CONVENTION

Increased attendance indicated for 99th NCAA Convention

Preregistration for the 99th annual Convention is nearing the 1,900-delegate mark as the NCAA prepares to meet in the Dallas area for the first time since 1996.

The count includes nearly 750 delegates who have registered to attend the Division II business session, where two membership proposals are expected to generate significant debate.

Judging from preregistration, this year's Convention could post the highest attendance figure since 1999, while surpassing last year's attendance of 1,805 delegates.

Division II will consider 38 legislative proposals, including Proposal No. 28, which would reduce the number of permissible football scholarships from 36 to 24. Considerable debate also may be generated by Proposal No. 27, which would prevent transfer student-athletes from Division I institutions with only one year of eligibility remaining from being immediately eligible for competition in Division II.

This year's Convention also represents a time of transition for the broader Association, as it begins to focus on a fresh challenge: fiscal responsibility. NCAA President Myles Brand is expected to address the topic during his State of the Association address January 8.

Division III will devote a forum discussion January 9 to its "Future of Division III--Phase II" initiative, including a review of a recent membership survey.

HEALTH SCREENING

NCAA cosponsoring screening programs to aid student-athletes

Student-athletes endure stress from many sources. They can include health issues, such as eating disorders or alcohol problems.

Simple screening procedures can make a significant difference by educating student-athletes and letting them know where and how to seek nonjudgmental help that will keep them competitive.

College Response, a program offered by the nonprofit organization Screening for Mental Health, offers both in-person and online screening that promotes early detection, while encouraging student-athletes to seek help voluntarily.

The NCAA is a cosponsor of screening for eating disorders and alcohol.

Two scheduled events are among the components of College Response: the National Eating Disorders Screening Program February 27 through March 5, and National Alcohol Screening Day April 7.

Athletics departments can work with campus health and counseling centers to support screening on campus.

Registration information for College Response can be found online at www.mentalhealthscreening.org/college, or by calling 781/239--0071.

STAFF CONTACT: Mary Wilfert (mwilfert@ncaa.org)

BASKETBALL

Study prompts Division I panel to revise RPI tool for selection

The Division I Men's Basketball Committee has revised the Rating Percentage Index after a four-year study of one of the tools used to evaluate teams for tournament selection.

The committee's adjustment is intended to give more weight to playing -- and winning -- games on the road. The new version of the RPI will be used as a tool for the 2005 championships.

The mathematical components of the RPI will continue to be 25 percent winning percentage, 50 percent opponents' winning percentage and 25 percent opponents' opponents' winning percentage. Those percentages were adopted in 1994.

STAFF CONTACT: Greg Shaheen (gshaheen@ncaa.org)

DIGEST GRAPHIC

Calendar