Eligibility: MacEwan Volleyball - Steve Phillips |
(
Eligibility Ruling
) |
2008-09 SeasonJanuary 25, 2009 MacEwan Men’s Volleyball, Steve Phillips - This ruling has been initiated by a complaint from Wade Kolmel of Keyano College. Mr. Kolmel has suggested that MacEwan men’s volleyball player Steve Phillips was ineligible after December 31, 2008 and that MacEwan should forfeit a total of six (6) match victories between January 9, 2009 and January 24, 2009 inclusive. The basis for Mr. Kolmel’s complaint is that the MacEwan Registrar did not validate Mr. Phillips’ full time status relative to the January-April, 2009 semester as the Supplemental Eligibility Form submitted by MacEwan on December 17, 2008 listed a completion date for Mr. Phillips to the end of December, 2008. This was the same completion date listed for Mr. Phillips on the Main Eligibility Sheet submitted by MacEwan prior to the commencement of the volleyball season. Commissioner B. Hendsbee has reviewed the Supplemental Eligibility Form in question and the ACAC office provided a summary of the events in question along with copies of e-mails between the ACAC office and MacEwan’s administrative staff. On December 15, 2008 Elaine Crawford in the ACAC office received an e-mail from MacEwan asking that a lengthy list of Fall students (40 in total), including Mr. Phillips, have their eligibility files opened up by Ms. Crawford, Executive Assistant so that MacEwan could update their completion dates to April, 2009. On December 16, 2008 Ms. Crawford opened the eligibility files for 39 of the 40 MacEwan athletes. Unfortunately, Ms. Crawford neglected to open the eligibility file for Mr. Phillips. This error was not noticed by MacEwan, which proceeded to complete the Supplemental Eligibility Form and have it signed by the Registrar on December 17, 2008. When the Form was submitted to the ACAC office, the completion date for Mr. Phillips was still listed as December, 2008. The facts in this case are markedly different from previous cases involving the administrative ineligibility of student-athletes whose names were not included on Main or Supplemental Eligibility Forms. Mr. Phillips’ name was listed on the Supplemental Eligibility Form signed by the MacEwan Registrar on December 17, 2008 and submitted to the ACAC office prior to the commencement of the January-April semester, all of which clearly evidences MacEwan’s intention that Mr. Phillips would compete for the school during the January-April, 2009 semester. It is clear that there was a defect in the Supplemental Eligibility Form submitted by MacEwan. However, the defect was partially the responsibility of the ACAC office. Where this case differs from past incidences of administrative ineligibility is that there was substantial compliance by MacEwan. Under the circumstances, I am not prepared to punish Mr. Phillips and MacEwan for the defect in the Supplemental Eligibility Form. In my opinion, the defect in the Supplemental Eligibility Form does not negate the fact that it was properly submitted by MacEwan and included Mr. Phillips on it, as required by the ACAC Operating Code. I therefore deem Mr. Phillips eligible for all games in question. Bill Hendsbee |