Monthly update//ISSUE No. 179 // December 2020 - JANUARY 2021
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 NADIIIAA listserv. We encourage athletics directors to share this communication with their athletics department members. Please contact Adam Skaggs
to include an item or share comments, and remember to check out the Division III governance homepage for the latest news and information.
The 2021 NCAA Convention will run Jan. 12-15. Registration for the 2021 NCAA Convention is open and will continue through Wednesday, Jan. 6. Click here to register.
The virtual format will allow members to participate in the events and education sessions that make the Convention a meaningful experience, while also helping to keep participants safe. No registration fee will be charged this year, and participation is open to all member school and conference staff.
Key meetings and events will take place Tuesday, Jan. 12, through Friday, Jan. 15. Online Association-wide education sessions will begin during Convention week and continue throughout the remainder of January. Divisional business sessions will be conducted virtually, with voting on name, image and likeness legislation to take place as planned. Specific educational content focused on each division will be provided.
It’s important to note that delegates appointed to vote on behalf of their school or conference must be registered for the Convention.
Register Today: NCAA Division III LGBTQ and Allies Awards Ceremony
The inaugural NCAA Division III LGBTQ OneTeam Recognition Awards ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, Jan. 13, as part of the virtual 2021 NCAA Convention. Join us as we honor and celebrate all of the award nominees and announce the first ever LGBTQ award recipients of the year in three categories: Student-Athlete; Staff/Coach/Administrator and Institution/Conference. You must register for the NCAA Convention to watch the awards presentation. Please note that there is no registration fee for this year’s Convention. Click
here to register.
Division III Senior Woman Administrator Program
Due to the impact of the pandemic, the Division III Senior Woman Administrator Program will be not be held this spring. The next program will be held in conjunction with the annual Women Leaders in College Sports Convention in October 2021. Applications will become available in June through the NCAA Program Hub, and final selections will be announced in late-July. For additional information, contact Louise McCleary.
Sexual Violence Attestation Update
During its October meeting, the NCAA Board of Governors reaffirmed its expanded Association-wide campus sexual violence policy
, and set the 2022-23 academic year as the new effective date for institutions to confirm they are following the expanded policy. According to the expanded policy, all incoming, current and transfer college athletes must disclose annually to their school whether their conduct has resulted in discipline through a Title IX proceeding or a criminal conviction for sexual, interpersonal or other acts of violence. The policy also seeks their disclosure for any proceedings that are pending or were not completed. A failure by the athlete to accurately and fully disclose pending or incomplete hearings, a disciplinary action or criminal conviction may result in penalties, including a loss of
athletics eligibility as determined by the school.
The board is urging members to use the 2021-22 academic year to assess their current efforts and any needed improvements to meet the expanded policy to implement realistic, lasting measures. The board directed a task force to create operational guidelines and documentation to help members enhance their own campus policies. For the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years schools will be required to attest to the current policy. More information about the 2020-21 attestation process will be provided before it begins March 1. Schools can continue to use the questions@ncaa.org inbox and online FAQ for any questions related to the policy.
If students set New Year’s Resolutions related to drinking, or if you, as a campus, are planning to approach a new year with new strategies (especially if you’re shifting how instruction is happening from the start of this year), set yourselves up for success. Rewatch the 360 Proof webinar from Nov. 30, 2016, with national expert Elizabeth Miller to consider your best gameplan.
Want a refresher on 360 Proof while students are on break? Watch the webinar from Nov. 9, 2018, in Center Point with David Arnold, Leah Kareti and Jason Kilmer as they explore how to engage coaches, student-athletes and other key personnel in athletics, as well as provide a tour of 360 Proof. Questions about 360 Proof? Email:
experthelp@360proof.org.
Next Webinar Feature
All 360 Proof users are invited to monthly learning collaborative webinars to network with peer institutions and learn from national experts in the field of high-risk alcohol use prevention. An invitation to register is emailed one week before each webinar. Please join us at 1 p.m. Feb. 10 for “Late Night Programming Ideas,” presented by Kari Eckheart, assistant athletics director and senior woman administrator at Gustavus Adolphus. Eckheart has a bachelor’s in health and exercise science from Iowa State University and a master’s in community health from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Questions about 360 Proof? Email:
experthelp@360proof.org.
