REPORT OF THE

Mitch Barnhart, University of Kentucky

Brad Bates, Miami University (Ohio)

Cathy Beene, Georgia Southern University

Sarah Bobert, Marquette University

Sherri Booker, Atlantic Sun Conference

Pete Boone, University of Mississippi

Greg Burke, Northwestern State University

Lisa Campos, University of Texas at El Paso

Leslie Claybrook, Rice University

Dwight Datcher, Howard University

Raynoid Dedeaux, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

Susan Delaney-Scheetz, Pennsylvania State University

Jim Fallis, Northern Arizona University

Carolyn Schlie-Femovich, Patriot League, chair

Kenneth Ferguson, University of Missouri, Kansas City

James Fiore, Stony Brook University

Richard Giannini, University of Southern Mississippi

Woody Gibson, High Point University

Heather Gores, Gonzaga University

Ed Grom, The Summit League

Rob Halvaks, Big West Conference

Terri Howes, West Virginia University

Christine Hoyles, Pacific-10 Conference

Bruce Jaffee, Indiana University, Bloomington

Bob Keefer, Mount St. Mary’s College

Patrick Lyons, Iona College

Ian McCaw, Baylor University

Clyde McCoy, University of Miami (Florida)

Rick Mello, Sun Belt Conference

Jane Miller, University of Virginia

Marilyn M Moniz-Kaho’ohanohano, University of

Hawaii, Manoa

Mark H. Murphy, Northwestern University

Deborah Paul, Southern University, Baton Rouge

Dan Radakovich, Georgia Institute of Technology

Bruce Rassmussen, Creighton University

Nance Reed, Towson University

Sarah Reesman, University of Missouri, Columbia

Dawn Rogers, Arizona State University

Judy Rose, University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Jeff Schemmel, San Diego State University

Val Sheley, University of South Carolina, Columbia

Jeffrey Stapleton, Monmouth University

Jon Steinbrecher, Ohio Valley Conference

Jim Sterk, Washington State University

Ron Strollo, Youngstown State University

Mike Thomas, University of Cincinnati

David Berst, NCAA

Wayne Burrow, NCAA

Joni Comstock, NCAA

Beth DeBauche, NCAA

Brad Hostetter, NCAA

Greg Johnson, NCAA

Charnele Kemper, NCAA

Carol Reep, NCAA

Dave Schnase, NCAA

Katie Street, NCAA intern

Sharon Tufano, NCAA

REPORT OF THE

NCAA DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIPS/COMPETITION CABINET

The NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet submits this report from its September 19-20, 2007, in-person meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana. [Note: All votes were unanimous voice votes unless otherwise indicated. Subcommittee positions are noted unless part of the consent package.]

ACTION ITEMS.

1. Legislative Items.

a. Men’s Basketball Coaches Recruiting at Pick-up Games and Open Gyms During Summer Evaluation Period.

(1) Recommendation. That the NCAA Division I Management Council adopt noncontroversial legislation to prohibit men’s basketball coaches from attending noninstitutional, nonorganized activities (e.g., pick-up games, open gyms) during the summer evaluation period.

(2) Effective Date. Immediate.

(3) Rationale. Based on a recommendation from the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Issues Committee, the cabinet noted an escalation in the number of impermissibly arranged activities disguised as open gym or pick-up games during the summer evaluation period. These activities subject coaches to potential rules violations and can create an environment in which contact between NCAA coaches and outside influences occur. The cabinet noted that men’s coaches also are not permitted to attend these activities during the academic year. Finally, the cabinet noted that
the NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet Subcommittee on Recruiting and the National Association of Basketball Coaches also were supportive of the recommendation and agreed that sponsoring it as noncontroversial legislation is appropriate so it will be effective for the summer 2008.

(4) Estimated Budget Impact. None.

(5) Student-Athlete Impact. None.

c. Wrestling Committee Composition.

(1) Recommendation. That the Management Council adopt emergency legislation to expand the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee from six to eight members beginning with the 2008-09 academic year.

(2) Rationale. The cabinet believed that this is appropriate because it has directed the Wrestling Committee to develop and implement a new selection process, effective with the 2009 championships, in which each eligible conference receives automatic qualification for the champion in each of the 10 weight classes. Under such a system, each of the 220 remaining wrestlers would be selected on an at-large basis by the committee with the assistance of a ranking program. Such an increase in the size of the committee would better enable the committee to identify the large number of at-large selections. Finally, this recommendation is contingent on approval of the budget necessary for implementation.

(3) Effective Date. Immediate.

(4) Estimated Budget Impact. $6,060.

(5) Student-Athlete Impact. None.

