NCAA Upholds College Baseball Season Extension

Sean Stires — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 02:18:40 +0000

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Season To Remain 14 Weeks

ATLANTA, GA–The 14-week college baseball season was preserved during the Division I business session by a 63-37 margin during an override vote Friday during the NCAA’s annual convention. A five-eighths vote was required to overturn the proposal which was approved last July.

The baseball proposal essentially pitted Northern institutions against those in the South, with Northern schools arguing that adding a week to the beginning of the baseball season would cause their teams to miss more class time by forcing them to play more games on the road early in the year. More road trips also equated to more expenses.

Southern schools contended that playing the same number of games (56) in 13 weeks would require more midweek games, also resulting in additional missed class time.

Matt Baysinger, chair of the Division I SAAC and a track and field student-athlete at Kansas, noted the priority the Association has placed on the academic performance of baseball student-athletes.

“Proponents will put cold-weather schools at a competitive disadvantage. The intent addresses an issue that is far greater than geographic inequity,” he said. “This proposal was created to ensure baseball student-athletes have the opportunity to make academics their priority.”

The institutions that requested the override are all located in the North, including all 11 institutions in the Big Ten Conference. The institutions cited concerns about having to travel South to begin their seasons and incurring increased expenses for the programs and additional missed class time for student-athletes.

Many of the institutions calling for the override indicated they would add an additional week at the end of the season, when spring classes are complete for many student-athletes.

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NCAA Committee To Vote On Extension Of Baseball Season

Sean Stires — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:00:48 +0000

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Conference USA Has Sponsored The Proposal

Indianapolis, IN–Delegates will participate in an override vote during the NCAA Division I business session next week, marking the fifth consecutive year of override activity. Members will vote on legislation to add a 14th week to the beginning of the college baseball season.

The Division I business session is Friday, January 15 at the NCAA Convention in Atlanta. A five-eighths majority is required to overturn the legislation.

In July, the Legislative Council sustained its approval of the proposal. The Board allowed the Legislative Council action to stand, sending the proposal to the Convention.

Intended to address concerns about the amount of missed class time for baseball student-athletes, the new baseball rule (Proposal No. 2008-46) would allow coaches to spread a maximum of 56 games over 14 weeks instead of 13. Conference USA sponsored the proposal.

The Championships/Sport Management Cabinet opposed the legislation because it detracted from the competitive equity between northern and southern institutions.

Many of the institutions calling for the override indicated they would add an additional week at the end of the season, when spring classes are complete for many student-athletes.

The Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is split on the issue. Some members agree that the weather could put Northern schools at a disadvantage, but others believe that spreading the same number of contests over a shorter time (13 weeks) would likely mean more midweek contests and more missed class time. Others noted that a longer season, potentially including more travel, could take a physical toll on student-athletes. The SAAC will revisit the issue at its meeting next week before the override vote.

College Baseball 360 » override vote

NCAA Upholds College Baseball Season Extension

Season To Remain 14 Weeks

NCAA Committee To Vote On Extension Of Baseball Season