D1 college question about # of games

I believe the allowable number is 56 before post season play. Teams may schedule more in case of rainouts but will cancel non conference games late in the season to pare down to 56. Some cold weather teams play a few games in the fall that count against the 56.

Did they go to Hawaii? I think there used to be an exception for off-continent games not counting...this was to encourage teams to play Hawaii (for example).

I don't know how these college players do it (play baseball and get an education). 56 games from February (if you live in Southest or Southwest) all the way to late May. As an example, let's say March 1 to May 22 as an average. That is potentially 56 games in 83 days. Then, you can also play post season on top of that. Makes my head spin.

7 inning games do not affect the number of games played. The NCAA rule is 56 games in the regular season, not to include conference playoffs or NCAA post season play. There are exceptions, as justbaseball pointed out, that certain trips are, "in addition", like Hawaii.

The 56 games do not need to be played in the spring, so you'd need to add two more weekends onto that number. Schools may schedule intercollegiate games in the fall, and those games are considered part of the 56 game season total allowed.

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Originally posted by fenwaysouth:
As an example, let's say March 1 to May 22 as an average. That is potentially 56 games in 83 days.

Almost all teams start playing on Feb 19, especially those with 56 on the schedule. You'll find that teams that start after the 2/19 date usually have significantly less games on their schedule. I'm not aware of a single D1 team that tries to schedule 56 games and doesn't start on opening day.

If you do the math, it works out to 4 -5 games a week, with most teams playing three on a weekend.

Some schools do get in 56 games and start a bit later. My son's school started on Feb 26 this year and will play a full schedule. They can do this because his conference, The Summit League, plays 4 game weekend series so they don't have to have that extra mid-week game.

Keeping up with the academics is tough on all of them. The northern schools have to do a lot of traveling early in the season and the kids spend very little time on campus. South Dakota State played its first 30 games on the road and didn't have a home game until late April. There were several weeks where my son would be on campus for class for no more than two days in the week. He said he would feel like a stranger sometimes when he was in class.

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Originally posted by Go Jacks!:
Some schools do get in 56 games and start a bit later. My son's school started on Feb 26 this year and will play a full schedule. They can do this because his conference, The Summit League, plays 4 game weekend series so they don't have to have that extra mid-week game.

Keeping up with the academics is tough on all of them. The northern schools have to do a lot of traveling early in the season and the kids spend very little time on campus. South Dakota State played its first 30 games on the road and didn't have a home game until late April. There were several weeks where my son would be on campus for class for no more than two days in the week. He said he would feel like a stranger sometimes when he was in class.

And all Thanks to the NCAA and the Northern schools for the above.

About 5 years ago the Northern Schools (Ohio State AD)petitioned the rules committee to change the scheduled start date of the season from Feb 1st to Feb 26th (or close to it). Thus pushing back "spring" practice from Jan 3rd to Feb 3rd. But, not extending the length of the season to conclude the CWS past the 2nd week in June.

Therefore all the D1 schools had to add TWO midweek games in order to fit all 56 games into their schedule. The hardship on the STUDENT athlete has been tremendous and most GPA's have suffered since the change.

After five years has there been an increase in Northern schools appearing in the Super Regionals and the CWS? I don't think so. What the NCAA seems to forget is the "C" part Collegiate. Student athletes is an oxymoron.

Thanks justbaseball- you nailed it (I think). They did play 4 games in Hawaii so that does bring the total back to 56.

I knew you guys would know the answer!

He did nail it. Son's team played 60 games going to HI for 4.

quote:

And all Thanks to the NCAA and the Northern schools for the above.

About 5 years ago the Northern Schools (Ohio State AD)petitioned the rules committee to change the scheduled start date of the season from Feb 1st to Feb 26th (or close to it). Thus pushing back "spring" practice from Jan 3rd to Feb 3rd. But, not extending the length of the season to conclude the CWS past the 2nd week in June.

Therefore all the D1 schools had to add TWO midweek games in order to fit all 56 games into

Simple solution-- cut some games. How difficult is that? What other sport plays anywhere close to as many games? Why do they need to play 55 games?

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And all Thanks to the NCAA and the Northern schools for the above.

The anti northern sentiment from the southerners get REAL old. I guess we all $uck at baseball up here. That's how it comes across.

It was more of a disadvantage when the season started earlier. It's not like the northern players can take off a month or so of college to stay down south and play. Pushing the date back to the 19th got it closer to when the northern colleges have spring break. This means combined with spring break they may miss a week of school on their southern trips.

I can remember several years ago, before there were limits on the number of games played, that southern schools would start their seasons in January and play 80 to 90 games in a season. Didn't appear that the school administrations were too concerned about the "collegiate" part then either. There were career records set in the 70's and 80's that will never be broken simply because teams play a lot fewer games now.

I would be interested to see data that shows what the GPA trends have been over the last 5 years. I don't know if the trend is up or down but would not be surprised if there has been very little change over that time period.

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Simple solution-- cut some games. How difficult is that? What other sport plays anywhere close to as many games? Why do they need to play 55 games?

56 is tough.Sons team went to Hawaii, so will play 60 games.I myself think its too much.

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Originally posted by Loveumbb:
The hardship on the STUDENT athlete has been tremendous and most GPA's have suffered since the change.

Aside from the other inaccuracies, what is the basis for this statement?

Go Jacks,

I would really like to know if there has been a study on this topic. I'm curious to see if GPAs improved and the contributing factors. Common sense would tell you that grades should improve with all things being equal (more time in the classroom and study time) but there can be other factors at plays such as funding for tutors, and the type of student entering a baseball program. What would be most interesting is to look at those kids whose 4 years were part of both policies. Just a thought as I drink my morning "joe'.

quote:

Originally posted by Loveumbb:
And all Thanks to the NCAA and the Northern schools for the above.

After five years has there been an increase in Northern schools appearing in the Super Regionals and the CWS? I don't think so. What the NCAA seems to forget is the "C" part Collegiate. Student athletes is an oxymoron.

That CWS approach is a bunch of bs. Northern schools know who will be there and who will be starting the college summer season the first week of June. As far as the academic issues are concerned...Don't bring me problems, bring me solutions. IMHO, it's the programs responsibility to make it work. I'll bet my Northern son spent more time with academics at team study tables than if he was not playing baseball and they spent more time away from the classroom than a Southerner could imagine. During the season they met with the academic advisor once every 2 weeks and he knew where they were in regard to their classes. Road trips always involved laptops and study sessions. Class schedules were worked out well ahead of time to satisfy the athletic and academic needs of each player. Tutors were available and the athletic and academic departments worked together. It can be done, however, if people want to hide behind the fallacy that Northern schools are putting an academic burden on the Southern student, it only emphasizes what may be more important in their minds.

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it only emphasizes what may be more important in their minds

Loveumbb,

You say the Northerners "forced" the Southern schools to jam their 56 games over a shorter time period. Why schedule that many games? It's pointless. They need to lower that to 45 or 50. Kids play another 40 or 50 in the summer, it's not like the kids are going to suffer because they aren't getting enough baseball.

baseball 168,

I can relate. Son's high school team played a 41-game season this spring. Summer high school baseball league is 25 games while summer Connie Mack is another 35 games.

High school ball trumps overlapping Connie Mack for the month of June. Still assume a 35-game summer schedule. That works out to 41+35 or 76 games from February 1 through end of July or 15 games/month for five months- lots of baseball to be sure.