Page 323 - 2019-20 NJCAA Handbook - May, 2020
P. 323
Case 25
Off Campus – Coaching Against a Student-Athlete
SITUATION:
Community College A’s men’s basketball coach also coaches an AAU team during the summer. He has signed incoming
freshman, Student-Athlete R, to an NJCAA Letter of Intent for the 2019-2020 academic year in the sport of basketball. Student-
Athlete R participates in this same AAU league during the summer, but he is not a member of the team coached by Community
College A’s men’s basketball coach. Can the AAU team that Student-Athlete R belongs to participate against this coach’s AAU
team during the off season off campus?
ANSWER:
Yes. The coach may coach against the team of a current student-athlete or one who has signed an NJCAA Letter of Intent.
The coach may not partake in advising, coaching, or conducting a practice with that student-athlete at any time prior to, during
or after the competition.
Case 26
Off Campus – Participating Against a Student-Athlete
SITUATION:
A golf course in the community holds a tournament and the golf coach at Community College A and one of his student-
athletes have both entered to participate in this tournament. May this college coach and his/her student-athlete participate
against one another in the off season?
ANSWER:
Yes. NJCAA bylaws allow a coach to participate against a current student-athlete or one who has signed An NJCAA Letter
of Intent in the off season, off campus. However, in this case the coach may not participate with the student-athlete during the
tournament.
Case 27
Off Campus Facilities
SITUATION:
Community College A does not have baseball, golf, or volleyball facilities on their campus however there are facilities in the
community that the college may use and designate as their home facilities. As per NJCAA bylaws must the information and
contract between the college and the off-campus facility be sent to the NJCAA National Office for approval of each facility?
ANSWER:
Yes. The contract between the college and the facility must be sent to the NJCAA National Office for approval prior to the
start of off-season practice. Until approval is made by the National Office, those teams may not use these facilities during the off
season.
Case 28
Gaining Approval from the NJCAA National Office for Use of Off Campus Facilities
If your college does not have a facility for a sport(s) AND the college desires for its teams to be able to use this facility only
during the off season and not be in violation of the off season off campus athletic contact bylaws, the college will need to send
the contract and proof of payment between the college and the facility.
During the in season, the college does not need this approval from the NJCAA National Office as it may use facilities off
campus during the in season and not be in violation.
Contracts & Agreements:
If a “contract” does not exist between the college and the facility, a written “agreement” must be signed by both parties
included in the information the college sends to the NJCAA National Office. Additionally, if there are no rental fees or payments
required for the college to pay the facility, essentially there is no “proof of payment”, however this “agreement” will also need to
be included in the written contract/agreement between the college and the off-campus facility.
Rulings:
If the college has sent this information to the NJCAA National Office and is awaiting an approval, those student-
athletes/Letter of Intent signees may not have athletic contact with any member of the college coaching staff off campus during
the off season until approval is granted.
Case 29
Multiple Off Campus Facilities in the Same Sport
SITUATION:
Community College A has a women’s golf team; however, the college does not have a golf course on campus. There are
three golf courses in the community that the golf team would like to utilize for off season, off campus practices. May
Community College A designate all three courses as their home facilities?
ANSWER:
Yes. If Community College A sends to the NJCAA National Office, each contract between the college and each of the
three golf courses the NJCAA National Office will review the requests accordingly.
Open Gym
Case 1
Open Gym Setting
SITUATION:
Community College A holds an open gym setting for any student on Monday-Friday from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. If the
basketball coach is the paid supervisor of this program, and current basketball players make use of the open gym, is this a
violation of the practice definition?
ANSWER:

