NCAA Proposes New Out-of-Season Activities for Division I Basketball

Before a final decision, the proposals will be subject to amendments based on membership feedback. Each oversight committee plans to vote in December, with the Division I Cabinet expected to review the proposals in January. If approved, these measures could take effect in April.

The proposed framework permits up to three dates of competitions, either domestically or as part of foreign tours, during the eight-week summer access period when basketball teams engage in on-campus practices. Schools would have the discretion to choose the format of these competitions, including exhibition games, scrimmages, joint practices, three-on-three, or five-on-five events, which could be held privately or publicly.

Domestic matches could be arranged against any U.S. four-year institutions, offering an alternative to summer foreign tours. This proposal aims to standardize summer competitions to a maximum of three dates, ensuring that all Division I teams access equitable development opportunities. For men's teams on foreign tours, games would only be held against international clubs or teams.

In women’s basketball, teams could again compete against any international club or team, with the option of playing one match against another Division I team, aligning with current regulations.

All contests, whether domestic or international, must conclude 30 days prior to the first scheduled practice. Additionally, the proposal eliminates the existing 10-day practice rule before foreign tours.

For men's and women’s basketball, summer access will remain at eight weeks during the school's summer break. The WBOC advocates for up to eight hours of athletically related activities per week, considering the recent inclusion of a transition period before the regular season, which allows up to 12 hours. Meanwhile, the MBOC supports a slight increase to 10 hours per week, citing the need for individual and team development due to frequent roster changes.

Competition during the designated three dates would not count against the weekly hour limitations for summer access.

Student-athletes eligible for the regular season would not need to enroll in summer classes to participate in summer activities. However, those not eligible would not be able to compete during the three designated competition dates, although they could still engage in skill instruction. Furthermore, after their national championships, basketball student-athletes may participate in outside competitions without representing their school until the day before the official practices begin in September. This approach aims to maintain the integrity of the playing season while allowing student-athletes to compete on non-collegiate amateur teams, similar to athletes in other sports. The proposals have garnered support from both men’s and women’s basketball student-athlete engagement groups, highlighting the potential for meaningful summer development opportunities.