LSDBi
Division I Proposal - 2026-29
PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS -- CROSS COUNTRY, FIELD HOCKEY, SOCCER, SOFTBALL AND VOLLEYBALL -- NONCHAMPIONSHIP SEGMENT TRAVEL -- ELIMINATE GROUND TRANSPORTATION RESTRICTION
Status: Adopted Final
Intent: In cross country, field hockey, soccer, softball and volleyball, to eliminate the restriction to ground transportation for travel to competition in the nonchampionship segment.
A. Bylaws: Amend 17.8, as follows:
17.8 Cross Country. Regulations for computing the cross country playing season are set forth in Bylaw 17.1. (See Figure 17-1 and Figure 17-2.)
[17.8.1 through 17.8.4 unchanged.]
17.8.5 Number of Dates of Competition.
17.8.5.1 Maximum Limitations -- Institutional. An institution shall limit its total playing schedule with outside competition in cross country during the institution's cross country playing season to seven dates of competition (games and scrimmages), except for those dates of competition excluded under Bylaws 17.8.5.3 and 17.8.5.4 (see Bylaw 20.9.6.3 for minimum contests and participants requirements).
17.8.5.1.1 Exception -- Cross Country Without Indoor or Outdoor Track and Field. An institution that sponsors men's or women's cross country but does not sponsor indoor or outdoor track and field shall limit its total playing schedule with outside competition during the cross country playing season to seven dates of competition during the segment in which the NCAA championship is conducted and five dates of competition during another segment. Travel to competition in the nonchampionship segment shall be restricted to ground transportation, unless there are no Division I institutions that sponsor the sport located within 400 miles of the institution.
17.8.5.1.1.1 Exception -- Isolated Institution. If there are fewer than five other Division I institutions that sponsor cross country (without indoor or outdoor track and field) located within 400 miles of the institution, the institution may use any form of transportation to travel to the number of nonchampionship segment competitions that represents the difference between the number of other institutions and five.
17.8.5.1.1.2 Hawaii or Alaska Exception -- Nonchampionship Segment Travel. Once every four years, an institution may use any form of transportation for travel to Hawaii or Alaska for nonchampionship segment competition against an active member institution located in Hawaii or Alaska.
[17.8.5.1.2 unchanged.]
[17.8.5.2 through 17.8.5.4 unchanged.]
[17.8.6 through 17.8.8 unchanged.]
B. Bylaws: Amend 17.12, as follows:
17.12 Field Hockey. Regulations for computing the field hockey playing season are set forth in Bylaw 17.1. (See Figure 17-1 and Figure 17-2.)
[17.12.1 through 17.12.4 unchanged.]
17.12.5 Number of Contests and Dates of Competition.
17.12.5.1 Maximum Limitations -- Institutional. A member institution shall limit its total playing schedule with outside competition during the institution's field hockey playing season in any one year to 20 contests during the segment in which the NCAA championship is conducted and five dates of competition during the nonchampionship segment, except for those contests or dates of competition excluded under Bylaws 17.12.5.3 and 17.12.5.4. Travel to competition in the nonchampionship segment shall be restricted to ground transportation, unless there are no Division I institutions that sponsor the sport located within 400 miles of the institution.
17.12.5.1.1 Exception -- Isolated Institution. If there are fewer than five other Division I institutions that sponsor field hockey located within 400 miles of the institution, the institution may use any form of transportation to travel to the number of nonchampionship segment competitions that represents the difference between the number of other institutions and five.
17.12.5.1.2 Hawaii or Alaska Exception -- Nonchampionship Segment Travel. Once every four years, an institution may use any form of transportation for travel to Hawaii or Alaska for nonchampionship competition against an active member institution located in Hawaii or Alaska.
[17.12.5.1.3 renumbered as 17.12.5.1.1, unchanged.]
[17.12.5.2 through 17.12.5.4 unchanged.]
[17.12.6 through 17.12.8 unchanged.]
