The NCAA's Division I Council Coordination Committee announced the association will grant eligibility relief to student-athletes who were impacted by scheduling changes due to COVID-19.
The decision comes less than 24 hours after announcing the cancellation of all winter and spring tournaments and championships for the remainder of the academic year.
"Council leadership agreed that eligibility relief is appropriate for all Division I student-athletes who participated in spring sports," the Division I Council Coordination Committee said in the statement. "Details of eligibility relief will be finalized at a later time."
Student-athletes that would be eligible for relief currently include those who participated in baseball, softball, beach volleyball, golf, tennis and track and field, among others.
Those student-athletes would be eligible for an extra year of participation in collegiate athletics after the NCAA Board of Governors advised its conferences and schools on Friday to make decisions regarding the continuation of their respective seasons, which could possibly include complete cancellation of activities.
ASU athletics announced on Thursday that the department would "be cancelling all sport competitions, effective immediately, until further notice."
The NCAA is working toward similar solutions for those who played winter sports, according to Jeff Goodman of Stadium.
On Wednesday, the NCAA released a statement on the severe limitation of attendance at upcoming championship events, notably the men's and women's basketball tournaments.
However, after the NBA suspended its season later that evening after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, the NCAA chose to cancel the remaining winter and spring championships Thursday afternoon.
The NCAA has joined the NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, XFL, Premier League, La Liga and several over sports leagues across the globe in making changes in the wake of COVID-19.
Reach the reporter at aklatsky@asu.edu and follow @averyklatsky on Twitter.
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