REPORT OF THE
DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIPS
COMMITTEE
1. ACTION ITEMS.
a.
Repayment to the Division III Reserve.
(1) Recommendation. That $220,000 be directed from available
championship funds in 2002-03 and 2003-04 and $90,000 in the 2004-05 budget to
repay the Division III reserve.
Additionally, that the championships and finance staffs work to outline
budgeting parameters so that championships transportation overages and/or
shortfalls in a given budget cycle can be better forecasted and appropriately
addressed in the budget.
(2) Rationale. The committee was informed prior to its
September meeting that the 2000-01 Division III championships budget was
exceeded by approximately $530,000.
Similar shortfalls have occurred during three of the last four years,
but the Championships Committee was unaware of the shortfall or the impact on
the Division III reserve. Funding has
been taken from the reserve in each of these years to balance the budget. The championships’ budget shortfall has occurred
primarily in the area of championships travel.
Transportation costs are difficult to predict; the teams selected to the
championship and travel requirements for each bracket impact the budget. Additionally, new member institutions that
participated in the championships program for the first time in 2001-02,
located in parts of the country beyond 400 miles of selected hosts, may have
impacted the transportation costs inordinately.
(3) Budget Impact. $220,000 in 2002-03; $220,000 in 2003-04 and
$90,000 in 2004-05.
b.
Establishment of
Championships Contingency Fund.
(1) Recommendation. Allocate $100,000 in both the 2002-03 and
2003-04 budget cycles to establish a championships contingency fund to
accommodate potential championships budget shortfalls. Funding would come from the projected
$492,611 available during the 2002-03 and 2003-04 budget cycle. If such budget shortfalls do not occur, the
funding can address future shortfalls or will support other prioritized
championships initiatives.
(2) Rationale. While efforts will be made to enhance the
budgeting process, expenses, especially in the championships travel area, are
not entirely controllable and must be better understood. The committee believes that contingency
funding will assist in the long-term championships budgeting and planning processes.
(3) Budget Impact. $100,000 in 2002-03 and $100,000 in 2003-04.
c.
Funding to Accommodate Pools B and/or C.
(1) Recommendation. Allocate $50,000 additional funding in each
budget year to accommodate a minimum number of berths in pools B and C so that
minimal access is guaranteed for independents and conference members who are
not conference champions. The committee
recommends a minimum of one berth each in pools B and C, with a goal of two
pool C berths if doing so does not give disproportionate access to too few
conferences.
(2) Rationale. The automatic qualification principles
stipulate the determination of pool allocations via an established formula that
is dependent on the number of institutions that sponsor the sport, and most
specifically, the number of automatic qualifying conferences and the number of
independents within that sport.
Information necessary to calculate the pool allocations is not available
until the end of September each year, after the budget for that year has been
set. In order to accommodate necessary
adjustments in the pools, the committee recommends that funds be set aside and
allocated by the committee according to the principles set forth. Funds not used in that year would be used to
further repay the reserve or fund one-time initiatives, if warranted.
(3) Budget Impact. $50,000 in 2002-03 and thereafter.
d. Women’s Basketball -- Officials.
(1) Recommendation. Increase the number of officials at the
finals site to 12.
(2) Rationale. Twelve officials at the finals site would allow representation
from four different regions and prevent crews from officiating games of teams
in the regions in which they reside.
Currently, with six officials at the finals site, each crew officiates
two games. With 12 officials at the finals
site, each crew would officiate one game (two semifinal games, one consolation
game and the final). This is the same
procedure used at the men’s championship.
(3) Budget Impact. $5,800.
e. Men’s Golf – Director of Course and Rules
Administration.
(1) Recommendation. Provide a director of course and rules
administration including per diem and lodging expenses for a maximum of 10
officials for the championships.
(2) Rationale. The director of course and rules administration was previously provided
by the United States Golf Association (USGA).
The USGA has discontinued their involvement in the NCAA
championships. The USGA also previously
provided 10 officials for the championships, but has also discontinued that
involvement. This is consistent with
what occurs at the women’s golf championships.
(3) Budget Impact. $9,800 ($2,000 stipend and $7,800 lodging
and per diem).
f. Women’s Ice Hockey – Officials Air Travel.
(1) Recommendation. That three officials be permitted, if
necessary, to travel by air to the national championship.
(2) Rationale. The recommendation provides more flexibility
to allow the sports committee to select the best available officials for the
championship and is consistent with the practice employed at the men’s ice hockey championship.
(3) Budget
Impact.
$1,350.
g. Women’s Rowing – Boat Transportation.
(1)
Recommendation. That the reimbursement rate for boat
transportation to the championship be increased from 50 to 55 cents per mile
for an institution’s own boats.
Additionally, if an institution transports another institution’s boats,
that the rate be increased from 11 to 13 cents per mile.
