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Division II Governance Update Regarding the Impact of COVID-19

The Division II Administrative Committee met this afternoon to continue to take action on Division II regulations and policies impacted by COVID-19. The committee discussed recruiting calendars in all sports; student-athlete involvement in virtual recruitment; recruiting activity with multiple uncommitted prospective student-athletes; and a clarification from the Division II Legislation Committee for the playing and practice seasons in Division II fall championship sports in the 2020-21 academic year. 

The committee voted to extend the recruiting quiet period to August 31 for all sports due to the current COVID-19 trends across the country. The committee also extended the previously approved blanket waiver that permits student-athletes to be involved in recruiting correspondence (e.g., phone call, videoconference) at the direction of a coaching staff member through the 2020-21 academic year with any contactable prospective student-athletes.

The committee extended a previously issued blanket waiver to permit coaching staff members and current student-athletes to participate on a telephone/video call with any number of uncommitted prospective student-athletes (and their family members) through the 2020-21 academic year. All other publicity restrictions (Bylaw 13.10) apply. 

The committee clarified the application of a blanket waiver approved on June 17 that allows schools to adjust schedules during a fall sport's championship segment and nonchampionship segment for the 2020-21 academic year only, as follows: 
 
a. Practice and competition in fall championship sports must end by Monday, May 31, 2021.
b. Fall sport student-athletes shall not participate in countable athletically related activities, including workouts designed and conducted by a strength and conditioning coach, for a 14-consecutive day period following an institution's championship segment. It would remain permissible for a strength and conditioning coach to monitor a voluntary workout for safety purposes during the 14-day break, provided the activity meets the definition of a voluntary activity per Bylaw 17.02.17 (voluntary athletically related activities). [Note: It is not permissible for a strength and conditioning coach to design or conduct a workout during the summer for student-athletes in fall championship sports until June 1 (See Bylaw 17.1.6.3.5.1).]
c.    Institutions may participate in NCAA championships even if they declare an alternate championship segment.

The Division II Management Council, when it meets next week, will review the Legislation Committee's recommendations for the playing and practice seasons in Division II winter and spring championship sports. The council's feedback will be provided to the Administrative Committee when it meets again on July 22.

View the action items here. A list of the committee's actions can also be found on the Division II compliance page on NCAA.org.

A document containing common questions and answers related to COVID-19 continues to be updated on the Division II compliance page.

Please work with your compliance administrator on any questions you have.

We continue to encourage institutions to make decisions and act in the best interest of your student-athletes and communities.

 
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