New NCAA Staff Interpretation: Providing Transportation to Persons Accompanying a Prospect on an Unofficial Visit

On May 23, 2011, the NCAA academic and membership affairs staff issued a staff interpretation in Division I concerning providing transportation to persons accompanying a prospective on an unofficial visit to an institution. Specifically, the staff “confirmed that an institution may provide those persons accompanying the prospective student-athlete on an unofficial visit with transportation only to view off-campus practice and competition sites in the prospective student-athlete’s sport and other institutional facilities”. The interpretation referenced NCAA Bylaws 13.5.1 (general restrictions) and 13.5.3 (transportation on unofficial visit). Institution should address the interpretation in the next rules-education session with athletics staff.