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NCAA rule change allows flexibility for coaches, more summer instruction

spt-120220-buzz-williams

Mike Miller

Amid recent criticism about the overall power of the NCAA, a series of bylaw deregulations have benefitted coaches this spring, first allowing them to evaluate players on the amateur circuit, then to place unlimited phone calls to certain recruits, and now to work players out over the summer.

With these new rules in place, passed in January, players are able to take part in eight hours of staff-supervised workouts per week, with no more than two of those hours based on skill instruction. The other six hours per week can be used for strength and conditioning.

The NCAA caps the total length workout period at eight weeks, and players must be enrolled in summer classes to take part.

Coaches already seem to be enjoying the extra chance to work with players.

“I think that’ll be great for our guys,” Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin told the Chattanooga Times Free Press. “We’ll have a lot of time to be with our team, and I think it’ll really help us. I think for us as a staff, it’s a balance of not overworking guys, if there is such a thing.

“You have an opportunity to keep your guys on campus, because when they go away from you, especially those elite guys, then all of the sudden you have people coming through the doors and things can happen.”

Overall, it appears to be another step in the deregulatory direction for the NCAA, shifting power back into the hands of the people who run the program and are closest to players.

Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_