NCAA D1 Updates Official Visit Rules and Aims to Improve the Athlete Experience
The NCAA D1 Council met in April and approved several updates, including new official visit rules. The council also continues to support initiatives aimed at improving the D1 student-athlete experience overall. Here are the important updates you need to know:
Recruits can now take unlimited official visits
Beginning July 1, 2023, recruits will no longer have a limit on the number of official visits they can make to NCAA D1 schools. Previously, recruits were only allowed to visit five D1 schools. This means D1 recruits will now have the opportunity to explore more schools before making their commitment decision.
Recruits are, however, still limited to only one official visit per school. The only exception is if there’s a head coaching staff change; only then could an athlete revisit the same D1 school.
In men’s basketball, recruits are still allowed a second official visit to the same school, as long as the second visit isn’t during the same academic year.
Student-athletes will be involved in decision-making
The NCAA’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) successfully gained more student-athlete representation requirements. Moving forward, all D1 schools and conferences need to:
- Appoint at least one senior staff member to be involved in their SAAC
- Create a leadership team for their SAAC
- Include at least one current college athlete in committees that are focused on student-athlete issues
These new requirements signal the value that the NCAA is placing on their student-athletes’ perspectives and experiences. The hope is that the inclusion of athletes in these discussions will positively impact those most affected by NCAA rules and policies – the athletes themselves.
D1 Council also considers more holistic benefits for athlete
The D1 council is proposing ways to increase benefits for student-athletes during and after their careers. They proposed a model that the Board of Directors will review later this month. The recommendations to enhance support for student-athletes include:
- Degree completion funds available for 10 years after being an athlete
- Increased access to medical coverage for 2 years after being an athlete
- Campus mental health services
- Diversity, equity and inclusion programs
- Career preparation and counseling
- Strength and conditioning training, and more
If approved, benefits would take effect in August 2024 to give schools time to put the benefits into place. We will update this post after the Board of Directors votes.
New D1 football rules could take effect on August 1, 2023
The Football Oversight Committee recommended extensive updates to the D1 football recruiting model. If approved, the changes will take effect on August 1, 2023.
Proposed changes range from simple calendar updates all the way to significant changes to how college coaches can contact and interact with prospects.
Read the full list of proposed changes here.