Recruiting Violation-Ambrose University-Kubinec |
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Commissioner's Rulings
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2016-17 SeasonOctober 11, 2016Facts:Colin Kubinec, Ambrose Director of Athletics and Women’s Volleyball Head Coach has self-reported a violation of the ACAC Operating Code during efforts to recruit two possible players to the Ambrose Women’s Volleyball team. During a club tournament in the Spring of 2016, Mr. Kubinec invited two female high school athletes and their parents for a campus visit. The girls and their parents stayed one night at the Ambrose residence before returning home to Edmonton the next day. No meals or transportation were paid for by Ambrose. During the campus visit referred to above, which occurred after the completion of the ACAC school year, no Ambrose team members were present, which lead both high recruits to ask if they could return to campus once the current school year had started. Ambrose accommodated this request and both girls attended campus again last month (without their parents) and bunked for the night in the rooms of Ambrose team members. Before leaving for home, Mr. Kubinec provided both recruits with lunch, which was the only meal provided during their visit. Mr. Kubinec advises that one of the recruits has since committed to another institution for the Fall of 2017 and that Ambrose is no longer interested in pursuing the other recruit. Ruling:Article I Section 7 Rule 1 of the ACAC Operating Code states as follows: Recruiting Rules 1.1. Violations: The Recruiting Rules are in place to protect the integrity of the ACAC. Violations of these rules are serious offences. Any ACAC member should bring to the attention of the ACAC President accusations of recruiting violations with supporting documentation. The ACAC President must refer recruiting violations to the ACAC Commissioner who will investigate and report the findings to all ACAC members. An escalating severity of consequences scale is recommended and is to be applied at the discretion of the Commissioner. (Amended November, 2010) 1.8. Recruiting Trips and Travel 1.8.1. Funding of liaison/recruiting trips for prospective athletes is acceptable, however the ACAC limits a member’s institution or its delegates to finance only one visit on campus, prior to August 1st for a fall semester registration and prior to December 1st for a winter semester registration for any prospective athletes. The expenses covered by the institute would be limited to transportation, meals and accommodation. (Amended December, 2010) 1.8.2. An institute or its delegates are prohibited from paying, providing or arranging for the payment of travel costs incurred by relatives or friends of a prospective athlete to visit the campus or elsewhere. (Added May, 2008) By allowing the parents of the two recruits to share a dorm room during the first visit, Ambrose was technically in violation of Rule 1.8.2 above. In addition, by providing lunch during the second visit, Ambrose was also technically in violation of Rule 1.8.1 above. Mr. Kubinec is adamant that these breaches of the Operating Code were completely inadvertent. He also stresses that these visits were in no way extravagant and that he does not feel that any advantage was gained by Ambrose in relation to its dealings with these two recruits. I am in agreement with Mr. Kubinec’s views on this matter. Although there was a technical violation of each of the above rules, I believe those violations to have been minor in nature and not deserving of a harsh sanction. In light of the minor nature of these transgressions, combined with Mr. Kubinec’s self-reporting, I am exercising my discretion to issue a warning in this case on the basis that future transgressions will be treated more harshly. Sincerely, Bill Hendsbee
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