Complex Case Review A Component of the Amateurism Certification Process

Transcription

1 Complex Case Review A Component of the Amateurism Certification Process Session Overview Goals for today s session. Provide an overview of the Amateurism Certification Process and the Complex Case Review program. Share concepts for enhancing the service-delivery model. Listen, learn and continue identifying opportunities for collaboration. 2 Certification Charge and Scope Determine the validity of the information on which the amateur status of a prospective student-athlete is based. NCAA Bylaw Certification is limited to activities that occur prior to the request for final amateurism certification or enrollment at a Division I or II institution, whichever occurs earlier. NCAA Bylaw

2 Three Methods of Review Automated Review. Approximately 90% of all reviews. Statistically low likelihood of a violation based on historical trends. Manual Review. Core Certification. Approximately 9% of all reviews. Designed to address issues that can generally be identified through self-reported information (e.g., participation history). Complex Case Review. Less than 0.5% of all reviews. Uses data analysis, online research and source information to address issues that cannot be identified effectively through self-reported information. 4 Scope of the Certification Process 100,000 students request amateurism certification each year. Core Certification Process Complex Case Review Manual Review Triggers 9,000 (9%) are identified for manual review through the core certification process. 475 (0.475%) are identified for complex case review. Review/ Investigation 6,000 (66%) manual reviews require additional information. 30 (6.3%) manual reviews lead to an investigation. Certification Conditions 700 (7%) manual reviews result in a violation. 15 (3%) manual reviews result in a violation. 5 Core Certification Review Triggers Example of Core Certification Triggers Student s age at time of enrollment. Student s educational path and educational path in the country where student attended secondary school. Sports structure in the country where the student participated in athletics. Student s sport. Student s participation history. Identifies fewer than 9,000 students for review. Typical violations include delayed enrollment, participation with professionals and prize money. Typical sports include soccer, volleyball, swimming, and track. 5-7% of manual reviews have historically resulted in a violation. 6 2

3 Complex Case Review Triggers Example of Complex Case Review Triggers Geographic movement, multiple secondary schools or changes in athletics participation. Patterns of unofficial visits or third-party involvement in the recruiting process. Affiliation with certain teams, events or programs. Source information associated with a specific PSA. Link analysis. 100 students have been identified for Typical violations include preferential benefits, benefits from a prospective agent and agent agreement. Typical sports include men s basketball and football. 3-5% of complex case reviews have historically resulted in a violation. 7 Pre-Enrollment Trends Individuals and athletically-related foundations marketing students for participation opportunities. International recruiting. Individuals asserting guardianship status. Agents, financial advisors and apparel companies providing payment, employment arrangements or other opportunities. Payment or benefits for participation (AAU, 7-on-7, International Club, NBA Development League, Minor League). Third-party involvement with the recruiting process. 8 Pre-Enrollment Summit (Feb 29) Regulatory Affairs staff met with a cross-section of Division I membership impacted by the complex case review process. Discussion included policy and process considerations. Key takeaways: Focus on priority issues. Timely movement through the process. Opportunities for the institution to take a lead role in running out the issues. Information sharing, collaboration, interviews. Notice of the issues, analysis and process on the front-end. 9 3

