This update is a tool to enhance communication between the NCAA national office and the Division III membership, with distribution to athletics directors, senior woman administrators, faculty athletics representatives, presidents, national SAAC, conference commissioners and the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators listserv. We encourage athletics directors to share this communication with their athletics department members. Please contact Katie Mucci to include an item or share comments, and remember to check out the Division III governance homepage for the latest news and information.
This year’s Division III Week celebration will be April 10-16. Division III Week is a positive opportunity for all individuals associated with Division III to observe and celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on the campus and surrounding community. For more information, click here, and to view the communications kit, click here. Join the conversation on social media with #D3Week.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: DIII Week Joint Social Media Blast
Join us in celebrating Division III with a coordinated social media blast at 3 p.m. Eastern time Monday, April 10. We ask all members to post a celebratory Division III Week message at this time, using the hashtags #D3Week and #WhyD3. A kit with graphic assets will be distributed soon for use on this date, as well as throughout the week.
Division III Amateurism Certification FAQ
The Eligibility Center has created an FAQ document specific for Division III. This document is here to help guide you through the most common questions you may have for the Eligibility Center and the amateurism-only certification process. Click here to access this document. Share it with others who may benefit from this resource.
Regional Rules Seminar
Registration for this year’s NCAA Regional Rules Seminaris now open. At least once every three years, an active member school must be represented by at least one institutional staff member. Click herefor the list of institutions required to attend this year. The Division III Membership Committee determined that Division III member schools required to attend the 2023 Regional Rules Seminar scheduled for May 16-18 in Indianapolis can fulfill the requirement in two ways:
Register for and attend the 2023 Regional Rules Seminar in Indianapolis.
Register, log in and view the Division III Regional Rules Seminar sessions via livestream.
If you register as a virtual participant for the Division III Regional Rules Seminar, you will be provided a link a few days before the start of the seminar. Virtual registrants will only be able to view the sessions. They will not have the opportunity to interact with staff or ask questions during the livestreamed event. Only in-person participants will have this capability.
Division III Webinars
Webinars are from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Eastern time the first Tuesday of the month on the following dates and topics:
April 4 — Championships bid cycle.
May 2 — Updates from Management Council, Presidents Council and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee meetings.
All past webinar PowerPoints are on the Division III webinar webpage.
When a school is participating in a foreign tour, it must certify in writing that it has met the conditions in Bylaw 17.31.1. Further, there are three areas to focus on when planning a foreign tour:
Timing: A foreign tour may occur once every three years during the summer vacation period between the institution’s spring and fall terms or during any other vacation period published in the school’s official catalog. All travel to and from the foreign country must take place during that vacation period (Bylaw 17.31.1.3).
Eligibility: To accompany the team on a tour that occurs during the academic year, student-athletes must be regularly enrolled and eligible for intercollegiate competition. If the tour is taking place during the summer, the student-athletes must have been enrolled at the school as a full-time student during the previous academic year and have established by the beginning of the tour that they are eligible for competition for the academic year immediately after the tour (Bylaw 17.31.1.5).
Eligible incoming student-athletes may only go on a foreign tour that begins after the permissible starting practice date in their sport or after the first day of classes of the first regular term at the institution (Bylaws 17.31.1.5.1 and 17.31.1.5.1.1).
Practice Opportunity: Ten days of practice are permitted before a team’s departure. Those days do not have to be consecutive if there are extenuating circumstances (like exams, convocation, etc.) but must occur during the 20 calendar days immediately before the foreign tour departure date. Only student-athletes who will accompany the team on the foreign tour are permitted to participate in the 10 practice days (Bylaw 17.31.1.6).
Compliance Assistant 2.0
Between April 15 and July 31, all schools that use Compliance Assistant will be migrated to the new application, Compliance Assistant 2.0.
To help schools prepare for the migration, a webinar discussing the migration and what you can do to prepare was held March 13. If you missed the webinar, a recording is available here.
Another opportunity to learn about CA 2.0 is by attending the in-person Compliance Assistant session on Thursday, May 18, during the NCAA Regional Rules Seminars in Indianapolis. Whether you are a current Compliance Assistant user or are interested in learning more about what CA 2.0 can do for you and your institution, please plan to attend that May 18 session.
