The NCAA Division I Board of Directors directed the Division I Cabinet to move forward with an age-based eligibility concept on Monday. The new legislation would give student-athletes five years of eligibility starting with the academic year they turn 19 or graduate from high school, whichever happens first. Once approved, softball players will have five years to play five seasons. They will no longer have only four seasons of competition within their five-year eligibility window.  "The time is now to reform the period of eligibility rules to provide Division I student-athletes and our schools clear and consistent standards that align with current college athletes' experiences," said Tim Sands, president at Virginia Tech and chair of the board, in a press release on Monday.…