October 24th: Male Students Practicing with Women’s Team

Are there any limitations associated with male students practicing with a women’s team?  Would the answer remain the same if Iwanna was a student at James River Institute or Country Roads College?

Yes and Yes.

Division I NCAA Bylaw 12.7.5 states that a male student may engage in practice sessions with women’s teams subject to the following conditions: (Revised: 5/12/05, 5/29/08, 7/31/14, 4/26/17, 4/26/17 effective 8/1/17)

(a) A male student who practices with an institution’s women’s team must be verified as eligible for practice in accordance with Bylaw 14.2.1 and must have eligibility remaining under the five-year rule (see Bylaw 12.8.1);

(b) It is not permissible for an institution to provide a male student financial assistance (room and board, tuition and fees, and books) in return for practicing with a women’s team. A male student who is receiving financial aid or any compensation for serving in any position in the athletics department may not practice with a women’s team. A male student-athlete who is a counter in a men’s sport may not engage in practice sessions with an institution’s women’s team in any sport;

(c) It is not permissible for an institution to provide a male student room and board to remain on campus during a vacation period to participate in practice sessions with a women’s team;

(d) It is not permissible for a recruited male student-athlete who is serving an academic year of residence as a nonqualifier to participate in practice sessions with a women’s team. A non-recruited male student who is serving an academic year of residence as a nonqualifier may participate in practice sessions with a women’s team;

(e) It is permissible for an institution to provide practice apparel to a male student for the purpose of practicing with a women’s team; and

(f) A male student who practices with an institution’s women’s basketball team may participate in required summer athletic activities, provided he was enrolled full time at the conclusion of the regular academic term (e.g., spring semester or quarter) immediately preceding the institution’s summer term.

Division II NCAA Bylaw 14.1.10 states that a male student or male student-athlete (see Bylaw 17.02.9) may engage in practice sessions with women’s teams under the following conditions: (Adopted: 5/5/09)

(a) Male students who practice with an institution’s women’s team must be certified in accordance with all applicable NCAA eligibility regulations for practice (e.g., enrolled in a minimum full-time program of studies, sign a drug-testing consent form, included on the institution’s eligibility list, certify insurance coverage of medical expenses per Constitution 3.3.4.13, undergo a mandatory medical examination per Bylaw 17.1.5). A male student who practices with an institution’s women’s team is not required to have his amateurism status certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. (Revised: 7/26/11, 7/24/12 effective 8/1/13, 3/17/15)

(b) It is not permissible for an institution to provide male students financial assistance, which includes room and board, tuition and fees, and books, in return for practicing with the women’s team.

(c) It is not permissible for an institution to provide male students awards and benefits set forth in Bylaw 16.

(d) It is not permissible for an institution to provide male students room and board to remain on campus during a vacation period to participate in practice sessions with a women’s team.

(e) It is not permissible for a male student or male student-athlete who is serving an academic year in residence as a nonqualifier to participate in practice sessions with a women’s team.

(f) It is permissible for an institution to provide practice apparel to male students for the purpose of practicing with a women’s team.

Division II NCAA Bylaw 17.02.9 states that a male student-athlete who engages in practice activities with a women’s team is subject to all applicable playing and practice seasons regulations set forth in this section (e.g., daily and weekly hour limitations, required days off). (Adopted: 1/14/08 effective 8/1/08)

Division III NCAA Bylaw 14.1.11 states that a male student who practices with a women’s team is considered to be a student-athlete in that women’s sport. The male student-athlete must be certified as eligible under all applicable NCAA eligibility requirements to participate (e.g., the individual must be enrolled in a minimum full-time program of studies, sign a student-athlete statement and drug-testing consent form and have eligibility remaining under the 10-semester rule). The male student-athlete is subject to all other NCAA legislated restrictions. See Bylaw 14.2.4.8 for use of a season of participation and Bylaw 16.8.1.4 for benefits that a male practice player may receive. (Adopted: 10/17/06, Revised: 4/17/07, 7/24/07)

Division III NCAA Bylaw 14.1.11.1 states that the use of male practice players in a women’s team sport is subject to the following limitations: (Adopted: 1/14/08 effective 8/1/08)

(a) Male practice players shall only be permitted to practice in the traditional segment in the women’s sport;

(b) The involvement of male practice players is limited to one practice per week; and

(c) The number of male practice players who are involved during any particular practice shall not exceed half the number of student-athletes of a typical starting unit in that sport. Any computation of half of the starting unit that results in a fractional portion of a player shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

Division III NCAA Bylaw 14.2.4.8 states that a male student who practices with a women’s team in a sport that is also sponsored as a men’s sport by the NCAA or is considered the same sport under amateurism regulations, is charged with a season of participation in the men’s sport. If a male student practices with a women’s team in a sport that has no equivalent men’s sponsored sport, the male student is charged with a season of participation in the women’s sport. (Adopted: 4/11/06)

Division III NCAA Bylaw 16.8.1.4 states that a male practice player may only receive benefits (e.g., practice apparel, insurance, medical expenses) available to student-athletes eligible for practice. [R] (Revised: 7/24/07)