Report of the
NCAA MEN’S AND Women’s SKIING Committee
1. ACTION ITEMS.
a. Selection Criteria
– West Region.
(1) Recommendation. That the following be added to the Nordic section for the West Region selection criteria:
· Individual points for a skier’s two best Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA) results in each technique (classical and freestyle) will be used for NCAA qualifying. These points will be added together to create one combined ranking list. In case of a tie, the third, fourth and fifth best point result (in that specific technique), if necessary, will be used for seeding. If no third best result or still a tie, single best point result (in that specific technique) will count.
· The NCAA quota will be filled by selection from the combined ranking list. Ties will be broken by looking at the next best result in either technique starting with the third best point result.
(2) Rationale. The first addition pertains to ties as the current criteria is not specific enough in dealing with how to break ties. The second is designed to ensure that the most qualified student-athletes are selected to the championships. At the championships, the Nordic student-athletes compete in two events/two techniques (classical and freestyle). By combining the ranking list, it makes certain that student-athletes excelling in both techniques will be considered for selection. These clarifications will further refine the process of determining NCAA qualifiers.
(3) Estimated Budget Impact. None.
(4) Student-Athlete Impact. None.
b. Committee Chair.
(1) Recommendation. That Drew Galbraith, associate
director of athletics,
(2) Rationale. Mr. Galbraith is an experienced member of the committee and has demonstrated good
leadership skills during his tenure.
(3) Estimated Budget Impact. None.
(4) Student-Athlete Impact. None.
c. Electronic Scoreboard.
(1) Recommendation. That funding be provided for rental of an electronic scoreboard for use at both the Alpine and Nordic venues.
(2) Rationale. An electronic scoreboard has been secured for three of the past four championships through supplemental funding and has proved to be an outstanding enhancement to the event. With no other way to indicate scores, times or team standings at the venues (e.g., no traditional scoreboard), the electronic scoreboard is an avenue to provide this pertinent information to student-athletes and fans alike. The championships are a combination of four individual events and the scoreboard is able to provide student-athletes and spectators with updated information such as split times, run times, team standings and individual discipline standings.
(3) Estimated Budget Impact. $6,000.
(4) Student-Athlete Impact. None.
d. Official Scorekeeper - Stipend.
(1) Recommendation. That funding be provided for an official scorekeeper for the championships.
(2) Rationale. Currently, the approved payment for timing services at this championship is $400 for each venue (Alpine and Nordic). Typically each venue has a specific timing crew and one of those timers often serves as the overall event timer. In addition to staffing the actual competition, this individual attends four coaches’ meetings (Tuesday through Friday nights) to be part of the seeding process and produce/distribute the start order lists. This person also produces daily results sheets and final results packets. The timing services needed for this championship are very specialized and the committee believes it is important that it has the ability to bring in qualified timing personnel. The recommended stipend of $3,000 is an average of what host institutions have been paying a scorekeeper the past four to five years and is what event timers routinely charge during the regular season.
(3) Estimated Budget Impact. $3,000.
(4) Student-Athlete Impact. None.
e. Professional Announcer/Race Commentator – Stipend and Travel Expenses.
(1) Recommendation. That funding for
(2)
Rationale. The championships consist of four days
of competition with two distinct disciplines: The commentator must be knowledgeable and
well versed in both Alpine and Nordic racing. Additionally, there is often down time
throughout the day between races that the race commentator is expected to fill. The
individual in this role is very important to this championship and the
committee believes it is important to the event to be able to provide a
qualified and professional commentator for the student-athletes and spectators.
(3) Estimated Budget
Impact. $3,505 ($2,000 stipend
and $1,505 in
(4) Student-Athlete Impact. None.
f. Technical Delegate Travel Expenses.
(1) Recommendation. That
(2) Rationale. Currently, the technical delegates (Alpine and Nordic) are approved to receive payment of $400 each ($100 per day), in addition to lodging and per diem for staffing the championships for two days of training and two days of competition. The host institution and committee work with the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) for technical delegate assignments and are not always able to identify and secure qualified, local technical delegates. The technical delegate is the key official to the competition and the committee is committed to bringing in the most qualified technical delegates to the event. Currently the committee does not have the ability to fly in any officials to the championships.
(3) Estimated Budget Impact. $1,200.
(4) Student-Athlete Impact. None.
2. INFORMATIONAL
ITEM.
· 2008 Regional Allocations. The committee confirmed regional berths (regional allocated and earned slots) for the 2008 championships as follows:
Men’s Alpine: Women’s Alpine:
East – 17 East – 18
West – 18 West – 17
Men’s Nordic: Women’s Nordic:
Central – 10 Central – 11
East – 11 East – 12
West – 18 West – 16
The regional allocated berths have been slotted equally to each region (Alpine and Nordic); each region was allocated six Nordic slots and eight Alpine slots.