Saturday, 14 January 2023 10:09

NCAA Council Adjusts Coaching Limits, 2nd Transfer and Initial Eligibility Rules

The NCAA Council for Division 1 has made several rule changes with potential impacts to both Men's and Women's Gymnastics.  These changes are still subject to approval by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors.

The NCAA has eliminated the volunteer coach position, instead it will now count them as part of pad staff.  New higher limits have been set across all sports (with varying limits and restrictions)  This provides an opportunity for additional gymnastic coaches, with the limits for men's and women's gymnastics going from three total coaches to four.  Acro and Tumbling programs go from three to five.  It may, however, put additional pressure on athletic budgets across the country, which potentially could lead to cuts elsewhere and/or reduced parity.  The total cost of full implementation could exceed the operation budgets of one or two sports.  These changes to volunteer, student assistant and manager positions are detailed here:  Link   

The NCAA has also modified rules on transfers.  Immediate eligibility after second transfers is now contingent on certain qualification rules regarding health, mental health and other non-sports related exigent circumstances.  Playing time and academics are no longer valid reasons.  Second time transfers who do not meet the criteria must sit out one year.  This does not apply to non-scholarship (walk on) athletes nor those whose sport is being cut.  Also, athletes that graduate first may transfer a second time without sitting out the year.  This change is intended to reduce the amount of transfer portal use, particularly in sports like football and basketball, where the activity is much higher.  

The NCAA also moved to eliminate the use of standardized test scores to determine initial eligibility.  A current waiver is in place due to COVID.  In the past, certain athletes had to sit out a year due to not hitting the minimum SAT or ACT score.  This has rarely impacted gymnastics but has been an issue in other sports.

The NCAA decided not to move stunt into an emerging women's sport, referring it back to Committee for Women's Athletics for additional dilligence.

Link:  Story

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