Implementation Workshop
Start your 2021 with enhancing your alcohol prevention skills! Come join the 360 Proof team for a free, virtual implementation workshop Jan. 11-12. This event brings you best practices for prevention, peer networking, and even continuing education credits. Focus areas include campus, athletics and prevention culture; understanding your alcohol data; and program sustainability. Click
here to register, and direct any questions to experthelp@360proof.org. You are encouraged to attend the entire event. Sessions build on best practice concepts.
Resocialization of Collegiate Sport: second edition
The NCAA has released the Resocialization of Collegiate Sport: Developing Standards for Practice and Competition, Second Edition
to update and extend previous guidance considering new and emerging information surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The document includes considerations specific to the prevention of community spread of COVID-19, reclassification of transmission risk of sport based on emerging information, and COVID-19 testing and masking for athletes, officials and other Tier 1 personnel.
Cardiac Content Update
Updates have been made to the post-infection cardiac management algorithm that had been published on the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine website (AMSSM Algorithm
) and is currently contained in the NCAA’s Resocialization of Collegiate Sport: Developing Standards for Practice and Competition(Developing Standards
). As originally provided in the Developing Standards document, certain clinical publications identified potential cardiac manifestations related to COVID-19 infection, including some that were identified in individuals with no or mild symptoms. Additional medical publications have clarified cardiac risk after COVID-19 infection. These publications prompted further discussion with an expert panel from the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and the American College of Cardiology, which recommended the algorithm update.
Division III Identity Initiative 10-Year Anniversary
Division III’s Identity Initiative was introduced in 2010 to sharpen the division’s identity and to enable schools and conferences to more effectively explain why they prefer to compete in Division III. The initiative has been guided by a strategic-positioning platform, describing Division III as a place where student-athletes can “follow your passions and develop your potential,” within an approach that combines rigorous academics, competitive sports and an opportunity to pursue other interests. The 2020-21 academic year marks the 10-year anniversary of the initiative. Division III staff intend to
recognize the impact of this initiative with the help of the membership from mid-January to the conclusion of Division III Week in April 2021. Follow the conversation via social media using the #D3Identity. For more information on the Identity Initiative, click here.
CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week
The fifth annual CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week date is set (Jan. 20-26). This week is an opportunity for those who interact with collegiate Sports Information and Athletics Communication Directors to observe and celebrate the impact these individuals have on intercollegiate athletics. Click
here for the CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week promotional kit, which includes recommendations and best practices for a number of constituencies in collegiate athletics to recognize SIDs.
The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin is the recipient of the November Division III Diversity Spotlight Initiative. The conference, in conjunction with the NCAA office of inclusion, conducted a virtual town hall discussion with student-athletes from across the conference to address social justice and inclusion issues. CCIW student-athletes shared their feedback on ways to create a more inclusive environment within their own teams, athletics department and the entire conference. Click
here for more details.
To submit an initiative for consideration for December/January, email Louise McCleary, with a brief statement (no more than 500 words) as to why your school or conference office deserves to be the spotlight recipient. Attach a video or photo if applicable. The nomination deadline is Jan. 21.
Diversity Tip of the Month
This summer, the NCAA office of inclusion offered a series of inclusion-focused online programs
. The purpose of the series is to build community, develop knowledge and skillsets, provide practical takeaways, and empower participants’ efforts on equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives on their campus. The series comprises several programs – at least one program from each of the office of inclusion’s core areas: disabilities, international student-athletes, LGBTQ issues, race/ethnicity, and women. These webinars feature student-athletes, coaches, and administrators from within the membership, as well as subject matter experts. If you have questions, email the office of inclusion at odi@ncaa.org.
Looking for ways to engage with Special Olympics this year? Check out these resources:
Generation Unified Distance Learning Landing Page: Explore this site for fun and creative ideas on how to connect and engage with Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools in a distance learning setting.
Spread the Word: Inclusion Virtual Activation Kit: While we might not be able to meet in person, we can always spread awareness. This link will help student-athletes learn how they can take the Spread the Word Inclusion campaigns virtual!
