NCAA adopts football recruiting rule changes

The NCAA’s Board of Directors suspended two new rules that had been adopted back in January. The rules in question govern the deregulation of who can perform recruiting tasks and what printed materials can be sent to recruits. A third rule, which allows coaches to contact recruits as often and by whatever means they choose, remains in effect for now.

These rules have been a hot topic within the coaching community since they were proposed, particularly among football coaches. Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher voiced his concerns about what the rules could mean for his assistant coaches:

The NCAA will reconsider some of its recently approved proposals that would permit schools to have staffers dedicated solely to recruiting, unlimited phone and text contact, and an earlier initial contact date, according to John Infante of the Bylaw Blog.

The proposals, which I first covered for SB Nation in early January, are a big deal.

In an effort to streamline its manual, the NCAA announced a set of rule changes on Saturday, including the elimination of rules against coaches sending text messages and printed materials to potential recruits.

Until the rule changes, restrictions were placed on certain methods and modes of communication between coaches and recruits. Coaches were also required to send data on graduation rates and a list of banned substances to prospective student-athletes, but weren’t allowed to send any other type of printed materials.

Mitch Sherman caught up to Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher and asked him about the proposed rule changes to college football recruiting currently being considered by the NCAA.

Read: How college football recruiting rules could change the game.