Administrative Eligibility - NAIT - Conrad et al |
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Eligibility Ruling
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2011-12 SeasonOctober 18, 2011Facts: Trevor Conrad plays for the NAIT Men’s Hockey team. Lyndon Mercier and Cody Cuthill play for the school’s Men’s Volleyball team. All three athletes attended colleges other than NAIT during the 2010-11 season. In the case of Mr. Conrad, he played in six (6) games for NAIT this season before his Universal Transfer Form (UTF) was filed with the ACAC Office. Mr. Mercier played in three (3) games and Mr. Cuthill played in two (2) games this season before their UTF’s were filed with the ACAC Office. Ruling: Article I Section 5 Rule 1.5.4 of the Operating Code reads, in part, as follows: All transferring student-athletes will be identified to the ACAC Office and will not be eligible to participate in ACAC competitions, including non-conference play, until his/her transfer status has been determined in accordance with this section. Rule 1.5.4 requires the filing of a Universal Transfer Form. Article I, Section 5, Rule 10.2 was revised at a recent ACAC Council meeting. It is now worded as follows: 10.2 Administrative Ineligibility The revised wording above is retroactive to September 1, 2011. If the transfer forms had been completed on time, all three athletes would have been eligible to compete immediately thereafter. Their situations fall squarely within Rule 10.2. Accordingly, each athlete was ineligible for all games in which he participated prior to the filing of the UTF. Rule 10.2 calls for a $500 fine for a first occurrence, with a $500 increase for each subsequent occurrence. In my opinion, the failure to file a UTF for each athlete, as required by the Operating Code, constitutes a separate occurrence. Therefore, NAIT is hereby fined $3,000 ($500 for the first occurrence, $1,000 for the second occurrence and $1,500 for the third occurrence), payable forthwith to the ACAC Office. Sincerely, Bill Hendsbee Postscript: The fine was reduced to a one time $500 fine. |