The NCAA News

. .
2 THE NCAA NEWS/March 11,1992
Baseball teams keep signing rights
for players who enroll in college
Major League Baseball owners
have approved changes in the ama-
teur draft and signing rules in an
attempt to encourage qualified stu
dent-athletes to pursue a collcgc
education while not penalizing the
clubs that draft such players.
“The history of this goes back to
(late Commissioner) Rart Giamatti,
who, when he came to baseball,
became very concerned about Major
League Baseball basically trying to
talk kids out of going to college,”
current Commissioner Fay Vincent
told United Press International. “We
had long discussions on the subject.
It was a very important subject to
Bart.”
The rule changes will allow clubs
to retain signing rights to drafted
high-school players who decide to
attend college. Currently, clubs for-
feit those rights once a player has
enrolled in school.
Starting with this June’s draft,
any club drafting a previously un
drafted player or a high-school sen
ior who decides to pursue a college
66 . . . we are trying very hard to begin to
eliminate some of the pressure between
baseball interests who want kids signed and
the college interests. . _ ?
education will retain rights to that
player throughout his college career
and one year beyond.
“We have finally reached the point
whcrc WC are trying very hard to
begin to eliminate some of the prcs-
sure between the baseball interests
who want kids signed and the college
interests who want kids to go to
college,” Vincent said. “WC think by
permitting a club to retain the inter
est in the youngster, it takes some of
that pressure off. The club will have
less incentive to be as agitated if the
young man goes to college.”
In another change, players leaving
school early will not he allowed to
I,egislative Assistance
1992 Column No. 11
Division III playing
’ Fay Vincent, commissioner
- -. Major League Baseball
sign pro contracts until after the
conclusion of their scholastic year.
The rule changes will be effective
for all players who are 1992 high-
school graduates and those who
wcrc not previously selected.
“WC hope over the next three to
five years, the entire relationship
between Major League Baseball,
college baseball and the NCAA is
somewhat reconfigured,” Steve
Greenberg, deputy commissioner,
said. “This rule change is a first step
that will permit us to pursue top
studcnttathletcs somewhat less agres-
sively if they have the opportunity
to go on to college.”
News Fact File
A total of 60 institutions won
NCAA team championships in
1990-91, and 12 of them won more
than one. Louisiana State University
and the University of California,
Los Angeles, won three each;
winners of two team titles were the
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville;
University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill; University of Tennessee,
Knoxville; University of Texas at
Austin; California Polytechnic State
University, San Luis Obispo; North
Dakota State University; State Uni-
versity College at Cortland; Kenyon
C’ollege; Trenton State College, and
the University of Wisconsin, Osh-
kosh.
Westhead dropped from suit
Former Loyola Marymount Uni-
versity men’s basketball coach Paul
Wcsthead has been dropped from
all legal action stemming from the
death of Hank Gathers, who died
after collapsing during a game in
1990.
Westhead, who earlier had been
dropped from a wrongful-death suit
filed on behalf of Gathers’ g-year-
old son, now has been dismissed
from a similar suit brought by Gath-
ers’ mother, brothers and aunt.
Westhead left the university
shortly after Gathers’ death and
now coaches the NBA’s Denver
Nuggets. He maintained he was not
at fault in his player’s death.
Following a settlement confer-
ence, the university-the principal
remaining defendant in the suits-
agreed to pay Gathers’son $850,000,
according to The Associated Press.
The son, Aaron Crump, earlier re-
ceived $650,000 in a settlement from
Gathers’ cardiologist, Vernon Hat-
tori.
Another settlement conference is
scheduled for March 30 involving
the university and other family
members, and a trial is scheduled in
April.
two distinct segments per Bylaw 17.1.2 and conducts its 1 of the academic year involved. (Note: The following chart
nontraditional segment in the fall must complete all practice represents the Division Ill playing and practice seasons
and practice seasons and competition by October 30 of the academic year legislation that is effective August I, 1992, for fall and winter
Division Ill institutions should note that with the adoption involved; conversely, a member institution that conducts its sports. Charts for spring sports and National Collegiate
of 1992 NCAA Convention Proposal No. 95, a member traditional segment in the fall may not begin practice or Championships will be published in the March IX issue of
institution that divides its practice and playing season into competition during its nontraditional segment until February The NCAA News.)
Length of practice 21 weeks
and playing season
Start of practice and playing season Traditional segment-August
24 or first day of classes.
