This is the fourth in a series of articles to review Division I proposals for the 2009-10 legislative cycle.

The Division I Legislative Council will consider proposals that could change recruiting practices in several sports, including some that would curb early recruiting and one that would limit “over-signing” prospects to National Letters of Intent.

In Proposal No. 2009-48, the Southeastern Conference wants to limit to 28 the number of Football Bowl Subdivision student-athletes who may sign a National Letter of Intent or an institutional offer of financial aid from the first signing day through May 31. The proposal intends to curb instances of “over-signing” that have the potential to leave some prospects without a scholarship.

Current rules allow FBS  institutions to provide scholarships to 25 new student-athletes per year. However, some schools traditionally have signed more than that to protect themselves in the event some prospects do not qualify academically. The SEC set a cap of 28 for its own institutions earlier this year, and at that time conference leaders said they viewed the NLI as a commitment by the institution to a prospect who is capable of contributing academically and athletically. The Big Ten has a similar policy.

Several other proposals seek to rein in instances of early recruiting in several sports. Proposal No. 2009-47, sponsored by the Big East, would prohibit institutions from offering football prospects written offers of financial aid or offers of potential aid before August 1 of the recruit’s senior year in high school. The proposal aims to ease the confusion for prospects who might view written scholarship offers during the junior year as binding agreements. Recruits cannot sign a National Letter of Intent, which is a binding agreement, until their senior year.

Proposal No. 2009-28 addresses recruiting in women’s soccer. Sponsored by the SEC, the proposal would restrict contacts, telephone calls, official and unofficial visits, and offers of aid, generally prohibiting such contact before August 1 of the prospect’s senior year of high school. The proposal would also limit coaches’ involvement with teams that include prospects.

In its rationale, the SEC noted that women’s soccer recruits are receiving offers of financial aid “very early in their high school enrollment.” The proposal is an attempt to focus recruiting activity in a more “appropriate” time frame.

Other proposals of note modifying contacts and evaluations include:

• No. 2009-32, which would deregulate telephone calls during contact periods.
• No. 2009-37, which would prohibit evaluations of women’s basketball prospects at non-institutional non-organized events.
• No. 2009-43, which would allow electronic communication with prospects after May 1 of a student-athlete’s senior year, provided the institution has received a financial deposit in response to an offer of admission.
• No. 2009-45, which would allow expense-paid official visits for football prospects in the June before the senior year in high school.
• Nos. 2009-51, 2009-52 and 2009-53, which would modify rules about institutional camps and clinics, including the location of men’s basketball camps or clinics and the dates for football camps or clinics.

The next meeting of the Division I Legislative Council will be October 19-20.