LSDBi
Division I Proposal - 2019-42
RECRUITING AND FINANCIAL AID -- LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT/OFFER OF FINANCIAL AID SIGNINGS AND INITIAL COUNTERS -- FBS
Status: Defeated Final
Intent: In bowl subdivision football, to specify that there shall be a limit of 50 initial counters in a rolling two-year period, with no more than 30 initial counters in any one year; further, to specify that there shall be an annual limit of 30 on the number of prospective student-athletes who may sign a National Letter of Intent or institutional offer of financial aid and student-athletes who may sign a financial aid agreement for the first time.
A. Bylaws: Amend 13.9.3.3, as follows: (Immediate; applicable to the 2022-23 annual limit on signings and beyond.)
[Federated provision, FBS only]
13.9.3.3 Limitation on Number of National Letter of Intent/Offer of Financial Aid Signings -- Bowl Subdivision Football. In bowl subdivision football, there shall be an annual limit of 25 30 on the number of prospective student-athletes who may sign a National Letter of Intent or an institutional offer of financial aid and student-athletes who may sign a financial aid agreement for the first time. [D]
[13.9.3.3.1 through 13.9.3.3.3 unchanged.]
B. Bylaws: Amend 15.5, as follows: (Immediate; applicable to the 2022-23 annual limit on signings and initial counters and beyond.)
[Federated provision, FBS only]
15.5 Maximum Institutional Grant-in-Aid Limitations by Sport.
15.5.1 Counters. A student-athlete shall be a counter and included in the maximum awards limitations set forth in this bylaw under the following conditions:
[15.5.1-(a) through 15.5.1-(b) unchanged.]
[15.5.1.1 through 15.5.1.9 unchanged.]
15.5.1.10 Offers Exceeding Maximum Allowable Awards. An institution may offer more than the maximum number of permissible awards in a sport (per Bylaw 15.5) in anticipation that not all of the offers will be accepted, but the institution shall not exceed the awards limitation in the sport in question.
15.5.1.10.1 Limitation on Number of National Letter of Intent/Offer of Financial Aid Signings -- Bowl Subdivision Football. In bowl subdivision football, there shall be an annual limit of 25 30 on the number of prospective student-athletes who may sign a National Letter of Intent or an institutional offer of financial aid and student-athletes who may sign a financial aid agreement for the first time.
[15.5.1.10.1.1 through 15.5.1.10.1.3 unchanged.]
[15.5.2 through 15.5.5 unchanged.]
15.5.6 Football Limitations.
15.5.6.1 Bowl Subdivision Football. There shall be an annual a limit of 25 on the number of 50 initial counters (per Bylaw 15.02.3.1) in a rolling two-year period with no more than 30 initial counters in any one year and an annual limit of 85 on the total number of counters (including initial counters) in football at each institution.
[15.5.6.2 through 15.5.6.4 unchanged.]
[15.5.7 through 15.5.11 unchanged.]
Source: Big 12 Conference and Mid-American Conference
Effective Date:
Section A: Immediate; applicable to the 2022-23 annual limit on signings and beyond.
Section B: Immediate; applicable to the 2022-23 annual limit on signings and initial counters and beyond.
Proposal Category: Amendment
Topical Area: Financial Aid
Rationale: Currently, an institution is limited to 25 initial counters and subject to an annual limit of 25 National Letter of Intent or offer of financial aid signings. An institution that experiences significant roster attrition may spend years rebuilding a roster back to the annual limit of 85 counters. With a national landscape that has seen an increase in transfers, early professional departures, hardships and general attrition, institutions are continually having to find new ways to maintain rosters that ensure a healthy number of student-athletes for practice and competition and maintain competitive balance. Allowing for 50 initial counters over a rolling two-year period with no more than 30 signings in one year would provide an institution the opportunity to adjust for significant and/or unexpected losses while maintaining the spirit of the current initial counter legislation.
Division I Commitment addressed by proposal: The Commitment to Fair Competition.
Is the proposal consequential or nationally significant?: Yes. This proposal would impact all bowl subdivision football programs.
Is the proposal enforceable and how do the merits outweigh monitoring burdens?: Yes. The benefits of providing flexibility for initial counters and annual signings would outweigh minimal monitoring burdens.
How does the proposal support student-athlete success/well-being?: This proposal would permit an institution to provide athletically related financial aid that would otherwise be unavailable.
Estimated Budget Impact: None.
Impact on Student-Athlete's Time (Academic and/or Athletics): None.
Position Statement(s):
| Football Oversight Committee | No Formal Position | The committee will further review and discuss proposal. |
| Legislative Committee | Recommends a holistic review of the limit on signings and initial counters and defers to the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee's position on Proposal Nos. 2019-41, 42 and 43. |
History
| Jul 12, 2019: | Submitted to National Office | |
| Nov 12, 2019: | In Progress | |
| Feb 7, 2020: | Ready for Vote | |
| Mar 2, 2020: | Ready for Vote | Proposal updated to clarify application of effective date from August 1, 2020 to immediate (applicable to the 2020-21 annual limit on signings and initial counters and beyond). |
| Apr 1, 2020: | Tabled | Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council tabled the proposals that remained in the 2019-20 legislative cycle. |
| Jul 1, 2021: | In Progress | The Council moved the remaining tabled proposals from the 2019-20 legislative cycle to the 2021-22 legislative cycle. |
| Feb 7, 2022: | Ready for Vote | |
| Apr 13, 2022: | Tabled | Tabled based on the pending work of the Transformation Committee. |
| Apr 13, 2023: | Defeated Final | Based on application of the sunset provision. |
Legislative References
| Division | Number | Title |
|---|---|---|
| I | 13.9.3.3 | Limitation on Number of National Letter of Intent/Offer of Financial Aid Signings -- Bowl Subdivision Football. |
| I | 15.5 | Maximum Institutional Grant-in-Aid Limitations by Sport. |
| I | 15.5.1 | Counters. |
| I | 15.5.1.10 | Offers Exceeding Maximum Allowable Awards. |
| I | 15.5.1.10.1 | Limitation on Number of National Letter of Intent/Offer of Financial Aid Signings -- Bowl Subdivision Football. |
| I | 15.5.6 | Football Limitations. |
| I | 15.5.6.1 | Bowl Subdivision Football. |