SLR has provided some relief for prospects whose eligibility certification is stalled due to the current backlog with amateurism certification:
NCAA Division I Bylaws 12.1.1.1.3.1 (temporary certification—recruited student-athlete) and 12.1.1.1.3.2 (temporary certification—nonrecruited student-athlete). August 25, 2009. The NCAA Division I Legislative Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief approved a blanket waiver to permit, for the 2009-10 academic year, recruited and nonrecruited student-athletes to engage in countable athletically related activities, except for competition, beyond the 14 day and 45 day limits noted in NCAA Bylaws 12.1.1.1.3.1 and 12.1.1.1.3.2. Student-athletes who have requested final amateur certification and who are on the institution's Institutional Request List (IRL) may engage in countable athletically related activities, except for competition, until a final amateurism certification is completed, provided the student-athlete is otherwise eligible to practice (e.g., meets initial-eligibility requirements). The subcommittee noted the blanket waiver is appropriate to provide some flexibility for the NCAA amateurism certification staff due to the high volume of urgent amateur cases (especially during the months of August and September) as a result of late registrants, delayed responses for additional information and the time required to complete amateurism certifications with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Further, the subcommittee noted that student-athletes may not compete until a final certification is complete and those student-athletes who receive a final certification that prohibits them from practicing may not use this blanket waiver. This blanket waiver only applies to amateurism certifications and does not apply to the temporary certification legislation for academic certifications in Bylaws 14.3.5.1.1 and 14.3.5.1.2. Finally, the subcommittee noted the NCAA Division I Amateurism Cabinet will review the temporary certification legislation to determine if changes to the current 14- and 45-day periods are appropriate. To view this blanket waiver in its entirety, please access SLR Case No. 12200 on LSDBi.