On Friday, April 3, President Donald Trump signed an executive order focusing on how long a college athlete can play and how many times they can transfer schools.

This executive order influences the NCAA to change their rules. The NCAA will have to enforce that college athletes cannot play for more than a five-year period. College athletes will be allowed to transfer schools once before they graduate and not have to sit out for a season. If a school is to pay an athlete who does not fit the criteria, they could risk losing federal funding. The rule changes are set to go into effect on Aug. 1.

Under the order, the NCAA and governing bodies should update their rules to restore financial stability and protect the future of all college sports. President Trump emphasized women’s and Olympic sports.

These rules will establish consistent and fair eligibility limits that includes the five-year participation and will structure transfer rules for athletics and academics. More rules will ensure medical care for student-athletes, implementing revenue-sharing to protect and expand opportunities in women’s and Olympic sports, ban improper financial agreements such as pay-to-play and place protection against unscrupulous agent conduct.   

The order directs the Department of Education and the Administrator of General Services to collect data across college athletics to make sure schools are in compliance. It allows the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and attorney general to take enforcement actions when appropriate. President Trump is calling on Congress to pass legislation that will address the critical issues in college athletics.

President Trump’s executive order is the first step towards change in college athletics.