Uniform Start Date

My son played a 5 game a week schedule for 3 years, always beginning late february.

It will require 5 starters or a loaded bull pen. Or position players with good arms filling in. It's not easy.

Winners who will emerge will be those programs where the coaches use good pitching management not to overload their staff to get through to post season.

I believe that was part of the point of the move, to make all schools more equal with pitching depth and create a season where both northern and southern schools played their games within the same timeframe.

You are right about the NCAA, however northern schools have long dealt with this situation, it's the southern and coastal counterparts that must make the greatest adjustment.

Does anyone know why the DII schools did not change also? I know they operate seperately from DI, but my son's season starts on 2/1 and they play 5 games a week just like they have the last 3 years.

http://collegebaseball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=721853

ASU,
D1 competition to get to playoffs, thats it I would imagine.
I am in agreement with a uniform start date but,
I am wondering myself why the start date is not earlier rather than later. Makes more sense to me, but then again nothing with the NCAA makes a lot of sense these days.
I will miss my player not playing college baseball, but I am very glad with all of these changes don't have to worry about it. As a parent, my biggest concern was how are you doing in school, and he did manage to do very well, but the last semester he attended was a tough one. It's not easy.
JMO.

I don't think the uniform start date will help the Northern teams at all.
All it does is squeeze the games over a shorter time span and that could affect class attendance in the toughest semester.
Who knows what they will try next. Limit the number of southern players you can have on a team ? There will always be inequities but I don't see the start date as a big deal.

What does the 45 day window for Fall workouts mean?

There is a 45 day window, that began sometime right towards the beginning of Sept., maybe 9/1, I'm not sure, where schools were allowed to conduct 33 days of team practice, intersquads, and intercollegiate games(I think that's the number, someone correct me if I'm wrong).

quote:

Originally posted by CPLZ:
There is a 45 day window, that began sometime right towards the beginning of Sept., maybe 9/1, I'm not sure, where schools were allowed to conduct 33 days of team practice, intersquads, and intercollegiate games(I think that's the number, someone correct me if I'm wrong).

I am admitting partial ignorance of rules and eligibility issues but CPLZ may be on to something here. Maybe teams should use part of the Fall schedule to get some of those games in without trying to cram 10 lbs of games into a 5 lb bag during the Spring. Coaches will have to sit back and reassess the Fall practice season and what it involves. Right now it has a "practice only" or inter-squad look. I can see where a coach can get a good look at his Spring team by scheduling some Fall games. A coach can see how his young guys perform in game situations and also look to see what areas need to be worked on over the winter.

As far as the NCAA tourney is concerned, for a majority of the D1 schools "At Large" bids are not an issue, they go to the power conferences and those who suck up to the NCAA. Winning your conference is your only way in. If the season is bunched together and you have a concern over the available arms, cut that Spring schedule and be healthy for conference play and tourney time.

My questions are.

If you play Fall games, how does that affect the eligibility of new freshmen?

Can they still be red shirted in the Spring?

Do Fall games count against the Spring schedule? If so does mean the Fall record can be joined to the Spring record.

There are two ways to address any situation. You can sit back and betch about it, or, you can make the best of what you have to work with.

as was discussed in another recent thread some DI teams schedule "real" fall games, reducing their allowable spring count.

regarding ncaa "auto conference bids" one of the digs has been it (in most all cases) is awarded to the conference tournament winner - making the regular season kinda meaningless (re post season play) for most teams - the exception being teams in power confernces or w/power schedules which can elevate RPI high enough for "at large" consideration

my "guess" is if a freshman plays in real fall games - RS is no longer an option ...

OS8 should be able to come up w/the actual text of the rule

Interesting point, if the roster has to be complete by day before season opener, when does the real season begin???

Player can still be a RS if he plays in a fall game as long as he doesn't go over the required percentage (is it 15%) of participation to RS before end of year.

quote:

long as he doesn't go over the required percentage (is it 15%) of participation to RS before end of year.

