NCAA Puts Limits on Exhibition Basketball

Major colleges will no longer be allowed to schedule men’s exhibition basketball games against noncollegiate opponents, such as foreign teams, AAU clubs or Athletes in Action.

The prohibition was approved Thursday by the NCAA board of directors and will go into effect for Division I schools Aug. 1. Contracts signed before Oct. 21 will be honored.

The measure was designed to eliminate possible advantages some schools might have in recruiting by playing exhibition games against teams that could include prospective college players. It does not apply to women’s teams.

“From a men’s standpoint, some of the membership was concerned these games create a relationship between an institution and club teams that result in an unfair recruiting advantage,” NCAA spokesman Jeff Howard said.

Division I teams would still be allowed to make foreign tours, which are not considered exhibition games and therefore not subject to the new rule barring noncollegiate opponents, as long as they are completed more than 30 days before the start of preseason practice.

The 30-day limit will apply to men’s and women’s foreign tours in all sports and will take effect Nov. 1. All contracts signed before Oct. 21 will be honored.

The NCAA board also approved measures to:

* Give athletes more access to financial aid from nonathletic sources such as the federal Pell Grant. This measure is effective Aug. 1.

* Give colleges the option of extending financial aid to incoming athletes the summer before their freshman year, so they can begin meeting academic goals.

* Allow colleges to cover medical expenses for injuries to athletes, regardless of whether the injuries were related to athletics.