The NCAA's Power Five conferences “approved sweeping changes in everything from medical care to basketball during the holidays on Friday, dashing through the agenda with little opposition and virtually no debate,” according to Michael Marot of the AP. Among the changes approved were “extended medical benefits for former athletes, a three-day break for basketball players over the holiday season, more money for student hosts, and allowing men’s hockey players to receive draft advice before enrolling in college without losing eligibility.” The group “passed all four measures -- and 11 in all -- in just 35 minutes at the NCAA's annual convention.” The quick approvals showed just how “closely the power conferences ... seem to be." It is a “stark contrast to the contentious debates of earlier years.” Medical coverage and mental health benefits for athletes who suffered injuries or sought help during their college careers was “extended for at least two years after they leave campus.” It is an “open question whether the moves by the wealthiest conferences leads to similar changes in other leagues” (AP, 1/19). Meanwhile, USA TODAY’s Paul Myerberg noted the group also “approved changing the word ‘spouse’ to ‘significant other’ in order for fiancées and domestic partners to be eligible to receive permissible benefits.” Another change is that the D-I BOD "adopted a 'more flexible legislative schedule'" for '18 to “continue ongoing discussions regarding potential changes to the NCAA's existing transfer rules.” This will allow the D-I Council to “make its proposals in April -- and potentially make a final vote as early as the summer -- rather than wait for the traditional date of Sept. 1 to issue its proposals” (USATODAY.com, 1/19).
