Changes are coming ... maybe

[3yardsandacloud]

Baseball proposal clears hurdle - NCAA

Baseball proposal clears hurdle

After much deliberation, the NCAA Division I Championships and Competition Cabinet voted 29-18 in favor of a plan that would restructure the baseball season in hopes of balancing competitive equity in the sport.

Under the plan, which would go in effect for the 2006-07 academic year, the Division I Baseball Issues Committee recommended four significant changes, including establishing March 1, as the official start of competition for the season. If March 1, falls on Saturday, Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, competition can begin on the Friday closest to March 1.

Secondly, the College World Series would also be moved back one week, meaning in some years, the championship could end in July instead of late June.

Thirdly, institutions will be provided a 45-day window to conduct practices in the months of September, October and November. *This will ensure that student-athletes will have the opportunity to have December and January off from practice.

The fourth change is establishing Feb. 1, as the first date teams are allowed to begin practicing in the spring. This will allow student-athletes to devote more time to academics in January and February.

The championships and competition cabinet also supported a proposal to increase the football season to 12 regular season games.

The Division I Management Council and the Division I Board of Directors also must approve the proposals before they can be legislatively approved by April.




Sounds like positive news for the northern schools.

[JCOSU86]

Praise the Lord, it's about time.

Good find, 3yards.

[3yardsandacloud]

All a part of the daily news search JC. Thought you, sears and the other baseball fans would like to see some good news.

[coastalbuck]

There are some major changes in there. I will tell you that in past years the baseball field here is open for practice the second the kids get back from Christmas break. Hell, I think we opened up last year on Feb. 6th. I think it is a very good idea and hope they adopt it.

[AMISH-SLAYER]

That would be nice to have a little time after christmas break to get back into the groove. my sophmore year my coach called and asked if i would come back before break was over.

[emr33]

I can only think it will help balance out the South vs. North teams. I played at UC (a LOOONG time ago) and it always killed us. We started Jan. 1st, but never could get out until late Feb at the earliest. The southern teams had been going for two months outside. This is a great idea, especially giving the players more time off...JMO