NCAA Rearranges Bylaws With Two Editorial Revisions
The NCAA recently published two editorial revisions that do not so much change or even clarify language, but mostly move some bylaws around to more appropriate places in the Division I Manual.
ER-2013-8 moved a bylaw governing the involvement of prospective student-athletes in practice sessions from Bylaw 13 (recruiting) to Bylaw 14 (eligibility). None of the bylaws are a perfect place for this rule which also could have a home in Bylaw 17 (playing and practice seasons). The rule remains the same, that prospects who have formally committed to an institution may not attend off-field/off-court practice sessions, like meetings or film study.
ER-2013-9 rearranged the scheduling requirements in Bylaw 20.9.5, which is an element of the Division I membership requirements. Previously this bylaw had been nested in an odd way, starting as a bylaw for sports other than football and basketball, which contained a bylaw for sports other than football, basketball, men's swimming and diving, men's track and field, and wrestling, which contained a bylaw for men's swimming and diving, men's track and field, and wrestling.
The change moves this last bylaw out from under, its parents which specifically exempts the sports the child addresses. Now there is a general scheduling requirement for sports other than football and basketball followed by a different requirement for the three other men's sports listed above. Not a big movement, and no change to the requirements, but significantly easier to read and find what you are looking for.