I believe the 15% applies to "Medical Hardship Waiver" for season ending injuries ..
sometimes (mistakenly) refered to as Med-RS

the "true RS" rule is ... "if ya enter a game" you've used up a season of eligibility

I have been trying to find an example of a D1 NCAA school that plays schedule games in the fall. The most aggressive school I have found was ASU who play 29 fall games and all are intrasquad.
I know one D1 here that plays against outside schools in Cnada and never seen them play a coference game in 4 years in the fall.
If they set an official start date as Feb 22 to make the playing field more equal has does that make logical sense. If you can play other schools on your regular schedule to break up your spring season it is giving that team an unfair advantage according to NCAA. Help me see the logic that I seem to be missing.

Ok, I am pretty sure there is some benchmark, innings pitched, at bats? Or am I mistaking medical waiver?

quote:

by C Merc: BBHD thanks for the response. Here's is where it gets tricky. I just checked on one D1 program (I remember seeing a headline, but they do in-fact play a fall schedule of 3 games. They will come off the top of the 56 allowed in the year.
Tue., Sept. 11-- First Practice; 3 p.m. (Earl Lorden Field)
Sat., Sept. 22-- Alumni Game; Noon (Earl Lorden Field)
Sat., Oct. 6-- U Mass v Brown; Noon (Earl Lorden Field)
Sun., Oct. 7-- U Mass v Vermont; Noon (Burlington, VT)
Sun., Oct. 14-- U Mass v Dartmouth; Noon (Hanover, NH)

(home team added)

I believe TEXAS is playing some fall exhibitions...
...other school's fall and spring schedule information I found here:

College Baseball Blog

How about this quote from Augie?
"You can't play four games in five days (during the season). I think we have some of the best pitching around and we don't have five starters."

quote:

"You can't play four games in five days (during the season). I think we have some of the best pitching around and we don't have five starters."

that attitude played a large part in the ncaa's changes ...
hundreds of colder climate programs have been doing just that for decades

Attitude? What's so hard about playing baseball in yer flannel undies Bee? Hey, living in the desert didn't stop the UNM ski team from winning a national championship a couple years back. Whining and not winning is what really changes the NCAA isn't it?

rz1

My son was told when he redshirted that if a player plays in a scrimmage game in the fall against another school, that player is not eligible to redshirt in the spring.

quote:

Originally posted by rz1:
[

Do Fall games count against the Spring schedule? If so does mean the Fall record can be joined to the Spring record.

The spring schedule is referred to by he ncaa as something like "the championship session", while the fall schedule has no other designation. None of the stats from the fall schedule transfer the the championship session, however the total number of intercollegiate games played comes off your 56 game total.

Army is currently playing doubleheaders against 3 other schools this fall, thereby limiting their championship session to a 49 game schedule.

I asked a couple of coaches, while we were on our recruiting tour last year, "why do you think freshman have such a hard time adjusting to college ball?" The answers were identical...they put to much pressure on themselves with every at bat/play. They don't understand the length of the season and try to compress it too much. I wonder if getting these freshman a taste of intercollegiate play in the fall will give them a bit more composure come spring?

Just thinking out loud.

Clemson and Wofford are conducting practice scrimmages in a one day event at a milb stadium with all types of promotions going on that day. They are not playing each other but having their own scrimmages. A meet the players type of day with autograph and picture sessions. Fans are encouraged to come out to watch for the entire day.

I am thinking that a pretty large crowd will attend, and this will give the youngsters a chance to play in front of larger crowds so come spring, 5-8K attending on opening day won't hit you like sledge hammer.



Good idea.

http://collegebaseball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=721853

I can't see how playing a 1/2 dozzen games in early fall will help you in late Fes.
Douthern teams will still have an advantage unless you can find a way to turn the heat down. Southern teams will be out doors more in the fall and early spring and that is far better than working out indoors no matter how good the facility. Anyone who has worked out indoors can tell you it is a huge difference when you are outside.
The northern teams do not get big crowds and mostly parents. A school like Florada State where the crowd is on you as soon as you hit the field is a big shock to some ball players.
Juggling the starting date to me just puts academic pressure on the ball players. The only thing that makes any sense is the increased practice window. Splitting the schedule also makes no sense . The intersquad games are a better way to introduce new players in a more relaxed atmosphere with guys they are getting to know. There is still a very competetive atmosphere and the newer guys can judge how they are doing while they are trying to win a roster spot.

I agree with the above.

However for northern schools who do not have budgets to travel, february and March is tough.