NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving – Olympic Hopeful Student-Athletes Participation in Countable Activities - Approved February 5, 2024

The NCAA Division I Committee for Legislative Relief Administrative Committee approved a blanket waiver to permit men’s and women’s swimming and diving student-athletes with a realistic chance of competing for a spot on a 2024 Olympic Games team to continue to be coached by their collegiate coaches after the conclusion of the championship season. The request was granted based on student-athlete well-being and the elite and unique circumstances surrounding potential participation in the Olympic Games.

Specifically, in approving the blanket waiver, the administrative committee noted:

• Men’s and women’s swimming and diving student-athletes who achieve a 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials qualifying time or qualifying score (or for Paralympic or international student-athletes, the equivalent standard) by March 24, 2024, for women or March 31, 2024, for men may continue to be coached by their collegiate coach through the respective U.S. Olympic Team Trials (or for Paralympic or international student-athletes through the date of the qualifying trials for their respective country);
• Men’s and women’s swimming student-athletes who did not achieve a 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials qualifying time (or for Paralympic or international student-athletes, the equivalent standard) by March 24, 2024, for women and March 31, 2024, for men, may continue to be coached by their collegiate coach through events ending May 30, 2024, provided the student-athlete achieves a time within 1% of the time standard in events that are 200 meters/yards or longer and within 2% for events that are 100 meters/yards and shorter for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (or for Paralympic or international student-athletes, the equivalent event); and
• Men’s and women’s diving student-athletes who did not achieve a 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials qualifying score (or for Paralympic or international student-athletes, the equivalent standard) by March 24, 2024, for women or March 31, 2024, for men, may continue to be coached by their collegiate coach through events ending on May 23, 2024, provided the student-athlete achieves a score within 3% of the minimum qualifying score in the relevant individual or synchronized diving event for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (or for Paralympic or international student-athletes, the equivalent event).

See Case No. 1211954 in Requests/Self-Reports Online via the search tab. Additional information regarding blanket waivers can be found on the Committee for Legislative Relief homepage.

[References: NCAA Division I Bylaws 17.02.19 (voluntary athletically related activities), 17.1.7.2 (weekly hour limitations – outside the playing season) and 17.23.7 (safety exception)]

NCAA Division I Blanket Waiver Sport-Specific, Noncoaching Staff Members Participating in Limited On-Court or On-Field Activities Sports Other Than Football and Basketball   - Approved January 10, 2024

At the request of the NCAA Division I Legislative Committee, NCAA staff approved a blanket waiver request, in sports other than football and basketball, to permit up to two sport-specific, noncoaching staff members to engage in limited activities during on-court and on-field practice and competition activities (e.g., throw batting practice, pass a ball, assist with drills). The noncoaching staff members designated to perform such limited on-court or on-field activities must be designated by the institution and their names kept on file in the athletics department. Finally, the sport-specific, noncoaching staff members in sports other than basketball and football are only permitted to participate in such activities until the conclusion of an institution’s 2023-24 playing season.

In approving this request, the staff noted:

1. The NCAA Division I Council introduced a proposal into the June 2024 legislative cycle which would permit, in sports other than basketball and football, a noncoaching staff member with sport-specific responsibilities to participate in limited on-court or on-field activities; 
2. Similar blanket waivers were issued for sports other than basketball and football during the 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years; 
3. This blanket waiver provides relief to allow institutions the necessary flexibility to support student-athletes during practice and competition while the legislative proposal is reviewed during the June 2024 legislative cycle; and 
4. This blanket waiver does not permit a noncoaching staff member to engage in coaching activities. 

See Case No. 1210345 in Requests/Self-Reports Online via the search tab. Additional information regarding blanket waivers can be found on the Committee for Legislative Relief homepage.

[References: NCAA Division I Bylaws 11.02.2 (countable coach) and 11.7.2 (noncoaching staff member with sport-specific responsibilities).]

NCAA Division I Committee for Legislative Relief Blanket Waiver: Baseball 2024-25 Varsity Squad-Size and Annual-Counter Limit – Approved November 21, 2023

At the request of the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Experience Committee, staff approved a blanket waiver in baseball, for the 2024-25 academic year, to permit institutions to increase the varsity squad size from 35 to 40 and annual-counter limit from 27 to 32.  

In granting this request, the staff noted:

1. The significant number of student-athletes returning to participate in NCAA Division I baseball due to a combination of unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances, which include, but are not limited to:
   1. The decrease in the number of opportunities to participate in Major League Baseball, including the decrease in the size of the draft from 40 rounds to 20 rounds and the decrease in the number of minor league teams from 162 to 120, which will result in additional student-athletes returning to their respective institutions during the 2024-25 academic year; and
   2. The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) indicated general support for a permanent legislative change to the overall roster and counter limits and have recommended the committee consider asking the NCAA Division I Council to introduce in a future legislative cycle.
2. The additional counters (up to five) must be included in the maximum team equivalency limit (11.7) and must be provided the minimum individual equivalency value (25%);
3. Approving the blanket waiver in November 2023 supports discussions and decisions for student-athletes and coaches regarding future participation opportunities before fall notification of transfer window opens for spring sports December 1 through 15, 2023; and
4. This is a one-time waiver request for the 2024-25 academic year and allows the Student-Athlete Experience Committee to collaborate with stakeholders in baseball to review the 2007 baseball academic enhancement package (Proposal Nos. 2007-7, 2007-8 and 2007-9) and recommend potential legislative changes.

