Behind the Blue Disk

NCAA Rules Enforcement: Infractions Appeals Committee

What role do the infractions appeals committees play in the NCAA enforcement process? Each NCAA division has its own infractions appeals committee. The committees are independent bodies that serve as the final step in the rules enforcement process.

Who serves on the infractions appeals committees? The committees are made up of representatives from the membership and general public. The public representative is normally a lawyer with no connection to the NCAA. The membership representatives must have experience at the conference or school level. There are five members on each committee.

How often do the infractions appeals committees meet? There is no set schedule. They meet as necessary.

Who can appeal? Any school or individual who is penalized or named in a finding of violation may appeal. When a school and specific individuals are identified as violators in the same case, they appeal independently.

Do the schools and individuals get to “start over” when they appeal? The appeal is neither a new hearing nor a second chance to argue the case. The infractions appeals committees do not consider evidence that wasn’t presented to their respective divisional committees on infractions.

Do the infractions appeals committees hold hearings? Appeals can be in-person or written. For a hearing to be in-person, the school or individual must have appeared in-person before a committee on infractions. The process calls for the appellants, the involved committee on infractions and the NCAA enforcement staff to submit written information before the committee deliberates. A final report is shared with the involved schools and individuals before public release.

How long do infractions appeals take? It varies. The membership-approved process spells out a 110-day timeline, but it may take longer depending on the complexity of the case. The process is designed to be fair and impartial with no rush to judgment. Getting the right answer is what counts most.

What authority do the infractions appeals committees have for changing committee on infractions rulings? The infractions appeals committees can reverse or modify a ruling of their respective divisional committee on infractions when the individual or school proves one of the following: the ruling by the committee on infractions was clearly contrary to the evidence; the individual or school did not actually break NCAA rules; there was a procedural error that caused the committee on infractions to find a violation of NCAA rules; or the penalty was excessive.

Is there another layer of appeals? The decisions of the divisional infractions appeals committees are final.

Do the infractions appeals committees and committees on infractions share members? The committees do not share members. Their only link is the vital role they play in the NCAA rules enforcement process.