SUPPLEMENT NO. 10

DIII Presidents Council 1/02

 

 

DIVISION III PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS SUBCOMMITTEE

 

Summary of Recommendations

 

 

ACTION ITEMS – MANAGEMENT COUNCIL ONLY

 

1.

ISSUE:

Bylaw 17 – Playing and Practice Season Models.

Subcommittee’s Recommendation:

 

The subcommittee strived to create a playing and practice seasons model that was consistent for all sports and that would provide opportunities for students to pursue excellence in athletics and academics.  Pursuit of athletics and academic excellence includes the opportunity for student-athletes to prepare for competition; engage in outside competition; pursue a championships (regional and/or national) opportunity; engage in academic endeavors and the social and cultural activities of their respective institution.  This approach is consistent with several elements of the Division III philosophy statement including the development of sportsmanship, maximizing the number and variety of athletics opportunities and an opportunity to pursue the highest level of performance possible.  The models are based generally on the principle that 60 percent of a student-athlete’s collegiate time would be consumed by participation intercollegiate athletics. 

 

The committee also noted the inconsistent approaches found within Bylaw 17, the lack of any basic principle upon which all legislation is based and the impact that sport-specific legislation adopted over the years has had within the bylaw.  The committee also noted that almost all Division III sports do not use the allotted 21 weeks.  The subcommittee recommends two options.  It should be noted that the subcommittee prefers the institutional flexibility of Option No. 2.

 

OPTION 1

 

FALL

WINTER

SPRING

Competition

9 weeks

14 weeks

9 weeks

Preseason Practice
Opportunities

20

20

20

Contests/Dates

General rule of 1 to 2 per week

General rule of 1 to 2 per week (Maximum of 25)

General rule of 1 to 2 per week

Nonchampionships Segment

5 weeks with max. 4 contests

 

5 weeks with max. 4 contests

 

OPTION 2

Practice and Competition

All sports limited to 18 total weeks.

Preseason Practice
Opportunities

20 practice opportunities per sport prior to the first contest/date of competition in the championships segment.

Contests/Dates

Contest limitations would be based average of one to two contests per week.

Nonchampionships
Segment

Not more than five of the 18 total weeks (with maximum of 4 contests).

 

 

Each option would maintain the nontraditional segment exception available to the sports of golf and tennis in the current playing and practice seasons definitions. 

 

The Management Council, the subcommittee intends to solicit additional feedback from the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport, the Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, NCAA sports committees and various coaches associations/groups.  The subcommittee intends to review feedback received from these groups during an early spring conference call and provide further information for the Council to consider during its April meeting.

 

Management Council Action:

 

a.       Requested development of a third option that eliminates competition in the nontraditional segment.  (Vote:  Eliminate competition in nontraditional = 11; Eliminate nontraditional segment = 7).

 

b.      Expressed preference for Option 1 (Vote:  Option 1 = 7; Option 2 = 6; Abstain = 1) noting Option 1:

 

(1)    Recognizes three distinct sport seasons.

(2)    Establishes specific parameters for sport seasons.

(3)    May create scheduling hardships for geographically challenged conferences.

 

The National Collegiate Athletic Association

January 12, 2002                         BB/DTD:skt