MEMBERSHIP SPONSORED PROPOSALS FOR THE 2003 CONVENTION

No.	Title	Sponsor(s)	Intent Statement	Committee Evaluation	MC/PC Position	Comments
1	PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS—BASKETBALL—FIRST CONTEST	State University of New York Athletic Conference	In basketball, to establish the first permissible contest date as four weeks following October 15.
2	PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS—NONCOLLEGIATE AMATEUR COMPETITION— BASKETBALL	State University of New York Athletic Conference	In basketball, to permit a student-athlete to compete in noncollegiate, amateur basketball competition outside the institution’s intercollegiate basketball season.
3	PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS—TENNIS—PRESEASON PRACTICE	Pennsylvania Athletic Conference	In tennis, to provide institutions that conduct the traditional segment in the fall with 16 practice opportunities before the first game or September 1, whichever is earlier.
4	EXECUTIVE REGULATIONS—SELECTION OF TEAMS AND INDIVIDUALS FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS	University Athletic Association	To require that, in all sports, at least 50 percent of the championship field originally designated for the respective sport shall be reserved for at-large berths, as specified.

MEMBERSHIP-SPONSORED PROPOSALS FOR THE 2003 NCAA CONVENTION

NO. 1 PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS – BASKETBALL – FIRST CONTEST

DATE (return to chart)

Intent: In basketball, to establish the first permissible contest date as four weeks following October 15.

A. Bylaws: Amend 17.5.3, page 149, as follows:

[Division III]

“17.5.3 First Contest. A member institution shall not play its first contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition in basketball before the Friday immediately before Thanksgiving until four weeks following October 15 (i.e., November 12, 2003), except as provided under Bylaw 17.5.3.1.”

Source: State University of New York Athletic Conference.

Effective date: August 1, 2003.

Rationale: This proposal establishes a set first contest date in basketball, which would allow for more balance in institution's schedules. More game dates would be allowed in the first semester and less in the second semester. Legislation now provides for practice to start on October 15. This proposal would establish a set first contest date that allows for four weeks of preseason every year regardless of the calendar jump. The first contest date would no longer constantly change with the Thanksgiving holiday.

Primary Contact Person:
  Mr. Patrick R. Damore, Commissioner
  State University of New York Athletic Conference
  SUNYAC Commissioner
  Jewett Hall - Room 118
  Fredonia, NY 14063
  Phone: 716/673-3105   

FAX: 716/673-3135   

NO. 2 PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS – NONCOLLEGIATE, AMATEUR COMPETITION – BASKETBALL (return to chart)

Intent: In basketball, to permit a student-athlete to compete in noncollegiate, amateur basketball competition outside the institution's intercollegiate basketball season.

A. Bylaws: Amend 14.7, page 101-103, as follows:

[Division III]

“14.7 Outside Competition, Effects on Eligibility. The eligibility of a student-athlete who engages in outside competition (see 17.02.9) is affected as set forth in the following regulations.

14.7.1 Outside Competition, Sports Other Than Basketball.  A student-athlete becomes ineligible for intercollegiate competition for the remainder of the season in his or her sport (other than basketball) if, after enrollment in college and during any year in which the student-athlete is a member of an intercollegiate squad or team, he or she competes or has competed as a member of any outside team in any noncollegiate, amateur competition (e.g., tournament play, exhibition games or other activity) during the institution’s intercollegiate season in the sport (see Bylaw 14.7.5 for exceptions and waivers) unless restored to eligibility before that time by the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement.

14.7.2 Outside Competition, Basketball.  A student-athlete who participates in any organized basketball competition except while representing the institution in intercollegiate competition in accordance with the permissible playing season specified in Bylaw 17.5 becomes ineligible for any further intercollegiate competition in the sport of basketball (see Bylaw 14.7.5 for exceptions and waivers).

14.7.3. 2 Additional Applications of Outside-Competition Regulations, Sports other than Basketball.

[14.7.3.1 through 14.7.3.6 renumbered as 14.7.2.1 through 14.7.2.6 unchanged.]

