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NCAA D-I Change of Season Plan...Not So Fast!

College Notebook

By Will Kimmey
November 22, 2004

NCAA changes plans on change-of-season plan

College baseball's change-of-season plan now looks at least two seasons away, but more likely three.

The NCAA Division I baseball issues committee unanimously approved a four-pronged plan in July, then the championships/competition cabinet did the same in September. But the management council, which was supposed to make its decision this November, has tabled that call until October 2005.

"The management council decided not to act at this time because it's neither non-controversial or emergency legislation," said Dave Keilitz, executive director of the American Baseball Coaches Association. "It will move into the 2005 legislative cycle, and won't be finalized until April of 2006."

That late date would leave little time for coaches to reconcile their 2007 schedules--which can be planned years in advance--with the proposed March 1 start date. So the plan--which would also move the College World Series back one week, establish a Feb. 1 start date for spring practice and provide a 45-day window for teams to execute fall practices--might be held off until the 2007-08 academic year.

"I made this aware to issues committee. They are looking at different options, and are surveying all the conference commissioners for their input on (the) implementation date on this. That will be decided by mid-December," said Keilitz, who sent a letter to all Division I coaches updating them on the situation.

"If this thing does pass--and we can't know until April 2006--what's the best implementation date? Most coaches feel it really would screw up the 2007 scheduling. So it's not likely to happen until the 2007-08 academic year. However, I told the coaches, if you want to go ahead and start scheduling, be aware that it could still take effect for 2007."

The proposal moved through the first two approval stages with unanimous consent, but could face more difficulties when it reaches the management council. A large number of programs cite the fiscal concerns of housing and feeding student-athletes after the school year ends if the season is pushed back.

Gauging from the current feelings on the change-of-season plan, it seems its chances of passing in its current form are no better than 50-50.

"There's a lot of issues involved, and the more issues you have with any proposal, the more difficult it is to pass," Keilitz said. "This is a four-part proposal, and with a multi-part proposal, it's hard for everybody to agree on all parts. It complicates it."

Few coaches have any problem with the changes for fall practice, as it allows them to spread out practice days over a longer period of time and helps navigate through weather problems.

But don't expect the least controversial part of the proposal to be broken off from the rest of the changes. At least not yet.

"The issues committee is determined to push this thing through as full package," Keilitz said. “They don't want to break off pieces. It will pass or fail as full package. If it fails, then you go back and say what issues can pass?"...