[Following is part of a series that reviews Division I proposals for the 2008-09 legislative cycle. Today’s article focuses on proposals related to Bylaw 17 (playing and practice seasons).]

While a bevy of changes in rules for baseball were adopted in the last few years, the membership apparently believes the policies need a little tweaking. Several proposals in the 2008-09 legislative cycle address the length of the baseball season.

Prop No. 2008-46, sponsored by Conference USA, seeks to change the permissible start date for baseball practice from February 1 to the Friday three weeks before the first permissible contest for the championship segment. The proposal also changes the first permissible contest to the Friday in February that is 14 weeks before the Friday immediately before Memorial Day. The proposal essentially lengthens the current season by one week.

The 2008 baseball season was the first that operated under a rule requiring uniform start dates for practice and competition in baseball. Conference USA members believe that change, which essentially shortened the season without reducing the number of permissible contests, results in missed class time. Lengthening the season by one week, sponsors believe, would allow more flexibility in scheduling, reduce missed class time and allow student-athletes to concentrate more on academics.

A proposal (No. 2008-48) from the Pacific-10, Big South and West Coast Conferences hopes to get at the same issue, but goes about it by reducing the number of permissible contests from 56 to 52. A similar proposal sponsored by the Pac-10 suggests a reduction in the number of contests in the championship season from 56 to 52 and allowing four contests in the nonchampionship season.

Other proposals of note in Bylaw 17:

• Prop No. 2008-55, specifying that women’s soccer competition can begin 12 weekends prior to the women’s’ soccer championship, making permanent a 2008 amendment.

• Prop No. 2008-57, allowing a coach to be present during voluntary individual workouts for track and field student-athletes who participate in hurdles or the jumping element of the steeplechase.

• Prop No. 2008-45, prohibiting more than four student-athletes from being involved in skill-related instruction with their coaches at once between September 15 and April 15. Football is exempt.

• Prop No. 2008-49, prohibiting men’s basketball student-athletes from missing class time for informal practice scrimmages or activities associated with the scrimmage.

•  Prop No. 2008-50, eliminating the exception to the women’s basketball first contest date and annual exemptions for contests against USA Basketball club members and foreign teams in the U.S.