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NCAA to allow student-athletes to wear patches on uniforms for commemorative, memorial purposes
Published:
Student-athletes will be able to wear patches on their uniforms for commemorative and memorial purposes, as well as to bring attention to social justice issues. The NCAA made the announcement on Thursday.
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved of the change. Current rules do not permit student-athletes to wear patches on their uniforms. This new rule would also allow student-athletes to replace their names on the back of their uniforms with other messages.
From the NCAA:
Panel members, who met by videoconference last week, reaffirmed and expanded existing rules, which will now allow student-athletes, two places on the uniform, one on the front and one on the back, to express support and voice their opinions.
The patch on the front, which most sports already allowed, as authorized by the school or conference, may be a commemorative/memorial patch (names, mascots, nicknames, logos and marks) intended to celebrate or memorialize people, events or other causes.
The patch must not exceed 2 1/4 square inches and must be placed on the front or sleeve of the uniform.
The NBA recently allowed its players to replace their names on the back of their jerseys with league-approved messages, as well.
You can read the full release from the NCAA and the Playing Rules Oversight Panel’s decision here.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB