New athletic signing day policy a possibility for future
Seniors Carson Bowen, Scott Frantz and Michael Georgie sign to play sports at their college of choice. Bowen, Frantz and Georgie were all players for Free State’s football team. “The positive is that we are able to recognize the accomplishments of our student-athletes and celebrate their continued participation at the college level,” Athletic Director Mike Hill said.
As senior student-athlete Eliza Anderson finally decided she wanted to sign to the University of Rhode Island for swimming and diving, she had the freedom to choose when and with whom to sign with, within her sport’s respective signing week.
“Each sport for NCAA rules has a certain period where you can sign so mine was a week that was Wednesday to Wednesday and most people signed the first day possible,” Anderson said. “But I waited until the last day.”
Currently, there is no specific policy for how student-athletes must sign.
“The practice (previously) for many years was for each sport to host its own signing ceremony,” athletic director Mike Hill said. “Recently, signings have evolved into individual ones, or some that include members from multiple sports who are friends and want to sign with one another.”
Because of the lack of a policy, both Hill and the athletic committee are working on potentially creating one.
“The Student Athletic Advisory Committee has given its advice and so too have some coaches,” Hill said. “I will share information with all of our coaches and gain their input before determining if a policy should be established and what it will be.”
Regardless of whether or not a set policy will be implemented next year, a signing party is an important date that initiates the next step for a student-athlete.
“I think a signing party is really important because it shows that all your hard work really paid off and you have friends and family there to support you,” Anderson said.
