Geoff Howell discusses the question of whether recruited student-athletes
may receive need-based aid and have it not count towards the scholarship
totals for a particular sport (i.e. hockey, which in DivI has a limit
of 18.0 by 15.5.3.1).
 
Here are what I believe to be the applicable rules for this situation:
 
(BEGIN EXCERPTS FROM 1994-95 NCAA MANUAL)
 
15.02.3 COUNTER.  A "counter" is an individual who is receiving
institutional financial aid that is countable against the aid
limitations established in a sport by the institution's membership
division.
 
15.02.4 FINANCIAL AID
 15.02.4.1 INSTITUTIONAL FINANCIAL AID.  The following sources of
 financial aid are considered to be institutional financial aid:
 a) All funds administered by the institution (e.g., scholarships,
 grants, loans, work-study program assistance, on-campus employment,
 tuition waivers, employee dependent tuition benefits);
 [three other examples deleted]
 
15.5.1 COUNTERS.  A student-athlete shall be a counter and included in
the maximum awards limitations set forth in this bylaw under the
following conditions.
 
 15.5.1.1 ATHLETICS AID RECEIVED.  A student-athlete who is receiving
 financial aid based in any degree upon athletics shall become a
 counter for the year during which the student-athlete receives the
 financial aid.
 
 15.5.1.2 RECRUITED STUDENT-ATHLETE.
 [much deleted pertaining to DivI football and basketball]
 
  15.5.1.2.3 SPORTS OTHER THAN FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL.  In all sports
  other than football and basketball in Division I and in all sports in
  Division II, a student-athlete who was recruited by the awarding
  institution and who is receiving institutional financial aid (as set
  forth in 15.02.4.1) shall be a counter unless there is on file in the
  office of the athletics director certification by the faculty
  athletics representative and in the director of financial aid that the
  student's financial aid was granted without regard in any degree to
  athletics ability.
 
(END EXCERPTS)
 
So in short, based upon 15.5.1.2.3, I believe that need-based aid is
exempted from the program's limitation as long as the school can
provide verification that such aid was granted without any
consideration given to athletics.
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Mike Machnik                                            [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc.                                    *HMM* 11/13/93