Reucruiting Violation: CUE Volleyball |
(
Commissioner's Rulings
) |
2019-20 SeasonMarch 28, 2019Facts: CUE has self-reported a potential recruiting violation by the staff of its Women’s Volleyball team. According to CUE, on March 3, 2019, two OC Women’s Volleyball players, Megan Gladdie and Karley Dieken, attended a CUE talent identification camp. Both players had already applied to CUE for the 2019-20 academic year in advance of the camp. CUE had made OC aware that Ms. Gladdie would be attending the camp. However, the following facts apply to Ms. Dieken’s attendance:
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 In addition, Rule 1.6 states the following: 1.6. Athletes Registered at Another Collegiate Institution: No member of an athletic staff or other delegate of athletic interest shall contact, directly or indirectly, the student of another collegiate institution to discuss the possible attendance of the athlete at their collegiate institution unless that student makes the initial contact with the delegate of the institution. If the above occurs, the following steps shall be followed: 1.6.1. Once the athlete has made initial contact, it is the responsibility of the athletic staff member or delegate to immediately inform the athlete of the process that must be followed (see 1.6.2 below). Should the athlete want more information, the athletic staff or delegate may inform the athlete of application and registration procedures, provide information on the athletic program and answer any questions the athlete may have. ACAC OPERATING CODE Article I Section 7 – RECRUITING Page 35 of 218 1.6.2 At the earliest possible time, the Athletic Director shall officially inform the other institution’s Athletic Director that the athlete has made initial contact and requested information regarding the institution’s athletic program. The AD of the previously-attended institution must be notified by the receiving AD that he/she has received the information. Information on the athletic program and questions answered may then be passed along to the athlete. Finally, Rule 2.1 is worded as follows: Player Identification Camps (ID Camps) 2.1. Talent identification and evaluation camps are not open to student-athletes who have participated in the ACAC at another institution in the same year as the camps are staged. An exception to this rule will be allowed if the student athletes have applied to the host institution for the next athletic-academic season and/or attended the host institution in the same athletic-academic year. (Added May, 2007) There is no evidence to suggest that CUE intended to violate any of the above rules. In fact, I find on the facts that there has been no violation of the ACAC Operating Code. At the time Ms. Dieken participated in the camp, CUE was unaware that Ms. Dieken was an OC athlete. Had CUE been aware of Ms. Dieken’s affiliation with OC, I am confident that CUE would have made OC aware that Ms. Dieken had been in contact with them. Under the circumstances, CUE contacted OC immediately upon learning of Ms. Dieken’s affiliation with OC. Based on the above, there has been no violation of the ACAC Operating Code and no sanctions will follow from this incident. Sincerely, Bill Hendsbee |