The NCAA Division I Board of Directors were busy on Thursday, making several new proclamations and declarations across a wide variety of sports. The most impactful decision on swimming, however, was to put perhaps another nail in the coffin of the rules that would lift all restrictions on modes and frequency with which college coaches would be allowed to contact high school students within the alloted recruiting period.
The announcement noted that the decision does not affect those rules specifically adopted for basketball. From the release:
The Board declined to change its position on a proposal prohibiting live scouting of opponents, which also had received more than 75 override requests. With that action, the measure will go to a full vote of the membership through an online process.
By 75 schools contacting them to voice opposition after the rule was first approved in January, it now has to be voted upon by all NCAA Division I schools
The NCAA has left suspended/tabled the very controversial rule to allow earlier contact with results, and thus far has not yet brought it up for further discussion.
One other rules change received the required 75 override requests. That was specifically the rule that prohibited the live scouting of opponents. As compared to the unlimited contact rules above, the Board declined to change their position on this one, agreeing with the Working Group that this would create a “simpler and more consistent rule that is easy to follow.”
The concerns voiced to the Board on this rule centered around the availability and quality of video in “Olympic sports,” though that could be a bit of a smokescreen for other objections.
See Also:
Division I Coaches React to Major NCAA Rules Changes.
NCAA to Consider Major Rules Changes on January 19th in Dallas.
NCAA Working Group Reconsiders Two Rules Changes Regarding Recruiting.
NCAA Announces Landmark Changes to Division I Rulesbook in Name of “Fairness”.
How difficult would it be for college swimming to break free from the ncaa. I feel like swimming could be so much more improved and benefitted without having to deal with all of the ncaa rules. There could be pros in college swimming, there could be more money for recruits. Less teams cut. How would this all be able to happen?
More money for recruits? From where? Name one AD in the country who is going to give a dime to swimming recruits the compete in a league not called the NCAA.
Let’s be realistic here. The rules against texting juniors and seniors are a good ones – no coaches want to do it and no recruits want it – the result is the override you see above.
Let us recap –
1. No coaches want this (CSCAA was heavily against texting and unlimited calls)
2. Recruits have high school classes / club training / social life and don’t need 40 college coaches texting them daily.
Why would the NCAA push this through?
As per… Read more »
Common sense has prevailed. The last thing any female high school junior wants to do is get harassed via text message by 55 year old male college coaches.