The most significant rule change that was approved at the recent NCAA Convention will benefit the health and well-being of Division I student-athletes at a Power Five university.

• Those athletic programs will be required to provide their athletes with information and access to available mental health services.

• Non-Power 5 NCAA Division I programs will not be required to offer such services, but many will do so to keep pace with the universities they are recruiting and competing against.

Here’s a brief rundown of other rule changes that might be of interest to our readers: 

NCAA Division I

Power Five universities will be allowed to provide room and board to athletes participating in summer school activities (strength and conditioning, etc.) even if they aren’t enrolled in summer courses.

NCAA Division II

Division II student-athletes competing unattached next school year will be permitted to receive athletic training support or medical services from their university at a competition site.

Under current legislation, if a track athlete is competing unattached, for example, at a meet where their teammates are competing for the college, that athlete is not allowed to be treated by the athletic trainers from their own college. They would instead need to receive treatment from the staff of the college hosting the event. The new rule will allow an unattached athlete to receive medical assistance from their own athletic training staff starting next year.

NCAA Division III

High school or prep school students who choose to participate in college athletics in NCAA Division III will be permitted to receive funds to pay for their pre-college educational expenses from any person or entity as long as the funds don’t come from an agent, a pro sports team, or the booster of a Division III college. Another condition is that such funds must be paid directly to the athlete’s high school or prep school rather than to the athlete’s family.