The Division I Legislative Council engaged in extensive and detailed discussions about each legislative proposal in the 2008-09 cycle at its October 20-21 meeting in Indianapolis. It was the first meeting for the group in the reorganized Division I governance structure.

The Council took preliminary positions on several measures and offered comments on others. The Council members will share the tenor of its discussions and any early positions the group took with the membership as soon as possible to allow conferences to make more informed decisions before the first vote on legislation at the NCAA Convention in January. 

The group did not take a preliminary position on some of the issues that have earned media attention, including the proposals allowing student-athletes to count nontraditional coursework for progress-toward-degree and full-time enrollment, those altering the length of the baseball season or number of games, or one modifying the emerging sports list. All of the concepts did generate considerable discussion, though.

The Council discussed the use of nontraditional coursework at length, with some members believing that if a course is available for credit to the general student body, it should be available to student-athletes and count toward full time enrollment requirements, citing institutional autonomy in determining academic standards. The availability of such courses could also assist student-athletes in sports that often require missed class time, advocates report.

Some members expressed concern about the potential for abuse and the possibility of academic fraud. Others suggested that a limit on the number of nontraditional courses in which a student-athlete may be enrolled per term would be appropriate.

Proposal 2008-35, which would allow nontraditional coursework to count toward progress-toward-degree and credit-hour requirements, would allow the courses to be taken at institutions at which the student-athlete is not enrolled. Several Council members, including the student-athlete representative, expressed concern about that provision, citing possible lack of control.

The baseball proposals will be presented to the Division I Board of Directors next week to make the presidents aware of the desire within the membership to change the baseball season. A Conference USA proposal to lengthen the baseball season by a week was sponsored with the intent of reducing the amount of missed class time. By expanding the season over 14 weeks instead of 13, supporters argue that fewer midweek games would be necessary.

Those who oppose the proposal believe it conflicts with the reason the division adopted a common start date in baseball in the first place – geographic inequities. The proposal moves the common start date earlier in the year, making it more difficult for Northern schools to play games at home in that time.

Another proposal to reduce the number of baseball games from 56 to 52 also would attempt to address the issue of missed class time. However, those opposed to the proposal point to research that showed the number of contests had little impact on the academic success of baseball student-athletes. Some Council members also expressed a desire to let the broad changes in baseball adopted by the Board as a result of the work of the Baseball Academic Enhancement Working Group take effect before making further adjustments.

The group also discussed Proposal 2008-59, which would add sand volleyball to the list of emerging sports for women and remove archery, badminton, synchronized swimming and team handball. Some Council members questioned whether the addition of sand volleyball would truly add opportunities for women, believing that the sport could attract the same participants as indoor volleyball. Others pointed out that sand and indoor volleyball require different skill sets and are ultimately expected to attract different student-athletes.

The Council members supported the review process used by the Committee on Women’s Athletics to identify possible new emerging sports to enhance greater participation opportunities. Sand volleyball completed that review process successfully.

The group did take preliminary positions on a several proposals, including supporting:

• 2008-14, which would change the definition of student-athlete to include prospects who have enrolled in and attend classes in the summer term.

• 2008-34, which would establish a core-curriculum time limitation for prospects with education-impacting disabilities and allow the opportunity to complete three core courses after high school graduation.

• 2008-62, which would give members of the Presidential Advisory Group the authority to make decisions on football-related issues for the Football Championship Subdivision members of the Board of Directors.

The group preliminarily opposed Proposal 2008-11, which would allow up to four student managers in baseball to participate in on-field activities with student-athletes without counting toward coaching limitations.

The preliminary positions could change based on continued discussions within the membership and further modifications to the proposals. The legislation can be modified through October 27. The first official votes on the proposals will occur at the NCAA Convention January 14-17 in Washington, D.C.