KCAC passes new regulations to better align with NAIA Rules
By: Scott Crawford, KCAC Commissioner

WICHITA – The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) is moving forward with several adjustments to its sports policies and procedures based on a unanimous vote by its Board of Presidents.  These adjustments relate to the number of contests played in multiple sports including football, baseball, and men’s and women’s basketball.  Other considerations include allowing for adjustments to spring practice for football.

Beginning back in the early summer of 2009, the conference became highly involved in a comprehensive review of its sport guidelines and policies.  This process was called the Sport Regulations Initiative (SRI).   Throughout the entire 2009-2010 school year, the coaches in the conference, the Governing Council comprised of Athletic Directors and Faculty Athletic Representatives, and the Board of Presidents – each president/CEO for each KCAC institution – were engaged in a dramatic review and proposal process to make these adjustments.

According to KCAC Commissioner, Dr. Scott Crawford, “the conference’s previous sport guidelines had become outdated and ambiguous in so many places that they no longer served their function effectively.”   He added, “I would like to emphasize that no KCAC institution had broken any NAIA rules related to contest limitations, etc.  However, the old set of sport guidelines might have placed schools and athletic programs dangerously close to violating NAIA rules unintentionally.”

The SRI process worked to align the KCAC with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as to sport-related definitions as well to ensure complete compliance with all NAIA policies.
Crawford stated, “These changes indicate the buy-in from all levels within the conference and the commitment from all of our stakeholders to make necessary adjustments when necessary.”

The SRI received final approval from the KCAC Board of Presidents last week at its semiannual meeting in Topeka.  The majority of the changes in the SRI go into effect immediately for the upcoming 2010-2011 season.

Crawford addressed several themes in the SRI as described in the following bullet points:

• There was a significant desire to be more closely aligned with the NAIA and its sport guidelines.  The SRI essentially unifies the KCAC with the NAIA in terms of contest limitations for sports, providing opportunities for an enhanced experience for student-athletes, and for recruiting and retention purposes.

• There was a need to refine the KCAC governance structure to allow more autonomy and flexibility for KCAC member institutions to make decisions for themselves without having a negative impact on other conference members or the conference.
• Schools need the flexibility to schedule the start of the practice and competition season based on their start to the academic year, etc.
• The direct move to the NAIA 24 week rule for practice and competition meets the need for providing this flexibility.

• The conference recognizes how difficult it is in legislating parity.  The conference will continue to maintain its stringent financial aid policies until it is able to find a better system to regulate financial assistance to student-athletes. 

• Previous restrictions separated the KCAC from other NAIA institutions within the state and within the region by holding back teams, schools, and the conference from accomplishing possible goals i.e. recruiting, improved visibility within the state and region, and desire to try and compete with comparable teams, schools, and conferences regionally – and in some cases, nationally.

The following bullet points are specific details of the SRI by sport  contest limitations and a few additional details:

• All sports in the conference will continue to follow the 20 hours of contact policy both in season and out of season.  This includes time spent in conditioning, practice, and competition.  All competition contact will be counted as 4 hours of contact per date of competition.
• It is mandatory for all student-athletes to receive one day off per week from any sport-related contact.
• All KCAC teams will abide by the NAIA’s 24 Week rule for practice and competition to address all preseason, in-season, and out of season activities.

FOOTBALL:

• Beginning in Fall 2011, all KCAC football programs will be allowed to compete in up to 11 varsity games as allowed for by the NAIA.  There will be nine conference games and two non-conference games.
• Beginning in Spring 2011, all KCAC football programs will be allowed up to 15 spring practices with one of these practices being a intra-squad scrimmage open to the public.

BASEBALL:

• Beginning in 2010-2011, all KCAC baseball programs will be allowed to compete in up to 55 total contests – up from the 50 allowable contests in past years.

SOFTBALL & VOLLEYBALL:

• Beginning this fall, both softball and volleyball will be allowed to compete in 28 dates of competition – allowing for multiple contests in a single day.

MEN’S & WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:

• Starting this fall, basketball teams will have the opportunity to begin their practice seasons sooner than before and compete in contests earlier than ever before, which should aid in scheduling non-conference games.
• The contest limitation is up to 32 contests from the previous limitation of 30.

ALL OTHER SPORTS (M/W Soccer, M/W Cross Country and Track & Field, M/W Tennis, and M/W Golf):

• These sports were already competing in the NAIA maximum allowable contests/events.  The KCAC will continue to allow for this level of competition.

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