Division I removes some restrictions on countable coaches in football - NCAA.org (2024)

Division I removes some restrictions on countable coaches in football - NCAA.org (1)

Media Center Meghan Durham Wright

Basketball Oversight Committees also implement changes to playing seasons, recruiting rules

The Division I Council on Tuesday approved a rule change adopted by the Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision Oversight Committees to permit any staff member to provide technical and tactical instruction to student-athletes. The decision is not final until the meeting concludes Wednesday.

The change would be effective immediately. Moving forward, any staff member may provide technical and tactical instruction to student-athletes during practice and competition.

The proposal does not change the number of off-campus recruiters. FBS teams remain limited to up to 11 staff members and FCS teams remain limited to 13 staff members who may participate in off-campus recruiting activities. National service academies are permitted an additional four off-campus recruiters. Both subdivisions must include the head coach as an off-campus recruiter, and only staff members who regularly engage in on-campus coaching activities with student-athletes can be counted as off-campus recruiters.

FBS programs also remain able to have up to four graduate student coaches and no more than five strength and conditioning coaches. Limits for student assistant coaches will be the same as the number of permissible off-campus recruiters for a football program.

"NCAA members continue efforts to modernize support for student-athletes, and removing restrictions on skill instruction in football will provide those student-athletes with increased resources to achieve their greatest on-field potential," said Josh Whitman, chair of the council and athletics director at Illinois. "At the same time, the council determined that maintaining limits on recruiting personnel will preserve competitive balance in recruiting while also localizing decision-making around how best to maximize support for student-athletes."

Cannabis testing

The council voted to remove cannabinoids from the banned drug class for championships and postseason participation in football, effective immediately.

"The NCAA drug testing program is intended to focus on integrity of competition, and cannabis products do not provide a competitive advantage," Whitman said. "The council's focus is on policies centered on student-athlete health and well-being rather than punishment for cannabis use."

Any penalties currently being served by student-athletes who previously tested positive for cannabinoids will be discontinued.

Official visits in basketball and baseball

The council approved a change by the Men's and Women's Basketball Oversight Committees and the Division I Student-Athlete Experience Committee that removes school restrictions on official visits, effective immediately.

Previously, men's basketball programs were limited to 28 official visits during a two-year rolling period, though for the past two academic years a blanket waiver was issued to provide 35 visits per school. In women's basketball, the previous limit was 24 official visits during a two-year rolling average with a blanket waiver in place the past years with a limit of 30 official visits. Baseball programs were limited to 25 official visits per year; however, they have also operated under a blanket waiver for the past four academic years allowing 40 official visits per year.

In April 2023, NCAA members voted to allow prospects to take unlimited official visits to NCAA schools but limited them to one official visit per school, unless there is a head coaching change after an official visit, in which case prospects are able to complete a second official visit to the same school.

As a result of recent changes to transfer rules, in addition to the change allowing unlimited visits for prospects, the Basketball Oversight and Student-Athlete Experience Committees agreed that programs should be able to provide as many official visits as they need to maintain rosters year-to-year and avoid roster depletion.

Basketball foreign tours

A rule change adopted by the Men's and Women's Basketball Oversight Committees and approved by the council will allow student-athletes to compete in more than one foreign tour with the same school. Basketball programs are still limited to one foreign tour every four years.

Additionally, the council approved a change adopted by the Women's Basketball Oversight Committee that allows women's basketball programs to compete against another Division I program in one game during a foreign tour. This will provide an opportunity for compelling matchups and a structured, guaranteed game during a tour, which can drive additional international interest in growing the game of women's basketball.

FBS, FCS recruiting calendars

The council approved additional recruiting calendar changes recommended by the FBS and FCS Oversight Committees.Some of the recommendations were made to account for the decision by the Collegiate Commissioners Association, which has authority over the National Letter of Intent program, to move football's early signing date to the first week of December.

In FBS football, changes include:

  • Extending the July dead period. A 31-calendar day dead period beginning July 1 is intended to allow coaches to prepare for the upcoming season without focusing on recruiting.
  • Adding a December quiet period, intended to allow teams to focus on the football postseason and allow on-campus recruiting activities.
  • Extending the January contact period, intended to allow schools the opportunity to recruit high school juniors and four-year college transfers.
  • Adding a quiet period the Sunday before the American Football Coaches Association Convention, to allow coaches to finish campus visits before the AFCA Convention dead period.

In FCS football, changes include:

  • Allowing a 14-calendar day December contact period beginning the Friday after the early signing period, enabling FCS programs to conduct on- and off-campus recruiting activities before the regular signing period and before the NCAA Transfer Portal closes.
  • Adding a three-day quiet period at the conclusion of the December contact period to allow FCS schools to continue to have on-campus recruiting activities at the same time as FBS schools.