See Case No. 1207504 in Requests/Self-Reports Online via the search tab.  Additional information regarding blanket waivers can be found on the NCAA Division I Committee for Legislative Relief homepage. 

[References: NCAA Division I Bylaws 15.5.4 (baseball limitations) and 17.3.8.3 (varsity squad size limitation – championship segment)].

NCAA Division I Committee for Legislative Relief Blanket Waiver: Baseball 2024-25 Maximum Official Visit Limit – Approved November 21, 2023

At the request of the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Experience Committee, staff approved a blanket waiver in baseball, for the 2024-25 recruiting cycle, to permit institutions to provide up to 40 official visits.

In granting this request, staff noted:

1. This is a one-time waiver request applicable August 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025, (2024-25 recruiting cycle) and the committee will continue to engage with the baseball community on a long-term legislative solution;
2. An increase in the institutional official visit limit from 25 to 40 provides institutions additional flexibility to allocate official visits between high school junior, high school senior and transfer prospective student-athletes; 
3. The waiver provides similar relief to previous blanket waivers issued, in baseball, following the adoption of NCAA Division I Proposal No. 2017-111, which permitted institutions to provide junior prospective student-athletes official visits in sports other than basketball and football; 
4. This is a one-time waiver request for the 2024-25 academic year and allows the Student-Athlete Experience Committee to collaborate with stakeholders in baseball to review the 2007 baseball academic enhancement package (Proposal Nos. 2007-7, 2007-8 and 2007-9) and recommend potential legislative changes; and
5. The American Baseball Coaches Association supported the blanket waiver request.

See Case No. 1207505 in Requests/Self-Reports Online via the search tab. Additional information regarding blanket waivers can be found on the Committee for Legislative Relief homepage.

[Reference: NCAA Division I Bylaw 13.6.2.2.2 (baseball)]

NCAA Division I Committee for Legislative Relief Blanket Waiver: NCAA-Certified Agents Providing Training Expenses to Division I Men's Basketball Student-Athletes “Testing the Waters” – Approved October 24, 2023

At the recommendation of the NCAA Division I Strategic Vision and Planning Committee and with the support of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Oversight Committee, the NCAA academic and membership affairs staff approved a legislative relief blanket waiver to permit NCAA-certified agents to provide a Division I men’s basketball student-athlete with transportation, meals and lodging related to training expenses (e.g., cost of trainers, facility usage fees, nutrition) in preparation for the 2024 NBA Draft, provided:

1. The NCAA Division I men’s basketball student-athlete has signed a 2024 Standard Player Agent Contract (SPAC) with the NCAA-certified agent;
2. Relief is only provided from the conclusion of the student-athlete's playing season until the student-athlete withdraws from the draft, or not later than 10 days after the conclusion of the NBA Draft combine, whichever is earlier; and
3. A student-athlete shall not miss class in conjunction with such training activities.

In granting this request, the NCAA academic and membership affairs staff noted:

1. The Commission on College Basketball recommended that men’s basketball student-athletes receive a meaningful assessment of their professional prospects and be able to receive assistance from certified agents;
2. After a Division I men’s basketball student-athlete signs a SPAC, an NCAA-certified agent can permissibly provide the student-athlete (and family members) with transportation, lodging and meal expenses associated with meeting with the agent or a professional team; and
3. Men’s basketball student-athletes preparing for the NBA Draft and NBA Draft Combine regularly employ outside trainers to obtain a meaningful assessment of their professional prospects.

See Case No. 1205372 in Requests/Self-Reports Online via the search tab. Additional information regarding blanket waivers can be found on the Committee for Legislative Relief homepage.

[References: NCAA Division I Bylaw 12.3.1.2.3.2 (Expenses After Agreement), 12.2.4.2.1.1 (National Basketball Association) and 12.3.1.2.4 (No Missed Class Time)]. 

NCAA Division I Committee for Legislative Relief Blanket Waiver Men’s and Women’s Soccer First Contest or Date of Competition - Approved October 18, 2023

The NCAA Division I Committee for Legislative Relief approved a blanket waiver to permit, in soccer, an institution to play its first regular-season contest or engage in its first date of competition (game) with outside competition before the Thursday before the 13th weekend before the start of the NCAA Division I Men's and Women’s Soccer Championship during the 2024-25 academic year (one week prior to the current legislated start date). 

For the 2024-25 academic year the first permissible contest/date of competition in soccer will be:

Men’s Soccer: August 22, 2024.

Women’s Soccer: August 15, 2024. 

In granting this request, the Committee for Legislative Relief noted: 

1. The blanket waiver is only applicable for the 2024-25 academic year; 
2. The blanket waiver does not amend or extend the soccer playing season, the length of an institution’s playing season in soccer remains limited to a 132-day season; 
3. The men’s and women’s soccer communities have identified match compression as a significant concern that detrimentally affects student-athlete health and well-being under the current playing season model; 
4. Both the men’s and women’s soccer communities intend to request the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Experience Committee introduce legislation to amend the playing season, which would be effective beginning with the 2025-26 academic year; 
5. The blanket waiver request does not represent a permanent legislative solution, but serves as one-time, temporary relief to allow permanent legislative solutions to be reviewed through the Council-Governance legislative process; and 
6. The Student-Athlete Experience Committee and United Soccer Coaches supported the blanket waiver request. 

See Case No. 1195410 in Requests/Self-Reports Online via the search tab. Additional information regarding blanket waivers can be found on the Committee for Legislative Relief homepage.

[References: NCAA Division I Bylaw 17.20.3 (First Contest or Date of Competition)]