A nightmare has ended for Mike Candrea and perhaps countless other Division I softball coaches.
Last week, the NCAA announced new legislation that now prohibits college coaches from contacting high school recruits prior to September 1 of their junior year, effective immediately.
“I love it,” said Candrea, who’s in his 33rd season at Arizona. “It’s long overdue.”
Before the alterations, there was no age limit and prospective student-athletes were being pursued at younger and younger ages.
How young exactly? According to NCAA research, 43 percent of softball recruits had been contacted (directly or indirectly) by a college coach in 9th grade or earlier.