The Division II Management Council has recommended the Division II Presidents Council sponsor several legislative proposals for the 2022 NCAA Convention, including changes to the division's football's preseason and out-of-season models.
The recommendations also include changes to the four-year college transfer legislation and to the Division II legislative process and authority.
"The Division II Management Council supports these proposals going to a full membership vote in January," said Jim Johnson, director of athletics at Pittsburg State and chair of the Division II Management Council. "These concepts further Division II's efforts to improve student-athlete well-being and enhance our governance structure."
The Division II Presidents Council will review the recommendations at its Aug. 4 meeting. Any recommendations it approves will be voted on at the 2022 NCAA Convention in Indianapolis via the division's one-school, one-vote legislative process.
Football preseason, out-of-season models
The football proposal would make several changes to the preseason practice period to enhance student-athlete safety. It was developed by the Division II Football Committee and the division's participants on the Football Concussion Data Task Force. Both groups also recommended the prohibition of certain football activities and drills that may increase the probability of head impact exposure and do not simulate gamelike scenarios, which the Presidents Council in June voted to immediately approve. Feedback from key stakeholders such as student-athletes, coaches and medical professionals also helped shape these recommendations.
This latest proposal includes the following recommendations:
- Extending the five-day acclimatization period to seven days, with one required day off.
- Reducing the maximum number of full contact practices that could occur during the preseason from 17 to nineand establishing limits on the amount of contact that may occur during the preseason while retaining flexibility for programs regarding how to structure that period.
- Eliminating the restriction on the number of football student-athletes per group that may engage in skill instruction. This proposal would align football with all other Division II sports.
Four-year college transfers
The Management Council recommended the Presidents Council sponsor a proposal to amend legislation in several areas related to four-year college transfers. Council members felt the proposal addresses the ever-changing landscape of transfers by balancing student-athlete wellness and school enrollment management concerns.
The proposal includes the following:
- Requiring undergraduate student-athletes to complete an educational module related to transferring before the school may enter the student-athlete's information into the NCAA Transfer Portal.
- Eliminating the previous school's ability to object to use of the one-time transfer exception.
- Requiring the head coach of the certifying school and the student-athlete to certify in writing that no athletics staff member or other representative of the school's athletics interest contacted the student-athlete or any individual associated with the student (e.g., family member, scholastic or nonscholastic coach, advisor), directly or indirectly, without first obtaining authorization through the notification of transfer process.
- Establishing June 15 as the date by which a student-athlete must provide written notification of transfer to the school to utilize the one-time transfer exception (not applicable to midyear transfers).
- Permitting schools to reduce or cancel an athletics aid agreement previously signed for the next academic year if a student-athlete requests to be entered in the Transfer Portal. It would remain impermissible to reduce or cancel a student-athlete's athletics aid during the academic year in which the student-athlete provides notification.
Legislative process and authority
The Management Council supported a proposal that would expand the membership's and Presidents Council's legislative options. The goal of this proposal is to broaden the division's ability to respond in the future to challenges like those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proposal focuses on three areas: emergency legislation, resolutions and special Conventions. It would broaden the Presidents Council's ability to use emergency legislation. It would also give the Presidents Council the ability to enact a resolution at any time. Currently, resolutions can be sponsored for a full membership vote only at an annual or special Convention. Additionally, it would reduce the sponsorship deadlines for special Conventions from 90 days to 30 days.
Other actions
- Management Council recommended Presidents Council sponsor a proposal to permit schools to reimburse a prospective student-athlete (or their relatives or legal guardians) with any costs associated with a canceled official or unofficial visit. Additionally, the proposal specifies that such reimbursement would not trigger the use of a prospective student-athlete's one permissible official visit.
- Management Council recommended Presidents Council sponsor a proposal to add STUNT as an emerging sport for women.
- Management Council recommended Presidents Council sponsor a proposal to eliminate the overall equivalency limit in men's sports. Women's sports do not have a limit.
- Approved in concept a noncontroversial proposal to permit independent schools in basketball to compete in a conference challenge event with other schools in the same region and to permit all schools competing in the event to exempt a maximum of two contests from their season maximum total.
SAAC/Management Council summit
The Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Management Council last week held their annual summit virtually. The summit provides an opportunity for the two groups to discuss key issues in Division II, ensuring the student-athlete voice is well represented in the governance process.
This year's meeting included a review and discussion of proposed legislation for the 2022 Convention, as well as Division II SAAC's goals for the 2021-22 academic year. The goals emphasize three areas — diversity and inclusion, mental health and professional development — to build the total package student-athlete. Both groups also took part in a professional development session led by Mark Trumbo, who spoke on defining and designing one's purpose.
