Review First Basketball Contest Date Exception – Exhibition Contests Against Divisions I or II Institutions

Issue: Should the Division III date for a preseason exhibition against a Division I or II opponent in basketball be moved back by one day to align with the Division I date for such a contest?

Background: Current Division III regulations permit an institution to play an exhibition contest against a Division I or II opponent on or after November 1. The Division I rule permits this contest to occur on or after October 31 and the Division II rule permits it as early as the first permissible practice date in Division II.

Relevant Bylaws and Proposal Excerpts:

NCAA Division III Bylaw 17.5.3.1 Exceptions

The following basketball contests (games or scrimmages) are permitted before the first contest dates specified under Bylaw 17.5.3:

(d) NCAA Division I or II Institution. An institution may play one exhibition contest (which shall not count toward the institution's win-loss record) against a Division I or II institution on or after November 1 and before the first permissible contest date. 

(Rationale from original proposal: This legislation would allow a Division III institution to play an exhibition contest against a Division I or II institution in basketball between November 1 and the first permissible contest date. Under the current provisions of Bylaw 17.5.3.1, Division III institutions are permitted to play in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic and/or against a foreign team prior to the first permissible contest date. As permissive legislation, this proposal would simply allow for a Division III institution (should it choose to do so) to play an exhibition contest against a Division I or II institution in the same manner. While this contest would not count toward the institution's win-loss record, it would count toward the institution's maximum contest limitations for the year. Therefore, this legislation neither increases the number of allowable contests nor lengthens the playing and practice season in basketball. Further, playing such a contest against a Division I or II institution is a significantly more feasible and meaningful opportunity than that presented by most foreign teams. Most importantly, it would provide student-athletes with a very memorable experience.

Division I

Bylaw 17.5.3.1 Exceptions

The following basketball contests (games or scrimmages) are permitted prior to the first contest dates specified under Bylaw 17.5.3:

(c) USA Basketball, Foreign-Team and Four-Year Collegiate Institution Games. In women's basketball, the two basketball games exempted per Bylaws 17.5.5.3.1-(f), 17.5.5.3.1-(g) and 17.5.5.3.1-(h) may be played on or after October 31.  In men's basketball, the two basketball games exempted per Bylaw 17.5.5.3.1-(h) may be played on or after October 31; 

Division II

Bylaw 17.5.3.1 Exceptions

The following basketball contests (games or scrimmages) are permitted before the first contest dates specified under Bylaw 17.5.3:

(d) Non-Division II Four-Year Collegiate Institution.  Exhibition contests against a non-Division II four-year collegiate institution exempted per Bylaw 17.1.9.2-(c) must be played between the first permissible date for practice and the first permissible contest date.