New NCAA rule allows schools to pay for two guardians to go with recruits on official visits

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The NCAA has passed a rule allowing football recruit to bring two guardians on official visits, according to a report from ESPN.com.

The proposal, which passed 14-1 with only the Sun Belt voting against, allows school to pay the round-trip costs for parents or legal guardians and will be implemented Aug. 1, in time for the fall official visits for the Class of 2017.

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The rule currently allows for only the player’s travel and accommodations so prospects were either taking visits alone or parents/guardians or coaches were paying their own way to go with the player.

The new rule mirrors the rule that has been in place for basketball for several years. According to 13.6.7.1.1,  “In basketball, an institution may pay the actual costs for meals and lodging for a prospective student-athlete’s parents or legal guardians (expenses for up to two people) that are incurred while traveling to and from campus to accompany the prospective student-athlete on his official visit.”

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About the Author

Jeff Fisher
Jeff is an award-winning journalist and expert in the field of high school sports, underscored with his appearance on CNBC in 2010 to talk about the big business of high school football in America.Jeff turned to his passion for high school football into an entrepreneurial venture called High School Football America, a digital media company focused on producing original high school sports content for radio, television and the internet.Jeff is co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football America, a partner with NFL Play Football.