NCAA eases up on weed, updates FCS coaching and recruiting

By Steven J. Gaither

The NCAA recently made several changes — including how it will deal with weed. 

The largest college atheltics body is doing away with testing for cannabis products. 

“The NCAA drug testing program is intended to focus on integrity of competition, and cannabis products do not provide a competitive advantage,” Council Chair Josh Whitman, athletic director at the University of Illinois, said in a statement. “The council’s focus is on policies centered on student-athlete health and well-being rather than punishment for cannabis use.”

Any penalties currently being served by student-athletes who previously tested positive for weed will be discontinued.

In addition to the news on weed, the rules have also been changed regarding coaching. A rule change adopted by the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship (FCS) Subdivision Oversight Committees to permit any staff member to provide technical and tactical instruction to student-athletes.

FCS teams remain limited to 13 staff members who may participate in off-campus recruiting activities. 

“NCAA members continue efforts to modernize support for student-athletes, and removing restrictions on skill instruction in football will provide those student-athletes with increased resources to achieve their greatest on-field potential,” said Josh Whitman, chair of the council and athletics director at Illinois. “At the same time, the council determined that maintaining limits on recruiting personnel will preserve competitive balance in recruiting while also localizing decision-making around how best to maximize support for student-athletes.”

Also instituted were a pair of changes to the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision). They include: 

• Allowing a 14-calendar day December contact period beginning the Friday after the early signing period, enabling FCS programs to conduct on- and off-campus recruiting activities before the regular signing period and before the NCAA Transfer Portal closes.
• Adding a three-day quiet period at the conclusion of the December contact period to allow FCS schools to continue to have on-campus recruiting activities at the same time as FBS schools.