Busy Day for the NCAA: Transfer Process, NLI and More

The NCAA is working this month as they announced some changes and cleared the air on a few other topics on Wednesday. 

Winter sports will now be given an extra year as fall athletes were in August. Athletes will now have six years to play five years. 

The NCAA has proposed a new transfer proposal where student-athletes would have the chance to transfer and be eligible to play without sitting a year. As of now, baseball, football, men's and women's basketball and men's hockey cannot compete immediately without a waiver from the NCAA. 

"This proposal creates a uniform, equitable approach for all student-athletes, no matter the sport they play," said working group chair Jon Steinbrecher, commissioner of the Mid-American Conference and vice chair of the Council. "We believe the proposal fulfills the promise of the transfer resolution adopted by the Council in the spring, and trust the membership will strongly consider bringing consistency and predictability to Division I transfer regulations while treating student-athletes across all sports alike and in a sensible fashion."

The NCAA is also proposing a requirement where the head coach at the new school and student-athlete must certify no tampering took place. 

Following those lines, the NCAA would likely set deadlines when it comes to when the decision to transfer must be made. May 1st for fall and winter sports and July 1st for spring sports. The NCAA notes there could be exceptions if there is a head coaching change or a canceled scholarship. 

And yes, student-athletes transferring would still have to meet progress toward degree requirements to complete the transfer. 

The vote on this will happen in January of 2021. 

The NCAA also met on concepts for Name, Image and Likeness this week. 

"This is an important milestone in the progress toward modernizing Division I rules to better support student-athletes in all of their endeavors," said Council chair M. Grace Calhoun, athletics director at Pennsylvania. "We know additional refinements may be needed as we make sure modifications are fair, recognize the importance of the current recruiting structure and that every student-athlete has the same opportunity to benefit."

If the legislation passes, the measures would allow student-athletes to: 

• Allow student-athletes to use their name, image and likeness to promote camps and clinics, private lessons, their own products and services, and commercial products or services.
• Allow student-athletes to be paid for their autographs and personal appearances.
• Allow student-athletes to crowdfund for nonprofits or charitable organizations, catastrophic events and family hardships, as well as for educational expenses not covered by cost of attendance.
• Allow student-athletes the opportunity to use professional advice and marketing assistance regarding name, image and likeness activities, as well as professional representation in contract negotiations related to name, image and likeness activities, with some restrictions.
• Prohibit schools from being involved in the development, operation or promotion of a student-athlete's business activity, unless the activity is developed as part of a student's coursework or academic program.
• Prohibit schools from arranging or securing endorsement opportunities for student-athletes.

Also of note, student-athletes would not be allowed to use the school's marks in ads, endorsements, appearances, or promotions. Student-athletes would also not be allowed to promote a product or service that conflicts with NCAA legislation along with promotions that would conflict with school values or sponsorships. 

The NCAA would also make prospective and current student-athletes disclose NLI arrangements and compensation. 

Also, the NCAA continues to support the use of a third-party to assist schools with the process. 

This proposal will also be up for a vote in January of 2021.