The Ohio Valley Conference Board of Presidents approved a basketball enrichment plan for the league to take effect in the 2009-10 season.

The plan is to limit the number of guarantee games to two per school per season, permit teams to play as many non-Division I games as they play guarantee games, and require a minimum of 50 percent of nonconference games to be played at home (neutral site games are not counted).

The decision to manage the number of guarantee games was an obvious one, Commissioner Jon A. Steinbrecher said, and will contribute to the success of the league’s basketball programs overall.

“People know that if somebody is paying you to come play, they are expecting to pick up a win. Our analysis of the data is pretty compelling – you very, very rarely win those games,” he said. “In our case, we were averaging more than three guarantee games per institution, and you’re potentially starting out the year 0-30 as a league. That’s a difficult hole to climb out of.”

Steinbrecher said the decision to keep Ohio Valley teams home more often before the conference schedule starts was also supported by data that showed the conference had won only 13 percent of its nonconference road games in the last five years.

Allowing a limited number of non-Division I opponents was a “balancing mechanism” for coaches who believe the games can build morale and provide an opportunity to try out different game strategies.

Compliance with the plan will be tied to the league’s new revenue-sharing program. Steinbrecher will have the final authority on whether a school is adhering to the plan. The conference has developed a check sheet to be completed by its institutions and will offer an appeals procedure.

“This plan is the culmination of numerous conversations among our administrative groups,” Steinbrecher said. “I applaud our membership for its willingness to commit to systemic changes that should enhance our opportunity to succeed. This shows that the membership is not satisfied with the status quo. The basketball enrichment plan is part of a series of strategic decisions intended to enhance the conference’s basketball programs.”

The basketball enrichment plan follows the January approval of a basketball matching fund that would allow member institutions to receive up to $6,500 for its men’s and women’s basketball programs if the money is matched. The funds could be used on items like recruiting, home game guarantees, television and other special projects. The one-time request for the funds can be made in 2008-09 or 2009-10.

“These are two examples of maybe thinking a little bit outside the box or doing things we haven’t done before,” Steinbrecher said. “I think it’s the right step at this time for our institutions.”