The NCAA Division-I Council has voted in favor of a blanket waiver for all spring-sport athletes to get an extra year of eligibility in light of seasons being significantly cut short due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, it was announced on Monday. Schools will be able to offer less or zero aid, or match what they provided this year pe their own jurisdictions. The decision comes less than three weeks after the NCAA canceled all winter and spring championships for the 2019-2020 academic year due to the virus.



Student-athletes who participated in winter sports had also been considered for extra eligibility since championships for those sports were canceled. The NCAA, however, voted against including athletes in those sports in the provision since regular seasons for winter sports had been mostly if not entirely completed. The Associated Press reported last week that support for extra eligibility in winter sports had been minimal, per a memo sent to college sports administrators from the NCAA that was obtained by the AP.

The NCAA's decision earlier this month to cancel all championships generated plenty of discussion of what the future would hold for student-athletes in winter and spring sports alike that were robbed of competing for a national title. The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament was not held for the first time in his 81-year history as a result of the decision. While winter sports primarily dealt with championships cancellations, spring sport athletes saw heavy chunks of their respective regular seasons wiped away, with conferences across the country since making decisions to cancel athletic competitions through the end of the academic year as the virus continues to spread.

Though support for granting extra eligibility the impacted athletes has been widespread, it's not a feeling that is shared by everyone, including prominent administrators within the realm of NCAA athletics. Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, in a media teleconference earlier this week, said he could see "either side of it" for athletes in any sport impacted by the outbreak while raising concerns of logistical issues that extra eligibility may create.

"I think anyone would have empathy for young people who worked hard and didn’t get an opportunity," Bowlsby said. There’s a case to be made for winter sports athletes too who couldn’t finish the entire season ... I worry with the uncertainty, we might find ourselves in disruption of fall or winter this next (academic) year. If we have another (COVID-19) disruption, are we offering fall sport athletes another year? It is very expensive as a result of continuing scholarships and NCAA bylaws need to be amended. "

Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill, meanwhile, took a more supportive tone when asked about the implications, according to the AP report.

“I think our conference is in a place where we’re certainly going to look to try to provide some relief in that position. Those students have been through a lot,” Gill said. “Trying to provide them an opportunity to be as whole as they can with regard to their competition opportunities is something that we are supportive of.”