The Centennial Conference will implement sport-specific policies governing travel-squad size and will begin fall sports competition later than permitted by Division III as part of measures to contain costs.

McDaniel President Joan Develin Coley, chair of the conference’s Presidents Council, announced the actions affecting the conduct and administration of regular-season and championship competition after league meetings last week.

The plan was described as a response to the current financial climate and the council’s commitment to contain college costs.

“Our goal was to reduce costs without altering the students’ intercollegiate athletics experience,” Coley said. “The current economic situation on our campuses required the cooperation of all institutions’ presidents and athletics directors, and the measures that we adopted will provide needed savings.

“It is important to note that our job is not complete and the Centennial Conference will continue to discuss further cost-containment measures throughout these difficult times.”

The Presidents Council created a sport-specific travel-squad size policy for 14 of its 24 championship sports, in addition to agreeing to an unspecified set date for the first date of competition for fall sports that will be later than the first permissible Division III date.

Division III allows members to set a start date that permits 16 practice opportunities before the first intercollegiate contest or September 1, whichever is later. It allows a start date for football that permits 25 practice opportunities before the first contest.

The council also shortened the length of the conference indoor track and field championships from two days to one and the men’s golf championship tournament from three days to two.

League officials also said they will work with other conferences to seek reduction of “unnecessary” expenses in Division III, citing as examples equipping football officials with microphones and using LED lights on basketball backboards.

NCAA football rules will require equipping the game referee with a microphone for penalty and game announcements beginning with the 2010 season, and basketball rules required mounting red or LED lights on backboards in Division III beginning with the 2008-09 season.

A cost-containment task force chaired by Ursinus President John Strassburger also urged that the conference share purchasing power for athletics equipment where feasible, consider conference calls rather than in-person meetings when the agenda warrants, and continue discussions with other conferences about the length of playing and practice seasons in Division III.