NCAA DIVISION III MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary of Recommendations

PRESIDENTS COUNCIL ACTION ITEM

ISSUE:

Playing and Practice Seasons Model – Option No. 1.

Subcommittee 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.

Management Council Recommendation:

Sponsor legislation to standardize playing and practice seasons to limit the total playing season to 19 weeks. The Council noted that:

(1) Specific contest limits for each sport based on an average of one to two contests will be identified by the subcommittee in August and forwarded to the Administrative Committee by the September 1 legislative deadline.

(2) The concept of two exempted scrimmages for each sport, as recommended by SAAC, also will be addressed. [See Supplement No. 12.]

Playing and Practice Seasons Model—Revised*
	FALL	WINTER	SPRING
Traditional segment	14 weeks including practice opportunities	19 weeks including practice opportunities	14 weeks including practice opportunities
Preseason practice opportunities	20**	25	25
Contests/Dates	TBD*** (average 1-2 per week)	TBD*** (average 1-2 per week)	TBD*** (average 1-2 per week)
Nontraditional segment	5 weeks	N/A	5 weeks
Total playing season length	19 weeks	19 weeks	19 weeks

*Based on feedback from sports committees, coaches associations, and the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and the Medical Aspects of Sports

**Practice opportunities for football would remain at 27.

***Specific contest limitations have not yet been finalized but will be based on an average of one to two contests per week.

ACTION ITEM – MANAGEMENT COUNCIL ONLY

ISSUE:		Baseball – Official Game Length.
Management Council Action:
	Recommended that the Interpretations and Legislation Committee review the interpretation relative to the permissible length of a countable baseball game.

ITEMS OF INFORMATION

1.	ISSUE:	Proposal No. 1-12 (Playing and Practice Seasons – Basketball — First Contest).
Subcommittee Action:
	Oppose Proposal No. 1-12.
Management Council Action:
	See Supplement No. 27.
2.	ISSUE:	Proposal No. 1-13 (Playing and Practice Seasons – Noncollegiate Amateur Competition – Basketball).
Subcommittee Action:
	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.
Management Council Action:
	See Supplement No. 27.
3.	ISSUE:	Proposal No. 1-14 (Playing and Practice Seasons – Noncollegiate Amateur Competition – Basketball).
Subcommittee Action:
	Support Proposal No. 1-14. The subcommittee recommends that the sponsors also consider including the sport of golf in the proposal.
Management Council Action:
	See Supplement No. 27.

4.	ISSUE:	Playing and Practice Seasons -- The Haverford Model.
Subcommittee Recommendation:
	The subcommittee reviewed a proposed playing and practice seasons model submitted by the Haverford Group. The subcommittee agreed to review this model within 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.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.