REPORT OF THE
NCAA DIVISION III MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS SUBCOMMITTEE
JULY 17, 2016, MEETING
ACTION ITEMS.

None.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
1.
Welcome and Announcements. The chair, Chris Ragsdale, welcomed the subcommittee
members and noted that the subcommittee attendance did not meet quorum requirements.
Thus, the subcommittee would not be able to take formal action.
2.
Review NCAA Division III Management Council Playing and Practice Seasons
Subcommittee April 2016 Report. The subcommittee reviewed the report from its April
17, 2016, in-person meeting and did not offer any changes.
3.
Review Standardization of Contest Exemptions Concept. The subcommittee reviewed
feedback regarding a concept to standardize contest exemptions across all sports. While
the subcommittee was unable to take formal action, it agreed that Management Council
should consider a Convention proposal that would:




4.
Maintain the existing conference and season-ending championships exemptions,
while eliminating all other existing annual exemptions;
Allow each sport to exempt two scrimmages, exhibitions or joint practices;
Continue to allow institutions to conduct and exempt an alumni contest during the
nontraditional segment, but clarify that the alumni contest is the only exemption
permitted during the nontraditional segment and that the alumni contest must be
conducted as one of the two permitted scrimmages, exhibitions or joint practices;
and
Allow institutions to conduct the exempted scrimmages, exhibitions or joint
practices prior to the first permissible contest date in all sports other than wrestling.
Review Baseball Two-Period Model Concept. The subcommittee reviewed feedback
regarding a concept that would establish an optional two-period model in the sport of
baseball as well as a membership-sponsored proposal that would establish an optional twoperiod model in both baseball and softball. The subcommittee agreed that available data
and feedback suggest that baseball and softball should be treated separately. The
subcommittee also agreed that it did not have sufficient information to recommend a
proposal establishing a two-period model.
Rather, the subcommittee will collaborate with the Division III baseball committee to
collect additional information regarding membership interest in a baseball two-period
model. The subcommittee will use the information gathered to provide feedback to the
Report of the DIII Playing and Practice
Seasons Subcommittee
July 17, 2016
Page No. 2
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sponsor of the membership proposal as well as to continue to monitor the potential impact
of a baseball two-period model in Division III.
5.
Other Business. None.
6.
Future Meetings. The subcommittee reviewed the date and time for the October in-person
meeting and noted the possible need for a September teleconference to review the baseball
survey
7.
Adjournment. The subcommittee adjourned at 11:25 a.m. Eastern time.
Subcommittee Chair: Chris Ragsdale, Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Staff Support:
Sarah Otey, Academic and Membership Affairs
Liz Suscha, Championships and Corporate Alliances
Joni Williamson, Academic and Membership Affairs
NCAA Division III Management Council Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee
July 17, 2016, Teleconference
Attendees:
Chris Ragsdale, chair, Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Terry Small, New Jersey Athletic Conference.
Taryn Stromback, Student Athlete, Ohio Northern University; Ohio Athletic Conference.
Absentees:
Robert Davis, Jr., University of Scranton; Landmark Conference.
Dennis Leighton, University of New England; Commonwealth Coast Conference.
Frank Millerick, Becker College; New England Collegiate Conference.
Terry Wansart, Hunter College; City University of New York Athletic Conference.
NCAA Staff Support in Attendance:
Sarah Otey and Joni Williamson.
Other NCAA Staff Members in Attendance:
Dan Dutcher, Louise McCleary and Jeff Myers.
DIII%20Committees/02%20Management%20Council/2016%20Meetings/July/sup_04_Playing%20and%20Practice%20Seasons.doc/SO:dsk/07182016