(2)
Rationale. The above-mentioned reimbursement rate was
set in 1997 with the establishment of the National Collegiate Rowing Championship. Due to increasing gas prices and to be
consistent with the increase of five cents per mile for the Association’s
reimbursement policy (e.g. 27 to 32 cents per mile), the committee believes
that an increase is warranted and necessary.
(3)
Budget Impact. $3,000.
h. Officiating Fees – Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s
and Women’s Swimming and Diving.
(1)
Recommendation (Women’s Lacrosse). Increase women’s lacrosse officials fees
consistent with the fees paid to officials in the men’s championship.
(2)
Recommendation (Men’s and Women’s
Swimming and Diving).
Increase meet coordinator fees from $400 to $500; increase the referee,
head judge, starters and diving referee fees from $300 to $400; increase the
entry coordinator for diving fee from $1,500 to $1,600; and, increase the
championships meet computer operator/data entry fee from $1,750 to $1,950. The last increase occurred in 1997.
(3)
Budget Impact. $4,350 (women’s lacrosse) and $1,800 (for
both men’s and women’s swimming and diving) respectively.
i. Report of Committees with Rules-Making
Responsibilities.
(1)
Recommendation (Men’s and Women’s Ice
Hockey). Grant
the Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee a one-time exemption to meet
outside of Indianapolis in 2002.
Rationale. The Division I Men, Division III Men, National Collegiate Women and Division III Women Ice Hockey Committees are scheduled to meet outside of Indianapolis in 2002 and have planned to meet together. Holding meetings with each of the sports committees will benefit collegiate ice hockey and allow all committees to communicate directly. With the addition of women’s ice hockey to the rules committee’s responsibilities, receiving increased input from that growing portion of the hockey community will be valuable. Additionally, the national coordinator of ice hockey officials would eliminate two trips if this recommendation is approved.
Budget
Impact. None.
(2) Secretary Rules Editor. To support legislation to specify that the
secretary rules-editor serving on a sport rules committee shall be limited to
serving a maximum of two-four-year terms and shall not be subject to the “on
the staff” requirement, but to request input from sports and rules-making
committees as to why they may choose not to support such a recommendation. The committee also recommended that when the
sports and rules-making committees provide input that they rank order the
following options on how the change be implemented: a) The clock starts now,
with SREs allowed to complete their existing terms and be elected to two more
four-year terms, b) The clock starts
now, with SREs eligible to serve eight years from the effective date of the
legislation, c) SREs complete their
current terms; if they have served six years or less (one full term plus less
than half of another), they are eligible for reelection to another four-year
term, and d) SREs must be replaced
immediately upon the completion of eight years of service.
Rationale. The committee believed that providing term limits was consistent
with other committee positions within the Association and provided a system of
having other interested individuals involved in the rules of the sport.
Budget
Impact. None.
j.
Feedback
Regarding 2002 Convention Proposals.
(1) No. 2-40 Resolution – Review Of
Championships. That the proposal be
referred back to the Championships Committee and if that is not done, then oppose
the proposal. Further, that the
proposal include a roll-call vote and be highlighted in any communication to
the CEOs.
Rationale. In 1999, the President’s Council proposed
and the membership voted to endorse the Division III philosophy by adopting the
automatic qualification principles and guaranteeing access in prescribed
ways. The automatic qualification
system places the highest value on equitable access for all student-athletes. Resolution No. 2-40 undermines the principle
of equitable access in favor of competitive equity. The committee believes that Division III should continue to
support student-athlete access and provide maximum opportunity for championship
play for all Division III member institutions.
Budget
Impact. None.
(2) Nos. 2-61 and 2-62 Championships – Minimum Number of
Institutions – Exception – Men’s Volleyball. The committee supports
the proposal that if at least 40 institutions sponsor the sport of men’s
volleyball, Division III may establish a Men’s Volleyball Championship, but
believes the championship should not be established before 2006-07.
Rationale. The committee annually reviews sports
sponsorship figures and noted that men’s volleyball is sponsored at a similar
rate as women’s ice hockey (38 institutions) and women’s rowing (42
institutions). Bylaw 18.2.4 provides
that a National Collegiate or a division championship may be established during
the 1994-95 academic year or thereafter if at least 50 institutions sponsor the
sport. The committee supports the
recommendation for men’s volleyball in that it does provide more opportunities
for Division III male athletes, while not unduly compromising the goal of
gender-equitable opportunities in the championships program. However, budgetary limitations and other
strategic priorities dictate that the championship should not be established
before 2006-07. The committee opposes
an earlier effective date for Proposal No. 2-62.
Budget
Impact.
$70,000 for a four-team bracket effective with the 2006-07 budget cycle.
(3) No.
2-63 Executive Regulations – Selection
of Teams and Individuals for Championships. That the proposal be referred back to the Championships Committee
and if that is not done, then oppose the proposal. Further, that the proposal include a roll-call vote and be
highlighted in any communication to CEOs.
Rationale. Consistent with rationale provided with Resolution No. 2-40.
Budget Impact. None.
k.
