The NCAA has approved a waiver that will allow men’s and women’s basketball programs to pay for unlimited official recruiting visits in order to help teams deal with roster depletion caused by transfers. Currently, men’s basketball programs are allowed 28 official visits over a rolling two-year period, while the number for women’s programs is 24. The waiver will cover a two-year period starting August 1, 2023, and running through July 31, 2025. The NCAA Division I Council will consider proposed legislation in June that would lift the limit on official visits in men’s and women’s basketball permanently.
Last month, the NCAA changed its rules to allow all athletes to be immediately eligible to play no matter how many times they transfer, as long as they meet academic requirements. This move came after the association fast-tracked legislation to align with a recent court order. Several states, including West Virginia, had sued the NCAA challenging rules that required undergraduate athletes to sit out for a season if they transferred more than once. With the increased player movement due to unlimited and unrestricted transfers, basketball programs have been forced into difficult situations created by high levels of roster turnover.
In some cases, coaches are faced with replacing almost an entire team due to the high levels of player movement. The scholarship limit in Division I for men’s basketball is 13, while for women’s teams it is 15. The NCAA’s approval of the waiver for unlimited official recruiting visits is aimed at helping programs cope with the challenges of roster depletion caused by frequent transfers. The waiver will provide teams with additional flexibility in recruiting and building their rosters in the face of increased player movement.
The waiver will allow men’s and women’s basketball programs to have more opportunities to attract and recruit players to fill roster spots left vacant due to transfers. With the waiver in place, teams will have the ability to bring in more potential recruits for official visits, ultimately helping them build competitive rosters despite the challenges posed by high levels of player movement. This additional flexibility in recruiting visits will be beneficial for programs looking to address roster turnover and ensure continuity and competitiveness within their teams.
The approval of the waiver by the NCAA for unlimited official recruiting visits is part of a broader effort to address the impact of increased player movement on basketball programs. The waiver is designed to provide teams with the tools and resources they need to navigate the challenges of roster depletion caused by transfers and maintain competitive rosters. With the waiver in place, men’s and women’s basketball programs will have the flexibility to pursue recruiting strategies that best suit their needs and goals, ultimately helping them adapt to the changing landscape of college basketball and build successful teams.
The NCAA’s decision to approve the waiver for unlimited official recruiting visits reflects a recognition of the unique challenges that basketball programs face in the current environment of increased player movement due to transfers. By providing teams with additional opportunities to bring in potential recruits for official visits, the waiver aims to support programs in their efforts to address roster turnover and maintain competitive rosters. The waiver will help teams navigate the complexities of recruiting in a landscape where player movement is more fluid and frequent, ultimately enabling programs to build and sustain successful teams in the face of these challenges.
Overall, the approval of the waiver for unlimited official recruiting visits by the NCAA represents a proactive response to the issues of roster depletion and increased player movement faced by men’s and women’s basketball programs. By granting teams the flexibility to pay for unlimited official visits, the waiver aims to provide programs with the necessary tools to address roster turnover and build competitive rosters despite the challenges posed by transfers. This decision underscores the NCAA’s commitment to supporting basketball programs in navigating the evolving landscape of college basketball and ensuring the continued success and competitiveness of teams in the face of these challenges.
