Presently, coaches cannot make their players practice more than 20 hours per week. But when one factors in travel time and actual game time, it's easy to see that most players are investing somewhere between 40 to 60 hours a week in their respective sport.
The NCAA should allow athletes to receive an additional year of competition. Presently, they have the additional year, but only because of Covid. It would benefit the sport to make this an indefinite rule where players have five years of competition, and an optional 6th year for a redshirt.
1. With a 5 year plan (with a 6th for optional redshirt), it would increase the quality of play by allowing non-professional level athletes to compete longer in college, and perhaps even create less roster turnover. For example if this rule applied in 1998, perhaps guys like Edwards, Mills, and Sheppard return for a 5th season. If it applied in 1994, maybe guys like Ford return, especially if there was an NIL in place.
2. With the NIL and this potential indefinite 5th year of competition, more players could remain in college and start (or finish) their master's degree while also earning compensation from NIL.
3. Players would have a longer period of time to finish their course work by taking less classes per semester (if needed). This would undoubtedly benefit some players who have learning disabilities or other impairments.
All in all, if the Covid year warranted an extra year of competition, why can't the NCAA just make an accommodation for the realities of the player's competitive work/academic week? Allow the extra year for those players who are serious about their education. It would benefit the programs, the fans, and the players themselves. Academically, it would also benefit the universities because more players would be able to actually graduate.
It's a win-win for everyone involved.
The NCAA should allow athletes to receive an additional year of competition. Presently, they have the additional year, but only because of Covid. It would benefit the sport to make this an indefinite rule where players have five years of competition, and an optional 6th year for a redshirt.
1. With a 5 year plan (with a 6th for optional redshirt), it would increase the quality of play by allowing non-professional level athletes to compete longer in college, and perhaps even create less roster turnover. For example if this rule applied in 1998, perhaps guys like Edwards, Mills, and Sheppard return for a 5th season. If it applied in 1994, maybe guys like Ford return, especially if there was an NIL in place.
2. With the NIL and this potential indefinite 5th year of competition, more players could remain in college and start (or finish) their master's degree while also earning compensation from NIL.
3. Players would have a longer period of time to finish their course work by taking less classes per semester (if needed). This would undoubtedly benefit some players who have learning disabilities or other impairments.
All in all, if the Covid year warranted an extra year of competition, why can't the NCAA just make an accommodation for the realities of the player's competitive work/academic week? Allow the extra year for those players who are serious about their education. It would benefit the programs, the fans, and the players themselves. Academically, it would also benefit the universities because more players would be able to actually graduate.
It's a win-win for everyone involved.