The Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet has decided to delay developing a model playing and practice season for sand volleyball.

Division I approved sand volleyball as an emerging sport for women in April, but the national office received enough override requests from schools to prompt the Division I Legislative Council to revisit the matter. If the Council upholds its original decision, an override vote will be conducted at the 2010 Convention.

Some of the override requests have cited a competitive advantage for schools with large budgets and for West Coast institutions. One institution noted that while the legislation was permissive, it quickly could become "required" for programs to remain competitive in the women's indoor game. Other override requests cited the additional financial, compliance and personnel burdens that could be associated with adding a new sport.

The cabinet reviewed a playing-and-practice season recommendation from the American Volleyball Coaches Association but, given the uncertainty, concluded that more discussion is warranted.

The AVCA recommendation includes a fall nonchampionship segment, a 132-day playing season and a competitive start date of the first Thursday in March. The season would provide a maximum of 16 dates of competition (four of which could be in the nonchampionship segment) and a minimum of eight for postseason selection purposes.

Cabinet members have been asked to send feedback on the issue to the Administrative Committee, and the topic will be discussed again at the group's next meeting September 15-16.

At the moment, sand volleyball is scheduled to become an emerging sport by August 1, 2010. The extended timetable is meant to give the membership ample time to create playing rules and other regulations governing the sport.

The Committee on Women's Athletics originally recommended adding sand volleyball to the list of emerging sports for women. Division II also adopted the measure and is working to develop its own playing-and-practice-season legislation.

Sports-wagering policy

The cabinet also addressed a request from the NCAA Executive Committee to review the current NCAA policy precluding championship events from being hosted in metropolitan areas where sports wagering occurs.

The current policy does not distinguish between predetermined and non-predetermined championship sites.

The cabinet agreed with the NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct's recommendation that the relevant geographical area in the policy should be changed from "metropolitan" to "state."

However, the cabinet voted to recommend modifying the current policy so that it would be permissible for an institution located in a state that permits sports wagering to host a non-predetermined portion of an NCAA championship.

The rationale behind the recommendation is that a team should not lose the ability to host non-predetermined sites if the respective sports committee says it has earned that right through season-long competition.

Championships travel costs

Cabinet members also received an update on the national office's cost-reduction efforts that are expected to reach $5 million by the end of the fiscal year (August 31). Most of the savings are in the areas of reduced travel initiatives by national office staff members. The original goal was $4 million.

Those savings will be returned to the membership as a supplemental distribution.

The NCAA championships staff also advised the cabinet that travel costs through the winter championships season had declined by 21.2 percent over the previous year. That includes about $5 million in reduced charter costs.

Staff said that the cabinet's decision to raise the fly/drive mileage threshold for the 2008-09 academic year and to increase awareness of travel expenses reduced demand for air travel. Lower fuel costs also contributed to the savings.

A summary of the travel cost management effort (including spring championships) will be presented at the next cabinet meeting. The cabinet also is expected to consider maintaining the fly/drive mileage restrictions at that time.