NCAA finalizes extra year of eligibility for spring-sport athletes

The NCAA Division I Council voted Monday to approve an extra year of eligibility for all spring-sport athletes.

The historic news follows an announcement earlier this month when the NCAA, which canceled the remainder of its winter and spring competition seasons on March 12 because of COVID-19 concerns, deemed it "appropriate to grant relief for the use of a season of competition for student-athletes who have participated in spring sports."

The financial cost of the ruling will fall not on the NCAA but rather on the individual schools, which will have the option to provide equal or less aid to seniors returning for an extra season in 2020-21. Additionally, seniors receiving an extra year of…