The NCAA Division I board of directors voted Friday to provide all fall sport student-athletes an extra year of eligibility and an additional year to complete it through a blanket waiver.
The relocation gets rid of a cloud of unpredictability for athletes in fall sports whose seasons have actually been held off or might be disrupted due to the fact that of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, as is still a possibility with college football in six FBS conferences.
The additional year of eligibility, which was recommended to the board of directors previously today by the NCAAs Division I Council, was just among several choices Friday planned to even more safeguard student-athletes during COVID-19.
2 RelatedThe board on Friday also identified that schools cant need student-athletes to waive their legal rights regarding COVID-19 as a condition of participation. Schools are likewise prohibited from canceling or reducing scholarships if an athlete chooses not to participate due to the fact that of COVID-19.
West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons, who is the chair of the Football Oversight Committee, stated the top question he has actually received from student-athletes has actually been concerning their eligibility throughout a season of uncertainty.
” By providing clarity and removing that uncertainty from their minds is something thats going to be really useful as we move on,” Lyons stated. “Not having a normal season, not having that normal 20 video games in soccer, or 28 matches in beach ball, and even football not exactly sure what that seasons going to appear like, that was the No. 1 issue that the student-athletes had, was the eligibility piece.”
Although Lyons called it a win for the student-athletes, he acknowledged that it could be challenging to manage scholarships and lineups of future groups.
” We have to look at what was best for the student-athlete for this situation,” Lyons stated. It might be higher numbers, however we can work through that with the normal attrition you have on your lineups, as well as conversations with athletes in the coming years about their playing time and their interest in potentially moving to other institutions.
” We have to look at what was right for the student-athlete for this scenario,” Lyons stated. Board members cautioned that fall championships must be played in the spring only if they can be carried out safely and in accordance with federal, state and local health guidelines. Any last decisions on bracket sizes and structure will be authorized by the board.
” We want to offer opportunities for student-athletes whenever possible,” said acting board chair Denise Trauth, president of Texas State.
” It all works its method out. We needed to look at what was in front people today, and thats looking after the athletes on our lineups today.”
The board of directors on Friday also made a commitment for Division I to pursue hosting “scaled-back fall championships in the spring.” Board members warned that fall championships need to be played in the spring just if they can be performed securely and in accordance with federal, state and regional health guidelines. Any decisions on bracket sizes and structure will be approved by the board.
The NCAA stated in a release that the priority stays “preserving chances for winter season and spring sport student-athletes who did not have the chance to take part in the NCAA champions in 2019-20.
” We desire to supply chances for student-athletes whenever possible,” stated acting board chair Denise Trauth, president of Texas State. “We comprehend it will be complicated and various, and were not certain how it will look. We think its crucial to attempt to offer trainees that championship experience.”