C. Bylaws: Amend 17.22, as follows:
17.22 Soccer. Regulations for computing the soccer playing season are set forth in Bylaw 17.1. (See Figure 17-1 and Figure 17-2.)
[17.22.1 through 17.22.7 unchanged.]
17.22.8 Number of Contests and Dates of Competition.
17.22.8.1 Maximum Limitations -- Institutional. A member institution shall limit its total playing schedule with outside competition in soccer during the institution's soccer playing season in any one year to 20 contests during the segment in which the NCAA championship is conducted and five dates of competition during another segment, except for those contests and/or dates of competition excluded under Bylaws 17.22.8.3 and 17.22.8.4. Travel to competition in the nonchampionship segment shall be restricted to ground transportation, unless there are no Division I institutions that sponsor the sport located within 400 miles of the institution.
17.22.8.1.1 Exception -- Isolated Institution. If there are fewer than five other Division I institutions that sponsor soccer (for the applicable gender) located within 400 miles of the institution, the institution may use any form of transportation to travel to the number of nonchampionship segment competitions that represents the difference between the number of other institutions and five.
17.22.8.1.2 Hawaii or Alaska Exception -- Nonchampionship Segment Travel. Once every four years, an institution may use any form of transportation for travel to Hawaii or Alaska for nonchampionship segment competition against an active member institution located in Hawaii or Alaska.
[17.22.8.1.3 renumbered as 17.22.8.1.1, unchanged.]
[17.22.8.2 through 17.22.8.4 unchanged.]
[17.22.9 through 17.22.11 unchanged.]
D. Bylaws: Amend 17.23, as follows:
17.23 Softball. Regulations for computing the softball playing season are set forth in Bylaw 17.1. (See Figure 17-1 and Figure 17-2.)
[17.23.1 through 17.23.4 unchanged.]
17.23.5 Number of Contests.
17.23.5.1 Maximum Limitations -- Institutional. A member institution shall limit its total playing schedule with outside competition in softball during the institution's softball playing season to 56 contests (games and scrimmages) during the segment in which the NCAA championship is conducted and eight contests (games and scrimmages) during the nonchampionship segment, except for those contests excluded under Bylaws 17.23.5.3 and 17.23.5.4. Travel to competition in the nonchampionship segment shall be restricted to ground transportation, unless there are no Division I institutions that sponsor the sport located within 400 miles of the institution.
17.23.5.1.1 Exception -- Isolated Institution. If there are fewer than eight other Division I institutions that sponsor softball located within 400 miles of the institution, the institution may use any form of transportation to travel to the number of nonchampionship segment competitions that represents the difference between the number of other institutions and eight.
17.23.5.1.2 Hawaii or Alaska Exception -- Nonchampionship Segment Travel. Once every four years, an institution may use any form of transportation for travel to Hawaii or Alaska for nonchampionship segment competition against an active member institution located in Hawaii or Alaska.
[17.23.5.1.3 through 17.23.5.1.4 renumbered as 17.23.5.1.1 through 17.23.5.1.2, unchanged.]
[17.23.5.2 through 17.23.5.4 unchanged.]
[17.23.6 through 17.23.8 unchanged.]
E. Bylaws: Amend 17.29, as follows:
17.29 Volleyball. Regulations for computing the volleyball playing season are set forth in Bylaw 17.1. (See Figure 17-1 and Figure 17-2.)
[17.29.1 through 17.29.6 unchanged.]
17.29.7 Number of Contests and Dates of Competition -- Women.
17.29.7.1 Maximum Limitations -- Institutional. A member institution shall limit its total playing schedule with outside competition in women's volleyball during the playing season to 32 contests during the segment in which the NCAA championship is conducted and four dates of competition during another segment, except for those contests or dates of competition excluded under Bylaws 17.29.9 and 17.29.10. Travel to competition in the nonchampionship segment shall be restricted to ground transportation, unless there are no Division I institutions that sponsor the sport located within 400 miles of the institution.
17.29.7.1.1 Exception -- Isolated Institution. If there are fewer that four other Division I institutions that sponsor women's volleyball located within 400 miles of the institution, the institution may use any form of transportation to travel to the number of nonchampionship segment competitions that represents the difference between the number of other institutions and four.
