NCAA moves all Division 1 Fall sports to Spring (excluding FBS football)

The Division I Council approved moving all Division 1 sports to the spring. Now it will go the Board of Directors where it is assumed to pass and become the official plan. 

Division I-FBS football is exempt from this since the NCAA has no control of the postseason in that sport as the College Football Playoff and all the bowl games are independently run. 

Michigan has 6 other Fall sports programs: Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Field Hockey, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer and Volleyball.

Here is how things will work for those 6-

In team sports, the brackets will be filled at 75 percent of their normal capacities.

The oversight committee reviewed recommendations from sport committees and agreed to support maximum flexibility to allow teams to meet specified minimum contest requirements, which the committee already recommended reducing by 50 percent.

Contests conducted in the fall term for all fall sport championships that will be conducted in the spring will count toward selection into that respective championship. Sport committees are encouraged to consider all data available to them at the time of selections.

The oversight committee may need to revisit this topic if conditions warrant nearer the time the playing and practice seasons for these sports begin, but for now, the committee supports providing maximum flexibility for selection purposes.

The B1G has not yet made an announcement when the above sports will take place. We don't know yet if we'll see these Michigan teams competing in the Fall or not but regardless, the respective NCAA Championships for each sport WILL be played in the Spring in this scenario. 

That's hard for me to process. So are we going to be playing a regular season in the Fall, have a Winter and early Spring of no training, with no outside competition and then compete in the NCAA Tournament? Other conferences like the ACC and SEC have already began these Fall sports. The B1G has yet to make a move there.

To me at least it would be more beneficial if the B1G waited and had all of those sports compete in the Spring so that they wouldn't have a long break before getting back into action where your season is on the line.

There's just one problem with that. Take a look at the dates the NCAA has set. Keep in mind that 5 of these 6 sports are played outdoors.

Men's Cross Country: Season runs from Jan 30-Mar 6. NCAA Championships are Mar 15 with 255 runners. 

Women's Cross Country: Season runs from Jan 30-Mar 6. NCAA Championships are Mar 15 with 255 runners.

Field Hockey: Season runs from Feb 12-Apr 23 with NCAA Semifinals and National Championship taking place on May 7&9. 12 team tournament down from 16 teams. 

Men's Soccer: Season runs from Feb 3-Apr 24 with the NCAA College Cup on May 13-17. 36 team tournament down from the usual 48.

Women's Soccer: Season runs from Feb 3-Apr 24 with the NCAA College Cup on May 13-17. 48 team tournament down from 64.

Volleyball: Season runs from Jan 22-Apr 10 with the NCAA Final 4 taking place Apr 23&25. 48 team tournament down from 64. 

 

Cross Country outside in January? Field Hockey outdoors in February? 

B1G's hand might be forced for Cross Country at least to have to compete in the Fall. The other sports could possibly play indoors at the ITC (the old indoor track building) but there's no room for spectators there. Maybe even at Al Glick Field House?