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Convention gives opportunity for Division II delegates to look near and far

While Division II delegates will focus on several important pieces of legislation at the 2011 Convention, they also will keep an eye on the long-term health of the division.

The centerpiece of the legislation that will be considered at Saturday’s Division II business session will be the second phase of the Life in the Balance package. Last year’s Phase I reduced playing and practice seasons in most Division II sports. Phase II is comparatively modest.

Proposal No. 2011-5 would establish a start date of Sept. 7 or the fourth day of classes, whichever is earlier, for out-of-season or preseason activities and competition in all winter sports. At most institutions, the change would benefit student-athletes by starting preseason practice later in the fall term, thus allowing them to acclimate more effectively to campus life.

Proposal No. 2011-6 would amend the start date of the nonchampionship segment and out-of-season activities for spring sports to Sept. 7 or the fourth day of classes, whichever is earlier. The expectation is that the legislation will permit student-athletes in those sports to acclimate to campus, class schedules and non-athletically related commitments.

The remaining Phase II proposal, No. 2011-7, would amend Bylaw 17.1.6.2 so that winter and spring-sport coaches would have the ability to prepare for in-season competition with team activities, including practice, from the beginning of the institution’s academic year in the fall term through the day before the first permissible practice date.

The only re-addressing of Phase I legislation will involve Proposal No. 2011-9, a Pennsylvania State and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference proposal that would modify the seven-day winter break legislation approved last year by adding flexibility to the rule. The Division II Presidents Council opposes the proposal.

Beyond the legislative session, the Division II membership will have an opportunity at several points in the Convention to react to the work so far of the Long Range Projection Task Force. That group is charged with budgetary recommendations through 2023-24 (when the NCAA’s media agreement expires), along with the related matter of addressing membership-growth issues.

Updates and discussions with the task force will be provided during a joint Management Council/Presidents Council meeting on Thursday and during a Division II educational session Friday morning. Also, chancellors and presidents will discuss the effort during their meeting Friday morning.

Other important educational sessions include an update on Division II championships initiatives (Wednesday afternoon), an update from the NCAA’s Office of Inclusion (Friday morning) and a session on student-athlete mental-health issues (Friday morning). After the Convention, the PowerPoints from all presentations and a recording of the championships session will be available on the Division II homepage.

The division’s Game-Environment Award of Excellence will be presented at Saturday’s business session. Also, Jessica Pixler, a track and field standout from Seattle Pacific, will be among student-athletes receiving Today’s Top VIII Awards at Friday’s Honors Celebration.