The NCAA’s latest COVID-19 determination is a big one for Mel Tucker and Michigan State football.
The NCAA has announced an increase in how much time coaches can spend meeting virtually with their players, starting next week.
“Division I coaches in all sports will be allowed more virtual connection with their teams beginning Monday, April 20, and continuing through May 31, the Division I Council Coordination Committee determined Wednesday,” reads the opening paragraph from an NCAA release. Committee members, “voted to allow teams in all sports to require up to eight hours per week of virtual nonphysical countable activities like film review, chalk talks and team meetings.”
Athletes will be required to have at least one day off per week. Required physical activities are still prohibited as they require a sports-safety certified staff member to be present at all times.
Previously all sports were considered to be “out of season” once the NCAA canceled the entirety of the spring sports schedule. That put all coaches and teams in offseason mode, which limits the amount of time coaches and players can be in contact.
For programs breaking in new coaching regimes, like Tucker’s Michigan State team, this move is especially important as it will allow more time for the staff to hold positional and team meetings, install new plays, and get to know their new players. It should help alleviate some of the catching up thrust on a new coach hired a few weeks before a global pandemic would shut the sports world down.
The coordination committee will be reevaluating the access in mid-May to determine whether to extend of amend the current rules.
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