Nutter Center | Photograph: Soham Parikh | The Wright State Guardian
On Monday, March 30, the Division I Council voted to give each individual school the ability to give spring-sport athletes an extension of eligibility.
Extended eligibility
This vote allows spring-sport athletes another year of competition. It also extends playing eligibility for seniors who lost their last season of competition due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“The Council’s decision gives individual schools the flexibility to make decisions at a campus level,” said Council Chair M. Grace Calhoun, athletics director at the University of Pennsylvania. “The Board of Governors encouraged conferences and schools to take action in the best interest of student-athletes and their communities, and now schools have the opportunity to do that.”
According to the press release, it is up to the individual schools to decide whether to grant this eligibility or not.
Winter sports are not included in this decision as they have already completed most of their seasons, according to the release.
WSU decision
Wright State has not yet made a decision, but they are working closely with all parties involved to come to a conclusion.
“We are appreciative of the NCAA Division I Council’s swift actions in allowing for an additional season for our spring sport student-athletes and for permitting schools to make their own determinations on how to best proceed,” said the Wright State University Department of Athletics. “There are still details to be ironed out, and we will work closely with both our coaches and student-athletes as we move forward in this process.”
Other changes
Members of the Division I Council made several other changes as well.
Financial rules have been adjusted to allow for more players on scholarships. This is to adjust for incoming recruits and players who decide to stay and play an additional year.
The council also decided to increase the roster limit in baseball.