BUDGET INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

1. 2008-09 and 2009-10 Budget Requests. The cabinet agreed to request that the NCAA Division I Budget Committee support the budget requests set forth below. The requests are in priority order. The cabinet considered $1,772,877 in requests and agreed to recommend funding of requests totaling $858,727. A complete list of the requests considered can be found in Attachment.

a. Football Championships Subdivision.

· Opening-Round Competition.

(a) Recommendation. That funding be allocated to establish an opening round of competition featuring two games the week prior to the first round of the championship.

(b) Rationale. An opening round of competition allows for the inclusion of conferences that satisfy the criteria for automatic qualification and guarantees access to all conferences eligible for automatic qualification. Featuring two games in the opening round creates an environment that reduces the stigma of play-in competition and provides balance to the bracket. An opening round of two games addresses the need for more inclusion for eligible conferences while also providing a framework for including other conferences that will become eligible in future years.

(c) Estimated Budget Impact. It is anticipated that the costs associated with two additional flights and per diem for four teams as well as expenses for game officials during opening weekend will be approximately $251,200.

(d) Student-Athlete Impact. An additional week of championship competition for student-athletes advancing from the opening round of competition to the first round of the championship.

(e) Other Issues. To accommodate the added round of competition, the championship would have to be extended on the back end (conflicting with the Christmas holiday or moved to a near-New Year’s date); the football season would have to start a week earlier (budget impact for all NCAA Football Championship Subcommittee [FCS] institutions) or; teams would have to give up their bye weeks during the season, creating the possibility of up to 16 straight weeks of competition for a team participating in every round of the championship. The cabinet charged the FCS with addressing the logistical issues and developing policies to determine which teams participate in the opening round.

b. Women’s Rowing.

· Bracket Expansion.

(a) Recommendation. That the championship field be expanded to
16-full teams effective with the 2008-09 championship.

(b) Rationale. The cabinet believes the championship has elevated the level of competition and, therefore, should provide more opportunities for those institutions to have their full team selected to the championship. In addition, based on the bracket size for other team sports with similar sponsorship numbers (26 percent women’s rowing) women’s rowing warrants a bracket size of 16.

(d) Student-Athlete Impact. Bracket expansion will provide an additional 56 opportunities for student-athletes to participate in the championship. It also will enable more full teams to participate in the championship which will give more institutions the opportunity to win a national championship.

c. Women’s Soccer.

· Pairing Policy.

(a) Recommendation That the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Committee be permitted to avoid first- and second-round conference matchups, effective with the 2008 championships.

(b) Rationale. Currently, the committee has the ability
to avoid first-round conference matchups in the
tournament. Based on a recommendation from the NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet Bracket/Format Subcommittee, the cabinet agreed that by avoiding both first- and second-round conference matchups, the championship will be more of a true national championship by not pairing teams that have already played multiple times in a season. This policy is currently in place for women’s volleyball and softball. After an analysis of the 2005 and 2006 brackets, there were a total of 11 sites over the two-year period where the potential for the second-round matchups occurred.

(d) Student-Athlete Impact. Additional teams likely would incur flights, however; they would not be missing any more class time than in previous years.

d. Men’s Golf.

· Championships Format.

(a) Recommendation. That an individual champion be declared after 54 holes and that the top eight teams advance to a medal/match play with the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals staged on consecutive days.

(b) Rationale. The cabinet believes that the new format will enhance the student-athlete experience at the championships as well as that of fans and the general public. The cabinet feels that the current format is hard to understand for the casual golf fan. Putting the top eight teams into a medal/match play bracket in a head-to-head competition will create more excitement around the championships for the student-athletes, coaches and fans. The cabinet believes that this proposed format also may create an opportunity for the championships to be televised. This recommendation was proposed by the National Advisory Board of the Golf Coaches Association of America and supported by a majority of coaches at a recent town hall meeting at the United States Junior Golf Championships.

(d) Student-Athlete Impact. None. The teams would arrive at the site one day earlier than they currently do but the championship would still be over Memorial Day weekend.

e. Wrestling.

· In-Person Meeting.

(a) Recommendation. That effective with the 2009 championships, the Wrestling Committee hold a three day (two night) in-person meeting at the NCAA national office to select the field of 330 wrestlers for the championships (For 45, Against 1).

(b) Rationale. In June 2007, the cabinet directed the Wrestling Committee to select the field of qualifiers with the assistance of a rankings program beginning with the 2009 championships. Due to the intensive nature of selecting 220 at-large wrestlers to the championships, the cabinet feels it is important that the selection meeting be held in person.

(c) Estimated Budget Impact. The estimated annual cost for an in-person selection meeting is $7,710. [Note: This estimate is based on an eight-person committee. See item h below.]

(d) Student-Athlete Impact. Although no exact measure can be placed on this, the cabinet feels that the in-person meeting will help ensure that the appropriate student-athletes are selected to the field.

f. Women’s Lacrosse.

