However, they would be now allowed to receive money for athletic instruction in their respective sports. A potential problem is that many players think they are good enough to play professionally, but find a closed door when they go knocking. Student-athletes who take out such loans might put themselves into debt. On the flip side, many potential pro prospects can now take out disability insurance premiums in the event that a career-ending injury ends their chances at a professional contract. The committee also agreed on a proposal to remove the exempt status on many of college basketball's early season tournaments, starting in the 2002-03 season.
Exemption dictates that each tournament counts as only one game against the regular season schedule.
Schools that compete in such tournaments on neutral sites would have to count all the games in which they actually play against the NCAA's preset limit, which would be raised one game to 29. A vote by the NCAA Board of Directors on the proposal is set for April 26. Shootout would count for as many as four games on a team's schedule. All-Stars would be eliminated by such legislation. The measure is aimed to keep student-athletes in the classroom instead of on the road.