4 Comparing Past and Present Model Proposed ( ) Model Intended Benefit Institutions did not know which issues were being reviewed and what information was relevant to the analysis at the onset of the review. Institutions did not know what information to gather or what information would be relevant to the interpretive analysis. Certification staff took a lead role in conducting the review. Oftentimes, the institution was not actively engaged until an initial statement of facts was issued. Institutions had to agree to a set of facts before knowing the interpretive analysis, presenting mitigating circumstances or discussing possible outcomes. Priority issues are identified at the onset of the review with input from the membership, enforcement and AMA. Staff will identify the issue(s) being reviewed and provide guidance on the applicable analysis at the onset of each review. Each complex case review will begin with a kick-off call to develop a collaborative review plan early in the process. The staff will summarize its findings, identify any violation(s) being alleged and provide its analysis through a comprehensive review summary. The institution can appeal from the staff position or provide mitigation in support of a reinstatement request. Eliminates uncertainty as to the scope of the certification process; allows institutions and national office to align resources with priorities. Reduces timelines by allowing all parties to focus on gathering relevant information. Ensures all parties have an equal understanding as to the relevance of particular information. Reduces uncertainty as to the scope of the review and creates greater opportunity for institutional participation in the process. Helps reduce the timeline for review by allowing the parties to determine how information should be acquired. Institutions will have all information necessary to make an informed decisions regarding the direction of the review, including the decision whether to appeal a factual or interpretive determination or proceed to reinstatement. 10 THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS 11 Initial Assessment After a PSA requests final amateurism certification, the amateurism certification staff performs an initial assessment. The assessment protocol involves compiling information from existing NCAA records and online resources. 12 4

5 Status of Initial Assessments As of May 16, 2016: 72 of 100 PSAs identified for complex case review have requested final amateurism certification. Staff completed an initial assessment on every PSA who requested a final amateurism certification. Most assessments were completed within four days of the request for final amateurism certification. Next step is Final Certified or 13 Internal Review Board (IRB) All investigatory reviews must be approved by the IRB, which is comprised of the amateurism certification management team. Disposition options include: Final Certified (with or without an FYI communication). Institutionally-Managed Investigation. Investigative Review. Request an interpretation. Refer to enforcement. 14 Range of Assessment Outcomes Proceed to Investigative Review 8% Pending Institutionally Managed Review 5% Transferred to Core 5% Pending IRB Presentation 2% Final Certified 73% IRB/Director Hold 7% As of May 16,

6 Service Timelines Our goal is to complete the assessment within seven (7) days of a PSA s request for certification. Our goal is to provide an Internal Review Board decision within fourteen (14) days of the request for certification. On average these decisions have been communicated within nine (9) days of the request for certification. Request for Final Certification 7 days 14 days [30 cases in 2015] Service Standard: Assessment Notification Investigative Review 2016 Average: Assessment Notification Investigative Review 4 days 9 days 16 Institutionally-Managed Investigation Initial Call. ACP staff provides status of the review. ACP staff identifies issues of concern. Exchange available information through web custodial (Box.com) Institution conducts the investigation independently and reports findings of fact. Institutional findings will determine next steps in the process. 17 Investigatory Review Process Initial Call. ACP staff provides status of the review. ACP staff identifies issues of concern. Exchange available information through web custodial (Box.com) Conduct a kick-off call. Discuss available information; determine needed information. Identify range of outcomes (published guidelines). Develop a collaborative review plan and timeline for resolution. Both parties will conduct the review in accordance with the review plan. Wrap-up call. Review summary. Resolution options, if necessary. 18 6

7 How would you proceed? Scenario No. 1: PSA is seen in several photographs with a Bentley automobile. The photographs span multiple locations on multiple days. PSA was approved for a fee waiver through the Eligibility Center. Scenario No. 2: A reliable source reports that PSA and his family are receiving living expenses from a registered agent. Initial assessment (public records review) confirms that PSA s family lives in a home owned by a business entity registered to one of the agent s known business associates. PSA s mother and the agent are linked through social media. 19 How would you proceed? (cont.) Scenario No. 3: PSA took more than twenty unofficial visits (many of which required plane travel and overnight stays). Media reports indicate PSA was accompanied on most visits by his trainer. PSA s trainer had been the assistant basketball coach for PSA s 8 th grade AAU team; he also works with a registered agent to prepare clients for pre-draft workouts. According to an anonymous source, the trainer serves as the PSA s handler (i.e., all recruiting contact with the PSA must go through the trainer). A second source reported that the trainer solicited member institutions to pay expenses associated with the PSA s unofficial visits. 20 Conclusion Questions or comments About the complex case review program; or, The pre-enrollment amateurism environment? Any best practices that might help to inform the process of conducting pre-enrollment amateurism reviews? Anything else? ec-amateurism@ncaa.org 21 7

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