basketball event have an obligation to identify any indictment, charge, conviction, adjudication or term of probation or parole, as well as any pending adjudication, consistent with the requirements set forth below.

1. Criminal History Status: In the criminal history status section of the Coach's Approval Application, each applicant must check the applicable responses and thereby attest to the status of their criminal history. For each applicable conviction, adjudication, term of probation and/or parole, and/or pending adjudication, a statement should be attached to the application providing the following information:

a. Nature of the offense
b. Court of jurisdiction, including federal district, state and/or county;
c. Date(s) and terms of disposition/sentence;
d. Dates and terms of probation/parole; and
e. Any relevant information to be considered in determining whether approval for participation should be granted despiete the existence of a proscribed conviction, adjudication, or term of probation and/or parole.

Under the NCAA guidelines, there is a presumption that an affirmative answer to any question in the criminal history status section in the application should result in a denial of approval for participation in coaching activities unless at the time of the application, the applicant makes a full disclosure of all indictments, charges, convictions, adjudications or terms of probation or parole, as well as any pending adjuciation, AND provides clear and compelling informatin to the NCAA basketball certification staff to overcome that presumption.

2. Criteria for Review: Approval for participation in coaching activities during an NCAA certified men's baskeball event may be withheld for any conviction, adjudication or term o probation or parole imposed:

a. Within a 10-year period immediately preceding the postmarked date of this application for:

(1) any felony-level crime or offense; or

(2) any level of crime or offense involving:

(a) Minors;
(b) Deviate sexual conduct/sexual misconduct;
(c) Weapons;
(d) Violence;
(e) Fraud: or
(f) Sports bookmaking, sports bribery, or sports wagering.

b. Within a 5-year period (immediately preceding the postmarked date of this application) for any level of crime or offense involving:

(1) Illegal/illicit drugs or controlled substances; or
(2) The operation of a motor vehicle for which more than one conviction has been entered for the same and/or lesser included driving offense.

3. Offenses Committed Subsequent to Approval: If approval for participation in coaching activities during an NCAA men's summer basketball event was previously granted or is pending, and the applicant is subsequently called to answer an indictment or charge for any crime not known at the time the previous applicaiton wass submitted, the prior approval or pending application will automaticaly be suspended, pending resolution of the indictment or charge. Provided that the applicant has notified the event operator of the pending adjudication(s), a conviction, adjucication or term of probation imposed under any new indictment or charge shall then be reviewed consistent with the criteria set forth in paragraph 2 above.

However if the applicant knew or should have known about the eixstence of an indictment, charge, conviction, adjudication, term of probation or parole at the time any application for approval was submitted to the event operator, but failed to make a full disclosure of the required information, approval for participation in coaching activities during an NCAA certified men's basketball event may be withheld for a period of five years.

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION

Men's Basketball Summer Event
Coach's Approval Package

COACH'S APPROVAL APPLICATION

Name

Current Address:



Telephone No: (   )                                                               E-mail Address:

Social Security No.                                                                 Date of Birth:

Driver's Licence Number:                                                      Issuing State:

1. List all names and/or aliases used or acquired, including the relevant dates:

                    Name                                                                         Dates






2. List all addresses (including Post Office Boxes) used in the past five years, starting with the most current:

Street Address                     City                     State             Zip             Dates





3. Provide the name, address and telephone number of your current employer:

Name:

Address:



Telephone No: (   )                                                                  (   )

4 Identify all fiduciary, financial and contractual relationships (e.g., consulting fees paid by an athletic apparel company) that have a basketball connection between you and any individual or entity.

Name of Indiv/Entity        Description                     Date                     Value/Amount





5. Criminal History Status:

a. Check the applicable response(s)

         I HAVE BEEN convicted, adjudicated, on probation or parole for a felony-level crime or offense, or any level crime or offense involving minoors, deviate sexual conduct, weapons, villence, fraud, sports bookmaking, sports bribery or sports wagering within the past 10 years.

      I HAVE BEEN convicted, adjudicated, on probation or parole for any level of crime or offense involving illegal/illicit drugs or contolled substances or the operationo of a motor vehicle for which more than one conviction has been entered for the same and/or lesser including driving offense within the past five years.

    I HAVE NOT BEEN convicted, adjudicated, on probation or parole for a felony-level crime or offense, or any level crime or offense involving minors, sexual misconduct, weapons, violence, fraud, sports bookingmaking, sports bribery or sports wagering within the past 10 years OR convicted, adjuciated, on probation/parole for any level of crime or offense involving illegal/illicit drugs or controlled substances or the operation of a motor vehicle for which more than one conviction has been entered for the same and/or lesser including driving offense within the past five years.

b.   Check the applicable response:

      I AM AWAITING ADJUDICATION of a criminal indictment or charge.

     I AM NOT AWAITING ADJUDICATION of a criminal indictment or charge.

I understand that I am providing information to obtain approval to engage in coaching activities during an NCAA certified men's basketball event. I attest that the information provided in this application form is true, complete and accurate, and I understand that the failure to provide true, complete and accurate information may result in a denial or revocation of approval.


Name                                                             Signature                                                Date

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION

Men's Basketball Summer Event
Coach's Approval Package

Authorization and Release of Information

I hereby authorize the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and/or its agtnes to conduct a background check, including searches of criminal records and Department/Burueau of Motor Vehicle records for any and all jurisdictions. I hereby direct any such contacted agency to release information upon requrest to the NCAA or its agent. This release is executed with my full knowledge and understanding that the information is for the official use by the NCAA.

I understand that if the background check identifies a pending adjuciation or conviction for any proscribed offense()s), approval for participation in coaching activities during an NCAA certified event may be withheld. I acknowledsge that the NCAA may withhold approval for such participation in coaching activities if within a 10-year period immediately preceding my application, I have been convicted, adjudicated or served a term of probation or parole for any felony-level crime or offense, or any level of crime or offense involving:

1. Minorsl ;
2. Deviate sexual conduct/sexual misconduct;
3. Weapons;
4. Violence;
5. Fraud; or
6. Sports bookmaking, sports bribery or sports wagering.

In addition, approval may be withheld if within a five year period, I have been convicted, adjudicated or served a term of probation or parole for any level of crime or offense involving:

1. Illegal/illicit drugs or contolled substances; or
2. The operation of a motor vehicle for which more than one conviction, excluding infractions, has been entered for the same and/or lesser included driving offenses.

I hereby release the contacted agency, as custodian of such records, and such agency employees or personnel, both individually and collectively, from any and all liability for damages of whatever kind, which may at any time result to me, my heirs or assigns, family or associates because of compliance with or release of information pursuant to this authorization, except in the case of gross negligence.

I consent that a copy or facsimilie of this authorization may be considered as valid as the original, and that the NCAA and/or its agents can be use [sic] this authorization. I agree to execute any additional documents required by the NCAA in order to effectuate the release of all relevant and pertinent documents considtent with the terms of this authorization. I have read the foregoing release, understand it and agree to the terms and conditions therein.

Name Signature Date

A ciopy of this form must be submitted to the event operator prior to participation in the identified NCAA certified summer basketball event.