PAC-12 Conference Issues Student-Athlete Reforms

The Pac-12 Conference released statement indicating passage of student-athlete reforms aimed to help their time management

On January 20th, 2017, the Pac-12 Commissioner Scott issued a press release regarding reforms to student-athletes and their time management.

If you cannot read the text in the message above, I have the statement as presented verbatim as presented on Pac-12.com:

THE STATEMENT

"Statement from Commissioner Scott:On behalf of the Pac-12, our 7,000 student-athletes, coaches and administrators, I am very pleased with today’s actions to improve the experience of our student-athletes. This issue of time balance has been a big focus for us as we have worked with our campus leadership, including administrators, faculty, and coaches, in order to successfully reform the rules governing college athletics. College represents a period of major personal growth and opportunity for our students and as athletic administrators, it is incumbent on us that they have the necessary time and the flexibility to take full advantage of everything our universities have to offer.We are in a great position in the Pac-12. Our student-athletes come to our schools because they want to win championships and get the best education in the country – we want that too. Today’s action puts us in a much better position to deliver on our promise to them, and I applaud the hard work of our athletics leadership and student-athletes who have made these reforms a reality.The reforms enacted today, through the proposals we co-sponsored with our peer conferences as well as the proposals sponsored solely by the Pac-12, will give student-athletes more time to pursue academics and better transparency into their schedules, and will prohibit and limit athletics activity during the preseason and offseason. These reforms are major steps forward towards managing the competing demands of athletics and academics on student-athletes’ lives."

But, what are the reforms?

Well, we know that the NCAA has been looking at ways to provdie student athletes more free time.  In fact, that was a top priority on the agenda for last year.

More from The Husky Haul

• Pro Husky Shaq Thompson out for season with leg injury
• Washington Huskies begin conference play against Cal in Week 4
• Jack Westover is a breakout star for the Washington Huskies
• Washington football: Negatives and Positives in win over Michigan State
• Huskies offense slices through the Spartans in 41-7 win

But as things happen in committees and consensus, the matter was tabld for this year.

Per the Harris Beach PLCC website:

"(This reform is) designed to provide student-athletes with an additional 21 days free from “required athletic activities” (intended to be broader than countable athletically related activities) during the academic year. Under this rule, student-athletes would be guaranteed at least one week off at the conclusion of their athletic season and an additional 14 days off at other times throughout the academic year. Coaches, students, and administrators have the flexibility to determine when those days off should occur for each respective sport, whether in season or out of season. Depending on the sport, coaches may need to get creative to find the right balance between granting their players more time off and preparing for the playing season. For example, basketball coaches may decide to backload all 21 days off until after the season since individual skills and team practices usually begin before or at the same time as the start of fall semester and games do not conclude until mid-March or April. Softball and baseball coaches, on the other hand, may decide to provide their athletes with a longer winter break or more days off during the week to meet the requirement since their teams are busy practicing and playing games throughout the fall and spring periods.”"

In summary, student athletes will be ensured of having more “self” time.  It is unclear how this will be addressed with cross-sport athletes, but those matter may be clarified as more details become available.

Next: University of Washington Releases 2017 Husky Football Schedule

This has been on the “to do” list for some time. It’s nice to see the matter finally resolved.