NCAA Scholarship limits and minimums

mikamom,

Some new rules were added to D1 effective August 2008. That's when the roster size was changed from unlimited to 35 players. The limit applies only during the championship segment (basically all spring) and any player receiving athletic aid aid must be listed on the roster. There is a rumor apprently running around that the limit has been changed to 30, but that is simply untrue. Furthermore, there is no pending proposal to change the limit.

A D1 baseball player who first enrolls in a 4 year college after August 2008 must receive 0.25 of an equivalency in countable aid if he receives any athletic aid. An equivalency means the sum of tuition, fees, room and board, and $400 for books. The team may not award more than 11.7 equivalencies. See more detail including a paraphrased definition of "countable"

Here's the rationale that was provided in the proposal (2007-9) that eventually gave rise to the 35 man roster, maximum of 27 scholarship players, and the 25% minimum countable aid rule:

Rationale: The average number of baseball student-athletes receiving athletics aid among Division I baseball programs is 27, however, there are some programs that annually exceed as many as 40 baseball student-athletes receiving some portion of aid. A minimum award of athletically related and other countable financial aid at 25% of an equivalency ensures an appropriate balance between addressing student-athlete well-being for those reluctant to serve a year of transfer residence and the ability of baseball coaches to effectively and efficiently manage distribution of 11.7 equivalencies. Requiring the 25% minimum helps ensure the baseball program is truly committed to the student-athlete, thereby encouraging more responsible recruiting and making it less likely for coaches to facilitate transfers of student-athletes to whom they are significantly committed financially. Coaches will be less likely to employ a "run-off" strategy of squad size maintenance after having what amounts to a fall term tryout if the number of counters is limited at the outset. Encouraging a student-athlete who is one of 27 counters to transfer during the academic year will not only cost that institution NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate points, but the institution will not be able to replace that student-athlete with another counter.

3FG! I knew I could count on you! What was said at the game was that all "30" would need to be on a scholarship - no walk-ons, which doesn't make sense to me, but it was the "rumor". As I understand i
t, if a student comes to school with outside scholarship and academic scholarship money from the school, they can be considered a walk on if no athletic money is offered.
So nothing has changed from last year or the year before that. I get it now. Thanks.

And thank you for the countable clarification. I understand that part now too. Wonder where this rumor came about? I heard it from someone who should know.

Actually, one thing has changed since last season, and it is probably the cause of the 30 player roster rumor. In 2010 and into the future, teams can carry a max of 27 players on scholarship. Last season, as part of a transition from no limit on the number of scholarship players, teams could carry 30 players on scholarship.

quote:

27 players on scholarship

3FG, I know you know the rule, but just to clarify for others, that's 27 players on athletic scholarship. Players receiving no money or players receiving other types of scholarships (such as academic, leadership, etc.) can be added to the team's numbers, bringing it up to a max roster size of 35.

I'm a little thick so please clarify something. If a player gets 65% total of academic and baseball money the minimum breakdown has to be 40%-25%. Is this correct?

It cannot be 45% academic and 20% baseball?

Alright, a lot thick!

The total must be 25% or greater if athletic money is given. So if they gave $1.00 BB money the academic money has to make up the rest to get to 25%.

Infield08,
You're right. I should have said 27 counters, rather than 27 receiving scholarships.

fillsfan,
25% of the money needs to be countable against the 11.7 limit. "Academic" money is usually exempt, provided the player meets the NCAA minimum criteria. However, the name that a college uses to describe the source of the money isn't important--just whether the money is part of or excluded from the equivalency calculation. It could be called academic money, or a leadership award, or an award for being red-headed . If the award meets the various criteria (roughly, the award is unrelated to athletic ability), then it isn't countable, and can't be included in the 25%.

The situation is ironic. For the most part, the rules are written to keep schools from skirting around the 11.7 limit, and programs are looking for ways to provide aid to athletes which isn't countable. Now, in some circumstances, it can be inconvenient when money is non-countable.