Recruiting Violation: KC Soccer-Singh
( Commissioner's Rulings )

2023-24 Season 

May 6, 2023 

 

Facts:

Keyano College has self-reported a recruiting violation in relation to its Women’s Soccer program.

The chronology of events is as follows:

  1. On January 12, 2023, SAIT Women’s Soccer player Harleen Singh e-mailed KC Coach Niels Slotboom to advise that she was interested in transferring to KC for the 2023-24 academic year. 
  2. Coach Slotboom immediately texted KC Athletic Director Jonathan Lambert to advise him of the contact from Ms. Singh. 
  3. On January 13, 2023, Coach Slotboom asked Mr. Lambert if the SAIT Athletic Director had been contacted and whether he could respond to Ms. Singh. Mr. Lambert mistakenly thought that he had e-mailed SAIT to provide the required notice and advised Coach Slotboom that he could respond to Ms. Singh’s inquiry. 
  4. Over the weekend of March 17-19, 2023, Coach Slotboom, who was under the impression that Mr. Lambert had contacted SAIT, spoke with the SAIT Women’s Soccer coach about Ms. Singh’s impending transfer. 
  5. On April 10, 2023, SAIT Athletic Director Wade Kolmel reached out to Mr. Lambert to express his concern that he had not been advised of the contact between Ms. Singh and KC. Mr. Lambert indicated that he was certain that he had sent the e-mail back in January. However, upon checking his “Sent” items, he determined that he had, in fact, neglected to send the e-mail to SAIT, as required. 
  6. On April 11, 2023, Mr. Lambert sent SAIT official confirmation of the contact between Ms. Singh and KC. 
  7. Mr. Lambert then self-reported his error to the ACAC.

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)

In addition, Rule 1.4 states the following:

1.4 Athletes Registered at Another Post-Secondary Institution: No member of an athletic staff or other delegate of athletic interest (including current student-athletes or alumni) shall contact, directly or indirectly, a student athlete identified with another post secondary institution to discuss the possible attendance of the student athlete at their institution unless that student athlete makes the initial contact with the delegate of the institution. Contact includes, and is not limited to in-person conversation, telephone, mail, email, text, social media or other forms of correspondence, as well as contact through a parent, legal guardian or relative. (Amended May, 2020))

If the above occurs, the following steps shall be followed:

1.4.1 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 1.4.2 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.

1.4.2 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. (Amended July, 2018)

I find KC to be in violation of Rule 1.4.2 above.

Article I Section 7 Rule 1.1 deals with sanctions for recruiting violations and is worded as follows:

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) 

I appreciate that Mr. Lambert’s violation of the Operating Code was inadvertent and that he has accepted responsibility for his failure to notify SAIT on a timely basis. Nonetheless, this breach of the Operating Code warrants a response by the Conference to reinforce the importance of abiding by the relevant ACAC regulations and directives.

Based on the above, KC is hereby fined $500 payable forthwith to the ACAC Office.