Post-eligibility injury insurance and catastrophic injury insurance
The NCAA will offer member schools post-eligibility insurance coverage for injuries sustained by student-athletes during participation in a qualifying intercollegiate sport on or after August 1, 2024. The coverage will be for up to two years after student-athletes separate from school or voluntarily withdraw from athletics and will provide certain benefits in excess of any other valid and collectible insurance. . In addition, the NCAA sponsors a catastrophic injury insurance program for active member institutions. The insurance covers student-athletes with medical expenses exceeding $90,000 if they were injured while participating in a covered intercollegiate activity.
Facilitating fair and safe competition through the NCAA Drug-Testing Program.
To ensure a fair playing field and to deter college athletes from putting performance-enhancing and potentially harmful substances into their bodies, member schools have directed the NCAA to conduct drug testing at its championships in Divisions I, II, and III, and year-round on campuses in Division I and II programs. The Association maintains a list of banned substances, and student-athletes who test positive for a banned substance or who breach NCAA testing protocol may lose their eligibility. In addition, the NCAA provides evidence-based resources to assist schools, which are required to educate student-athletes about banned substances, drug-testing policies and products, like nutritional or dietary supplements, that might contain banned substances.
Mental health
When the membership adopted a new Constitution in January 2022, member schools in all three divisions made a commitment to creating a campus environment that reinforces physical and mental health within athletics by ensuring access to appropriate resources and open engagement with respect to physical and mental health. In addition, schools in all divisions are required to follow the NCAA Mental Health Best Practices. As part of its holistic student-athlete model, Division I is requiring schools to attest to providing services and support consistent with the Mental Health Best Practices. The first attestation deadline is November 2025.
Independent medical care
Member schools adopted legislation that requires medical decisions to be made by health care providers, not coaches. To guarantee student-athlete health comes first, schools must affirm the unchallengeable autonomous authority of the primary athletics health care providers (team physicians and athletic trainers) to determine medical management and make return-to-play decisions for student-athletes. In addition, they must designate one campus representative to oversee the athletics department’s health care administration and delivery.
Playing rules
Safety is always a consideration when NCAA playing rules are being written and revised. Sport playing rules committees often consult with the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports and the Sport Science Institute and evaluate injury data as they consider how rule changes might minimize risks and impact a student-athlete’s opportunity to participate in college sports.
