The NCAA Legislative Council has approved proposals for “student-athlete well-being rules.”

One proposed rule change would provide Division I student-athletes (both scholarship athletes and walk-ons) with unlimited meals and snacks in conjunction with their athletics participation.  Under current NCAA rules, schools can provide three meals per day or a stipend for those meals to scholarship athletes.  Non-scholarship student-athletes cannot receive the meal allowances.  This proposal signals  a dramatic  shift from the Association’s previous position on meal allowances, which not only limited the number of meals for student-athletics, but also told schools what food and snacks could be provided.  For example, an NCAA bylaw allows schools to offer bagels, fruits and nuts to student-athletes at any time.  However, according to an NCAA interpretation, spreads or toppings such as cream cheese were prohibited.  The NCAA removed that interpretation last year.

This proposed change occurs one week after Shabazz Napier of the University of Connecticut (UConn), and Most Outstanding Player of the 2014 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, told reporters that sometimes he goes to bed “starving” because he cannot afford food.  Napier’s comments, which came on the heels of a  National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Regional Director’s decision that college football players on full scholarship at Northwestern University are university employees, has brought student-athletes’ well-being and the debate over compensating student-athletes back into mainstream conversation.  (See Northwestern Scholarship Football Players Found To Be Employees Eligible for Union Representation.)

The NCAA Legislative Council also voted to: (1) require strength and conditioning coaches to be certified by a nationally accredited certification body; (2) require a school staff member certified in CPR, first aid and arterial external defibrillation to be present at all physical, countable athletics activities; (3) reduce the penalty for a first positive test for street drugs during championships; and (4) require football players to rest for at least three hours between practices during the preseason (film review and team meetings will be allowed during this period).  (See NCAA News Article on New Well-Being Rules.)

The Council’s action is not considered final until the Division I Board of Directors meets on April 24.  Once adopted, the changes are effective August 1; however, the strength and conditioning coach certification requirement will go into effect August 1, 2015, to allow coaches time to achieve their certification.

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Photo of Gregg E. Clifton Gregg E. Clifton

Gregg E. Clifton is a Principal in the Phoenix, Arizona, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He is Co-Leader of the Collegiate and Professional Sports Practice Group and serves as the editor of the firm’s sports law blog.

Mr. Clifton has extensive experience in…

Gregg E. Clifton is a Principal in the Phoenix, Arizona, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He is Co-Leader of the Collegiate and Professional Sports Practice Group and serves as the editor of the firm’s sports law blog.

Mr. Clifton has extensive experience in the collegiate and professional sports world. He has advised numerous professional franchises on general labor and employment issues, including Title III ADA regulatory compliance and wage and hour issues. He serves as lead counsel for several Major League Baseball teams in their salary arbitration matters and has represented NCAA and NAIA collegiate clients regarding rules compliance, investigatory matters and in disciplinary hearings. In addition, he has handled Title IX investigations and compliance issues for NCAA and NAIA member institutions. Mr. Clifton has also worked extensively in the area of agent regulation and enforcement in professional and college sports and regularly provides counsel on issues relating to NCAA and NAIA amateurism issues and athlete eligibility questions. He has also served as an expert witness in matters involving sports agents’ work and responsibilities, as well as athlete compensation issues.

Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, he spent six years as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Team Sports for Gaylord Sports Management. He also served as President of the Athlete and Entertainment Division for famed sports attorney Bob Woolf’s firm, Woolf Associates, in Boston.

Mr. Clifton began his career as an Associate at Jackson Lewis where he focused his practice on traditional labor law. He continues to counsel clients in the areas of collective bargaining negotiations, representation cases, arbitrations and National Labor Relations Board matters.

Mr. Clifton frequently serves as an expert speaker to law schools, including Harvard University, Boston College, Hofstra University and Arizona State University, and bar associations regarding sports law issues, including agent regulation and salary arbitration. He is also often cited as an expert source in national news media for his commentary and opinion on legal issues in sports.