Contact Your Special Olympics State Office
: Probably one of the best things you can do is reach out directly to the Special Olympics State Program and see what opportunities they have locally. Student-athletes can reach out to the state where their school is located in or the state that they reside in if they are accessing school remotely.
Spotlight Poll
The NCAA Division III Special Olympics Spotlight Poll is a story-telling initiative on ncaa.org/D3SpecialOlympics
. It features new stories each month that highlight a Division III and Special Olympics joint activity or event. The story with the highest number of votes on the 25th day of each month is the winner. 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.
December/January Nominees
There were no submissions for the December/January Special Olympics Spotlight Poll.
This month we will address several areas to help you prepare for winter break in a COVID-19 world.
Outside competition
. For teams that are using the alternate playing season model during the 2020-21 academic year, your school determines whether it will permit student-athletes to practice or compete as members of an outside team or in any noncollegiate, amateur competition. This includes when classes are in session and during the upcoming winter break. It remains impermissible for coaching staff members to direct student-athletes to engage in outside competition or otherwise arrange opportunities for outside competition that is not counted as part of the 114 days season. Further, it remains impermissible for student-athletes to compete on a professional team without losing their eligibility
in that sport.
For teams that are utilizing the traditional 18, 19 or 24 week declared season, Bylaw 14.7.2.3 allows for student-athletes in sports that conduct separate fall and spring playing and practice segments to participate on an outside team during the period between segments. As a result, a student-athlete could participate on an outside team during the winter break of the 2020-21 academic year between the team's nontraditional and traditional segments.
Eligibility between terms. COVID-19 has not changed anything in the area of eligibility between terms. To be eligible for any practice or competition between terms, student-athletes must either have been registered full-time at the end of the previous term (if they are continuing enrollment) or they must be accepted for full-time enrollment for the upcoming term (if they are continuing or beginning enrollment).
If a student-athlete’s eligibility is changing (for example, the student-athlete was ineligible in the fall but will be eligible in the spring), Bylaw 14.1.10 provides a timeline in which the certification for a student-athlete must occur no earlier than the day after the day of the last scheduled final and no later than the first day of classes for the following academic term. Your institutional policy should dictate when on that timeline the certification happens, and it does not have to happen on the same day for all student-athletes. Finally, a conference may adopt more stringent requirements for its member institutions.
Leadership programming activities. Although voluntary leadership programming may occur outside the playing and practice season, per Bylaw 17.02.1.1.1.5, it may not occur during an official vacation period. That means that if your institution participates in leadership and workout discussions with student-athletes over winter break, the days of those interactions must count toward the team's maximum days for its season under the alternative playing and practice seasons model.
2020-21 Institutional Self-Study Guide
NCAA Constitution 6.3.1 requires all Division III institutions to conduct a comprehensive self-study and evaluation of their athletics programs at least once every five years. The Institutional Self-Study Guide is due at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time June 1, 2021. The full ISSG and requirements for supporting documentation must be completed online by all institutions. Fax, hard copy, or email submissions of the ISSG will not be accepted.
Please note: if your institution was scheduled to complete the ISSG during the 2019-20 academic year, due to COVID-19 flexibility, the materials are due at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time May 31, 2021. There has not been similar flexibility granted for institutions scheduled to complete the 2020-21 ISSG – those materials are still due by June 1, 2021.
The ISSG can be accessed via the My Apps link on ncaa.org (if access has been granted by the institution’s single-source sign-on administrator). Two resources, the Institutional Self-Study Guide Instructions and the Best Practices for Completing the ISSG are designed to assist member institutions in completing the ISSG. Institutions that need additional assistance are asked to send questions via email to issg@ncaa.org.
Click here for a list of institutions required to complete the ISSG for the 2020-21 year. These institutions also will be sent a specific notification via e-mail. To see when your institution's ISSG is due, check the information on your institution's NCAA Directory page. The directory can be accessed from the My Apps area on ncaa.org.
