Lifts some restrictions on countable coaches in Division I football

The Division I Council on Tuesday approved a rule change adopted by the Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision oversight committees to allow any staff member to provide technical and tactical instruction to student-athletes. The decision will not be final until the meeting ends on Wednesday.

The change will be effective immediately. Moving forward, any staff member can provide technical and tactical instruction to student-athletes during practice and competition.

The proposal would not change the number of off-campus recruiters. FBS teams are limited to 11 staff members and FCS teams are limited to 13 staff members who may participate in off-campus recruiting activities. National Service Academies are allowed an additional four off-campus recruiters. Head coaches in both subdivisions must be included as off-campus recruiters, and only staff members who regularly engage in on-campus coaching activities with student-athletes are counted as off-campus recruiters. May go.

FBS programs may have a maximum of four graduate student coaches and no more than five strength and conditioning coaches. The limit for student assistant coaches will be the same as the number of off-campus recruits allowed for the football program.

“NCAA members continue efforts to modernize supports for student-athletes, and removing restrictions on skills instruction in football will allow those student-athletes to reach their greatest on-field potential,” said Council and Athletics President Josh Whitman. “Increased resources will be available to achieve this.” Director in Illinois. “At the same time, the Council determined that maintaining limits on recruiting personnel would maintain competitive balance in recruiting, while also localizing decision making to maximize support for student-athletes.”

cannabis testing

The Council voted to remove cannabinoids from the drug class banned for championship and post-season participation in football, with immediate effect.

“The purpose of the NCAA drug testing program is to focus on the integrity of competition, and cannabis products do not provide a competitive advantage,” Whitman said. “The council’s focus is on policies focused on student-athlete health and well-being rather than punishment for cannabis use.”

Any penalties currently being served on student-athletes who have previously tested positive for cannabinoids will be discontinued.

Official visits in basketball and baseball

The council approved a change by the men’s and women’s basketball oversight committees and the Division I Student-Athlete Experience Committee that lifts the school’s restrictions on official visits, effective immediately.

Previously, men’s basketball programs were limited to 28 official visits during a two-year period, however a blanket waiver was issued to provide 35 visits per school for the last two academic years. In women’s basketball, the previous limit was 24 official visits during a two-year rolling average, with a wide exemption from the limit of 30 official visits in previous years. Baseball programs were limited to 25 official visits per year; However, he has also worked under blanket exemptions, allowing 40 official visits per year for the last four academic years.

In April 2023, NCAA members voted to allow prospective candidates unlimited official visits to NCAA schools, but limit them to one official visit per school unless there is a change in head coaching following the official visit, In this situation, potential candidates are able to complete the second tour. Official visit to the same school.

As a result of recent changes to transfer rules, in addition to the change allowing unlimited visits for prospective candidates, the Basketball Oversight and Student-Athlete Experience committees agreed that programs should be able to provide as many official visits as they need. There is a need to maintain the roster throughout the year. By the year and avoid roster shortages.

basketball overseas tour

A rule change adopted by the men’s and women’s basketball oversight committees and approved by the council will allow student-athletes to compete in more than one overseas tour with the same school. Basketball programs are still limited to one overseas tour every four years.

Additionally, the Council approved a change adopted by the Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee that allows women’s basketball programs to compete against another Division I program in a game during overseas tours. This will provide an opportunity for compelling matchups and a structured, guaranteed game during the tour, which could drive additional international interest in growing the game of women’s basketball.

FBS, FCS Recruitment Calendar

The Council approved additional recruiting calendar changes recommended by the FBS and FCS oversight committees. Some recommendations were made in light of the decision by the Collegiate Commissioners Association, which has authority over the National Letter of Intent program, to move football’s early signing date to the first week of December.

In FBS football, changes include:

• The last date of July is being extended. The purpose of the 31-calendar day dead period beginning July 1 is to allow coaches to prepare for the upcoming season without having to focus on recruiting.
• The purpose of adding a quiet period in December is to allow teams to focus on the football postseason and on-campus recruiting activities.
• The purpose of extending the January contact period is to give schools the opportunity to recruit high school juniors and four-year college transfers.
• Adding a quiet period on the Sunday before the American Football Coaches Association Convention to allow coaches to finish campus visits before the end of the AFCA Convention period.

In FCS football, changes included:

• Allowing a 14-calendar day December contact period beginning on the Friday following the early signing period enables FCS programs to conduct on-campus recruiting activities prior to the regular signing period and before the NCAA transfer portal closes.
• Adding a three-day quiet period at the conclusion of the December contact period to allow FCS schools to continue on-campus recruiting activities in the same manner as FBS schools.