Post by less1brain on Jul 11, 2021 9:41:06 GMT -8
247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/Article/Skyy-Clark-basketball-Kentucky-commitment-knee-injury-167585476/
If the NCAA really cared about basketball players as student-athletes, it should (except in case of pandemics and other such events):
1. Refuse to certify basketball competition among high school players between April 1 and July 1. That means no all-star games allowed. No club ball allowed. No high school tournaments allowed. Attendance at school classes, either in person or virtual, can't be banned, but the NCAA has no say in allowing it.
If a player is invited to participate in patriotic USA basketball events, that's an exception. This applies year round.
If (1) is an antitrust violation, then make it simple: any players who participate forfeit their right to play in college even as a walk on. You can always apply to a school if you meet the academic criteria and you get a FA package, more power to you. Enjoy school.
2. July is the open and only period for scouting: Allow all 4 coaches at a college plus the recruiting coordinator to travel all over and scout players if they so choose at a series of venues that the NCAA must sanction if they meet this criteria: 1) Proof of enough qualified trainers/medical staff on hand in proportion to the number of players participating; 2) That's it, unless it's proof of track record. If the event organizer has done this 3 times before, they are certified and the NCAA has nothing to do with it. Zero compliance staff allowed so the compliance staff can actually do something useful. No NCAA fees charged to journalists, scouts, fans, event organizers, etc.
3. If a player is injured during the open period or missed it for some other reason (school, personal reasons, financial hardship), than a single two-week window can take place in August. Only players who missed the open period can participate. The event organizers must cut their fees in half for anyone who attends but can apply for a waiver of this on a case-by-case basis (just as players can apply for a full waiver of fees on a case by case basis). The process of resolving this is transparent and open, involves all parties concerned and the NCAA acts more like a referee than a judge, jury and executioner.
4. There are no dead contact periods. Period. Unlimited contact via phone, Zoom, Skype, text, email and personal interaction between coaches and players and families takes place year round from the start of a player entering high school until they are out of high school. Familiarity will either breed contempt or trust and lead to better fits that will lead to fewer transfers and interruptions in the academic experience as well as the athletic experience (playing for 3 wrong for that player coaches in 4 years doesn't develop one's basketball talent).
5. Obviously, parents and players can block incoming messages and tell coaches to STFU. If a coach or someone connected thereto has received that order and fails to comply, the NCAA sanctions the malefactors. Severely. The head coach pays the fine. The head coach can afford it. Repeat violations results in loss of scholarships, post-season ban, show-cause bans and all sorts of nasty things for coaches and "runners."
6. After high school and college starts and until April 1, the players at those schools can do what they please basketball-wise, including staging single-day high school basketball team events coincident with Holidays if the teams want to do that. And coaches can of course go to watch the high school games including the single-day events. And interact with whoever wants to interact with them. That's a two-way street. Coaches can let fans asking for inside info know that they're trying to do their jobs so the fans won't call for their heads.
One day exception for an event where some high school teams can play other high school teams after July 1 and before school starts: Juneteenth.
7. Mandatory continuing education to be paid for by the colleges to recruits: One lesson will be "If you've committed to a college already, you shouldn't play in the open period. Maybe try baseball or volleyball instead. Table tennis is fun. So is chess. Dance class, aerobics, whatever. Bible study. Other religions study. Science club. Or volunteer to help out wherever people need help. Or just chill on social media or playing video games all day long. Or read a book or Internet-based news stories as you learn about current events. We really don't care what you do. But playing basketball all year round is going to get you injured and we care about you."
Anyone with suggestions or criticisms, please let fly. All sensible contributions welcomed.
If the NCAA really cared about basketball players as student-athletes, it should (except in case of pandemics and other such events):
1. Refuse to certify basketball competition among high school players between April 1 and July 1. That means no all-star games allowed. No club ball allowed. No high school tournaments allowed. Attendance at school classes, either in person or virtual, can't be banned, but the NCAA has no say in allowing it.
If a player is invited to participate in patriotic USA basketball events, that's an exception. This applies year round.
If (1) is an antitrust violation, then make it simple: any players who participate forfeit their right to play in college even as a walk on. You can always apply to a school if you meet the academic criteria and you get a FA package, more power to you. Enjoy school.
2. July is the open and only period for scouting: Allow all 4 coaches at a college plus the recruiting coordinator to travel all over and scout players if they so choose at a series of venues that the NCAA must sanction if they meet this criteria: 1) Proof of enough qualified trainers/medical staff on hand in proportion to the number of players participating; 2) That's it, unless it's proof of track record. If the event organizer has done this 3 times before, they are certified and the NCAA has nothing to do with it. Zero compliance staff allowed so the compliance staff can actually do something useful. No NCAA fees charged to journalists, scouts, fans, event organizers, etc.
3. If a player is injured during the open period or missed it for some other reason (school, personal reasons, financial hardship), than a single two-week window can take place in August. Only players who missed the open period can participate. The event organizers must cut their fees in half for anyone who attends but can apply for a waiver of this on a case-by-case basis (just as players can apply for a full waiver of fees on a case by case basis). The process of resolving this is transparent and open, involves all parties concerned and the NCAA acts more like a referee than a judge, jury and executioner.
4. There are no dead contact periods. Period. Unlimited contact via phone, Zoom, Skype, text, email and personal interaction between coaches and players and families takes place year round from the start of a player entering high school until they are out of high school. Familiarity will either breed contempt or trust and lead to better fits that will lead to fewer transfers and interruptions in the academic experience as well as the athletic experience (playing for 3 wrong for that player coaches in 4 years doesn't develop one's basketball talent).
5. Obviously, parents and players can block incoming messages and tell coaches to STFU. If a coach or someone connected thereto has received that order and fails to comply, the NCAA sanctions the malefactors. Severely. The head coach pays the fine. The head coach can afford it. Repeat violations results in loss of scholarships, post-season ban, show-cause bans and all sorts of nasty things for coaches and "runners."
6. After high school and college starts and until April 1, the players at those schools can do what they please basketball-wise, including staging single-day high school basketball team events coincident with Holidays if the teams want to do that. And coaches can of course go to watch the high school games including the single-day events. And interact with whoever wants to interact with them. That's a two-way street. Coaches can let fans asking for inside info know that they're trying to do their jobs so the fans won't call for their heads.
One day exception for an event where some high school teams can play other high school teams after July 1 and before school starts: Juneteenth.
7. Mandatory continuing education to be paid for by the colleges to recruits: One lesson will be "If you've committed to a college already, you shouldn't play in the open period. Maybe try baseball or volleyball instead. Table tennis is fun. So is chess. Dance class, aerobics, whatever. Bible study. Other religions study. Science club. Or volunteer to help out wherever people need help. Or just chill on social media or playing video games all day long. Or read a book or Internet-based news stories as you learn about current events. We really don't care what you do. But playing basketball all year round is going to get you injured and we care about you."
Anyone with suggestions or criticisms, please let fly. All sensible contributions welcomed.