Eligibility Transfer: OC Basketball-Bouchard

2019-20 Season 

October 9, 2019 

Facts:

Cody Bouchard played for three (3) seasons as a member of the Olds College Men’s Basketball team. He then transferred to Ambrose University, where he played one (1) game during the 2018-19 academic year before sustaining a season ending ankle injury. Mr. Bouchard then withdrew from classes for medical reasons.

OC seeks a ruling that Mr. Bouchard is eligible to compete as a member of its Men’s Basketball team during the Fall of 2019.

Ruling:

The relevant sections of the ACAC Operating Code are identified below.

Article I Section 5 Rule 1.4.6 reads as follows:

1.4.6. Institutional Academic Withdrawal: Student Athletes granted a complete academic penalty free withdrawal from an institution by the institution’s registrar or designate, will not be held to the ACAC academic progress rule for that semester. A copy of the student athlete’s transcript is to be forwarded to the ACAC office along with a letter from the registrar (or designate) verifying that the student athlete was withdrawn from classes with cause and no academic penalty. As per ACAC eligibility rules the student-athlete will still have consumed a year of eligibility. (added September 2015) Note: Students athletes, who by their own choice, withdraw from their institution prior to the completion of a semester and, after competing in a minimum of one regular season competition, will be held to the academic progress rule and will have consumed a year of eligibility. (added September 2015)

Article I Section 5 Rule 1.4.5 reads as follows:

A student-athlete who suffers a season-ending injury limiting his/her participation to no more than 30 percent of his/her league schedule, as documented by letter from the attending physician, physiotherapist, or chiropractor, and by letter from the Athletic Director(s) of the institution(s) concerned, shall be regarded as not having played in that year.

Article I Section 5 Rule 1.6.1.2 reads, in part, as follows:

1.6.1.2. A student‐athlete who, for the second (or greater) time in their post‐secondary career, transfers from one CCAA institution to another CCAA institution in the same sport, IS required to sit‐out one (1) year (365 days) from the date of their last league/playoff game participation. (Added September, 2011/Amended August, 2014)

NOTE: The following types of transfers are not subject to article 1.6.1.2, above when determining the sit out rule:

b) Transfers from an institution where the student-athlete did not consume eligibility.

In this case, OC has provided a letter from the Ambrose University Registrar’s Office confirming that Mr. Bouchard’s withdrawal from classes during the Fall of 2018 was done with cause and with no academic penalty. As such, Mr. Bouchard was not required to abide by the academic progress requirement identified in Rule 1.1.4.3 of the ACAC Operating Code. Accordingly, he is immediately eligible to compete for OC during the 2019-20 academic year.

In addition, OC has included medical substantiation and a request put forward by Ambrose University confirming that Mr. Bouchard sustained a season ending injury after playing only one (1) game during the 2018-19 academic year. As a result, Mr. Bouchard did not consume ACAC eligibility during the 2018-19 academic year while attending Ambrose University.

Finally, given that Mr. Bouchard did not consume ACAC eligibility at Ambrose University during the 2018-19 academic year, his transfer to OC for the 2019-20 academic year is not subject to Rule 1.6.1.2 above.

Sincerely,

Bill Hendsbee 
ACAC Commissioner