INDIANAPOLIS --- NCAA Division I football teams will be able to play 12 games starting in 2006 under a proposal advanced by the Division I Management Council.

The proposal now goes to the Division I Board of Directors for final consideration on April 28.  The schedule change would take effect August 1, 2006.

Supporters say the proposal permits flexibility in scheduling without lengthening the season.  Teams in both Division I-A and Division I-AA would be able to schedule a 12th game by eliminating their bye week during the season.

NCAA research shows that injury rates in seasons with 11 games and 12 games (which are permitted now when 14 Saturdays fall within the playing season) are in the same range.

During its meeting in Indianapolis, the Council also supported several proposals from recruiting and access packages submitted last year by the men’s and women’s basketball coaches associations.

Council members approved five of seven proposals supported by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, including one that allows student-athletes to participate in exhibitions or scrimmages without sacrificing a season of eligibility, and another that eliminates “the baton rule” regarding coaches recruiting off campus.  Another proposal sets the number of recruiting days at 130 and retains the current April contact period.

The Council did not support NABC proposals to allow coaches to view out-of-season activities or to increase the number of players allowed to participate in out-of-season skill-instruction sessions.

The latter also was not supported in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association package, though Council members did approve an increase to four hours in the amount of time players can spend in those sessions.  Most other WBCA proposals passed, including a measure to prohibit evaluations at nonscholastic events during the prospect’s academic year, except for those conducted during the last full weekend of the fall contact period and the weekend during the spring evaluation period.

David Berst, NCAA vice-president for Division I governance, said the votes by the Management Council indicate both support for many of the coaches’ proposals but highlight that there still is work to be done to build consensus for more access by coaches.

“The coaches need to continue to emphasize communication with their athletic directors, faculty and presidents,” Berst said. 

Council members also approved two key financial aid proposals that enhance student-athlete well-being.  One (No. 02-82), allows football and basketball student-athletes who receive only nonathletically related institutional aid to compete without counting in the institution’s financial aid limits.

The Council supported another financial aid proposal (No. 03-23-A) that permits student-athletes in equivalency sports to receive institutional academic-based aid without that aid counting toward team limits.  That prevents student-athletes who are offered both athletics-based and nonathletically related aid from having to turn down the latter to avoid hurting the team.

A number of proposals related to playing and practice seasons in most sports were not acted upon by the Management Council (Proposals 2004-40-A, 2004-40-B, 2004-40-C).  In particular, one of the proposals would allow basketball teams to play 27 games maximum in a season, instead of 28, but permit teams to take part in a preseason certified event and not count the participation toward the maximum number of contests.

The proposals were among more than 100 legislative items the Management Council considered at its quarterly meeting in Indianapolis.  The Council uses its April meeting to culminate the annual legislative cycle.  Proposals approved are forwarded to the Board for adoption.  The next legislative cycle begins in July, when Division I conferences and cabinets submit legislation for consideration during the 2005-06 year.

In other action from its quarterly meeting, the Management Council elected its newest chair.  Ron Wellman, director of athletics at Wake Forest University, was elected chair of the Council.  He replaces Chris Monasch, who has been named director of athletics at St. John’s University in the Big East Conference and will no longer represent the America East Conference on the Council.  Wellman’s replacement as vice-chair will be determined at a later date by the Council.

In other business, the Management Council also was briefed on the development of a new NCAA amateurism clearinghouse.  Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice-president for membership services, told the Council that planning for the clearinghouse stems from concerns raised by NCAA members about amateurism issues related not only to international prospects but also domestic prospects as well.

Planning is now underway, under direction from NCAA President Myles Brand, so that the clearinghouse could be in use for freshman student-athletes who would be entering college as early as Fall 2006, Lennon said.

“We are seeking to be proactive and address the many concerns that we have heard from our members related to amateurism issues,” Lennon told the Council.  “We want to be responsive to those in our membership who seek our help, and our working assumption is that we will address any amateurism issue pre-enrollment.”

Lennon added that enabling legislation may be necessary in the future to assist in developing the full scope and structure of the amateurism clearinghouse.  Lennon said the initiative will be led by Dave Schnase, managing director of membership services, and Bill Saum, who has moved from the NCAA’s enforcement division to membership services to serve as the clearinghouse’s director.