Bylaw
31.1.4.3 and 31.1.4.4 (Rescheduling, Emergency or Competitive Development and
Noon Start Time).
(1) Recommendation. That Bylaws 31.1.4.3 and 31.1.4.4 be
expanded to include sports committee authority to begin competition prior to
noon on Sunday if the competition has to be rescheduled due to an emergency
(i.e., weather or other emergency situation).
(2) Rationale. The bylaw as it is currently written provides for Sunday competition,
in emergency situations, provided the competing institutions are agreeable and advance
approval is obtained from the championships committee. Due to the nature of the administration of
championship events, it is impractical when these emergency issues occur to, 1) secure championships committee approval, and
2) due to competitive circumstances, expect that unanimous agreement by competing
institutions is possible. Further, the
current language does not provide an opportunity to reschedule competition
prior to noon on Sunday, which may in some circumstances prevent the completion
of competition or due to a late start may hold teams over another day to
complete competition.
(3) Budget Impact. None.
l.
Squad and Travel Party Sizes (Women’s Ice
Hockey, Women’s Rowing, Women’s Water Polo).
(1) Recommendation. That the squad and travel parties be established
as follows for the newly established Division III championship: Women’s Ice Hockey: 21 and 26; Women’s Rowing: 21 and 25; Women’s Water Polo: 16 and 19.
(2) Rationale. These recommendations are consistent with squad and travel
party sizes within the overall
championships program.
(3) Budget Impact. None.
m.
Waiver Request from Atlantic Women’s
Colleges Conference (AWCC).
(1) Recommendation. That the AWCC’s request for a waiver of
Bylaw 31.3.4.2 (c) [Seven active member requirement to receive automatic
qualification] be denied, per the Championships Committee’s authority outlined
in Bylaw 31.1.1.
(2) Rationale. The committee believes strongly that the minimum requirement of
seven institutions is core to the minimum standards for automatic qualification
and was part of the foundation upon which the automatic qualification principles
were adopted. Further, the committee
notes that it intends to deny future such requests.
(3) Budget Impact. None.
n.
Strategic Budget Priorities.
(1) Recommendation.
Consistent with the student-athlete welfare component of the Division
III strategic plan, the committee intends to pursue the following initiatives
in priority order:
(a) Enhance brackets in all team sports towards a 1:7.5 ratio, as soon
as possible.
(b) Enhance brackets in team sports consistent with a 1:7 ratio in the
2006-07/2007-08 budget cycle.
(c) Enhance individual-team sport field sizes in the 2006-07/2007-08
budget cycle.
(d) Provide to all student-athletes that participate in championships,
and do not receive an NCAA award as a result of their place-finish, with a
participation award in the 2004-05/2005-06 budget cycle.
(e) Provide per diem to all participants in the following
individual-team sports: men’s and
women’s swimming, men’s and women’s indoor track and men’s and women’s outdoor
track in the 2006-07/2007/08 budget cycle,
(f) Increase per diem for championship participants with an eventual
goal of $70 in the 2006-07/2007-08 budget cycle or thereafter.
(2) Rationale. The
committee believes the established budgeting priorities are commensurate with
feedback it has received from the membership and within the long-term available
resources for the division.
(3) Budget Impact.
The committee will provide the Management Council with more specific
information regarding the above initiatives, including budget projections, in
January 2002.
2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
a. Recommendation (Men’s and Women’s Track
and Field). Remand
to the Track and Field Committee for reconsideration the recommendation to require
institutions to have their outdoor tracks surveyed after initial construction
and after each resurfacing, and that institutions have portable indoor tracks
surveyed before the first competition each year and permanent indoor tracks
surveyed after each resurfacing.
Rationale. The committee supported the idea that an
institution certify that its indoor and outdoor tracks comply with the
established rules for championships competition. However, it also noted that the cost to conduct the survey for
regular-season competition (approximately $2,000) was a burden to institutions
hosting track events that is not currently in place in other sports (e.g.,
swimming). The committee suggested that
a possible solution may be to provide a space on the proof of performance form
acknowledging that the time had been achieved on a NCAA track and field rules
certified track . This solution shifts
the burden of certifying tracks to those hosting the events and those participating
in the events.
Budget
Impact. None.
b. Committee on Competitive Safeguards and
Medical Aspects of Sports. The committee received the
report of the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of
Sports.
c. Championships Travel. The committee requested Worldtek Travel, as a cost savings
initiative, to provide information regarding potential savings when expanding
the current mileage restriction on air travel from 400 to 500 miles. Estimated savings when moving from 400 to
500 miles, in a one year cycle was approximately $149,000 and when moving from
400 to 450 miles was approximately $100,000.
The committee will study the issue further.
d.
Automatic Qualification Principles and
Individual-Team Sports. The committee, upon a request
from the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, requested feedback from individual-team
sport committees regarding the application of the automatic qualification
principles in those sports. The
committees, with the possible exception of tennis, did not support applying the
principles in the individual-team sports.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association
October 20, 2001 CP