INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA’s board of directors will review two proposals adopted in January that were aimed at deregulating recruiting after some coaches and administrators expressed concerns about the possible changes.
The NCAA announced on Thursday the rules working group will modify proposals that would have removed certain restrictions on who can recruit and the amount of recruiting material that can be sent to prospective high school athletes. The proposals also would lift restrictions on how often coaches can text recruits.
Modified proposals will be considered by the Division I board of directors when it meets May 2 in Indianapolis.
Since the board adopted 25 measures to help streamline NCAA rules regarding recruiting, numerous football coaches and athletic directors have come out against them, including the entire Big Ten. Critics fear that rolling back these rules would “lead to a recruiting arms race.”
One proposal eliminated the position of recruiting coordinator and lifted on a ban on recruiting by staff members without on-field coaching duties.
The other proposal made it possible for coaches to have unlimited contact with recruits through texts, email and social media. The other part of that proposal would allow schools no-limit spending on printed recruiting materials.
Athletic directors and coaches have expressed concerns that these changes would be costly to universities, and put those with smaller budgets at an even greater disadvantage that they already are to keep up with powerhouse football programs such as Alabama and Ohio State.
