The House Settlement: What it means for Swimmers Seeking American Scholarships

The House Settlement has brought significant changes to the NCAA landscape, impacting athletes worldwide, including those from the UK and Europe aspiring to secure scholarships in American colleges. Here’s a detailed look at what these changes mean:

Key Summary Points

• New Roster Limits: NCAA caps swimming rosters at 30 athletes per team starting in the 2025-26 academic year.

• Impact on Scholarships: Teams may need to cut athletes, affecting scholarship distribution.

• Retroactive Compensation: $2.8 billion in back pay for former athletes. (This mostly impacts American Football and Basketball)

• Revenue Sharing: Schools can use up to 22% of athletic revenue to compensate current athletes.

• Elimination of Scholarship Limits: Schools can now provide full scholarships to all athletes on a roster.

• NIL Clarity: Independent review and fair market value assessments for NIL deals.

Previous Limits

• Women's Teams: Previously limited to 14 scholarship spots.

• Men's Teams: Previously limited to 9.9 scholarship spots.

• No Overall Cap: Teams could have any number of athletes.

New Limits

• Roster Cap: Starting in the 2025-26 academic year, both men's and women's teams are capped at 30 athletes.

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• Scholarship Distribution: This cap means teams may need to cut athletes to fit the new roster size, potentially leading to fewer scholarship opportunities.

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Impact on Scholarships

• Shift in Scholarship Awards: Teams might offer more full scholarships to fewer athletes or reduce the total number of scholarships.

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• Recruiting Dynamics: Top-tier programs may become more attractive with more full scholarships, while others may struggle to retain talent.

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Consequences

• Recruiting and Team Dynamics: The new limits could change how teams recruit and manage their rosters, affecting team dynamics and the overall landscape of college swimming.

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• Division II/III Impact: While most impactful for Division I, Division II and III programs could also feel the effects as athletes seek new opportunities.

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Retroactive Compensation (Back Pay)

• $2.8 Billion Distribution: Nearly $2.8 billion will be distributed to former Division I athletes who played between 2016 and 2024. Again, this will mostly impact basketball and American Football athletes rather than swimmers.

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• Compensation for Lost NIL Revenue: This back pay compensates athletes for the NIL revenue they were unable to earn under previous NCAA rules.

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Revenue Sharing for Current Athletes

• Up to 22% of Athletic Revenue: Schools can now use up to 22% of their annual athletic revenue to compensate student-athletes directly.

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• Estimated Cap: This cap is estimated to be around $20-22 million in the 2025-26 year, with potential for increases.

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Elimination of Scholarship Limits

• Full Scholarships for All: The settlement eliminates sport-by-sport scholarship maximums, allowing schools to provide full scholarships to all athletes on a roster.

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NIL Clarity and Stability

• Independent Review: The settlement establishes independent review of third-party NIL deals to ensure fair market value.

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• Clearinghouse for NIL Deals: A clearinghouse will evaluate the fair market value of NIL deals, preventing "faux" NIL deals that function as pay-for-play.

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Grandfathering of Roster Limits

• Protection for Current Athletes: Schools can grandfather in roster limits, allowing current athletes to continue under the old rules while they finish their careers.

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• Transfer Portal: Athletes who leave their current school can keep their grandfather status at their new school. (Please not there are debates still being had about this in the courts)

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Tips for UK and European Swimmers

• Understand Scholarship Contracts: Be aware that some contracts do not protect athletes beyond the first year.

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• Ask Questions: Carefully consider short-term gains and excited of getting a spot versus long-term stability.

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• Broader Range of Events: Swimmers with a broader range of events are now more valuable

  
  

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The House Settlement represents a significant shift in the NCAA landscape, with profound implications for UK and European swimmers looking to secure scholarships in America. By understanding these changes and preparing accordingly, athletes can navigate this new environment and make informed decisions about their athletic and academic futures. studentathlete.info offers consulting starting at £60 per hour to help families navigae all aspects of the recruitment process.