Should the NCAA Combine the Division I Championships? Download March Issue Now For FREE!

PHOENIX, Arizona, March 3. THE latest Voice for the Sport weighs the pros and cons of a combined men's and women's Division I NCAA swimming and diving. This article is found in the March issue of Swimming World Magazine, but is also re-printed below.

The concept of combining the men's and women's NCAA Division I Championships has often been a conversation for debate with those for and against the idea chiming in on the pool deck with their views on why it should or shouldn't happen. However, it's really just been a conversation in the past. This past year, the conversation has moved beyond just that into an actual plan of action.

With Division II and Division III now being combined, there is a realistic push to make this happen at the Division I level now. The new movement began during a meeting between the College Swimming Coaches Association of America and then-NCAA Executive Director Myles Brand. The conversation led to various meetings to create a proposal from the NCAA to be presented to the CSCAA membership this month during both the men's and women's Division I Championships.

In a letter posted by ASCA Executive Director John Leonard to his organization's membership, he fully endorsed the idea. He cited five main reasons why he supports the idea:

1. If the CSCAA can work out a combined championship structure, "an NCAA official has pledged to work for and support an increase in the number of swimmers" at the meet.

2. One part of a combined proposal is the addition of all conference champions that meet the NCAA "B" cut.

3. A combined NCAA Division I championship would "become the most exciting meet in the nation every year, with exception of the U.S. Olympic Trials."

4. The combined championship would also draw much larger overall crowds than those drawn by each meet individually.

5. A combined meet would allow for a much more cohesive team experience for each program.

Swimming World has heard talk about a combined meet for quite some time. The most substantive conversations have been since the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, which proved to be a breakthrough meet in terms of excitement and financial success, and laid the groundwork for what the NCAA might want to see from the Division I meet.

The primary concern we have heard about a combined meet during these talks is the loss of head coaching opportunities for women. The train of thought is that a merged championship would eventually lead to merged programs, which would lead to a lot less head coaching opportunities—albeit for both men and women. Dorsey Tierney-Walker and Courtney Shealy Hart being hired as the head coach of merged programs at Arizona State and Georgia Tech, respectively, has countered that argument to a point.

The NCAA requested input from the CSCAA on the structure of a championship meet. It happened in the 1980s when the NCAA implemented a cap on the number of swimmers. At the time, the NCAA requested that the CSCAA put forth a proposal on the issue, but the CSCAA decided against doing so. That left the NCAA to impose its own limit without any consensus advisement.

Swimming World doesn't endorse either a merged or separate championship. We will provide it with the best coverage no matter what. What we do endorse is making sure that your voice is heard within the CSCAA structure when this proposal is put forth at this year's championships so that there is a consensus within the membership.

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March 2010 Issue
Contents of The March issue:

8 GEORGIA GETS NOD AS NO. 1 by Jason Marsteller
Should Georgia win the women's NCAA Division I Championships, it will move the Southeastern Conference back into a tie with the Pac-10 for the most national titles with 11.

12 TEXAS TARGETS 10th TITLE by John Lohn
After finishing runner-up at the men's NCAA Division I Championships the last two seasons, 2010 looks to be the year that Coach Eddie Reese's Longhorns will win their 10th team title.

16 THE TOP 5 MOST AMAZING WOMEN'S COLLEGIATE PERFORMANCES IN THE LAST DECADE by Jeff Commings
The first 10 years of the 21st century—2000-09—saw some swims at the women's NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships that will likely be remembered in the 22nd century.

19 HOLIDAY CUP: PAST AND PRESENT by Eric Velazquez
The Holiday Cup, from its chaotic beginnings, has grown into one of the most exciting and competitive women's water polo tournaments in the world.

DEPARTMENTS:
6 A VOICE for the SPORT
37 CAMP DIRECTORY
48 FOR THE RECORD
51 CALENDAR
54 PARTING SHOT

In the Swimming Technique portion of the magazine you will find the following:
28 Q&A WITH COACH DAN ROSS, PURDUE UNIVERSITY by Michael J. Stott
30 HOW THEY TRAIN: Giordan Pogioli and Scott Usher by Michael J. Stott

In the SWIM portion of the magazine you will find the following:

23 THE POOL'S EDGE: Monkey Chatter! by Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen
If you're looking for a new way to achieve optimum performance, you might add something old to your program: yoga.
24 LANE LEADERS: Jack Groselle by Emily Sampl
26 WORKOUT CARD: Training with YMCA Indy SwimFit by Mel Goldstein

In the Junior Swimmer portion of the magazine you will find the following:
32 A STRONG FIRST HALF by Sarah Eckersley
Although the high school swimming season is only halfway over, three national records highlighted the fall high school state championships.
34 AMERICAN RELAY by Judy Jacob

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