HONORING COMMITMENTS
The Center for the Support of Student Athletes will lobby and seek changes related to these and other National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules to ensure commitments to student athletes are honored:
HONOR DEFINED
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A keen sense of ethical conduct
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One's word given as a guarantee of performance
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Honesty, fairness or integrity in one's beliefs and actions
NCAA Rule 15.3.3.1 Period of Award
If a student's athletic ability is considered in any degree in awarding financial aid, such aid shall neither be awarded for a period of less than one academic year nor for a period of that which would exceed the students five year period of eligibility.
CSSA: From 1957-1973 four-year scholarship awards were allowed due to concerns that one-year scholarships would constitute play for pay. In 1973 NCAA members voted to eliminate four year scholarships. The vote took all of ninety seconds to eliminate this safeguard for student athletes.
Between 1973 and 2012 NCAA schools could offer only one-year in renewable scholarships, renewable or cancellable entirely at the coach's or school's discretion. The NCAA voted in 2011 to allow - NOT REQUIRE- more than one-year renewable scholarship; 205 of the 330 Division One schools voted against allowing multi-year commitments. Only 207 votes were needed to ban more than one-year scholarships. (See role call vote below: S=voted to ban / D = support of multi-year.)
Why would an institution want to prohibit themselves or other schools from a honoring a multi-year commitment made by their coaches through the use of a multi-year scholarships?
Because a verbal commitment is not binding and the intent is to have the ability to evade the verbal commitment. A one-year contract sets up a one-year try-out and allows the coach to purge his team. This is a contract based on athletic performance. If a student athlete thinks he/she has a four-year scholarship, think again or ask for it in writing as allowed by 15.3.3.1.
NCAA Rule 15.3.4.2 Reduction or Cancellation Permitted
Institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletic ability may be reduced or canceled during the period of the award if the recipient:
(a) renders himself or herself ineligible for the intercollegiate competition
(b) fraudulently misrepresented any information on an application letter of intent or financial aid agreement
(c) engages in serious misconduct warranting a substantial disciplinary penalty
(d) voluntarily withdraws from a sport at any time for personal reasons. A student athlete's request for written permission to contact another four-year collegiate institution regarding a possible transfer does not constitute a voluntary withdrawal.
CSSA: Here we have a rule that allows coaches to eliminate scholarships to student athletes in an arbitrary and capricious manner: (d) further references a request for permission to contact other schools regarding a transfer. The purpose for the clause is because that request is brought on by a conversation that goes something like this with a coach who is trying to renege on a scholarship.
Coach: "You will never play a minute of your sport again at this school. You want to continue playing: correct?"
Student athlete: "Of course, I do, coach, why can't I continue here?"
Coach: "Because we are going in another direction."
Student athlete: "But you gave me a four-year commitment."
Coach: "Sorry, but we are not renewing your scholarship. You should ask permission to transfer if you want to continue playing your sport."
