The NCAA Division One Board of Directors on Thursday will consider passing some “emergency” recruiting regulations — rules that could go into effect this academic year.
One proposal prohibits the use of private jets to fly prospects to and from campuses on their official visits.
“I think that would be a terrible rule to pass,” said Kansas University coach Bill Self, who indicated the Jayhawks used private transportation for prospects at the most once or twice a recruiting year.
“I think it’s OK to put limitations on what you can do to an extent, but a private jet benefits people in rural areas,” Self said. “If a student-athlete has to drive two hours to get to the airport and waits until his classes are completed, he might not be able to make all his connections. You don’t want to do anything that encourages somebody to miss class.”
Another emergency proposal, if passed, would prohibit schools from “developing personalized recruiting aides” — putting prospects’ photos on arena scoreboards, for example.
“The scoreboard situation … good gosh, what difference between putting it on television and a scoreboard. You should be able to sell your facility,” Self said.
“I think it’d be a bad rule to pass. We don’t have a basketball scoreboard that allows that yet. Hopefully, we will in the near future.”
The Jayhawks have put basketball recruits’ pictures on the football scoreboard at Memorial Stadium during dinners with the prospective players.
Another proposal would require coaches to develop written policies for official recruiting visits to be approved by the chancellor. The policies would apply to recruits, student hosts, coaches and other athletic department administrators. The policies would prohibit the use of alcohol, drugs, sex and gambling in recruiting.
“We have our own policies we give our guys, so it won’t be a big change for us,” Self said.
Other proposed rules include making sure recruits and their parents are housed in “standard accommodations without special accessories” and driven in “standard vehicles used to transport any prospective student.”
“I have no problem with any of those,” Self said.
Down the road, the NCAA actually might pass rules to allow coaches to hold tryouts for prospects during their campus visits.
“Tryouts for recruits might open a can of worms,” Self said. “I do not like tryouts, but allow us to watch our kids play in the offseason. But if they feel it’s good for our sport, I’ll go with it.”
A rule that would be considered in upcoming months, not at Thursday’s meeting, is giving basketball players five, not four years, of eligibility.
“I don’t think it will pass unless it’s five years across the board for athletes in all sports,” Self said. “I don’t think it’s a good rule. We already are providing a fifth year (of scholarship money). My opinion is four years of eligibility is enough time for guys to come in, then move on and time for new guys to replace them.”
He is in favor of a rule that, if passed next April, would slice a high schooler’s campus official visits from five in one year to four.
“I wish it was three,” Self said. “I think now a lot of kids feel, ‘I’ve got to keep taking visits.’ I think most importantly we should pay for a guardian or coach to come on the official visit. Sometimes this is when the decision comes down, when impressions are made, and a kid wants to share his thoughts with someone close to him on the visit.”
Self said he may have minor disagreements about rules and prospective rules changes, but after spending the month of July on the road, believes the climate in recruiting is as healthy as ever.
“Right now I feel as good about our profession as I have felt in years,” he said. “I think a lot of positive things have happened. I think we are closer to being on the same page with the NCAA. I feel we’re moving in a positive direction.”
