Ivy proposes clamping down on early recruiting of athletes

The Ivy League has proposed tightening NCAA rules to prevent coaches from recruiting high school athletes before their junior years.

The NCAA already has rules against coaches making early contact with prospective athletes pre-junior year, but holes in the regulations have accelerated the recruiting process and led to nonbinding scholarship offers, contact during camps and unofficial campus visits.

Under the Ivy's proposal, coaches would not be allowed to make verbal offers of financial aid or provide support in the admission process before the prospective athlete's junior year. Coaches would be prohibited from initiating or receiving telephone calls, planning unofficial visits and having recruiting conversations at camps and clinics before the start of a high school athlete's junior year.

The proposal will be considered for legislation by NCAA membership in January.