Legislation

Everything you ever wanted to know about NCAA legislation and the legislative process.

Key Dates

The 2009-10 legislative calendar and meeting dates. "You are here" is indicated in red; votes on legislation are marked with a All meetings are in Indianapolis unless otherwise indicated.

July 15, 2009
Conference, cabinet legislation submission deadline.

August 6, 2009
Board of Directors meeting
Agenda •  Report

August 15, 2009
Publication of Proposed Legislation available online. Legislative Council Administrative Committee referral of legislation to cabinets.

September 14-15, 2009
Academics Cabinet meeting
Agenda  •  Report

September 15-16, 2009
Championships Cabinet meeting
Agenda  •  Report

September 16-17, 2009
Administration Cabinet meeting

September 17-18, 2009
Awards/Benefits Cabinet meeting
Meeting Materials  •  Report

September 21-22, 2009
Recruiting Cabinet meeting
Agenda  •  Report

September 24-25, 2009
Amateurism Cabinet meeting
Agenda  •  Report

October 6, 2009
Leadership Council meeting
Agenda  •  Report 

October 19-20, 2009
Legislative Council meeting
Agenda  •  Report and Attachments A, B, C, and D

October 27, 2009
Initial amendment period ends.

October 29, 2009
Board of Directors meeting
Deadline for submission of proposals sponsored by the Board.
Agenda  •  Report

November 15, 2009
Online publication of Official Notice.

December 29, 2009
Override requests due for Proposals 2009-25*, 2009-46*, 2009-59*, 2009-67*, 2009-71*, 2009-89*, 2009-90, 2009-91*, 2009-92, 2009-93*.

January 13-14, 2010
Legislative Council meeting at NCAA Convention, Atlanta, GA
 Initial consideration of legislation in Official Notice; reconciliation of conflicting proposals.
Agenda  •  Report

January 14, 2010
Leadership Council meeting at NCAA Convention, Atlanta, GA
Agenda  •  Report

January 15, 2009
NCAA Convention, Atlanta, GA
Membership override votes on Proposals 2008-046 and 2008-059.

January 16, 2010
Board of Directors meeting at NCAA Convention, Atlanta, GA
  Review of proposals considered at January Legislative Council meeting.
Agenda  •  Report

February 1-2, 2010
Academics Cabinet meeting
Agenda  •  Report

February 3-4, 2010
Recruiting Cabinet meeting
Agenda  •  Report

February 9-10, 2010
Administration Cabinet meeting
Agenda  •  Report

February 16-17, 2010
Championships Cabinet meeting
Agenda  •  Report

February 23-24, 2010
Awards/Benefits Cabinet meeting
Agenda  •  Report

February 25-26, 2010
Amateurism Cabinet meeting
Agenda  •  Report

March 17, 2010
60-day override/comment/amendment period ends.
Override information • Comment information

March 2010
Leadership Council meeting
Agenda  •  Report

April 12, 2010
Legislative Council meeting
 Final consideration of remaining legislative proposals.
Agenda  •  Report

April 29, 2010
Board of Directors meeting
 Potential review of proposals adopted at April Legislative Council meeting.
Agenda •  Report

June 28, 2010
60-day override period ends.

Legislative Resources

Places to find help.

  • 2009-10 Division I Publication of Proposed Legislation (POPL).
  • 2009-10 Official Notice.
  • Use LSDBi to track specific proposals and create legislative summaries.
  • The NCAA has information about its governance structure, including a lovely color chart.
  • How does an NCAA Bill Become A Law? We've got a flow chart.

NCAA Manual Updates

As we move through the 2009-10 legislative calendar we will list here newly adopted proposals in effect (unless otherwise indicated) and adopted since the publication of the 2009-10 NCAA Manual.
To see other legislation that has been adopted and which has a future effective date (usually 8/1/10), use LSDBi.
2009-7: Revises the definition of the NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) cohort.

2009-8: Revises the NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program (APP) penalty structure.

2009-25: Specifies that a violation of the promotional activities legislation in which the only condition of the legislation not satisfied is the requirement that the student-athlete and an authorized representative of the charitable, educational or nonprofit agency sign a release statement shall not affect the student-athlete's eligibility, provided the release statement would have been signed if such a request had been made.

2009-46: Specifies that a violation of the institutional limitation on the number of official visits shall be considered an institutional violation, but shall not affect the prospective student-athlete's eligibility.

2009-59: In women's volleyball, designates Thursday of the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship through the Sunday immediately following the championship as an evaluation period; further, specifies that an institution's authorized coaching staff members may evaluate on only one day and may attend only one event on that day during this period; that the event shall occur within a 30-mile radius of the site of the championship; that coaches from the same institution who attend such an event shall attend the same event on the same day; and that coaches shall not attend events that occur at the same time that any intercollegiate competition in conjunction with the NCAA championship occurs.

2009-67: Specifies that a violation of the financial aid regulations in which financial aid is awarded for less than one academic year shall be considered an institutional violation, but shall not affect the student-athlete's eligibility.

2009-71: Specifies that a violation of the preseason practice expenses legislation due to a miscalculation of the permissible start date for preseason practice shall be considered an institutional violation, but shall not affect the student-athlete's eligibility.

2009-89: Specifies that a student-athlete may practice, but not compete, for a period of 45 days before his or her amateur status has been certified by the NCAA
Eligibility Center.

2009-90: In women's ice hockey, specifies that the NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey Committee shall be composed of three members from Division I and one at-large member. Effective 8/1/2010.

2009-91: Specifies that the NCAA Division I International Student Records Committee shall consist of six members, including two Division I representatives, two Division II representatives and two representatives who may be from either Division I or Division II.

2009-92: Specifies that the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee may include members from Division II or Division III institutions that sponsor Division I men's ice hockey. Effective 8/1/2010.

2009-93: Increases the maximum penalty that may be imposed for an institution's failure to adhere to published administrative procedures for the submission of regular-season results, availability questionnaires and/or entry forms, without prior approval from the Championships/Sports Management Cabinet, from $300 to $600.