{"id":3498,"date":"2026-06-24T19:34:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T19:34:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=3498"},"modified":"2026-06-24T19:34:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T19:34:17","slug":"ncaa-approves-age-based-eligibility-model-but-legal-challenges-loom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=3498","title":{"rendered":"NCAA approves age-based eligibility model, but legal challenges loom"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The NCAA announced this week that the Division 1 Cabinet unanimously approved the age-based eligibility model, which allows student-athletes up to five years of competition during a five-year window beginning when they turn 19 or enroll in college, whichever comes first. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The initial proposal, set forth in April, had eligibility beginning with the player\u2019s expected high school graduation or 19th birthday \u2014 again, whichever came first.<\/span><\/p>\n

The hockey community immediately rallied against it, pointing out that most players defer enrollment to play additional years in junior hockey after high school. Forrest Karr, executive director of the American Hockey Coaches Association, invited NCAA senior vice president and chief legal officer Scott Bearby to the AHCA convention in Florida at the end of April to meet with coaches, who raised their concerns.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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That helped get the ball rolling, with the AHCA and the Hockey Commissioners Association spearheading the effort to get the proposal modified to instead start the eligibility clock to enrollment in college. Once other sports got on board, the NCAA agreed to adopt the modification. <\/span><\/p>\n

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