Administrative Eligibility - RDC - Robert Pierce

2011-12 Season

October 18, 2011

Facts:

Robert Pierce plays for the RDC Men’s Basketball team. Last season, Mr. Pierce played for a college other than RDC. This season, Mr. Pierce played in two (2) exhibition games for RDC before his Universal Transfer Form was filed with the ACAC Office on October 13, 2011.

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
Where it has been determined that a member institution is in violation of the rules of eligibility by virtue of an administrative error that renders ineligible a student-athlete who would otherwise have been eligible, the Commissioner shall issue a fine of $500 for the first occurrence, with the fine increasing by $500 for each subsequent occurrence within the same academic year (e.g. $1,000 for a second occurrence and $1,500 for a third occurrence, etc.).

The revised wording above is retroactive to September 1, 2011.

If the transfer form had been completed in time, Mr. Pierce would have been eligible to compete immediately thereafter. His situation falls squarely within Rule 10.2. Accordingly, Mr. Pierce was ineligible for the two (2) games in which he participated before his UTF was filed and RDC is assessed a $500 fine, payable forthwith to the ACAC Office.

Sincerely,

Bill Hendsbee
ACAC Commissioner