Potential NCAA Rules Infractions
All suspected of alleged violations of NCAA rules must be investigated. If the Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance believes that a violation has occurred, the Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance will report the possible violation to the NCAA national office and/or appropriate conference officials.
What is a secondary violation? What is a major violation?
A secondary violation is one that provides only a limited recruiting or competitive advantage and is isolated or inadvertent in name. (Bylaw 19.02.21)
A major violation is any other violation, specifically those that provide an extensive recruiting or competitive advantage. (Bylaw 19.02.2.2)
Repeated secondary violations by an institution may be viewed as a major violation and consequently handled as such.
Reporting a Violation
Any individual (i.e.: student-athlete, university employee, athletic department staff member, etc.) may report an alleged, rumored, or possible violation.
The individual may report the violation verbally or in writing. He/She may also report the violation anonymously.
Who Should a Violation be Reported To?
If a potential violation is communicated to any athletic department staff member, the staff member has an obligation to notify the Office of Compliance Services of the violation as soon as possible.
Any individual other than athletic department staff member may report a potential violation to nay or all of the following persons:
- The Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance
- The Director of Athletics, an Associate Director of Athletics, or an Assistant Athletics Director
- The Faculty Athletic Representative
How will it be Determined if a Violation has Occurred?
The Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance shall determine that a violation has occurred whenever the examination of evidence, considered as a whole, confirms that occurrence of the violation.
Information that must be included in the Institution's Self-Report:
The NCAA Enforcement staff recommends that the following information is included in an institutions report of a violation:
- The date and location of the violation
- The identities of the involved student-athletes, coached, staff members, and any other individuals who played a role in the violation.
- How the institution became aware of this infraction.
* Note: If a newspaper article alerted the institution, enclose a copy of the article.*
- The cause of the violation, and explanation of the circumstances of the violation, and any explanatory circumstances that may exist.
- A list of corrective actions taken by the institution in response to the violation.
- The institution's position on the violation and the surrounding circumstances. The institution will state whether or not they believe a violation has occurred, and site the exact legislation it believes has been violated.
Alleged Violations Involving Other NCAA Schools and Institutions:
All individuals with knowledge of a potential violation that involves another institution and may impact the University will report the situation to the Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance and/or the Director of Athletics.
The Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance, the Director of Athletics, and the appropriate coaching staff member who lodged the accusation will discuss the violation and the desired plan of action.
Some Penalties for Secondary Violations:
Termination of the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete by the institution or, if the prospect has enrolled (or enrolls) in the institution, permanent ineligibility to compete in intercollegiate competition.
Forfeiture of contests in which the ineligible student-athlete participated
Prohibition of the head coach or other staff members involved in the sport from participation in any off-campus recruiting activities for up to one year.
An institutional fine; from $500- $5000
A limited reduction in the number of financial aid awards a student-athlete may receive.
