The NCAA Division I Council recommended that the Division I board of directors decided to give student-athletes impacted most by the COVID-19 pandemic an additional year of eligibility on Wednesday.

Typically, student-athletes have five years to play four seasons. In the NCAA’s press release, it said that student-athletes would have an extension on that period of eligibility. The NCAA will grant an additional season of competition to students who participate in 50% or less of the maximum number of competitions allowed in each sport under NCAA rules.

The Council’s proposed protections prohibit schools from canceling, reducing or not renewing athletics aid for student-athletes who opt out because of coronavirus concerns. They also include mandated medical coverage for COVID-19 if a student contracts the virus through athletics participation.

Per the press release, Council members will also discuss financial aid limits for fall sports. Some members feel it’s necessary to give schools additional flexibility, given the economic hardships many are facing because of the pandemic.

The Council said it will finalize the recommendations soon. It will present the list to the win Division I board of directors next week. From now until then, it intends on putting some final touches on the list that will directly respond to the concerns student-athletes have expressed over playing during a pandemic.

“In this time of uncertainty, the Council members are working to create additional flexibility for college athletes whose seasons have been negatively impacted by the pandemic,” Council chair M. Grace Calhoun, athletics director at Pennsylvania, said in a statement.

“Everyday things are changing in college sport, and we want to be as responsive as possible, with the best information, to help student-athletes and their families make important decisions for their future,” she said. “The Council worked hard today and will seek membership input before we make final recommendations to the board next week.”

The Council, with pressure from U.S. District Judge Claudia Willen, also adopted emergency legislation. The legislation allows some benefits NCAA rules previously permitted. Under the legislation, member institutions are allowed to provide:

• Computers, musical instruments, science equipment and other “tangible” items that fall outside the cost-of-attendance calculation but relate to academic studies.
• Post-eligibility scholarships to complete undergraduate or graduate degrees at any school.
• Vocational school scholarships.
• Tutoring.
• Paid internships.
• Expenses related to studying abroad.

The NCAA also announced it is extending the temporary recruiting dead period for all sports through Sept. 30. Per the press release, the NCAA will reevaluate the dead period at that time. The NCAA implemented the dead period in March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.