A federal judge granted initial approval of a settlement Tuesday between the N.C.A.A. and a group of athletes that sued the association over its handling of head injuries. The agreement, which still needs N.C.A.A. approval, does not contain cash settlements for the plaintiffs in the proposed class-action suit, but mandates a new national protocol for head injuries sustained by players. Individual athletes can still bring their own suits.
The proposed settlement, which was first submitted in July 2014, calls for a $70 million monitoring fund for former athletes, which would allow them the opportunity to receive a neurological screening to examine brain functions and any signs of brain damage like chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease.