DIVISION 1FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY MODEL FOR COLLEGE BASEBALL GROWTH

ACADEMICS: The current schedule forces numerous days of missed class and unnecessary stress for many college baseball players. Adjusting the calendar

reduces academic conflicts in season and enhances academic focus in the Fall term. This proposal reduces the time commitment in the Fall, providing (4)

additional weeks off from CARA activity.

STUDENT WELFARE: College baseball players are at the greatest risk of injury due to improper ramp time under the current format. 3 weeks of official team practice and 2 weeks of reduced activity is allocated. Accelerated ramp time

creates vulnerability to ligaments and muscles unable to adapt to the increasing work loads. This is irresponsible and dangerous according to medical

experts. The new model provides 5 weeks of official team practice and 4 reduced activity weeks prior to opening day.

Shift the regular season to a national start date beginning the 3rd Friday in March

through the 3rd weekend in June.

COVID-19, NIL: The COVID-19 pandemic and resultant economic turmoil has created a financial crisis for higher education. The landscape of college

athletics has changed. Implementing modernized business models has never been more important than today. In order for college baseball to survive, grow

and thrive in uncertain times, we must make these necessary adjustments.

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY: Division 1 baseball operates at a significant financial net loss among almost all 299 teams. Games in February and early

March eliminate regional competition for northern and Midwest programs due to cold weather. Travel budgets are inflated as a result. Schools hosting these

home series not only compete with colder weather, but college basketball season and March Madness as well, reducing ticket sale and concession

revenues from “actual” attendance.

Adjust the college baseball model with calendar changes that decrease expenses,

increase revenues, improve academic success and student athlete welfare.

new model

CALENDARCOLLEGE BASEBALL PROPOSAL

SAMPLE 2022 SEASON JAN 15 THRU FEB 10: 8 HOUR CARA PERIOD

(4 WEEKS)

FEB 11 UNTIL MARCH 18: 20 HOUR CARA PERIOD (5 WEEKS)

MARCH 18: COLLEGE BASEBALL SEASON BEGINS (14 WEEKS)

JUNE 22 TO JUNE 26: CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS

JUNE 27: SELECTION SHOW MONDAY

JULY 1 TO JULY 4: NCAA REGIONALS

JULY 8 TO JULY 10: NCAA SUPER REGIONALS

JULY 15: COLLEGE WORLD SERIES BEGINS

JULY 23-25: NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

132 CARA DAYS PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASON

SAMPLE 132 (SIMPLE VERSION): 118 COUNTABLE DAYS IN SEASON 14 COUNTABLE DAYS IN THE FALL

14 MANDATORY OFF DAYS (ALREADY IN PLACE)

SPRING SEMESTER FEB. 11 TO JUNE 26 - 118 COUNTABLE DAYS

1 DAY OFF PER WEEK

JAN. 15 TO FEB. 10 - 8 HOUR PERIOD 2 DAYS OFF PER WEEK

FALL SEMESTER 14 COUNTABLE DAYS (28 DAY CALENDAR WINDOW)

4 DISCRETIONARY WEEKS (VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY ONLY) *DISCRETIONARY WEEKS DO NOT HAVE TO BE CONSECUTIVE

8 HOUR PERIOD (ALL OTHER WEEKS)

2021

FALL

& 20

22 SE

ASON

STUDENT WELFARECOLLEGE BASEBALL PROPOSAL

_ _

STUDENT ATHLETE WELFARE - INJURY PREVENTIONIMPROPER RAMP TIME IS A DIRECT THREAT TO THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF ALL BASEBALL PLAYERS, AMONG ALL LEVELS, BUT ESPECIALLY COLLEGE BASEBALL PLAYERS. THIS IS THE BYPRODUCT OF HIGH INJURY RATES SUSTAINED FROM ACCELERATED RAMP TIMES. COLLEGE BASEBALL SEASON CURRENTLY BEGINS 6 WEEKS BEFORE OPENING DAY IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

ACCELERATED RAMP TIME CREATES VULNERABILITY TO LIGAMENTS AND MUSCLES UNABLE TO ADAPT TO THE INCREASING WORKLOADS.

THE GRAPHS INDICATE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS SUFFER THE GREATEST SPIKE IN INJURIES DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME LEADING UP TO THE SEASON AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE START. MLB PROVIDES A RAMP-UP PERIOD THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 6-7 WEEKS IN DURATION PRIOR TO THE REGULAR SEASON.

COLLEGE BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE AT THE GREATEST RISK OF INJURY UNDER THE CURRENT FORMAT. COLLEGE BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE ONLY ALLOTTED 5 WEEKS, WITH 2 OF THOSE WEEKS BEING REDUCED ACTIVITY (8 HOUR) WEEKS, AND 3 WEEKS OF OFFICIAL TEAM PRACTICE FROM MID-JANUARY UNTIL THE SEASON STARTS IN MID-FEBRUARY.

THE NEW CALENDAR WILL PROVIDE 9 WEEKS OF RAMP TIME, WITH 4 OF THOSE WEEKS BEING REDUCED ACTIVITY (8 HOUR) WEEKS, AND 5 WEEKS OF OFFICIAL TEAM PRACTICE FROM MID-JANUARY UNTIL THE SEASON STARTS IN MID-MARCH.

THE DANGER OF IMPROPER RAMP TIME Start of season

End of season

“THIS IS A NO BRAINER. I CAN’T SEE WHY ANYBODY WOULD ARGUE NOT TO FOLLOW THIS NEW PROPOSAL.”

Dr. James Andrews

ON THE NEW PROPOSAL REGARDING RAMP TIME AND INJURY PREVENTION:

ACADEMICSCOLLEGE BASEBALL PROPOSAL

ACADEMIC SUCCESS

Staying on track to graduate in 4 years can be a realistic goal under the new model. Students will be able to start each semester strong academical ly and minimize unnecessary conflicts. Missed class time has been a significant source of stress among baseball student-athletes during the playing season. Adjusting the season by 4 weeks promotes regionalized scheduling, shorter travel, academic success, and more personal time to maximize University resources.

ACADEMIC SUCCESS 20 HOUR CARA BEGINS - FIRST OFFICIAL TEAM PRACTICE (ALL TEAMS)

MISSED CLASS DAYS (ESPECIALLY FOR TEAMS TRAVELING VIA AIRLINE)

LAST DAY OF FINAL EXAMS (AVERAGE COMMON DATE FOR SEMESTER SCHOOLS)

LAST DAY OF CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS, OR REGULAR SEASON (ALL TEAMS INCLUDING CONFERENCES WITHOUT A CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT)

MOST COLD WEATHER TEAMS PLAY LESS THAN HALF OF THEIR GAMES AT HOME AND CAN MISS UP TO 8 DAYS OF CLASS TRAVELING IN FEBRUARY AND EARLY MARCH VIA AIRPLANE. MOST TEAMS RETURN VERY LATE SUNDAY NIGHT, COMPROMISING SLEEP AND JEOPARDIZING ACADEMIC SUCCESS THE NEXT DAY.

THE CURRENT MODEL DEPICTS AN AVERAGE OF 14 MISSED CLASS DAYS FOR MOST COLD WEATHER TEAMS. THE NEW MODEL REDUCES MISSED CLASS DAYS TO AN AVERAGE OF 4.

ALMOST ALL OF THE 31 DIVISION 1 BASEBALL CONFERENCES SPLIT UP THE THE 14 WEEK REGULAR SEASON INTO 6 NON-CONFERENCE WEEKENDS WITH 8 CONFERENCE WEEKENDS, OR 4 NON-CONFERENCE WEEKENDS WITH 10 CONFERENCE WEEKENDS.

ALL TEAMS CAN ACCUMULATE HIGH NUMBERS OF MISSED CLASS DAYS CONSIDERING HALF OF CONFERENCE GAMES ARE ON THE ROAD AND MANY CONFERENCES ARE SPREAD OUT GEOGRAPHICALLY REQUIRING AIR TRAVEL.

MIDWEEK GAMES CAN ALSO NEGATIVELY AFFECT ACADEMIC SUCCESS CREATING CONFLICTS DURING THE SCHOOL WEEK. IN THE CURRENT MODEL, MIDWEEK GAMES ARE PLAYED WEEKLY THROUGHOUT MARCH AND APRIL, SOMETIMES 2 MIDWEEK GAMES PER WEEK.

THE NEW MODEL ALLOWS MUCH MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH MIDWEEK GAMES, AND REDUCES ACADEMIC STRESS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.

ACADEMIC CONFLICTS IN SEASON CURRENT MODEL

NEW MODEL

ACADEMIC SUCCESSTHE NEW MODEL AFFORDS COLLEGE BASEBALL PLAYERS MORE PERSONAL AND SCHOLASTIC TIME SO THEY CAN THRIVE ACADEMICALLY IN THE FALL SEMESTER AND THE START OF THE SPRING TERM.

PROVIDING A TRUE OFF-SEASON HAS NEVER BEEN A POSSIBILITY IN COLLEGE BASEBALL. “FALL BALL” HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF TEAM PRACTICE, INTRASQUAD GAMES AND PLAYER EVALUATION. DUE TO THE EXTREMELY SHORT PREPARATION WINDOW IN JANUARY AND EARLY FEBRUARY, THE FALL CALENDAR HAS BECOME ESSENTIAL. THIS IS COUNTERINTUITIVE AND NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED.

THE NEW MODEL PRIORITIZES PLAYER DEVELOPMENT OVER PLAYER EVALUATION IN THE FALL:

4 ADDITIONAL WEEKS OFF. (DISCRETIONARY WEEKS WITH VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY ONLY)

14 COUNTABLE PRACTICE DAYS FOR IN A 28 DAY CALENDAR WINDOW.

8 HOUR CARA WEEKS IN ALL REMAINING WEEKS.

AVERAGE COMMON START DATE - FALL SEMESTER BEGINS

*OPTION TO START 28 DAY WINDOW FOR 14 COUNTABLE DAYS

*LAST DAY OF FALL PRACTICE

LAST DAY FOR CARA ACTIVITY

AVERAGE COMMON START DATE - SPRING SEMESTER BEGINS

FIRST DAY OF OFFICIAL TEAM PRACTICE

COLLEGE BASEBALL OPENING DAY

SPRING SEMESTER:

WITH OFFICIAL TEAM PRACTICE NOT STARTING UNTIL MID-FEBRUARY, THE NEW MODEL AFFORDS ALL STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO START THE SEMESTER STRONG. RAMP TIME EXTENDING FROM 5 WEEKS TO 9 WEEKS ALSO HAS AN ACADEMIC BENEFIT REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRESS DURING THE PRESEASON.

STARTING EACH SEMESTER STRONG FALL - NEW MODEL

SPRING - NEW MODEL

“This proposal grants the opportunity for collegiate baseball programs to reach new heights on the field and allows the athletes to maximize all the resources of their University off the field.”

Isaiah Paige University of Michigan

Junior Pitcher, SAAC Rep

COLLEGE BASEBALL PROPOSAL

SAVING MONEYMIDWEST AND NORTHERN TEAMS

FINANCIAL MATTERS - TEAM TRAVEL SAVINGSTEAM TRAVEL EXPENSES:

THE INCURRED COSTS ARE SIGNIFICANT FOR TEAMS IN FRINGE WEATHER CLIMATES FORCED TO TRAVEL TO WARM WEATHER SITES DURING THE FIRST 4 WEEKENDS OF THE SEASON.

THE CHART ON THE RIGHT DEPICTS AVERAGE TEAM TRAVEL EXPENDITURES FOR A BIG TEN OR COMPETITIVE NORTHERN TEAM THE FIRST (4) WEEKENDS. COSTS INCLUDE COMMERCIAL AIRLINE FLIGHTS, HOTELS, MEALS AND BUS RENTALS FOR 35 PLAYERS, 4 COACHES AND 8 SUPPORT STAFF.

5 YEAR AVERAGE: $232,728 FIRST 4 WEEKS *ALL 4 WEEKS VIA COMMERCIAL AIRLINE

THE LAST (4) WEEKS OF THE REGULAR SEASON INCLUDE TYPICAL REGIONALIZED TRAVEL COSTS WITHIN CONFERENCE PLAY (HOTELS, MEALS, BUS) ALONG WITH THE COSTS ASSOCIATED OF HOSTING A HOME WEEKEND SERIES (MEALS, UMPIRES, BASEBALLS)

5 YEAR AVERAGE: $88,864 LAST 4 WEEKS *0-2 COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS - MOSTLY BUS TRAVEL

**WITH MORE REGIONAL TRAVEL, LARGE FINANCIAL GUARANTEES PAID BY SOUTHERN TEAMS WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED AND, IN MOST CASES, NOT NEEDED BY REGIONAL OPPONENTS. GUARANTEE MONEY IS

NOT REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET ANALYSIS ON THE RIGHT.**

THIS 5 YEAR STUDY INDICATES AN AVERAGE DIFFERENCE OF:

$143,861 PER YEAR

MAKING MONEYSOUTHERN AND WESTERN TEAMS

THE 40 DIVISION 1 PROGRAMS WHO HAVE HOSTED A REGIONAL OR SUPER REGIONAL IN THE LAST 5 YEARS (2015-2019)

THE ATTENDANCE DATA ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDES IS FACTUAL INFORMATION FROM POSTGAME BOXSCORES. WARM WEATHER TEAMS, AS A WHOLE, SEE A DIRECT CORRELATION WITH ATTENDANCE INCREASING AS THE SEASON PROGRESSES.

WHETHER IT'S WEATHER, OR BASKETBALL, OR SOMETHING ELSE ISN'T THE POINT. THE POINT IS THAT THE ATTENDANCE INCREASES. 

FINANCIAL MATTERS - REVENUE STREAMS

OF THE 40 DIFFERENT TEAMS THAT HAVE HOSTED REGIONALS OR SUPER REGIONALS IN THE LAST 5 YEARS, OVER HALF OF THEIR REGULAR SEASON HOME GAMES WERE PLAYED IN THE MONTHS OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS THE NORM FOR WARM WEATHER TEAMS IN COLLEGE BASEBALL. PLAYING THE MAJORITY OF HOME GAMES DURING THIS TIME FRAME IS AN OPPORTUNITY MISSED TO INCREASE REVENUE, ATTENDANCE, AND FAN INTEREST IN OUR SPORT.

FANS IN THE STANDS CREATE ADDITIONAL REVENUE STREAMS WITH THE PURCHASES OF FOOD, BEVERAGES AND MERCHANDISE. ALCOHOL SALES HAVE BEEN APPROVED ACROSS MANY CAMPUSES AND HISTORICALLY OPERATE WITH 80% PROFIT MARGINS ON SALES.

ATTENDANCE FIGURES REPRESENTED ARE “PAID” ATTENDANCE. “ACTUAL” ATTENDANCE NUMBERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE MONTHS OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH, ARE LOWER WHICH NEGATIVELY IMPACTS CONCESSION REVENUE AND IN-GAME ATMOSPHERE.

REGULAR SEASON HOME GAMES

ACTUAL ATTENDANCE VS PAID ATTENDANCE

AS THE FOLLOWING CHARTS WILL SHOW, COLLEGE BASEBALL IS BETTER ATTENDED IN THE MONTHS APRIL AND MAY DURING THE REGULAR SEASON.

UNDER THE NEW MODEL, THE MAJORITY OF THE COLLEGE BASEBALL SEASON WILL BE PLAYED IN THE MONTHS OF APRIL, MAY AND JUNE.

FINANCIAL MATTERS - REVENUE STREAMS2019 ATTENDANCE INCREASE BY MONTH

THE FOLLOWING CHART SHOWS THE AVERAGE PAID ATTENDANCE, SORTED BY MONTH, FOR THE 16 TEAMS THAT HOSTED IN THE POST SEASON IN 2019. 100%, ALL 16 TEAMS, AVERAGED MORE FANS PER HOME GAME IN APRIL AND MAY THAN THEY DID IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH. THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION

BETWEEN REVENUE INCREASING FOR COLLEGE BASEBALL TEAMS AS THE SEASON PROGRESSES.

FINANCIAL MATTERS - REVENUE STREAMS2018 ATTENDANCE INCREASE BY MONTH

THE FOLLOWING CHART SHOWS THE AVERAGE PAID ATTENDANCE, SORTED BY MONTH, FOR THE 18 TEAMS THAT HOSTED IN THE POST SEASON IN 2018.

78%, 14 OF 18 TEAMS, AVERAGED MORE FANS PER HOME GAME IN APRIL AND MAY COMPARED TO FEBRUARY AND MARCH.

FINANCIAL MATTERS - REVENUE STREAMS2017 ATTENDANCE INCREASE BY MONTH

THE FOLLOWING CHART SHOWS THE AVERAGE PAID ATTENDANCE, SORTED BY MONTH, FOR THE 17 TEAMS THAT HOSTED IN THE POST SEASON IN 2017.

82%, 14 OF 17 TEAMS, AVERAGED MORE FANS PER HOME GAME IN APRIL AND MAY COMPARED TO FEBRUARY AND MARCH.

FINANCIAL MATTERS - REVENUE STREAMSTHE REGULAR SEASON: FEBRUARY AND MARCH VERSUS APRIL AND MAY

THE FOLLOWING CHART SHOWS THE 40 TEAMS WHO HAVE HOSTED SUPER REGIONALS IN THE LAST 5 YEARS. THE ATTENDANCE DATA LISTED IS EACH TEAM’S HOME AVERAGE IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH COMPARED TO THEIR HOME AVERAGE IN APRIL AND MAY.

33 OF 40 TEAMS AVERAGED HIGHER ATTENDANCE IN APRIL AND MAY COMPARED TO FEBRUARY AND MARCH

FINANCIAL MATTERS - OPPORTUNITY

WITH THE NEW CALENDAR PROPOSAL, COLLEGE BASEBALL WILL BE MORE FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE. ALL PROGRAMS CAN EITHER REDUCE UNNECESSARY TRAVEL COSTS EARLY IN THE SEASON OR INCREASE REVENUE IN WARMER TEMPS, AFTER COLLEGE BASKETBALL SEASON ENDS WITH HIGHER ACTUAL ATTENDANCE IN APRIL, MAY AND JUNE.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS MODEL.

THE ONLY COLLEGE B A S E B A L L G A M E S CURRENTLY OFFERED IN THE MONTH OF JUNE ARE POST SEASON GAMES. CONFERENCE M A T C H U P S A N D RIVALRY WEEKENDS WILL NOW BE AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION FOR ALL FANS IN JUNE, AS WELL AS POST SEASON GAMES IN JULY UNDER THE NEW MODEL.

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

FEB MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE

SUPER REGIONAL HOSTS - HOME GAME AVERAGES - LAST 5 YEARS

FINANCIAL MATTERS - MISCONCEPTIONS“IT’S TOO HOT TO PLAY COLLEGE BASEBALL IN SOUTHERN STATES IN JUNE AND JULY”

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS CURRENTLY PLAYED IN 160 LOCATIONS ALL OVER THE USA BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF APRIL AND SEPTEMBER.

LAST SEASON (2019), 122 OF THOSE MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS AVERAGED OVER 2,000 FANS PER GAME WITH 65 OF THOSE TEAMS AVERAGING OVER 4,000 FANS PER GAME.

THE #1 RANKED AVERAGE HOME GAME ATTENDANCE IN ALL OF MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IN 2019, WHICH DREW 9,299 FANS PER GAME:

32 MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS IN WARM WEATHER STATES WHO AVERAGED OVER 4,000 FANS PER GAME LAST SEASON (2019)

AND THERE ARE 33 MORE MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS FROM COLDER WEATHER STATES WHO AVERAGED OVER 4,000 FANS PER GAME LAST SEASON (2019)

29 MORE MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS IN WARM WEATHER STATES WHO AVERAGED BETWEEN 2,000 - 4,000 FANS PER GAME IN 2019

AND THERE ARE 28 MORE MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS FROM COLDER WEATHER STATES WHO AVERAGED 2,000-4,000 FANS PER GAME LAST SEASON (2019)

FINANCIAL MATTERS - MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

ONLY 36 OF 299 DIVISION 1 COLLEGE BASEBALL

PROGRAMS AVERAGE 2,000 OR MORE FANS PER GAME.

COMPARED TO

122 OF 160 MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS AVERAGE 2,000 OR

MORE FANS PER GAME

AND

65 OF THOSE MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS AVERAGE OVER 4,000

FANS PER GAME

COMPARED TO

ONLY 13 OR 14 TEAMS IN COLLEGE BASEBALL PER YEAR

COLLEGE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE

ADDITIONAL COSTSCOLLEGE BASEBALL PROPOSAL

FINANCIAL MATTERS - ADDITIONAL COSTSADDITIONAL EXPENSES:

THIS ADJUSTED SEASON PROMOTES A MORE REGIONAL SCHEDULE WHICH OFFERS MANY ACADEMIC AND STUDENT ATHLETE WELFARE BENEFITS, BUT ALSO INCLUDES STANDARD OPERATING COSTS FOR EACH ADDITIONAL HOME GAME.

THE BUDGET ANALYSIS ON THE RIGHT REFLECTS AN AVERAGE OF 8-12 ADDITIONAL HOME GAMES PER YEAR, WHICH INCREASES THE COST OF PRE AND POST GAME MEALS, UMPIRES, AND BASEBALLS.

THESE ADDITIONAL HOME GAMES ARE NON-CONFERENCE GAMES AND WILL OCCUR IN LATE MARCH AND APRIL.

THE ADJUSTED SEASON ALSO KEEPS OUR STUDENT ATHLETES ON CAMPUS FOR (4) ADDITIONAL WEEKS AFTER FINAL EXAMS HAVE CONCLUDED. INCLUDED IN OUR CURRENT BUDGET ARE ALLOWANCES FOR FRESHMAN-ONLY DORM RESIDENCE AND PER DIEM FOR ALL 35 PLAYERS.

ALL SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS AND SENIORS HAVE YEAR-ROUND 12 MONTH LEASES ON THEIR OFF-CAMPUS RESIDENCE. THEY WOULD INCUR NO ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING.

*NET POSITIVE $60,000 - $75,000 FINANCIAL GAIN COMPARING TRAVEL SAVINGS TO COSTS.

(REVENUE GENERATED FROM INCREASED “ACTUAL” ATTENDANCE NOT INCLUDED.)

SUMM

ARY O

F RAT

IONA

LE

FAQ’SCOLLEGE BASEBALL PROPOSAL

HOT TOPICS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSTELEVISION: THE PROPOSED CALENDAR CREATES UNPRECEDENTED ESPN, CONFERENCE NETWORK AND MEDIA COVERAGE POSSIBILITIES DUE TO THE REDUCTION OF COMPETING SPORTS DURING OUR PROPOSED CALENDAR. THE CURRENT MODEL HAS SIGNIFICANT OVERLAP WITH NCAA BASKETBALL’S REGULAR SEASON, MARCH MADNESS, COLLEGE AND PRO HOCKEY EARLY IN THE BASEBALL SEASON. THOSE CONFLICTS ARE LESSENED UNDER THE NEW MODEL. ADDITIONALLY, THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES TRANSITIONS TO A DATE WHERE ESPN PROGRAMMING IS LESS CONGESTED. THIS MARQUEE WINDOW IN MID TO LATE JULY SHOWCASES OUR SPORT IN OMAHA AFTER THE MLB ALL-STAR GAME AND BEFORE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES REGIONAL COVERAGE BEGINS.

RECRUITING CALENDAR: NO CHANGE TO THE CURRENT RECRUITING CALENDAR AT THIS TIME. IN 2022, UNDER THE NEW MODEL, ONLY 16 SUPER REGIONAL TEAMS WILL REMAIN AFTER JULY 4TH. THE JULY 4TH WEEKEND IS A CURRENT DEAD PERIOD UNDER RECENT RECRUITING CALENDAR LEGISLATION. ONLY THE 8 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES TEAMS WILL REMAIN AFTER JULY 11TH. MOST COACHES WILL SEE MINIMAL SUMMER RECRUITING IMPACT BY MOVING THE SEASON BACK 4 WEEKS. IN ADDITION, THE 4 DISCRETIONARY WEEKS IN THE FALL COULD BE VALUABLE RECRUITING TIME THAT DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH PLAYER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES OF CURRENT STUDENT ATHLETES.

SUMMER BASEBALL: (A.) HISTORICALLY, SUMMER BASEBALL HAS PROVEN TO BE A VALUABLE PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AND SCOUTING TOOL, ESPECIALLY IN PREMIER LEAGUES LIKE THE CAPE COD LEAGUE. ADJUSTING THE COLLEGE BASEBALL SEASON BY 4 WEEKS DOES NOT CANCEL SUMMER BASEBALL. 235 D1 TEAMS WILL HAVE THEIR SEASONS COMPLETE THE LAST WEEKEND IN JUNE AND THE BEST PLAYERS FROM NON-D1 SCHOOLS, JUNIOR COLLEGE, AND ELITE HIGH SCHOOL PROSPECTS COULD BE AVAILABLE EARLIER IN THE SUMMER. (B.) THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS HAS CREATED THE NEED FOR THE GAME OF COLLEGE BASEBALL TO SELF-AUDIT AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. ALMOST ALL SCHOOLS OPERATE AT A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL NET LOSS BECAUSE WE START OUR SEASON IN FEBRUARY. THE ATTENDANCE DATA AND INFLATED TRAVEL BUDGETS PROVE THAT. COLLEGE BASEBALL IS ALSO LOSING VALUABLE DEVELOPMENTAL TIME DURING ONE OF THE PEAK WEATHER MONTHS FOR OUR SPORT. OUR STUDENT ATHLETES SHOULD BE DEVELOPING ON OUR CAMPUSES IN JUNE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES MANY INSTITUTIONS HAVE INVESTED INTO OUR PROGRAMS. OUR FANS SHOULD BE WATCHING OUR STUDENT ATHLETES IN OUR STADIUMS, AND THOSE REVENUE DOLLARS SHOULD GO TO OUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS. WE NEED TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE LONG TERM HEALTH AND GROWTH OF COLLEGE BASEBALL.

SUMMER CAMPS: EVEN WITH THE 4 WEEK ADJUSTMENT, SUMMER CAMPS SHOULD STILL OPERATE AS A GOOD RECRUITING TOOL AND AS A FINANCIAL RESOURCE FOR COACHES. SOME DATES THAT HAVE BEEN UTILIZED IN THE PAST MAY NEED TO BE MOVED. FALL CAMPS DURING THE DISCRETIONARY WEEKS COULD BE VALUABLE AS WELL.

SUMMER SCHOOL: SUMMER SCHOOL CLASS(ES) WILL BE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTIONS AND STUDENT ATHLETES.

FAQ’S CONTINUED…32 SITE REGIONAL: NO LEGISLATION IS ATTACHED TO THIS PROPOSAL TO EXPAND THE POST SEASON FORMAT AT THIS TIME.

FALL EXHIBITION GAMES: THE FALL BASEBALL CALENDAR IS DISCUSSED ON PAGES 13 AND 14. EXHIBITION GAMES HAVE PROVEN TO BE EXTREMELY VALUABLE IN EVALUATING THE STRENGTHS AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS, AND THE TEAM. THE MOST USEFUL TIME FOR AN EXHIBITION GAME(S) IS THE WEEKEND BEFORE OPENING DAY, SIMILAR TO MANY OTHER COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS. COLLEGE BASEBALL IS CURRENTLY ALLOCATED (2) EXHIBITION GAMES WHICH HAVE ONLY BEEN PERMISSIBLE DURING THE FALL PRACTICE SEASON. UNDER THE NEW MODEL, EXHIBITION GAMES WOULD FIT BEST THE WEEKEND BEFORE OPENING DAY AGAINST REGIONAL OPPONENTS.

RULE 4 MLB DRAFT: THE EARLY JUNE DATE OF THE FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT HAS LONG BEEN A POINT OF CONTENTION, SHIFTING CELEBRATORY MOMENTS INTO PERCEIVED DISTRACTIONS AS COLLEGE BASEBALL TEAMS ADVANCE INTO THE POST SEASON. MLB, IN AN EFFORT TO DECREASE EXPENSES, IS MOVING TO ELIMINATE THEIR SHORT-SEASON CLASS A AFFILIATE LEAGUES, WHICH OFTEN SERVE AS A LANDING SPOT FOR MANY RECENTLY DRAFTED COLLEGE PLAYERS IN JUNE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE NEED FOR AN EARLY JUNE DRAFT WILL NO LONGER EXIST (THE 2020 MLB DRAFT IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 10-12, WHICH WOULD HAVE ONLY IMPACTED THE 8 TEAMS WHO ADVANCED TO THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES.) UNDER THE NEW MODEL, A DRAFT PRIOR TO THE CWS WOULD ALIGN WITH MLB’S DESIRE FOR A LATER DRAFT IN THE SUMMER. THE DRAFT IS ALSO CONDENSING AS A RESULT (5 ROUNDS IN 2020) AND LIKELY 20 ROUNDS IN 2021. OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, THAT DRAFT HAS CONTINUALLY REDUCED ITSELF FROM UNLIMITED ROUNDS IN THE 1990’S TO 50 ROUNDS IN THE 2000’S TO 40 ROUNDS IN THE LAST DECADE. AS THE DRAFT CONTINUES TO BECOME MORE EXCLUSIVE, COLLEGE BASEBALL HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW.

MLB SCHOLARSHIP PLAN: WITH MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CONTRACTING AND THE MLB DRAFT BEING SHORTENED, THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP A PARTNERSHIP WITH PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL IS BETTER THAN EVER. COLLEGE BASEBALL SERVES AS A VALUABLE FARM SYSTEM FOR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AS ALMOST HALF OF THE 25 MAN ROSTERS ACROSS ALL 30 MLB TEAMS CURRENTLY INCLUDE 4 YEAR COLLEGE PLAYERS. COLLEGE BASEBALL WILL HAVE MORE JUNIORS RETAINED FOR THEIR SENIOR YEAR AS MLB ADJUSTS THEIR BUSINESS MODEL. WITH LESS JUNIORS NEEDING TO UTILIZE THE MLB COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PLAN TO FINISH THEIR DEGREE, DISCUSSIONS OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SUBSIDIZING COLLEGE BASEBALL’S 11.7 SCHOLARSHIPS CAN ACTUALLY GAIN TRACTION, ESPECIALLY IF THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE FOR NEED-BASED FAMILIES.

DIVERSITY / LOW INCOME FAMILIES: PARTICIPATION IN BASEBALL FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND MINORITY PLAYERS IN THE UNITED STATES, SPECIFICALLY THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO DECREASE ANNUALLY DUE TO THE HIGH COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH EARLY SPECIALIZATION, EQUIPMENT, AND LACK OF AFFORDABLE SCHOLARSHIPS AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL. 6% OF COLLEGE BASEBALL PLAYERS WERE AFRICAN AMERICAN IN 2019, 2018 AND 2017. AS A SPORT, BASEBALL NEEDS TO ATTRACT THE BEST ATHLETES AND NOT PRICE THEM OUT OF OUR GAME AT AN EARLY AGE STRICTLY BECAUSE OF COST. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SUBSIDIZING COLLEGE BASEBALL SCHOLARSHIPS WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT DRIVER TOWARDS PARTICIPATION OF THIS DEMOGRAPHIC WHILE PROVIDING COLLEGE COACHES WITH MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THEIR EQUIVALENCIES.