American Football Coaches Association proposals

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2017/01/11/afca-football-coac...

NASHVILLE — An early signing period and the addition of a 10th full-time assistant coach are among the noteworthy rule changes recommended by the American Football Coaches Association, which also proposed a new model for student-athlete eligibility at its annual meetings in advance of the upcoming NCAA convention.

In addition, support was unanimous for a drastic change to the current eligibility model that would adjust the parameters for how players can take redshirt years.

The recommendations will be forwarded for review to the NCAA's Football Oversight Committee, which will convene here next week.

We could see some drastic changes in the very near future to signing recurits, number of coaches in staff and redshirt availability.

As it currently stands, there is just one national signing day for prospective student-athletes across all NCAA levels of competition, occurring on the first Wednesday of February.

The AFCA endorsed allowing high school prospects to sign national letters of intent on both that signing day and on an earlier date, held on the third Wednesday of December, which is currently reserved for junior-college prospects.

There was unanimous support among NCAA head coaches about adding a 10th full-time assistant coach, with members citing overall student-athlete welfare and the ability to create a better player-to-coach ratio.

On the eligibility question, the AFCA proposed maintaining the five-for-four model — a player has five years to complete his four seasons of on-field eligibility — but with a twist: A student-athlete would be able to take a redshirt season in any year in which he participates in four or fewer games.

I think the early signing period is a great situation for both schools and recruits, no more none committable early offers. The extra coach will be good for kids but also bringing in new blood to the coaching circles at the higher levels , the redshirt makes a lot of sense, a kid loses it with a single play doesn't benefit anyone. Now to see what the NCAA committee says about these.