College athletes can now wear patches on their uniforms to honor the causes they support, including social justice initiatives, the NCAA Rules of the Game Oversight Panel announced Thursday.
Under current rules, patches are prohibited or not addressed in Division I sports.
The NCAA Gaming Rules Oversight Panel approved rules to allow student athletes to wear patches on their uniforms for commemorative and commemorative purposes, as well as to support social justice issues: https://t.co/yjuEsMYMy7 pic .twitter.com / AdWLgFMZ0D
– Within the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) July 30, 2020
The new rule will allow one patch on the front of a player’s uniform and one on the back. On the front, the patch should not exceed 2¼ inches and can be used as a “commemorative / commemorative patch (names, pets, nicknames, logos, and trademarks) intended to celebrate or commemorate people, events, or other causes.”
Players can also replace their last names on the back of their jerseys to honor a cause they support.
“The second location is on the back of the uniform where the player’s name is traditionally found and, as authorized by the school or conference, will allow names / words intended to celebrate or commemorate people, events, or other causes,” announced the NCAA. “Names or words may vary depending on the team member.”
The new rule is subject to conference and school approval for each athlete.
The announcement follows a stretch of energized activism that has followed the death of George Floyd in May. College athletes have participated in protests and have published their views through social media.
Seth Towns, Ohio state, a transfer from Harvard graduates, was arrested by police at a protest in Columbus, Ohio, after Floyd’s death.
In just 24 hours, I crossed a virtual Harvard graduation stage to the back of the police van along with other peaceful protesters, of whom I am equally proud. pic.twitter.com/qtvXmw0Fwq
– Seth 💤 (@ seth_towns17) May 30, 2020
“I will not stop. I will continue to use my voice to speak for the unheard, and that is what I did. The voice is very important,” Towns said on SportsCenter after the incident. “And when I say ‘voice’, I am not talking about speaking, per se; I am talking about actions. I am talking about going out and protesting and doing your duty as a member of this democracy.”
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