04/08/26 07:10:00
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04/08 19:08 CDT NCAA committee to discuss streamlined, age-based eligibility
rules, AP sources say
NCAA committee to discuss streamlined, age-based eligibility rules, AP sources
say
By AARON BEARD and EDDIE PELLS
AP Sports Writers
An NCAA panel is scheduled to discuss potential changes to eligibility rules
that would incorporate age into the process, two people with knowledge of the
situation said Wednesday.
The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the
NCAA hasn't publicly discussed the proposal. They said the matter was scheduled
to be reviewed and discussed by the Division I Cabinet next week, but not voted
on for implementation.
Yahoo Sports was first to report the proposal. An NCAA spokesman did not
immediately return a message left by AP.
The proposal, which mirrors language written into the executive order issued by
President Donald Trump last week, would give athletes five years of eligibility
with the clock starting at the earliest of two dates: either when they turn 19
or graduate high school. There would be limited exceptions but they would not
involve injuries, which has been a common reason for players to ask for extra
eligibility.
Still unknown is whether the rule would shield the NCAA from lawsuits over
eligibility. Dozens of players have sued for extra years, claiming injuries and
other circumstances made them candidates for extra eligibility. The NCAA is
seeking a limited antitrust exemption from Congress to prevent these lawsuits.
Speaking at the Final Four over the weekend, NCAA President Charlie Baker said
Trump wanted to figure out a way to "get something on the books that works and
represents what most people are looking for at this point, which is a much
simpler eligibility process, which we've been talking to our committees about."
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AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports
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