14.7.4 Additional Applications of Outside-Competition Regulations, Basketball.

14.7.4.1 Organized Basketball Competition.  Outside basketball competition, including competition involving teams with fewer than five players, shall be considered "organized" if any one of the following conditions exists:

(a) Teams are regularly formed, or team rosters are predetermined;

(b) Competition is scheduled and publicized in advance;

(c) Official score is kept;

(d) Individual or team standings are maintained;

(e) Official timer or game officials are used;

(f) Team uniforms are used;

(g) Admission is charged;

(h) A team is privately or commercially sponsored; or

(i) Competition is either directly or indirectly sponsored, promoted or administered by an individual, an organization or any other agency.

14.7.4.2 Individual Subject to Outside-Competition Regulations.  Once a student-athlete becomes a candidate for the institution’s basketball team (i.e., has reported for the squad), or if the student was recruited by a member institution in part for basketball ability and subsequently enrolls in the institution, this prohibition against outside organized basketball competition remains applicable until the student-athlete’s intercollegiate basketball eligibility has been exhausted. This includes time while the student is officially withdrawn from college, fulfilling a residence requirement subsequent to transfer to another college, awaiting transfer or enrolled in a nonmember collegiate institution.

14.7.4.3 Nonrecruited, Nonparticipant.  Participation by a student-athlete in organized basketball competition while enrolled in a member institution and having participated in a sport other than basketball would not jeopardize the student’s eligibility in the sport of basketball if the individual had not been recruited in basketball and had not participated on or been a candidate for the institution’s intercollegiate basketball team.

[14.4.7.4.4 renumbered as 14.7.2.7 unchanged.]

[14.7.5 through 14.7.6 renumbered as 14.7.4 through 14.7.5 unchanged.]

B. Bylaws: Amend 17.5.8.1, page 150, as follows:

[Division III]

“17.5.8.1 Noncollegiate, Amateur Competition. A student-athlete shall be ruled ineligible for intercollegiate basketball competition if the student participates in any organized basketball competition except while representing the member institution or except as permitted in accordance with Bylaws 14.7.5 and 14.7.4.4 for the remainder of the season if, after enrollment in college and during any year in which the student-athlete is a member of an intercollegiate basketball team, he or she competes or has competed as a member of any outside basketball team in any intercollegiate, amateur competition (e.g., tournament play, exhibition games or other activity) during the institution's intercollegiate basketball season.”

Source: State University of New York Athletic Conference.

Effective date: August 1, 2003.

Rationale: The Division III philosophy has been that the student-athlete is not to be treated any differently than other students with respect to the student-athlete's financial aid, registration, work programs, admissions, etc. Student-athletes receive no special aid or consideration for participation, and, in that regard, the basketball experience is a part of the total educational process at the Division III level. However, student-athletes in the sport of basketball are not being treated like all other students and student-athletes when they are deprived the opportunity to participate before and after the basketball season with their friends in events such as 3-on-3 tournaments, summer playground basketball programs, etc. If the student-athletes at the Division III level are to be treated like every other student and student-athlete on campus, then they should be allowed to participate with their friends before and after the season in recreational basketball programs.

Primary Contact Person:
  Mr. Patrick R. Damore, Commissioner
  State University of New York Athletic Conference
  SUNYAC Commissioner
  Jewett Hall - Room 118
  Fredonia, NY 14063
  Phone: 716/673-3105   

FAX: 716/673-3135   

NO. 3 PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS – TENNIS – PRESEASON PRACTICE (return to chart)

Intent: In tennis, to provide institutions that conduct the traditional segment in the fall with 16 practice opportunities before the first contest or September 1, whichever is later.

A. Bylaws: Amend 17.25.2, page 196, as follows:

[Division III]

“17.25.2 Preseason Practice.  A member institution shall not commence practice sessions in tennis before the following dates:

(a) Traditional Segment. September 7 or the institution's first day of classes for the fall term, whichever is earlier.

(1) Exception. An institution that conducts its traditional segment during the fall per Bylaw 17.1.11.3 may commence practice August 24 or the first date on which classes are scheduled for the institution's fall term, whichever date occurs first on the date that permits a maximum of 16 practice opportunities before the first scheduled intercollegiate contest or before September 1, whichever is later.”

[Remainder of 17.25.2 unchanged.]

Source: Pennsylvania Athletic Conference.

Effective date: August 1, 2003.

