By Thad Satre
Prep Baseball Report Indiana

The NCAA is rolling back the rulebook. The Division 1 Board of Directors approved 25 of 26 proposals last week aimed at deregulating many of the organization’s complicated rules.

The changes scaled back rules on recruiting, personnel, amateurism, and benefits and expenses.  The simplification will certainly take a bite out of the nearly 500-page NCAA manual.

The most eye-catching change is Proposal 13-3, which eliminates limitations on telephone calls, text messages, and social media communication between coaches and recruits.  Starting August 1, college coaches will be able to call, text, and tweet, along with other social media platforms, at prospects without restrictions. NCAA President Mark Emmert called it, “the least controversial issue in this whole process.”

The restrictions were lifted on printed recruiting material sent to recruits, including size, color, and amount of material. Also thrown out were limits on the number of coaches allowed to be off campus recruiting at one time, otherwise known as the “baton rule.”

The removal of administrative red tape is certainly a positive in the eyes of most coaches at all levels of Division 1. Many coaches acknowledge the lack of enforceability in the previous recruiting regulations. Those who toed the line are pleased to know everyone is now on a level playing field.  However, the advantages in these rule changes certainly favor the big boys of college athletics. Unrestricted mailings and unlimited coaches on the road recruiting are benefits for those schools with deep pockets. The NCAA recognizes the disparity between the rich and poor of college athletic departments in another proposal.  They emphasized competitive fairness but admit legislation will not bring equality in terms of facilities and other resources.  

Proposal 13-2, delayed by the board until April, would allow coaches to begin contacting recruits in the summer between their sophomore and junior years. There were concerns of the effects on the academics of high school students and also the creation of a sole recruiting start date for all sports.

The NCAA’s reasoning for delay sounds sincere but sends a mixed message. Where were the academic concerns when they decided to allow unlimited phone calls and text messages?  The academic concerns may be a mask for the real reason for the tabling of Proposal 13-2. It is the only proposal where the advantage lies with small schools.

Time will tell how beneficial the simplified rule book is for collegiate athletics but one thing is for sure. Coaches and recruits will be running up large phone bills.