D-I teams barred from playing non-collegiate opponents

INDIANAPOLIS -- Major colleges will no longer be allowed to schedule men's exhibition basketball games against non-collegiate opponents, such as foreign teams, AAU clubs or Athletes in Action.

The prohibition was approved Thursday by the NCAA Board of Directors and will go into effect for Division I schools on Aug. 1. Contracts signed before Oct. 21, 2003, will be honored.

The measure was designed to eliminate possible advantages some schools might have in recruiting by playing exhibition games against teams that could include prospective college players. It does not apply to women's teams.

"From a men's standpoint, some of the membership was concerned these games create a relationship between an institution and club teams that result in an unfair recruiting advantage," NCAA spokesman Jeff Howard said. "It just hasn't been addressed on the women's side."

Division I teams would still be allowed to make foreign tours, which are not considered exhibition games and therefore not subject to the new rule barring non-collegiate opponents, as long as they are completed more than 30 days before the start of preseason practice.

"Some of the issues addressed in the proposal may exist in women's basketball," Howard said. "There's a recommendation that additional discussion about whether the sport should be treated the same continue."

The 30-day restriction will apply to foreign tours in all sports and will take effect Nov. 1. All contracts signed before last Oct. 21 will be honored.

The NCAA board also approved measures to:

• Give athletes more access to financial aid, up to the full cost of college attendance, from non-athletic sources such as the federal Pell Grant. This measure is effective Aug. 1.
• Give colleges the option of extending financial aid to incoming athletes the summer before their freshman year, so they can begin meeting academic goals. The board directed President Myles Brand to establish a task force to develop a plan to be considered at its Aug. 5 meeting.
• Allow colleges to cover medical expenses for injuries to athletes, regardless whether the injuries were related to athletics.

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