Additional resources to assist schools as they begin working in CA 2.0 will be available this spring.
Questions about CA 2.0 may be submitted to complianceassistant@ncaa.org.
EXTENDED: Blanket Waiver for Graduate/Postbaccalaureate Student Eligibility
The blanket waiver for graduate/postbaccalaureate student participation that was in effect for the 2022-23 academic year has been extended for those students enrolling during the 2023-24 academic year. For a graduate of a non-Division III school, this means that relief to participate as a graduate or postbaccalaureate student may continue to be self-applied on campus, provided the graduate meets the following criteria:
The student-athlete graduated with an undergraduate degree within four academic years. Such documentation shall be in the form of the student-athlete’s academic transcript and/or a written statement from an appropriate academic official from the previous institution (e.g., registrar).
The student-athlete has seasons of participation remaining. A season of participation shall be determined based on Division III Bylaw 14.2.4.1 (minimum amount of participation), regardless of where (e.g., other NCAA division, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) the participation occurs.
The student-athlete continued/maintained education as a full-time student rather than having “breaks” (e.g., part time) in enrollment for no reason/circumstances beyond their control.
For students who do not meet one or more criteria, a waiver request in Requests/Self-Reports Online will still be required, and schools must still submit documents that speak to the deficiency to try to get to an approval. Schools are advised to submit any additional questions to staff through RSRO.
Recent Interpretations
Staff interpretation: International participation defined, impact of study abroad. The academic and membership affairs staff determined that the following international participation does not define the individual as an international student requiring certification through the Eligibility Center:
The international participation occurred prior to age 13.
The international participation occurred while being a member of team based in the United States (or a territory of the United States).
The international participation involved individual competition by a person based in the United States (or a territory of the United States).
Additionally, individuals attending secondary or postsecondary school in the United States (or a territory of the United States) who study abroad do not require certification through the Eligibility Center unless they participate in athletics while studying abroad.
Staff interpretation: Displaying prospective student-athletes’ name and image during campus visit. The academic and membership affairs staff determined that it is permissible for an institution to display the name and image of a prospective student-athlete that is visiting campus on a scoreboard or videoboard in the school’s athletics facility provided the display is only intended for the prospective student-athlete and the facility is empty.
Official interpretation: Institution that does not require a paid acceptance or financial deposit for admission or financial aid (III). The NCAA Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee determined it is permissible for an institution that does not require a paid acceptance or financial deposit in response to a written offer of aid or admission to use any form of communication with a prospective student-athlete after Jan. 1 of the prospective student-athlete’s senior year of high school and release publicity about a prospective student-athlete who has committed to the institution, provided the institution has received a commitment from the prospective student-athlete that is required of all incoming students.
Not only do we encourage you to use the #D3Week hashtag for photographs throughout this exciting week, but Division III institutions and conference offices are also encouraged to submit a 60-second clip of the action-packed week, highlighting the week’s activities. The video clip can highlight a single event, or it can be a video compiled of numerous activities from within the week. Post your videos on your own media platforms using hashtag #D3Week.
In addition, please send us your videos in mp4 or mov format via Dropbox or WeTransfer to d3identity@ncaa.org no later than Friday, April 21. The best video will earn $500 for the school’s sports communications department and will be shared at this summer’s College Sports Communicators Convention in Orlando. The winner will be revealed Monday, April 24.
NCAA and D3SIDA Recognition Award
The winter NCAA and D3SIDA Recognition Award recipient is Taiah Gallisath of North Central (Illinois) with her women’s soccer feature “Cardinal Close-Up: Kaitlyn Cannon.” The article shares Cannon’s road to North Central, as well as her mental health journey and advocacy.
The NCAA Division III and D3SIDA Recognition Award seeks to honor the best work – including news releases, feature articles, videos, blogs and other materials – produced by Division III campus and conference athletics communication offices. Each top honoree will receive a $1,500 credit to attend Division III Day at the annual College Sports Communicators Convention. The next submission deadline is May 15. For more information, click here.
REGISTER NOW: CSC Unite
Registration is now open for CSC Unite, the annual convention for College Sports Communicators. The event will be held June 11-14 in Orlando, Florida, at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort. For more information, click here.