· Increase in Number of Flights for Officials.

(a) Recommendation. To increase the number of flights allowed for officials’ travel from three per round (a total of nine) to a total of 12 to be used during any portion of the championship.

(b) Rationale. While the sponsorship of women’s lacrosse programs is expanding both to the West and the South, the base of championship-level officials continues to remain in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. It is the hope of the cabinet that with the formation of the NCAA Umpire Improvement Program, the identification and cultivation of umpires will expand out of those regions in the future. However, the majority of flights used for championship competition are used to staff preliminary-round games held in the Midwest. It continues to be a challenge to identify qualified officials for games in that locale.

(d) Student-Athlete Impact. None.

g. Track and Field.

· Video Review Technology.

(a) Recommendation. To fund video review technology to assist in the officiating of events at the indoor and outdoor track and field championships effective with the 2009 championships. The NCAA Division I Track and Field Committee estimates that to provide video review at the field event sites (two shot-put circles, two long jump/triple jump runways, one discus circle, one hammer/weight throw circle) would cost approximately $6,000 for the necessary cameras and review hardware. Additional cameras and hardware to effectively cover the track events are estimated to cost an additional $4,000.

(b) Rationale. Video review is becoming a standard in most sporting events and the current technology would benefit the track and field championships. The ability to review performances at or near foul lines in field events as well as more coverage on the track to assist with fouls can be critical to advancing/placing student-athletes in the championships. Video technology currently exists at the finish line for events held on the track. Supporting this recommendation would put technology in place to assist with video reviews on other areas of the track as well as the field events.

(c) Estimated Budget Impact. A one-time expense of $10,000. This estimate is based on purchase of hardware to assist in the video review with the intent of adapting the equipment for both the indoor and outdoor track and field championships and for use in multiple years.

(d) Student-Athlete Impact. A more accurately officiated track and field meet means a better experience for student-athletes.

h. Wrestling.

· Committee Composition.

(a) Recommendation. That the size of the Wrestling Committee be expanded from six to eight, beginning with the 2008-09 academic year.

(b) Rationale. The cabinet directed the Wrestling Committee to develop and implement a system, effective with the 2009 championships, in which each eligible conference receives automatic qualification for the champion in each of the 10 weight classes. Each of the 220 remaining wrestlers would be selected on an at-large basis by the committee with the assistance of a ranking program. Such an increase in the size of the committee would better enable the committee to identify the at-large selections.

(d) Student-Athlete Impact. None.

i. Women’s Gymnastics.

· Per Diem Expenses for Nonathletes.

(a) Recommendation. That the travel party to support individual qualifiers competing at the national championships be increased by one nonathlete.

(b) Rationale. Women’s gymnastics had a safety exception allowing for the additional nonathlete. This exception was overlooked when the new reimbursement policy was implemented in 2005-06. The cabinet supported the increase at its September 2006 meeting and believes it is critical to the sport of women’s gymnastics that per diem for nonathletes traveling with individual qualifiers be increased by one to account for an athletic trainer, administrator or support staff (two nonathletes for one to three individuals selected; three nonathletes for four to six individuals selected; and four nonathletes for seven to nine individuals selected).

(d) Student-Athlete Impact. None.

j. Track and Field.

· Officials Fees.

(a) Recommendation. To provide lodging (double occupancy) and fees for 90 indoor track officials and 110 outdoor officials, effective with the 2009 championships. This request is in addition to the 12 key officials for indoor and 15 key officials for outdoor track who currently receive fees, per diem, transportation and lodging.

(b) Rationale. While the track committee designates the 12 key officials for the indoor championships and the 15 key officials for the outdoor championships, the host institution is responsible for securing the remaining officials for the championships. That includes approximately 90 officials for the indoor championships and approximately 110 officials for the outdoor championships. Currently, all of these officials volunteer their own transportation, time and lodging to work the championships. Host institutions are encouraged to secure officials from their local association, but the request is made each year to include quality officials from a national perspective as well. To secure quality officials and foster a positive relationship with the officials, some host institutions have absorbed some lodging costs. This is not a requirement of the hosts but a commitment from the host to ensure quality officials for the championships as well as to make the officials feel that their professionalism and services are respected, appreciated and recognized for the amount of time worked at the championships.

Recently, there have been discussions among the track officials about unionizing for compensation. Committees in all three divisions are aware of the issues surrounding this unionization and would like to be proactive in providing the officials at least lodging and a minimum fee for their services for their commitment to the Division I Track and Field Championships. Meals are currently provided at the championships for the officials in lieu of per diem and as a part of the hospitality provided by the host. The NCAA Division II and Division III Track and Field Committees have already instituted this payment structure.

(d) Student-Athlete Impact. None.

Men’s Golf.

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