Student-athletes participating in winter sports at the NCAA level will have an additional year of eligibility, according to numerous reports. Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic was one of many to report the news.

The NCAA Division I Council reportedly voted on the matter on Wednesday. The group passed a similar plan for fall student-athletes because of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing student-athletes to play this season without losing a year of eligibility.

It will not matter how much an individual plays in a sport this winter, they will retain eligibility.

This plan does allow for student-athletes to opt out of the winter sports season without any issues with eligibility, if they so choose. It’s especially beneficial considering winter sports schedules are still in flux due to the pandemic.

The one down side would be how it could impact recruiting, particularly for recruits in the 2021 cycle. How coaching staffs and players handle that will be interesting. The