Click here for the 2022 Racial and Gender Report Card: College Sport released by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida. The report details the record of the NCAA, including its member schools, in gender and racial hiring practices.
Diversity Spotlight Initiative
The University Athletic Association is the recipient of the March Division III Diversity Spotlight Initiative. During Black History Month, the UAA honored more than 100 of its current and former student-athletes, coaches and administrators with social media posts consisting of multiple photos with a small biography of the individual.
Also during the month, Brandeis hosted a Black student-athlete get-together Feb. 24, the night before the 2023 UAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Black student-athletes from all seven competing institutions attended the event, which featured conversations, games, and food catered from a Black-owned restaurant. The event was the third consecutive such event at UAA track and field championships with Case Western Reserve (indoor) and Washington University in St. Louis (outdoor) hosting similar events in 2022.
The Diversity Spotlight Initiative recognizes and promotes outstanding diversity development projects, programming and initiatives occurring on Division III campuses and in conference offices. Each month a school or conference is identified by the selection committee to be featured on the DIII webpage and in the DIII Monthly Update. In addition, the featured school or conference office receives $500 toward its next diversity initiative. Click here for more information.
Central (Iowa) is the winner of the March Special Olympics Spotlight poll. The Central Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the women’s basketball team hosted a Kid Captain night to welcome a new teammate, Christine, to the roster.
The NCAA Division III Special Olympics Spotlight Poll is a storytelling initiative on ncaa.org/D3SpecialOlympics. It features new stories each month that highlight a Division III and Special Olympics joint activity or event. That school or conference receives $500 to use for its next Special Olympics event. Written and digital submissions both are accepted. Featured stories are selected based on inclusion of the student-athlete perspective and Division III messaging. To submit a story for consideration, email d3specialolympics@ncaa.org.
The NCAA no longer produces a “prohibited bat list” for baseball. The NCAA Approved Bat List includes all metal and composite baseball bats permitted in NCAA play. Bats must appear on the Approved Bat List and pass the bat testing protocol (Appendix G of the NCAA Baseball Rules Book) to be used during NCAA play.
Visible action clocks will be required for Division III by Jan. 1, 2025. It is recommended that schools work with their scoreboard manufacturer or a timing system vendor as soon as possible to ensure that the visible action clock is installed to meet the requirement for the 2025 season.
Softball
The Softball Rules Committee released its playing rules reminders for the 2023 season, including information on mandatory regular-season barrel compression testing, sideline and home run fence padding requirements and the double first base experimental rule, and updated rules interpretations and clarifications for the 2023 season. Both documents are available here under Updates. Please contact Vickie Van Kleeck, NCAA softball secretary-rules editor, at ncaasbsre@gmail.com with any playing rules questions.
The Softball Rules Committee will send the playing rules survey to the membership in mid-April. Commissioners, Division I conference softball administrators, directors of athletics, senior woman administrators, head coaches and registered umpires will each receive a unique link to complete the survey. The deadline to complete the survey is May 17.
Swimming
The Swimming and Diving Rules Survey was released Monday, March 27, to head coaches, directors of athletic, conference commissioners and officials.
Wrestling
The Wrestling Rules Committee will meet April 17-19 for its annual meeting. It is a rules change year.
Recently, on behalf of the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports and the NCAA Sport Science Institute staff, NCAA Division III received a reminder to consider participation in the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program. The ISP is a voluntary data collection program designed to inform injury prevention, risk-management and health care delivery practices in collegiate athletics by monitoring patterns in sport-related illnesses and injuries.
For further questions about the ISP, visit the FAQ page or email the Sport Science Institute at ssi@ncaa.org.
Updated versions of the “How the NCAA Works” documents can be found at the links below, or by visiting ncaa.org. The documents outline the legislative process and committee structure.
This email was sent to NCAA Division III presidents and chancellors, athletics direct reports, directors of athletics, faculty athletics representatives, senior woman administrators, sports information directors, directors of compliance, commissioners, assistant/associate commissioners, national Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, provisional, reclassifying and exploratory members based on contact information in the NCAA Directory.