Nontraditional segment-
September 1 or first day of
classes’
DIVISION Ill PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS-FALL SPORTS
(Effective August 1,1992)
CROSS COUNTRY FIELD HOCKEY FOOTBALL SOCCER WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
21 weeks 21 weeks
Traditional segment-August Practice Date that permits 27
24 or first day of classes. “practice opportunities” be-
Nontraditional segment- fore first contest
September 1 or first day of Competition: Friday or Satur-
classes.’ day 11 weeks before the first
round of NCAA Division III
Football Chamoionship
21 weeks 21 weeks
Traditronal segment-August Practice: Traditional segment-
24 or first day of classes. August 24 or first day of
Nontraditional segment- classes.
September 1 or first day of Nontraditional segment-Feb-
classes.* ruar-y 1.
Competition: Traditional seg-
ment-September 1 or preced-
ing Friday if September 1 falls
on Saturday or Sunday.
Nontraditional segment-feb-
ruarv 1
Split segments Permissible Permissible Not permissible Permissible Permissible
End of playing and practice season Traditional segment-NCAA Traditional segement- Within the 21-week tradi- Traditional segment-NCAA Tradttional segment-NCAA
Division III Cross Country NCAA Division III Field Hoc- tional segment except for Di- Division III Soccer Cham- Division III Volleyball Cham-
Championships. key Championship. vision III Football pionship. pionship.
Nontraditronal segment- Nontradrtronal segment- Championship. Nontraditional segment- Nontraditional segment-Last
Last date of exams for the Last date of exams for the Last date of exams for the date of exams for the regular
regular academic year.’ regular academic year.’ regular academic year.* academic year.
Maximum number of contests or 8 dates of competition.
dates of competition.
20 contests (traditional seg- 10 contests. 20 contests (includes maxi- 22 dates of competition.
ment) 5 dates of competrtron mum of three scrimmages/
(nontraditional segment). exhibitions).
*If the institution conducts a nontraditional segment In the fall, all practice and competitron must be completed by October 30; if the institution conducts a traditional segment in the fall, practice or
competition may not begin during the nontraditional segment prior to February 1.
(Note. All countable athletically related activities shall be prohibited during one calendar day per week int he sports of football and basketball and during the traditional segment in all other sports.)
Length of practice and playing
season
Start of practice and playing
season
DIVISION Ill PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS-WINTER SPORTS
(Effective August 1,1992)
INDOOR
BASKETBALL ICE HOCKEY SWIMMING TRACK AND FIELD WRESTLING
21 weeks 21 weeks
Practice. Practice:
Conditioning-October 1. Traditional segment-August
On-court-November 1. 24 or first day of classes.
Competition. Nontraditional segment-
Friday preceding Thanksgiv- September 1 or first day of
ing. classes.’
Competition. October 15.’
21 weeks 26 weeks
(indoor/outdoor combined)
21 weeks
Traditional segment-August Traditional segment-August Traditional segment-August
24 or first day of classes. 24 or first day of classes. 24 or first day of classes.
Nontraditional segment- Nontraditional segment- Nontraditional segment-
September 1 or first day of September 1 or first day of September 1 or first day of
classes.’ classes.’ classes.’
,Split segments Not permissible Permissible Permissible Permissible Permissible
End of playing and practice
season
NCAA Division III Basketball Traditional segment-NCAA Traditional segment-NCAA Traditional segment-NCAA Traditional segment-NCAA
Championship. Division III Ice Hockey Drvrsion III Swimming Cham- Division III Track and Field Division III Wrestling Cham-
Championship. pionships. Championships. pionships.
Nontraditional segment- Nontraditional segment- Nontraditional segment- Nontraditional segment-Last
Last date of exams for regu- Last date of exams for regu- Last date of exams for regu date of exams for regular aca-
lar academic year.’ lar academic year.’ lar academic year.’ demic year.’
Maximum number of contests or 25 contests 25 contests 16 dates of competition 18 dates of competition (in- 16 dates of competition.
dates of competition door/outdoor combined)
‘If the institution conducts a nontraditional segment in the fall, all practice and competition must be completed by October 30; if the institution conducts a traditional segment in the fall, practice or
competition may not begin during the nontradrtional segment prior to February 1.
(Note: All countable athletically related activities shall be prohibited during one calendar day per week int he sports of football and basketball and during the traditional segment in all other sports.)