Eligibility: AMB Volleyball-Mann

2017-18 Season

March 7, 2018

Facts:

During the 2017-18 season, Ambrose University College Men’s Volleyball player Evan Mann’s name appeared on 9 game sheets in October and November of 2017.

According to Ambrose Coach Paul Armbruster, Mr. Mann was injured at the beginning of the season and was unable to compete. However, Coach Armbruster inserted Mr. Mann’s name on the game sheets in question on the expectation that Mr. Mann would return to competition and he did not consider the negative eligibility effect that his actions could have on Mr. Mann. Therefore, notwithstanding that Mr. Mann’s name appeared on the game sheets in question, Ambrose seeks a ruling to have one year of eligibility returned to Mr. Mann in relation to the current season.

I have been advised that although Mr. Mann was injured and unable to play during the games in question, he sat on the bench during those games, in full uniform, and even participated in some “pepper” drills during timeouts. Coach Armbruster’s intent was to allow Mr. Mann to continue to feel part of the team even though he was physically unable to participate in league play.

Ruling:

Article I Section 5 Rule 1.4.4 of the ACAC Operating Code deems an athlete to have used a year of eligibility if his name appears on a game report during that season. In this case, Mr. Mann must deal with the presumption that he used eligibility during the 2017-18 season.

The next step is to consider Article I Section 5 Rule 1.4.4.2 of the ACAC Operating Code, which is worded as follows:

1.4.4.2. Correcting an Eligibility-Use Error
Institutions requesting a correction to eligibility records due to an eligibility-use error must submit a request to the Commissioner and adhere to the following requirements. (i.e. erroneously leaving a non-participating student-athlete’s name on a game sheet). (Added April, 2017)

1.4.4.2.1. When the error is detected before the completion of the relevant season and/or semester, the offending institution must submit a written request with all relevant details through the ACAC office to correct the record, as well as provide irrefutable evidence to support the request, and submit a $250 fee to the ACAC office. The Commissioner will review the submission and determine whether the request will be granted. If approved, the institution must submit corrected game sheet(s) to the ACAC office within one week. (Added April, 2017)

1.4.4.2.2. When the error is detected after the completion of the relevant season and/or semester, the offending institution must submit a written request with all relevant details through the ACAC office to correct the record, as well as provide irrefutable evidence to support the request, and submit a $500 fee to the ACAC office. The Commissioner will review the submission and determine whether the request will be granted. If approved, the institution must submit corrected game sheet(s) to the ACAC office within one week. (Added April, 2017)

As referenced in Rule 1.4.4.2, the evidence required to reinstate an athlete’s eligibility must be irrefutable.

In this case, Ambrose has provided a letter from its athletic therapy supervisor, which confirms the significant ankle sprain sustained by Mr. Mann in the late summer of 2017, a summary of the treatment she has provided to Mr. Mann along with confirmation that he was unable to play or practice during the period in which his name appeared on the game sheets in question.

It has always been the position of the Conference that an athlete who is in uniform, included as part of the team bench and most importantly, listed on the game sheet, is deemed to have participated in the ACAC competitions in question. While I have no reason to doubt the severity of Mr. Mann’s injury, under the circumstances, I am unable to rule in favour of Ambrose’s request to reinstate Mr. Mann’s year of eligibility. To do so would create the opportunity for ACAC coaches to conceivably list injured players on game sheets all season long in anticipation that those players might heal well enough to eventually play, or so that those athletes could be inserted into a game in a desperate situation or to retain eligibility for post-season participation – but then be able to retain an entire year of eligibility for the student-athlete if they did, in fact, not play. This is entirely contrary to the intent of the rule, which was designed to correct a legitimate administrative error where a player was inadvertently left on a roster/game sheet but did not enjoy any of the experiences inherent in being a team member and certainly was never in a position to actually participate in an ACAC competition. The circumstances surrounding Mr. Mann’s situation are not what this rule was intended to address and this ruling should serve an educational purpose for all ACAC members to better understand how this rule should be applied. Furthermore, coaches need to be mindful of the consequences of including injured players on game sheets.

Based on the above, Mr. Mann is deemed to have used eligibility in relation to the 2017-18 season.

As per Rule 1.4.4.2.1, if it has not already done so, Ambrose is to immediately remit the requisite $250 fee.

Sincerely, 
Bill Hendsbee

ACAC Commissioner