MCLA Changes For Upcoming Year

[KnoxVegas]

But the NCAA has three division, while we have two. So to call them Division 1 and 3 is a little disingenuous don't you think. Division 1 and 2 seems more equitable. We are not the NCAA, we are the MCLA.

JP- Thanks for the agenda.

Alex Smith- Agree totally.

Ken- I don't believe in helicopters, though I do remember a late night out in Charlotte back in '96 when I saw them and men repelling out of them at around 3am. Turns out it was an anti-terrorism exercise prior to the Atlanta games, so I do believe in them because I saw them.

[DG]

No one is asking to be directly involved with every decision that is made, but year in and year out the refrain from the BOD is that we have our chance to be heard at the league meetings if we want to see change or make suggestions. When those meetings are not advertised until the day of, it makes the whole thing seem a little suspect.

Yes, we all understand this is hard work done by volunteers. Yes, we all understand that the minutae of running a league as large as ours is too complex to try to relate to each and every inquiry. Yes, for the most part, everyone enjoys the success our league has had and the direction it is going. But in this instance, the BOD had the means to simply announce with at least a month's notice when and where the meetings were going to take place.

I don't suppose it would be too much for the BOD to admit that perhaps they were wrong on this one? Actually, I more expect a long-winded justification and a convoluted method of learning more information instead of anything clear, concise and easy to access, so by all means, fire away.

Sounds like you should try and get yourself on the BOD.

[buffalowill]

haha...alright! div 1 and 2. I am glad the change has been made. I remember bringing this up a year ago and it was met with hostile response. kudos to the committee...

[Jolly Roger]

Conference directors have known about the meeting dates for some time. I would expect that they would be soliciting input form their constituency and creating their own list of topics. If they're not, give them your list of topics and then ask for explanation at your fall meeting when the conference director should be disseminating the information and decisions from the summer meeting.

The role of the Conference Director is to be the conduit between the EB/BOD and the teams. It's a 2-way street. Use them to investigate policy change your conference wants to see. Demand from them an accurate accounting of what goes on at the meetings.

[DG]

DG,
No conspiracy just shedding light to the lack of communication. Just like last year when I was told by our commisioner that dues when up and BTW we left USL and started the MCLA.

Augustana, like so many other schools, have too much wrapped up in this to be spoon fed information. As SDSULAX pointed out there was a lack of an agenda for the meeting. That right there gives me concern. I have never been to a shareholders meeting where there has not been an agenda. I do not have meeting in my work place without an agenda.

All we are looking for is transparency and more than a thread or two on these boards looking for input. We are getting too big for this to still be run like this. That being said, I have complete faith in those that are leading us. That is up until they ever vote to abolish the B Division and then there will be issues. I think we all want the same thing and that begins with better communication.

I get what you are saying. As I understand it, a team's information should be coming from your conference representative, not directly from the BOD. So there are 2 places there could be a problem...one is communication from the BOD to the conference reps, and one is from the conference reps to the teams. If the BOD needs to communicate better with the reps, then that's what people should be saying. If the conference reps aren't communicating well with the teams, then the teams should take it up with the reps.

Catlax asked about a few items that were interesting. The next minute, everyone is talking about how teams are getting cut, and secret meetings in the star chamber are happening to keep the rest of the world out of the decision-making process.

DG

[SDSULAX]

New change in the graduate student rule, they still have to be enrolled for 12 units, but they can play at a different institution than where they earned their undergraduate degree.

[wapiti]

This is a good decision. Shouldn't be limited to not playing because decide to pursue Graduate degree at another place, if you have eligibility remaining.............

[Andy Sharp]

But the NCAA has three division, while we have two. So to call them Division 1 and 3 is a little disingenuous don't you think. Division 1 and 2 seems more equitable. We are not the NCAA, we are the MCLA.

What I would like to see us move towards is a break point better than DI football. DI and DII are not much different (what's the count on DII schools anyway?), the real differentiator is DIII vs the others. Schools with 2-5k competing with schools 3 to 10 times their size is where I'd like to see a line drawn, but the problem has always been what # of students is the break point. I say, forget #s, go with the tried and true standard the NCAA has labored over.

It's been a few years since I've seen a listing of participating schools along with their size and NCAA divisions. I have not researched the reprecussions of such a change, but would like to see the MCLA move towards it. For those of us at DIII schools it would be nice to have the playing field a bit more level and see the confusion of whether it's a developmental league put to bed.

17 of the 31 players on last year's Calvin team never played before coming to college.

[CATLAX MAN]

Catlax asked about a few items that were interesting. The next minute, everyone is talking about how teams are getting cut, and secret meetings in the star chamber are happening to keep the rest of the world out of the decision-making process.

DG

Those questions did get lost in the shuffle, didn't they?

[Tim Gray]

But the NCAA has three division, while we have two. So to call them Division 1 and 3 is a little disingenuous don't you think. Division 1 and 2 seems more equitable. We are not the NCAA, we are the MCLA.

What I would like to see us move towards is a break point better than DI football. DI and DII are not much different (what's the count on DII schools anyway?), the real differentiator is DIII vs the others. Schools with 2-5k competing with schools 3 to 10 times their size is where I'd like to see a line drawn, but the problem has always been what # of students is the break point. I say, forget #s, go with the tried and true standard the NCAA has labored over.

It's been a few years since I've seen a listing of participating schools along with their size and NCAA divisions. I have not researched the repercussions of such a change, but would like to see the MCLA move towards it. For those of us at DIII schools it would be nice to have the playing field a bit more level and see the confusion of whether it's a developmental league put to bed.

17 of the 31 players on last year's Calvin team never played before coming to college.

This issue was discussed. It will not change for this upcoming season, but there is going to be research done this fall, with a proposal to be be voted on in the winter meetings for the 2008/09 season that a new definition be used, aka school size. Too many teams have already begun scheduling this season for us to make this change for this year.

[SDSULAX]

Answers for CATLAX MAN; 2008 Pizza Hut.
Division 2 issue Penalties to offending teams and better communication of responsibilities.
Growth question;Maintain Status Quo, not going crazy with expansion, business as usual,
Bylaws , etc, will be posted after they are finished, reviewed and approved.

[Zeuslax]

Growth question;Maintain Status Quo, not going crazy with expansion, business as usual,
Bylaws , etc, will be posted after they are finished, reviewed and approved.

Good to hear.

This issue was discussed. It will not change for this upcoming season, but there is going to be research done this fall, with a proposal to be be voted on in the winter meetings for the 2008/09 season that a new definition be used, aka school size.

I agree, this needs to be discussed and debated a little before making a decision. The split using Div I football in my opinion was a good move at the time. It caused the least amount of pain and pointed the league in the right direction for determining the categorizing of teams. Our school recently asked us to explain the differences in divisions. The automatic assumption/perception prior to our discussion was that Division B was for schools that weren't ready for Div A.....aka developmental.

[John Paul]

Also, terminology was officially changed. Division A is now Division 1. Division B is now Division 2. From this point forward, anyone using the terms A or B to describe a division will be fined. Heavily. Maybe banned for life.

[LaxRef]

Also, terminology was officially changed. Division A is now Division 1. Division B is now Division 2. From this point forward, anyone using the terms A or B to describe a division will be fined. Heavily. Maybe banned for life.

From collegelax.us, the MCLA, or both?

[Danny Hogan]

JP what was the result of the vote on my proposal to ban the use of soccer cleats in MCLA competition?