NCAA announces amended game day rules to help deal with COVID-19, permits use of social justice statements on uniforms
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The NCAA announced on Thursday it has approved some new game day rules to help teams deal with the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to that news, the organization will also allow athletes to issue their support for social justice issues, commemorative or memorial purposes by the use of patches on their uniforms for the first time ever.
Schools or conferences must approve of all patches before they can be used by players. Patches can be placed on the front or on the sleeve of a jersey. Patches cannot exceed 2.5 square inches.
The NCAA also plans to allow players the option to put the patch on the back of their jersey in the place of their last name. Again, these patches must be approved by the school or conference.
When it comes to game day rules that have been amended, players and staff members on the sidelines can now expand to the 15-yard line. Previously, members of the sideline could only extend to the 25-yard line but allowing more room on the sidelines is expected to help with social distancing.
The coin toss will now only feature one player from each team and two officials.
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