The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Thursday approved new rules on the shoes that competitors can wear and a modification to rules on lane violations in men's and women's track and field.  

The shoe rule brings the NCAA in line with World Athletics rules regarding the shoes that can be worn in cross country and indoor and outdoor track competition. That allows student-athlete performances to be accepted for eligibility in world competitions.

The lane violations rule centers on indoor and outdoor track and field races run on a curve. Competitors will face disqualification for stepping on or over the lane line to their left with more than one step anywhere on a curve for the entirety of the race.

Again, this rule change would bring NCAA competition in line with World Athletics standards.

Other rules changes 

• Pacing light technology will be allowed at nonchampionship competitions.
• The roles of meet management (meet director, competition manager and referees) are better defined.
• As of Dec. 1, 2026, equipment used for timing, weighing and measuring implements must be certified annually.
• The failure-to-participate rule will be redefined to pertain only to scored competitions.
• The competition manager position has been added as part of meet management.
• Immediate protests in field events are more clearly defined by renaming them as challenges. Challenges will have to be done before the next competitor begins. If the last competitor in a field event wants to challenge, it will have to be done within 60 seconds of the conclusion of the event.