Rationale: A number of Division III institutions conduct their traditional tennis season in the fall. Unlike other fall team sports, current legislation does not provide tennis teams at institutions an opportunity to engage in preseason conditioning. Conditioning is just as important to the health of tennis student-athletes as it is to student-athletes in other fall sports. This proposal attempts to correct the current inequity by permitting those institutions that conduct their traditional tennis season in the fall with 16 preseason practice opportunities prior to the start of classes. In doing so, the proposal affords tennis student-athletes the proper amount of time for skill development and conditioning without conflicting the Division III philosophy.

Primary Contact Person:
  Ms. Leslie Danehy, Senior Woman Administrator
  Cabrini College
  610 King of Prussia Road
  Radnor, PA 19087
  Phone: 610/902-8571  FAX: 610/902-8385   

No. 4 EXECUTIVE REGULATIONS – SELECTION OF TEAMS AND INDIVIDUALS FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS (return to chart)

Intent: To require that, in all sports, at least 50 percent of the championship field originally designated for the respective sport shall be reserved for at-large berths, as specified.

A. Bylaws: Amend 31.3 by adding new 31.3.5 and 31.3.6.1, page 275, as follows:

[Division III]

“31.3.5 Championship Field Size - Automatic Qualification and At-Large Berths. In all sports, at least 50 percent of the championship field originally designated for the respective sport shall be reserved for at-large berths. If the number of conferences that meet the automatic qualification requirements in a sport exceeds the amount equal to 50 percent of the championship field originally designated for that sport, the Championships Committee and the respective governing-sport committee shall add one berth to the championship field in that sport for every qualifying conference over the amount equal to 50 percent of the originally designated field size. The Management Council, by a three-fourths majority of its members present and voting, may waive or modify this requirement for a specific sport if it determines that the number of berths remaining after the allocation for automatic-qualifying conferences is sufficient to allow appropriate representation of other member institutions in the respective championship field.”

[31.3.5 and 31.3.6 renumbered as 31.3.6 and 31.3.7 unchanged.]

“31.3.6.1 Selection Pools for Team Sports. In all designated team sports, berths in each respective championship field shall be allocated, in order, via three pools designated as Pools A, B and C respectively.

(a)   Pool A shall comprise the champions of all conferences receiving automatic qualification.

(b)   The effective access ratio of Pool A shall be determined by dividing the total membership of all conferences receiving automatic qualification by the number of automatic qualifying conferences and rounding to the nearest integer.

(c)   Pool B shall comprise all independent institutions and representatives of conference not receiving automatic qualification. Representatives of the Pool B shall be selected as per 31.3.6.

(d)   The access ratio for Pool B shall be the same as the effective access ratio for Pool A.

(e)   Pool C shall comprise all remaining teams from Pool A and Pool B not previously selected or designated as the recipient of their respective conferences' automatic bids. Representatives of Pool C shall be selected as per 31.3.6.”

Source: University Athletic Association.

Effective date: August 1, 2005.

Rationale: Automatic qualification for conference champions provides equitable access for student-athletes who have demonstrated their qualifications through conference play. Similarly, provision of adequate at-large berths provides equitable opportunities for student-athletes who have demonstrated their qualifications are comparable to those of the overall pool of conference champions. If one purpose of national championships is to provide opportunities for student-athletes to measure their talents against the best of their peers, then it is important that both interests be fairly represented in the championship fields. This proposal presents a reasonable compromise between the two competing interests by adjusting field sizes relative to the number of automatic qualifying conferences sponsoring competition in a sport. It is based on a principle of reserving at least 50 percent of the original field for at-large berths and adding one berth for each qualifying conference that exceeds the amount equal to 50 percent of the original field size. It responds to changes in initial field size (as determined by sport sponsorship) and to changes in the number of automatic-qualifying conferences. This proposal also provides equal access opportunities for all member institutions. All institutions will have the opportunity to qualify through two pools. Members of automatic qualifying conferences in a given sport can qualify through Pools A and C. Independents and representatives of non-qualifying conferences can qualify through Pools B and C. Additionally, the same effective selection ratios are applied to both Pools A and B.

Primary Contact Person:
  Mr. Dick Rasmussen, Commissioner
  University Athletic Association
  575 Mt. Hope Avenue
  Rochester, NY 14620
  Phone: 585/273-5881   

FAX: 585/275-8322