The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) released a draft of a potential new constitution that will restructure the organization and give the three divisions under the organization the power to govern themselves.

The new constitution, downsized from 43 pages to 18 1/2, places more focus on the welfare of athletes. NCAA President Mark Emmert called for the convention to give more power to schools and conferences after a Supreme Court ruling left the association vulnerable to further legal challenges.

The NCAA lost several lawsuits filed by former athletes over restrictions on income for amateur athletes as outlined in the current constitution. If adopted, the new constitution would be the first step in dramatically transforming the NCAA and the way colleges operate their sports programs.

“The ratification of a new constitution in January is the first step in the process of transforming NCAA governance,” said Jack DiGioia, chairperson of the NCAA Board of Governors and the president of Georgetown. “A new constitution will provide the divisions the flexibility they need to act.”

The changes will provide Division I, the highest level of college athletics that includes major college football and basketball, the authority to reshape their revenue sharing processes and set the rules within each of the three divisions. It also shrinks the NCAA’s Board of Governors from 21 to to nine.

The goal is for these changes, among others, to be in place within a year, according to AP News. The NCAA's 1,200 member schools still need to see the draft of the constitution and provide feedback after a special constitutional convention next week. It could face many amendments before full membership votes on ratification in January.

“The question is going to be asked: What is the new role and responsibilities of the board of governance? That’s still all three divisions, but their priorities and what they would be doing would be just those very, very high-level issues of the association, as opposed to some of the things they have been getting involved in right now,” said Shane Lyons, chairperson of the Division I council and member on the constitution committee.

There are still many more aspects that need to be discussed, including the possibility of a Division IV and membership requirements for the divisions, and whether or not the rules can make things more equal for schools with smaller budgets. All aspects of the move will need to be decided within the year as the NCAA continues its restructuring efforts.

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