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Division I removes some restrictions on countable coaches in football - NCAA.org (2024)

FAQs

What is a countable coach? ›

In sports other than football, a countable coach is an institutional staff member or any other individual outside the institution (e.g., consultant, professional instructor) with whom the institution has made arrangements who engages in off-campus recruiting activities or provides technical or tactical instruction ...

How many football coaches allowed by NCAA? ›

FBS teams remain limited to up to 11 staff members and FCS teams remain limited to 13 staff members who may participate in off-campus recruiting activities. National service academies are permitted an additional four off-campus recruiters.

How many coaches are allowed in football? ›

The NFL doesn't have a limit, but teams usually come in at around 22 or 23 to a staff. Bill Belichick famously had one of the smallest staffs in the NFL every year, with around 17 coaches in New England.

What is the NCAA rule on hiring high school coaches? ›

Those kinds of hires are now discouraged under NCAA bylaw 11.4. 3, passed last week. The new rule is designed to prevent college programs from hiring high school coaches, parents, trainers or handlers just to get a recruiting advantage.

What is a countable evaluation NCAA? ›

Countable athletically related activities include any required activity with an athletics purpose involving student-athletes and at the direction of, or supervised by, one or more of an institution's coaching staff (including strength and conditioning coaches) and must be counted within the weekly and daily limitations ...

What is considered countable? ›

able to be counted. Mathematics. (of a set) having a finite number of elements. (of a set) having elements that form a one-to-one correspondence with the natural numbers; denumerable; enumerable.

What is the NCAA football coaching limit? ›

The new policy will keep the number of off-campus recruits to 11, including head coaches. FCS would be able to have 13 assistants recruit off-campus. At the FBS level, head coaches could designate any 10 staffers as countable coaches who can recruit off-campus.

Can you coach in the NCAA without a degree? ›

Earn a Bachelor's Degree

Before you can direct college athletes on the sidelines, you'll need to attend an accredited four-year college or university yourself.

What is the maximum number of coaches in the NCAA? ›

The NCAA Division I council voted on Tuesday, approving a rule change that permits any staff member to provide technical and tactical instruction to players.

How do I report coach abuse to the NCAA? ›

SafeSport Mandatory Reporting Obligations for NCAA Coaches

SafeSport offers various training opportunities to help coaches understand what conduct must be reported. You can file a report with SafeSport online or by calling SafeSport at 720-531-0340.

What is the rule of two for coaches? ›

Rule of Two is to ensure all interactions and communications are open, observable and justifiable. What is the Rule of Two? There must be at least two adults present with athletes at all times. Two trained and screened coaches with one athlete.

Can a college coach also coach for a club? ›

In sports other than basketball, an institution's coach may be involved in any capacity (e.g., as a participant, administrator or in instructional or coaching activities) in the same sport for a local sports club or organization located in the institution's home community, provided all prospects participating in said ...

What can coaches not do? ›

Life coaches are not therapists and cannot make decisions for you or provide instant fixes. They also cannot offer advice in specialized fields like finance or law. In your journey toward personal growth and success, consider whether a life coach can be a beneficial partner.

How many coaches can you have in college football? ›

The NCAA Division I Council voted Tuesday to expand college football coaching staffs, allowing an unlimited number of assistants to instruct athletes.

What can a college coach get fired for? ›

Termination for cause is an easier decision in many ways than firing a coach for other rea¬sons because the decision is clear. The coach has crossed a well-defined line—he or she has broken rules, committed a felony, violated a contract, or committed some other such action.

Is coach countable or uncountable? ›

(countable) A coach is a bus or a car of a train with seats for many people. Thomas the Tank Engine was pulling his coaches Annie and Clarabel back into Knapford Station. (countable) A coach is a vehicle pulled by a horse.

What is the difference between a coach and a stagecoach? ›

Today the word “stagecoach” is applied almost exclusively to the classic, oval-shaped overland coach produced in Concord, New Hampshire. These have starred in countless Western movies and colored the public's perceptions about transportation.

What are two types of coaching? ›

Autocratic coaching could work if you want to reach specific goals and enjoy structure. However, democratic coaching offers more flexibility and can be empowering. Transformational and holistic coaching are popular if you want to practice self-care, change your mindset and address other areas of your life.

What is a countable athletically related activity? ›

A “countable athletically related activity” is any required activity with an athletics purpose that involves student-athletes and is at the direction of, or supervised by, any member of an institution's coaching staff, including strength and conditioning coaches.

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