17.29.7.1.2 Hawaii or Alaska Exception -- Nonchampionship Segment Travel. Once every four years, an institution may use any form of transportation for travel to Hawaii or Alaska for nonchampionship segment competition against an active member institution located in Hawaii or Alaska.
[17.29.7.1.3 renumbered as 17.29.7.1.1, unchanged.]
[17.29.7.2 unchanged.]
17.29.8 Number of Dates of Competition -- Men.
17.29.8.1 Maximum Limitations -- Institutional. A member institution shall limit its total playing schedule with outside competition in men's volleyball during the playing season to not more than 28 dates of competition during the segment in which the NCAA championship is conducted and not more than four dates of competition during another segment, except for those dates of competition excluded under Bylaws 17.29.9 and 17.29.10. Travel to competition in the nonchampionship segment shall be restricted to ground transportation, unless there are no Division I institutions that sponsor the sport located within 400 miles of the institution.
17.29.8.1.1 Exception -- Isolated Institution. If there are fewer that four other Division I institutions that sponsor men's volleyball located within 400 miles of the institution, the institution may use any form of transportation to travel to the number of nonchampionship segment competitions that represents the difference between the number of other institutions and four.
17.29.8.1.2 Hawaii or Alaska Exception -- Nonchampionship Segment Travel. Once every four years, an institution may use any form of transportation for travel to Hawaii or Alaska for nonchampionship segment competition against an active member institution located in Hawaii or Alaska.
[17.29.8.1.3 renumbered as 17.29.8.1.1, unchanged.]
[17.29.8.2 unchanged.]
[17.29.9 through 17.29.13 unchanged.]
Source: NCAA Division I Field Hockey Oversight Committee, Men's Soccer Oversight Committee, Women's Soccer Oversight Committee and Women's Volleyball Oversight Committee
Effective Date:August 1, 2026
Proposal Category: Amendment
Topical Area: Playing and Practice Seasons
Rationale: Institutions are best positioned to make decisions surrounding competition-related transportation during both the championship and nonchampionship segments. Local autonomy will allow institutions to make decisions to promote the well-being of student-athletes and promote additional flexibility during the nonchampionship segment. Further, this proposal would not amend the prohibition on missed class time for nonchampionship segment competition.
Division I Commitment addressed by proposal: The Commitment to Student-Athlete Well-Being.
Is the proposal consequential or nationally significant?: Yes. Deregulation is nationally significant.
Is the proposal enforceable and how do the merits outweigh monitoring burdens?: This proposal would eliminate a monitoring burden.
How does the proposal support student-athlete success/well-being?: This proposal would allow institutions to make local decisions regarding what mode of transportation would best support the success and well-being of student-athletes across both the championship and nonchampionship segment.
Estimated Budget Impact: Dependent on institutional decision-making.
Impact on Student-Athlete's Time (Academic and/or Athletics): Dependent on institutional decision-making.
History
| Mar 31, 2026: | In Progress | |
| Apr 15, 2026: | In Progress | The Cabinet amended the proposal to include field hockey, soccer, softball and men’s volleyball. |
| Apr 23, 2026: | In Progress | Adopted for field hockey by the Division I Field Hockey Oversight Committee and for women's soccer by the Division I Women's Soccer Oversight Committee. Pending review by the Division I Cabinet. |
| May 6, 2026: | In Progress | Adopted for men's soccer by the Division I Men's Soccer Oversight Committee and for softball by the Division I Softball Oversight Committee. Pending review by the Division I Cabinet. |
| May 7, 2026: | In Progress | Adopted for women's volleyball by the Division I Women's Volleyball Oversight Committee. Pending review by the Division I Cabinet. |
| Jun 24, 2026: | In Progress | The cabinet amended the proposal to extend to cross country programs that do not sponsor indoor or outdoor track. |
| Jun 24, 2026: | Adopted Final | Adopted by the Cabinet as amended. |
Legislative References