Technology changes so rapidly anymore that by the time one initiative is completed, its sunset begins. Just as there is a so-called arms race in athletics facilities, so too is there one in technological initiatives that provide information and services in more efficient and less expensive ways.

The NCAA is no stranger to the tech race. Particularly since the Association moved its headquarters to Indianapolis in 1999, technological expectations have been high with regard to delivering service to the membership.

Since that time, a number of initiatives have been delivered. They include:

The Legislative Services Database (LSDBi), a Web-based initiative that allows members to search the up-to-date Divisions I, II and III Manuals online. Members also can search and retrieve legislative proposals, major and secondary infractions cases, and student-athlete reinstatement cases.

The membership database, which allows member institutions to make changes in the database as they occur, rather than submit them to the national office for an annual implementation.

Online revenue distribution, which provides for the online submission of data, an estimator for member schools and a financial benefits statement.

Online football statistics, which provide comprehensive and timely display of weekly leaders in each statistical category and game-by-game detail for all Divisions I-A and I-AA games from the 2000 season to the present. Users also may view team and player season statistics for the current year.

And those initiatives are in addition to keeping a national office staff of 330 employees technologically up to speed. That's a challenge, and from time to time the membership has given mixed reviews on the national office's ability to meet it.

"The move to Indianapolis allowed us to build a new staff with new skill sets, which has allowed us to make significant progress in these important technological initiatives over the past two years," said Jim Isch, NCAA vice-president for finance and information services. "We hope that the membership has noticed a difference.

"We want to communicate a 'report card' to the membership on technology matters, both giving members an idea of where we've been and the priorities still facing us."

One of those priorities will launch this fall, as the office will begin beta testing on a common self-study instrument for the athletics certification program that will facilitate the generation and accessibility of information required for peer reviews.

Also this fall, beta testing will begin on a new NCAA Compliance Assistant system that will be a Web-based replacement of the current software. Enhancements will include additional modules to track coaches' information and playing and practice seasons; extensive expansion of the recruiting module; additional standard reports; a message board; additional notifications; and the ability to generate mass e-mailings.

The current version of the Compliance Assistant software is widely used by NCAA member institutions, and many have found it to be a helpful tool in ensuring their athletes and teams are in compliance with NCAA legislation. The NCAA staff will be working with member institutions and conferences during the development and testing phase to ensure that the new program meets members' needs and keeps pace with advances in technology. The release of the final version (Phase I) of the system is scheduled for summer 2003.

Improvements also are being completed on the Injury Surveillance System, which the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports uses to monitor injury rates in college sports. The enhancements there will move closer toward complete coverage rather than a sampling of a few member institutions, as the system relied on in the past.

"Another important reason for the membership to receive this technology report card is that we need feedback from members about the systems they need to get their work done," Isch said. "And by communicating the steps we plan on taking with regard to implementing these initiatives, we're hoping to dispel some of the frustration out there that comes from not knowing."

The technology "report card" will appear in The NCAA News on the Membership Information page every other issue. The chart will list the most recent technological initiatives that have been completed, and the ones next in line. The chart also will indicate the benefits members institutions should realize with each individual project.

LSDBi enhancements will make governance more interactive

Some of the fallout from the new NCAA governance structure implemented in 1997 is that, particularly in Division I, athletics administrators often feel disenfranchised from the system, especially when it comes to tracking the many legislative proposals as they make their way from an idea to the NCAA Manual.

But technology is offering a way to ease that uncertainty. The Legislative Services Database (LSDBi) has been improved to help athletics administrators become more interactive with the legislative process in all three divisions.

The LSDBi already provides immediate access to the NCAA Manuals, and to interpretations, administrative review cases, eligibility issues, and major and secondary infractions cases. The searchable database also is updated whenever legislation is adopted, which is important since the Division I legislative cycle is ongoing and not driven only by the NCAA Convention. But now, the LSDBi offers administrators a more efficient and interactive picture of the proposals before they become bylaws.

The improved LSDBi truly is user-friendly -- it allows members to submit proposals online and it tracks legislation for those who want to know where various proposals are in the process. Another feature, which will benefit Division I members in particular, is a "bulletin board" for discussions before Management Council or Board of Directors meetings where legislative voting takes place. LSDBi users will be able to view all the comments on various proposals and will be able to post their own. In short, the new LSDBi is a one-stop legislative shop for all three divisions where members can submit, comment on and track legislation.

Lynn Holzman, NCAA director of membership services, said not only is the new LSDBi more efficient for the membership, it provides a cost savings and ensures a more accurate legislative process.

"Previously, members faxed or mailed proposals or comments on proposals, and then that information often was retyped or reformatted into mailings and publications," she said. "That system often forced a duplication of work, it increased expenditures and it increased the possibility for inaccurate information being distributed. Now, the drafting, updating and recording status of legislative proposals is in one location rather than three or four."

Holzman said most of the membership uses the NCAA Web site for day-to-day legislative information. The ability to have the complete legislative process online through the LSDBi will be more efficient and cost effective for everyone. The new system is expected to save more than $80,000 in Division I mailing costs alone.

Other features with the new LSDBi include a historical database, which allows users to view changes made to a particular bylaw -- or a particular proposal -- over time. The system also allows for amendment-to-amendment submissions and submissions of override votes. Also, Divisions II and III schools will be able to request interpretations of Convention proposals online, and they will be able to enter a bulletin board to post comments on Convention proposals similar to the comment forums for Division I.

IPOPL, SPOPL no longer printed

Another advantage to the system is that two pre-Convention legislative publications no longer will need to be printed, which results in a significant cost savings. The Initial Publication of Proposed Legislation (IPOPL) and the Second Publication of Proposed Legislation (SPOPL), which had been the primary resources for members to view legislation before it was voted on at the Convention, have been replaced by online efficiency.

"Those two publications were applicable for such a short period of time that it wasn't appropriate from a cost standpoint to print them any longer, especially since the information is more readily available now online," Holzman said.

The two books had cost about $10,000 annually. The Official Notice, which includes final versions of proposed legislation in Divisions II and III, will continue to be printed and made available for Convention-goers. The Official Notice also will be available online.

The new LSDBi is being offered to the entire Division I membership for the July 2002 Council meeting, and Divisions II and III institutions were able to submit proposals online this year for the 2003 Convention. Hard-copy legislative mailings will be phased out by April 2003.

-- Gary T. Brown