GRAPEVINE, Texas – The NCAA Division I Board of Directors took the first step Saturday toward trying to simplify and deregulate the organization’s often complex and sometimes unenforceable rules.

On the final day of the NCAA convention, the board approved 25 of 26 proposals in what is considered the most sweeping deregulation of the organization’s rulebook at a single time.

NCAA President Mark Emmert called it a singular accomplishment to make changes that “set a completely new tone” for the rules.

He said they will give schools more responsibility and flexibility and “focus the rules on those things that are real threats to integrity of sport rather than things that are mostly annoying.”

Among the intriguing changes to take effect Aug. 1 will the elimination on the amount of phone calls and other private communication, such as text messages and through social media, that coaches can have with recruits.

“There was virtually no debate on it. Everyone agreed that those rules need to be changed,” Emmert said.

There will also be no limit on the number of coaches who can recruit off campus at the same time. Also gone will be restrictions on sending printed recruiting material to prospects, such as the size of such material.

Athletes will be able to accept up to $300 per year beyond normal expenses to attend nonscholastic events and receive money to help offset expenses associated with practices and competition with national teams, including tryouts. Schools will also be able to provide normal expenses, including travel, for athletes representing the school at events such as goodwill tours and media appearances.

When asked how much of the cumbersome nearly 500-page NCAA manual will be eliminated by the changed rules, Emmert said about 25 pages.

The only proposal that got tabled by the 18-member board, pending further discussion, was one to allow coaches to start contacting recruits beginning July 1 between their sophomore and junior years.

Emmert said there wasn’t a huge objection to the idea, but were concerns from some academic leaders that the early recruitment could be intrusive for high school students. Coaches were concerned about a singular date for every sport.