The Division III Management Council approved a proposal to allow schools and conferences to have flexibility in conducting and/or continuing fall sports practices and competition into the spring. The action is effective immediately, pending a request for expedited ratification by the Presidents Council. The Management Council met by videoconference Sunday through Tuesday.

The Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee recommended the proposal, which waives current bylaw parameters and allows schools to define the playing season by a certain number of days instead of weeks, and those days do not have to occur in consecutive weeks. The measure applies to all sports and eliminates the distinction between traditional and nontraditional segments. Basketball, ice hockey and wrestling will be able to start practice Oct. 1 but maintain the existing competition start dates.

"As Division III institutions and conferences continue to contemplate what it will take to safely resume intercollegiate athletics, one consistency amidst a lot of uncertainty is that flexibility will be imperative," said Heather Benning, chair of the Management Council and executive director of the Midwest Conference. "These are unprecedented times, and they are challenging us to think 'out of the box' and encouraging us to think about how our business can be conducted in ways we haven't historically done."

With several Division III member schools and conferences announcing they will not compete during the fall semester, this action allows them to keep student-athletes engaged throughout the academic year and be flexible if they need to suspend activities because of health and safety concerns.

"The recommendation to allow for more leniency in the application of the traditional playing weeks model should go a long way toward meeting member schools where they are it in terms of ability to safely allow for the start, pause and potential resumption of seasons," Benning said.

 The Management Council also recommended the NCAA Board of Governors cancel this year's Division III fall championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Council members committed to continue monitoring and assessing the evolving conditions and making recommendations in the best interest of Division III student-athletes, coaches and staff.

The recommendation will go to the Board of Governors and Presidents Council. The Board has the authority to suspend NCAA championships. Its next scheduled meetings are July 24 and Aug. 4.

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