Non NCAA Varsity Teams in the MDIA

[A.J. Stevens]

There has been some discussion about allowing non NCAA varsity teams to join the MDIA. I do not have a strong opinion yet. What do you think? Pros & Cons?

[OAKS]

Do you mean teams that have NCAA varsity programs already? Or varsity teams that do not play in the NCAA.

I believe SCAD will be varsity this year or next according to their press release. I don't know if they plan to stay in the SELC or not.

[Jolly Roger]

Are there aren't any true varsity teams outside of NCAA (and NJCAA)? I don't think the NAIA endorses varsity lacrosse. Are there other organizations that sponsor varsity college lacrosse?

The grey area would be schools like NDNU in California who maintained the team's NAIA status while they prepared to move to NCAA. I believe they were honest with their intentions which wuold have allowed a non-varsity organization like the MDIA the opportunity to accept or deny based on some as of yet determiined criteria.

[A.J. Stevens]

Varsity teams at schools not affiliated with the NCAA. NAIA would be an example.

[Jolly Roger]

What is your definition of varsity at an NAIA school?

Why don't you move this to the Lindenwood discussion. Otherwise it looks like a thinly veiled attempt to build consensus for an arguement in that case.

[A.J. Stevens]

It is not meant to be a thinly veiled attempt to build consensus for an argument in any case. Currently no varsity team is allowed to join the MDIA. I want to know what people think about changing that. I am not sure you are correct on were I stand on this issue. (I don't know where I stand) This is an attempt to have open discussion on a topic currently being addressed in the MDIA.

[lil lady lax fan]

This doesn't seem like a thinly vieled attempt to discuss the recent problem to me. I think the Lindenwood situation just brought the question to everyones attention--is an NAIA school that has the lacrosse team listed as one of their sports teams exempt from the varsity rule since the school is not NCAA?

I don't know much about NAIA. How much support do these schools usually give to their sports teams as opposed to the NCAA schools with varsity programs? Is it akin to the support that a DIII school gets, or closer to the support the club teams get from their respective schools?

[Brent Burns]

To find out more about NAIA,

anyone can go to the NAIA site at:

http://naia.collegesports.com

BTW, I also learned that NAIA does stand for the National Association of Independent Artists.

[porterjive]

alright guys, sorry for just bumping in and ranting on my first post, but i joined this message board to ask John Paul the same queston. Heres your example

I attend Dominican University of California. We are a 2nd year VARSITY program, this means were endorsed and funded by the school and recognized by the athletic dept. Unfortunatley, weve been told our varsity status makes us inelligible for the WCLL/MDIA. I was hoping I could find an answer to it because our unfortunate circumstance is that if we arent varsity we dont have enough money to keep the team going even as club

[Sonny]

We are a 2nd year VARSITY program, this means were endorsed and funded by the school and recognized by the athletic dept.

we dont have enough money to keep the team going even as club

Your post seems to contradict itself.

[Danny Hogan]

i say welcome all non ncaa teams regardless of the label. teams that have varsity type support from their universities fit the mold of what most club teams are striving for and further legitimizes what we do (in the eyes of traditional lacrosse minds, when they see it).

as far as 'fair', you can't even begin to measure support from university to university at the club level, there isn't a level playing field to start with so why bitch about varsity level support.

i believe during auburn's back to back SELC championships and STL appearances, they recieved $0 from the school and played their games at a middleschool. (Could be an urban legend, but i believe it is somewhat accurate)

[LaxRef]

We are a 2nd year VARSITY program, this means were endorsed and funded by the school and recognized by the athletic dept.

we dont have enough money to keep the team going even as club

Your post seems to contradict itself.

You cut out the part where he said

if we arent varsity we dont have enough money to keep the team going even as club

It seems clear to me that they only get the money if they're varsity; if they drop down to club level, they won't get enough money.

[Sonny]

It seems clear to me that they only get the money if they're varsity; if they drop down to club level, they won't get enough money.

Enough money? How about any support money from the school!?!?

Welcome to the wonderful world of collegiate club lacrosse!

[SMSlax]

The question regarding "fairness" isn't soley about how much money a team may get for uniforms or buses. A large part of the issue rests in recruiting. That aspect of collegiate sports as a whole is crucial to any programs success and this point is only magnified under the conditions that our organization (USL-MDIA) works with. If one club team has the ability to offer scholarships, a proposition in which the other programs are found lacking, then the equal playing field is corrupted before the season begins.
Sure, a school who recieves money and builds a respectable program is undoubtedly considered progress from where we are now, and it is true that the level of support ranges considerably between universities but surely the inequity raised by scholarship offers cannot be merely brushed off as another perk of school support.

[Danny Hogan]

and it is true that the level of support ranges considerably between universities but surely the inequity raised by scholarship offers cannot be merely brushed off as another perk of school support.

I wouldn't think that non-ncaa varsity schools would offer much if any scholarship money. Also its not entirely unheard of for some current MDIA to have a kid or two on some type of scholarship/aid package.