NCAA Reportedly Considering Altering Recruiting Rules

Those who have long clamored for the NCAA to carve down its hefty rule book may finally be getting their wish.

According to an Associated Press report (h/t ESPN), the NCAA will vote on Jan. 19 to adopt a new, wide-ranging recruitment system that will create massive alterations to the recruiting calendar and how coaches interact with players:

"

The NCAA released a package of proposals Friday that would change the recruiting calendar, lift restrictions on how and how often coaches can contact recruits, and allow athletes to accept more money for participating in non-scholastic events.

"

Over everything, this move seems to be one aimed at simplicity. 

According to the report, the most notable modification would be an NCAA-wide change to the recruiting calendar. Instead of staggering the dates of first contact between schools, the new proposal would allow coaches to begin contacting recruits July 1 of their sophomore year in high school.

Obviously, there would still be periods where coaches cannot contact recruits. However, this move would eliminate the vast amount of red tape that accompanies the NCAA recruiting process. 

What's more, there will be no limitations on how many times a coach can contact a recruit. That means no more hand-wringing over how many text messages or calls a coach sends per month. With that comes an unbelievable amount of freedom in what was otherwise a restrictive environment, for all parties involved.

To put it another way, the NCAA has more pressing issues than how many "lol's" get sent back and forth on a monthly basis. This is a change already present in basketball that would now extend to other sports.

The proposal would also allow athletes to receive up to $300 per year to attend non-scholastic events and for schools to award players money for travel and other worthy expenses as well. 

Essentially, the new system would help eradicate the unnecessary checks and balances, allowing the NCAA to concentrate on larger infractions, while giving infinitely more freedom to the players and coaches. 

That's the type of change I think we can all get behind.

Follow @tylerconway22