NCAA Will Allow Student-Athletes to Wear Patches to Express their Views

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel has approved changes that will allow athletes to wear patches on their uniforms to express social views.

Panel members, who met by videoconference last week, reaffirmed and expanded existing rules, which will now allow student-athletes two places on the uniform, one on the front and one on the back, to express support and voice their opinions.

The patch on the front, which most sports already allowed, as authorized by the school or conference, may be a commemorative/memorial patch (names, mascots, nicknames, logos and marks) intended to celebrate or memorialize people, events or other causes.

The patch must not exceed 2¼ square inches and must be placed on the front or sleeve of the uniform. While not all team members are required to wear the patch, they must be identical for those who choose to wear them.

The second location is on the back of the uniform where the player name is traditionally located and, as authorized by the school or conference, will allow names/words intended to celebrate or memorialize people, events or other causes. The names or words may vary by team members

The NCAA is taking a page out the book of other sports organizations who are finding ways to show support of athletes who are personally connected to the movement against police brutality and racial injustice.