Is it true that nescac teams all do not have a fall season? One of my friends told me this, can someone confirm?
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Son was recruited by NESCACs 6 years ago. Coaches told us they do not have official practices in the Fall. I believe this is still going on. However, they do have Captain's practices/scrimmage that are run by the team captains. There are a few folks on this site who can answer definitively of the current situation.
FWIW....I stopped by one NESCAC on a business trip in the Fall of 2009 and the Head Coach was watching and talking to his pitchers as they threw a bullpen. I don't know exactly what was being said, so I don't know if he was coaching. 
Google is our friend! (This is from the Middlebury site)
9. Guidelines for Out-of-Season Activities
NESCAC institutions support all students in their desire to engage in activities that promote health and fitness. This support includes students participating in intercollegiate athletics. Activity out of season is viewed positively so long as it abides by NESCAC regulations.
NESCAC rules state that "out of season practice is banned in all sports. Out of season is defined as dates not inclusive in the period designated in Sec. III.C.1 [of the NESCAC Manual] as the practice starting dates and last conference approved contest of that athletic season." Additionally, "captains may not conduct organized practices or competitions out of season. On-field/on-court activities called by any member of a team and confined primarily to members of that team are not permissible." The following guidelines have been developed to assist member institutions in the implementation and application of the Conference policy banning out of season practice. They must be communicated by the director of Athletics to all coaches and captains on an annual basis and to team members annually by the respective coaches.
- Specific Guidelines
All out of season activities must be completely voluntary. There can be no scripting of activity, no attendance taken, no reporting to the coaching staff, no implication that participation will affect an athlete's chances of being named to a team, and no involvement of any kind by any member of the coaching staff.
Insurance policies written to provide coverage for accidents occurring from intercollegiate athletics may only cover accidents which occur when students participate in events that are permitted as an in-season activity under NESCAC guidelines. Also, students injured in out-of-season activities will not be covered by NCAA catastrophic injury insurance.
Team captains and members may not conduct practices on or off campus. If a pick up game is open to the rest of the student body, team members may show up to participate. Pick-up games may not contain drills. A majority of those participating may be team members, but no one may discourage or prevent participation by other students.
Facilities may not be reserved for a team activity out of season. In a multipurpose facility (i.e., field house) this rule would not preclude scheduling of activity limitations for safety reasons. In such instance, however, use may not be restricted to varsity candidates and must be open to all members of the student body. Procedures established for the general College community must be followed in the scheduling of such facilities.
Neither on- nor off-campus facilities may be rented or reserved for a team activity out-of-season.
Students may not use or be issued College-owned apparel or equipment out of season, unless it is available to the College community in general.
Voluntary strength and conditioning programs are permitted. Coaches may design voluntary workout programs for their players. Sport coaches are not permitted to require, direct, or supervise these activities out of season. Strength and conditioning personnel may monitor voluntary individual workouts for safety purposes.
There are to be no contests or scrimmages by teams against outside competition out-of-season.
Violations of this policy will be handled according to established conference guidelines and may result in penalties or sanctions against individuals and/or teams.
Originally Posted by 2016 baseball dad:
Is it true that nescac teams all do not have a fall season? One of my friends told me this, can someone confirm?
The answer is "technically no, but....."
Based on the Middlebury posted rules, what I witnessed in 2009 was a strict violation of NESCAC policy. As you can imagine, I'm incredibly shocked to learn that baseball was being practiced at this particular school.
I'm curious if the policy is enforced and what the punishment is for such violation? Possibly 50 up-downs in the snow?