2021 Regional Rules Seminars
NCAA Constitution 3.2.4.16 (Convention and Regional Rules Seminar attendance) requires all NCAA Division III institutions to attend the NCAA Regional Rules Seminar at least once every three years. Under this requirement, the three-year window for attendance includes the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Regional Rules Seminars. Any institution that did not send a representative in 2019 or 2020 should plan to have someone attend the 2021 Regional Rules Seminars.
Due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 NCAA Regional Rules Seminar will be held virtually in June on dates to be announced after Jan. 1. This announcement serves as advance notice to the membership for planning and scheduling purposes and creates significant cost savings for the national office, conference offices, institutions and others while maintaining a safe learning environment for all participants. As additional information on the seminar becomes available, updates will be shared with the membership and posted on our event webpage.
If you have questions regarding the virtual 2021 NCAA Regional Rules Seminar, please visit the seminar webpage or contact NCAARegionalRulesSeminars@ncaa.org.
Click here for a list of institutions that are required to attend Regional Rules Seminars in 2021.
The Division III diversity grants provide funding to schools and conference offices committed to enhancing ethnic minority and gender representation in athletics administration. Proposals for the Ethnic Minorities and Women’s Internship Grant, Coaching Enhancement Grant, and Strategic Alliance Matching Grant must be submitted via the
NCAA Program Hub no later than 5 p.m. Eastern time Jan. 29. To access the guidelines for these three grants, view selection committees, browse scoring rubrics and sample applications, and look up current and past recipients, go here.
Helpful Tips:
Start planning your proposals. Allow adequate time to submit all materials necessary.
Review the grant guidelines and criteria. Make sure you are eligible and understand the expectations.
Seek advice from grant writers or peers.
Engage your human resources and legal counsel. They assist with the proposal development and implementation of the grant.
Proposals for all grants must be submitted via NCAA Program Hub by 5 p.m. Eastern time Jan. 29.
Division III Coaching Enhancement Grant
The Division III Coaching Enhancement Grant is a relatively new initiative approved by the Division III Presidents Council, with just one cycle distributed since its inception in 2019. The grant funds 11 new, full-time assistant coaching positions for all NCAA-sponsored sports during a two-year commitment. Positions hired for the 2019-21 cycle included assistant women's basketball coaches, assistant coach (field hockey and lacrosse)/assistant to the athletics director, assistant softball coach/recruiting coordinator, and assistant football coach among others. Schools receive two years of grant funding ($7,500 each
year) from the NCAA to support the hired assistant coach, in addition to $1,500 for professional development both years of the cycle. Schools must match the NCAA-provided funding each year of the grant to support the position. For guidelines, current recipients, selection information and more, click here.
DiSC Assessments Available
The use of DiSC assessments is strongly encouraged on member campuses. Participants gain personalized feedback on their specific leadership style, and student-athletes, coaches and administrators gain valuable understanding of everyone’s unique behavioral style. Applying this knowledge can develop effective team dynamics, leadership, and communication among the group. Each Division III institution interested in using the DiSC resource will be provided assessments for up to 70 student-athletes, as well as 30 coaches or administrators, at no cost. Funding is limited, and requests will be allocated on a first-come, first-served
basis. Click here, to learn more about the DiSC resource.
For frequently asked questions on uniforms and contest delays for fall and winter sports, please go to "2020-21 Uniforms/Contest Delays FAQ" located under Playing Rules Resources here.
Rules Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving
The most recent NCAA Swimming and Diving Rules Newsletter is available hereunder "Updates."
Baseball
The 2021 and 2022 NCAA Baseball Rules Book is available for download here,and the 2020-21 and 2021-22 Major Rules Changes can be found here under "Updates."
Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports
Virtual
Feb. 18-19
Interpretations and Legislation Committee
Virtual
Feb. 25-26
Membership Committee
Virtual
This email was sent to NCAA Division III presidents and chancellors that serve on Division III committees, athletics direct reports, directors of athletics, faculty athletics representatives, senior woman administrators, sports information directors, directors of compliance, commissioners, assistant/associate commissioners, national SAAC, provisional, reclassifying and exploratory members based on contact information in the NCAA Directory.
National Collegiate Athletic Association, 700 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204 US