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The 69th Annual NAIA National Convention kicked off April 8, at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The annual event serves as the nearly 300 member college sports organization's most important gathering. The five-day event is an opportunity for NAIA members, councils and committees to discuss new legislation, honor award recipients and plan for the future.
National Administrative Council
The National Administrative Council (NAC) reviewed and approved new policies in relation to championship competition, rules and ratings, awards and statistics and experience and enhancement.
The NAC mandated that all teams participating in national championships will be required to attend opening round celebration activities. The rules and ratings committee recommended the use of the modified RPI system that includes a 30% ratings component to select the at-large teams and seed the national tournament field for both men's and women's soccer.
The NAC approved the recommendation that final ratings will be conducted after all NAIA conference and A.I.I. tournaments have concluded, followed by the selection and seeding for national championship events (with the exception of soccer).
The rules and ratings committee also approved the proposal from the NAIA-BCA ratings committee that the Iterative Strength Ratings be used as a ratings criteria component.
The awards and statistics committee approved a plan for Player of the Week honors for individual sports. There will be no ties allowed at the national level for Player and Coach of the Year awards. The awards and statistics committee also voted in favor that USCAA postseason games will not count against contest limits in the NAIA.
The NAC championships committee approved competitive cheer and dance will have the opportunity to host a national invitational event beginning in 2011.
NAIA staff contact: Lori Thomas
The Eligibility Center Preview
John Leavens, NAIA Senior Vice President, hosted one of two Eligibility Center Previews on Friday afternoon. The NAIA Eligibility Center offers a connection to the very personal environment of NAIA small-college learning, with its full array of college sports and athletics scholarships. The NAIA Eligibility Center website - www.PlayNAIA.org - is live and will begin registering student-athletes in September. Click here for more information. Following the Preview the Committee on Competitive Experience met to discuss the following key issues:
- Access of the "connections" service by students already being recruited by NAIA coaches.- Responsibilities of a faculty athletics representative in relation to the NAIA Eligibility Center.
- Actions that will be taken to minimize the potential backlog of requests for certification.
- Communication of Eligibility Center decisions to campus FARs at the time decisions are made.
NAIA staff contact: John Leavens
Throughout the day convention attendees had the opportunity to attend a variety of workshops including...social media, fundraising and character training.
Attendees gathered at the end of the day at receptions hosted by the NAIA, Worth and OAI.
Agenda highlights for Saturday, April 10
Registration opens at 7 a.m.
Athletics Directors Association Business Meeting NAIA Luncheon with Keynote Speaker Bruce BrownNAIA Exhibit Hall opens
State of the Association
Reception at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
(Hosted by the American Mideast Conference and the Cincinnati Visitors Bureau)
...for the complete schedule and meeting times click here... |
