One year ago, the NCAA blindsided college athletics with unprecedented roster limits.
Thousands of student-athletes lost opportunities as coaches were put in the terrible position of cutting and/or de-committing players. Then AFTER the damage was done, the NCAA introduced the “Designated Student Athlete” designation as a way to let some athletes stay without counting against roster limits.
But many programs had already made painful decisions because coaches were told the limits were coming and tried to give athletes as much notice as possible.
Now we are about to do this AGAIN.
The NCAA is expected to approve a 5th year of eligibility next month — after most programs have already recruited their 2027 classes based on the CURRENT rules and CURRENT roster limits.
In women’s soccer, we already operate under a restrictive 28-player cap. You cannot recruit for FOUR classes for years, then suddenly force programs to fit FIVE classes onto the same roster without student-athletes paying the price.
Because when seniors stay, someone else loses a spot.
More cuts. More decommitments. More athletes caught in the middle of ever-changing rules they had nothing to do with.
College recruiting happens YEARS in advance. Families and athletes make life-changing decisions based on the rules in place at the time.
If 5th years are approved, they should all be classified as DSAs so as to not count against roster limits. Otherwise the NCAA is about to repeat the exact same disaster all over again.
#StopChangingTheRules #HereWeGoAgain #DSAThe5thYears
I am extremely blessed and excited to announce my commitment to Robert Morris University to continue my academic and athletic career. Big thanks to coaches @akaMichelleRick and @kayla__mcnamara for the opportunity! Go Colonials! @RMUWSoccer@ImYouthSoccer
The NCAA could be passing the 5YR eligibility model this week. The ONLY way to avoid creating utter chaos in terms of players being cut and de-committed every year is to make all 5th years exempt from roster limits. Roster limits and 5 years of playing cannot live harmoniously together. Many athletes will not decide if they are taking a 5th year until very late in the process and when they do, it will be at the expense of someone else. There will be a lot of HS Seniors getting de-committed every year because of the system this model will create. And I feel like no one is talking about this enough. #5YearEligibility #DoTheRightThing
𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 🔥
Marie-Louise Eta received a warm farewell from the Union Berlin supporters ahead of her final game in charge of the men's team.
She will stay with the club and take charge of the women's team next season.
After much thought and consideration, I have decided to enter the transfer portal.
I’m a redshirt freshman with 4 years of eligibility remaining. I’m incredibly grateful for my time at RMU and thankful for my coaches and teammates for helping me grow as both a player and person.
Excited for this next chapter and the opportunities ahead!
#transferportal
@ImYouthSoccer@ImCollegeSoccer