REPORT OF THE

NCAA DIVISION III MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS SUBCOMMITTEE

 

 

1.     ACTION ITEMS.

 

a.     Playing and Practice Seasons Model – Option No. 1.

 

(1)       Recommendation.  Sponsor legislation for the 2003 NCAA Convention to standardize playing and practice seasons in Division III to limit the total playing season to 19 weeks.  [Attachment]

 

(2)       Rationale. The subcommittee discussed its proposed playing and practice seasons model 1 in light of feedback received from sports committees, coaches associations, and the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports.  Based on the feedback received, the subcommittee revised model 1 to limit the total playing season to 19 weeks to address concerns regarding preparation time and weather-related issues.  The issue of contest limitations is still being discussed based on an average of one to two contests per week.  However, the subcommittee will be prepared to recommend specific contest limits by the September 1 deadline for governance-sponsored legislative proposals.  This model is based on the subcommittee's commitment to address inconsistencies in Bylaw 17 based on the piecemeal evolution of the bylaw, recent changes to nontraditional legislation and the desire to create greater consistency among sports.

 

(3)   Budget Impact.  None.

 

b.     Proposal No. 1-12 (Playing and Practice Seasons – Basketball — First Contest).

 

(1)       Recommendation.  Oppose Proposal No. 1-12.

 

(2)       Rationale.  The subcommittee opposes this proposal because it is inconsistent with the subcommittee’s suggested playing and practice seasons model as indicated in action item 1-(a) and could further impact the first date of practice.

 

(3)       Budget Impact.  None.

 


c.     Proposal No. 1-13 (Playing and Practice Seasons – Noncollegiate Amateur Competition – Basketball).

 

(1)  Recommendation.  Support Proposal No. 1-13.  The subcommittee also recommends that the NCAA Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee review and take a position consistent with the division's deregulation efforts.

 

(2)  Rationale.  The current Division III restriction on noncollegiate amateur competition in the sport of basketball predates federation.  It is more appropriate for Division I institutions and is not consistent with the Division III philosophy and the treatment of the sports relative to noncollegiate amateur competition.

 

(3)  Budget Impact.  None.

 

d.     Proposal No. 1-14 (Playing and Practice Seasons – Tennis – Preseason Practice).

 

(1)  Recommendation.  Support Proposal No. 1-14.  The subcommittee recommends that the sponsors also consider including the sport of golf in the proposal.

 

(2)  Rationale. The subcommittee agreed with the rationale indicated by the proposal’s sponsor that practice opportunities should be available to schools that conduct their traditional golf segment during the fall.

 

(3)  Budget Impact.  None.

 

 

2.     INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

 

Playing and Practice Seasons – The Haverford Model.  The subcommittee reviewed a proposed playing and practice seasons model submitted by the Haverford Group.  The subcommittee agreed to review this model within in the context of the discussions related to the future of Division III.  However, the subcommittee had initial concerns regarding the model’s proposal to grant authority to sports committees to set contest limitations.

 

 

 

 

Committee Chair:  Steve Argo, Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

Staff Liaisons:  Mweni Ekpo, Leeland Zeller, Dan Dutcher, Bridget Belgiovine