THE NCAA HAS ANNOUNCED NEW RULES THAT WILL IMPACT BOTH COLLEGES and ATHLETES.  THE MESSAGE FROM COLLEGE BASEBALL'S ACADEMIC REFORMERS IS LOUD AND CLEAR:  WHEN IT COMES TO RECRUITING, BIGGER IS BAD.

THE NCAA BELIEVED THAT OVER-RECRUITING WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN COLLEGE BASEBALL, ONE THAT RESULTED IN PLAYERS BEING RUN OFF AND ACADEMIC PROGRESS RATES PLUMMETING.  SO TO PREVENT SCHOOLS FROM BRINGING IN HUGE CLASSES IN AUGUST AND THEN FORCING HALF THE CLASS TO TRANSFER AFTER FALL BALL, THE NCAA INSTITUTED FALL CERTIFICATION AND A 35-MAN ROSTER CAP WHILE REQUIRING PLAYERS TO SIT OUT A YEAR WHEN TRANSFERRING.

THE PLAN IS FAR FROM FLAWLESS, BUT IT HAS HAD THE DESIRED EFFECT WITH MOST RECRUITERS, IF THE EARLY SIGNING PERIOD IS ANY INDICATION.  COACHES ALREADY HAVE BEGUN TO MUCH MORE JUDICIOUS WHEN OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS.  WITH THESE NEW RULES IN EFFECT, THE IMPACT OF ERRORS ON PLAYER EVALUATIONS IS MUCH MORE COSTLY.  THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE - NOW THAT ALL SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS MUST RECEIVE A MINIMUM AID PACKAGE OF 25%.  AND ALMOST ACROSS THE BOARD, RECRUITING CLASSES HAVE GOTTEN SMALLER.

"THE DIFFERENCE NOW IS YOU'VE GOT TO BE AT THE SCHOLARSHIP LIMIT AT THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL -- THERE'S NO GRAY AREA," SAID ONE RECRUITING COORDINATOR AT A MAJOR PUBLIC SCHOOL.  "THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO OVERLOAD IN THE SUMMER WILL HAVE TO UNLOAD BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS.  MOST OF US ARE GOING TO GO OVER BY A LITTLE BIT, BUT HOW DO YOU SIGN 10 MORE KIDS (THAN YOU HAVE ROSTER SPOTS FOR)?"

MANY RECRUITING COORDINATORS EXPRESSED BEWILDERMENT THAT A FEW SCHOOLS WERE STILL ABLE TO SIGN 20 OR MORE RECRUITS, BUT THERE ARE MITIGATING FACTORS THAT CAN MAKE IT WISE TO CAST A WIDE NET.  SOME COACHES EXPRESSED CONCERNS THAT THE NEW MINIMUM SCHOLARSHIP RULE COULD ACTUALLY PROVIDE COVER FOR SCHOOLS TO PROMISE RECRUITS BIGGER AID PACKAGES IN ORDER TO SECURE A COMMITMENT NOW, THEN GO BACK ON THEIR WORD LATER.  "ONE THING THE 25% RULE HASN'T CHANGED IS YOU CAN STILL OFFER A KID WHATEVER HE WANTS TO HEAR TO GET HIM ON CAMPUS."  SAID ONE RECRUITING COORDINATOR.  "THIS WOULD BE A GREAT EXCUSE:  'THE NCAA IS STICKING IT TO US, WE'VE GOT TO TAKE SOME OF YOUR MONEY CACK.'  IT CAN BE THE TRUTH OR NOT."

THERE IS MUCH DEBATE ON THE WISDOM OF THESE NEW RULES, HOWEVER - TIME WILL TELL IF THIS IS GOOD FOR THE COLLEGE ATHLETE - OR JUST ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF WHY MANY ARE COMING TO BELIEVE THAT THE NCAA CONTINUES UNCHECKED AND FURTHER EXPANDS ITS EXPLOITATION OF THE COLLEGIATE ATHLETE FOR ITS GAIN AND THEIR LOSS.
STOLEN FROM TBS. (TRAVELBALLSELECT.COM)