Plan for year-round model now enters 30-day rescission period before it can take effect
The Division I Cabinet on Wednesday reviewed and affirmed a proposal that was previously adopted by the Division I Men’s Soccer Oversight Committee to shift the playing season in men’s soccer to a year-round model, with competition segments in both the fall and spring seasons and the championship occurring in the spring.
However, because the Cabinet did not approve the proposal with 75% of the vote, it will now go into a 30-day rescission period, during which any of the eligible Division I schools or conferences can submit a vote to defeat the proposal. At the end of the 30-day window, if two-thirds of DI members (at least 245 schools and/or conferences) do not rescind the rule change, it will take effect, and the men’s soccer season will move to the year-round model starting with the 2027-28 academic year.
In June, the Cabinet considered the proposal and remanded it back to the men’s soccer committee for additional information about expected impacts on midyear enrollees and broader scheduling challenges at the school level. The committee provided feedback to the Cabinet on those items, and the Cabinet was generally satisfied that the new schedule would be manageable.
The year-round playing season has long been supported by stakeholders in the men’s soccer community as a better way to develop talent in the sport. Advocates — including student-athlete representatives who serve on the Cabinet — also have argued that it would allow more time for rest and recovery between games for men’s soccer student-athletes, in addition to reduced weekday travel.
If ultimately implemented, the new season also would result in the notification-of-transfer window for men’s soccer occurring after the conclusion of the championship in the spring.
Under the new schedule, the men’s soccer regular season would be distributed over two semesters, maintaining the current limit on total games per year at 25. Teams would have the opportunity to schedule and play up to 18 games during the fall segment (starting in late August and concluding the week before Thanksgiving) and up to 10 games during the spring segment (starting in mid-February).
While awaiting the conclusion of the 30-day rescission period, the oversight committee will begin exploring implementation of the new rules by working with NCAA staff and broadcast partners to identify when the championship might occur during the spring semester.
The Division I Women’s Soccer Oversight Committee reviewed the proposal and ultimately declined to propose a similar change in women’s soccer.
