Administrative Eligibility - GPRC Basketball - Deanna Konno

2011-12 Season

November 4, 2011

Facts:

Deanna Konno plays on the GPRC Women’s Basketball team. Last year, she played at Holland College. This season, Ms. Konno participated in non-conference games for GPRC before her Universal Transfer Form (UTF) was 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
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 UTF had been completed on time, Ms. Konno would have been eligible to compete immediately thereafter. Her situation falls squarely within Rule 10.2. Accordingly, she was ineligible for all games in which she participated prior to the filing of the UTF.

Rule 10.2 calls for a $500 fine for a first occurrence. Accordingly, GPRC is hereby fined $500, payable forthwith to the ACAC Office.

Sincerely,

Bill Hendsbee
ACAC Commissioner