The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is set to impose changes in eligibility rules, particularly on an athlete's maximum age to play in the league.
Starting Season 102, the league said it will lower the maximum age in eligibility by one year.
NCAA Season 100 Management Committee chairman and Lyceum of the Philippines University representative Hercules Callanta said the current age limit of 25 years old in the seniors division was a measure as part of the transition then to the K to 12 program.
"With the institution of the K to 12, because our students will stay in school two more years, so we brought up the maximum years an athlete can play, both in the juniors and seniors division by one year. But that was because there will be a transition," Callanta said on Tuesday in the NCAA Season 100 press conference.
"Now, because we see that it will be better for us to bring down again the maximum age by one year so we go back to pre-K to 12 maximum age from 25 to 24 [years old], but there will be a transition period. This will take effect in Season 102. For now, it will still remain as is until Season 101," he added.
The age eligibility for the seniors will be 24 and below, while the juniors will have it 18 and below.
"We need to make sure that all schools will be able to keep [a] tab of the change in maximum age limit so it's important to give them time to adjust. So Season 102, we will entertain 24 below and 18 below for juniors," he added.
The league also confirmed that it has lifted the rule recognizing the Special Guest Licenses (SGL) for players.
Back in 2020, the Games and Amusements Board implemented the SGL for student-athletes who want to play in professional leagues without losing their amateur status, as long as they receive permission from the proper authorities. GMA News Online earlier reported that the NCAA would disallow the SGL rule starting Season 100.
"The SGL was an accommodation of the situation during the pandemic but because everything is normal already, then starting June 30, we already stopped recognizing SGL," Callanta said, adding that this was done to "preserve the amateur status and perception that the NCAA would like to promote."
NCAA Season 100 is scheduled to open on Saturday.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
