Issue: Should
Division III replace the counting method by which it determines the first date
of preseason practice for fall sports with a designated number of days to
conduct preseason practice before the first contest date?
Background: Presently, Division III uses a counting
formula based on a designated number of “practice opportunities” to
establish the first date of preseason practice in fall sports. This counting formula may be confusing
and cumbersome to the Division III membership. Some might confuse “practice
opportunities” with the number of times a team may practice in the
preseason. The first contest date
is already uniform for fall sports so a designated number of days to be used
for preseason practice prior to the first contest date would afford all teams
the same preseason practice time (in days) without the confusion of how a
school counts its practice opportunities. Division II currently uses a set number
of days before its first contest date to set the first permissible preseason
practice date for its fall sports and its application appears more
straightforward.
The argument for maintaining
practice opportunities and the counting formula is that it might address any
inconsistencies between quarter and semester schools in terms of when an
institution’s first day of classes begin, when its first contest is
scheduled and how much preseason practice time might occur while classes are
not in session. Generally, an
institution whose first day of class is earlier than other institutions (e.g.,
August 22) and is well before its first contest (e.g., August 31) would accrue
an extra day or two of preseason practice from the counting formula but that is
offset by fact that institution is in school and students would be present on
campus anyway and not have as much time in those days to practice multiple
times.
Examples of NCAA Division III Bylaw 17 Practice Opportunities/Fall
Sports Legislation:
In determining
the number of practice opportunities to establish the starting date for
preseason practice in sports other than football, there shall be counted one
for each day beginning with the opening of classes, one for each day classes
are not in session in the week of the first scheduled intercollegiate contest
and two for each other day in the preseason practice period, except that the
institution shall not count any days during the preseason when all
institutional dormitories are closed, the institution's team must leave campus,
and practice is not conducted. (See Bylaw 17.11.2.1.1 for football.)
A member
institution shall not commence practice sessions in cross country before the
following dates:
(a) Traditional
Segment. The date that permits a maximum of 16 practice opportunities (see
Bylaw 17.02.11) before the first scheduled intercollegiate game or before
September 1, whichever is later.
In football
only, to establish the starting date for preseason practice, the institution
shall count one practice opportunity for each day beginning with the opening
day of classes and one practice opportunity for each day classes are not in
session in the week of the first scheduled intercollegiate contest (see Bylaw
17.11.3). Next, the institution
shall count practice opportunities on an alternating basis in a two-one-two-one
format (i.e., the first of the remaining days is counted as two, the next day
is counted as one, the next as two, etc.) up to and including the 20th
opportunity. Finally, the
institution shall count one practice opportunity for each of the five days
prior to the day of the 20th opportunity.
The institution shall not count any days during the preseason when all
institutional dormitories are closed, the institution's team must leave campus
and practice is not conducted.
A member
institution shall not commence official preseason football practice sessions
for the varsity, junior varsity or freshman team before the date that will
permit a maximum of 25 practice opportunities (see Bylaw 17.11.2.1.1) before
its first scheduled intercollegiate game or before the Friday before Labor Day
if the institution's first contest (game) is scheduled for the Thursday prior
to Labor Day.
(a) Traditional
Segment. The date that permits a maximum of 16 practice opportunities (see
Bylaw 17.02.11) before the first scheduled intercollegiate game or before September
1, whichever is later.
Examples of Division II Preseason Practice Date Legislation:
A member
institution shall not commence official preseason football practice sessions in
the championship segment, for the varsity, junior varsity or freshman team
before 21 days prior to the first permissible date of competition.
A member
institution shall not play its first contest with outside competition in the
championship segment before the Thursday preceding August 30.
A member
institution shall not commence practice sessions in soccer in the championship
segment before 17 days prior to the first permissible date of competition.
A member institution shall not play its first contest with outside competition in the championship segment before the Thursday preceding August 30.