FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY MODEL FOR COLLEGE BASEBALL GROWTH DIVISION 1 Adjust the college baseball model with Shift the regular season to a national start calendar changes that decrease expenses, new date beginning the 3rd Friday in March increase revenues, improve academic through the 3rd weekend in June. success and student athlete welfare. model FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY: Division 1 baseball operates at a significant COVID-19, NIL: The COVID-19 pandemic and resultant economic turmoil has financial net loss among almost all 299 teams. Games in February and early created a financial crisis for higher education. The landscape of college March eliminate regional competition for northern and Midwest programs due athletics has changed. Implementing modernized business models has never to cold weather. Travel budgets are inflated as a result. Schools hosting these been more important than today. In order for college baseball to survive, grow home series not only compete with colder weather, but college basketball and thrive in uncertain times, we must make these necessary adjustments. season and March Madness as well, reducing ticket sale and concession revenues from “actual” attendance. STUDENT WELFARE: College baseball players are at the greatest risk of injury ACADEMICS: The current schedule forces numerous days of missed class and due to improper ramp time under the current format. 3 weeks of official team unnecessary stress for many college baseball players. Adjusting the calendar practice and 2 weeks of reduced activity is allocated. Accelerated ramp time reduces academic conflicts in season and enhances academic focus in the Fall creates vulnerability to ligaments and muscles unable to adapt to the term. This proposal reduces the time commitment in the Fall, providing (4) increasing work loads. This is irresponsible and dangerous according to medical additional weeks off from CARA activity. experts. The new model provides 5 weeks of official team practice and 4 reduced activity weeks prior to opening day. COLLEGE BASEBALL PROPOSAL CALENDAR SAMPLE 2022 SEASON JAN 15 THRU FEB 10: 8 HOUR CARA PERIOD (4 WEEKS) FEB 11 UNTIL MARCH 18: 20 HOUR CARA PERIOD (5 WEEKS) MARCH 18: COLLEGE BASEBALL SEASON BEGINS (14 WEEKS) JUNE 22 TO JUNE 26: CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS JUNE 27: SELECTION SHOW MONDAY JULY 1 TO JULY 4: NCAA REGIONALS JULY 8 TO JULY 10: NCAA SUPER REGIONALS JULY 15: COLLEGE WORLD SERIES BEGINS JULY 23-25: NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 132 CARA DAYS PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASON SAMPLE 132 (SIMPLE VERSION): 118 COUNTABLE DAYS IN SEASON 14 COUNTABLE DAYS IN THE FALL 14 MANDATORY OFF DAYS (ALREADY IN PLACE) SPRING SEMESTER FEB. 11 TO JUNE 26 - 118 COUNTABLE DAYS 1 DAY OFF PER WEEK JAN. 15 TO FEB. 10 - 8 HOUR PERIOD 2 DAYS OFF PER WEEK FALL SEMESTER 14 COUNTABLE DAYS (28 DAY CALENDAR WINDOW) 4 DISCRETIONARY WEEKS (VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY ONLY) *DISCRETIONARY WEEKS DO NOT HAVE TO BE CONSECUTIVE 8 HOUR PERIOD (ALL OTHER WEEKS) 2021 FALL & 2022 SEASON 2021 FALL _ _ COLLEGE BASEBALL PROPOSAL STUDENT WELFARE STUDENT ATHLETE WELFARE - INJURY PREVENTION THE DANGER OF IMPROPER RAMP TIME Start of End of season season IMPROPER RAMP TIME IS A DIRECT THREAT TO THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF ALL BASEBALL PLAYERS, AMONG ALL LEVELS, BUT ESPECIALLY COLLEGE BASEBALL PLAYERS. THIS IS THE BYPRODUCT OF HIGH INJURY RATES SUSTAINED FROM ACCELERATED RAMP TIMES. COLLEGE BASEBALL SEASON CURRENTLY BEGINS 6 WEEKS BEFORE OPENING DAY IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. ACCELERATED RAMP TIME CREATES VULNERABILITY TO LIGAMENTS AND MUSCLES UNABLE TO ADAPT TO THE INCREASING WORKLOADS. THE GRAPHS INDICATE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS SUFFER THE GREATEST SPIKE IN INJURIES DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME LEADING UP TO THE SEASON AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE START. MLB PROVIDES A RAMP-UP PERIOD THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 6-7 WEEKS IN DURATION PRIOR TO THE REGULAR SEASON. COLLEGE BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE AT THE GREATEST RISK OF INJURY UNDER THE CURRENT FORMAT. COLLEGE BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE ONLY ALLOTTED 5 WEEKS, WITH 2 OF THOSE WEEKS BEING REDUCED ACTIVITY (8 HOUR) WEEKS, AND 3 WEEKS OF OFFICIAL TEAM PRACTICE FROM MID-JANUARY UNTIL THE SEASON STARTS IN MID-FEBRUARY. THE NEW CALENDAR WILL PROVIDE 9 WEEKS OF RAMP TIME, WITH 4 OF THOSE WEEKS BEING REDUCED ACTIVITY (8 HOUR) WEEKS, AND 5 WEEKS OF OFFICIAL TEAM PRACTICE FROM MID-JANUARY UNTIL THE SEASON STARTS IN MID-MARCH. ON THE NEW PROPOSAL REGARDING RAMP TIME AND INJURY PREVENTION: “THIS IS A NO BRAINER. I CAN’T SEE WHY ANYBODY WOULD ARGUE NOT TO FOLLOW THIS NEW PROPOSAL.” Dr. James Andrews COLLEGE BASEBALL PROPOSAL ACADEMICS ACADEMIC SUCCESS Staying on track to graduate in 4 years can be a realistic goal under the new model. Students will be able to start each semester strong academically and minimize unnecessary conflicts. Missed class time has been a significant source of stress among baseball student-athletes during the playing season. Adjusting the season by 4 weeks promotes regionalized scheduling, shorter travel, academic success, and more personal time to maximize University resources. ACADEMIC SUCCESS ACADEMIC CONFLICTS IN SEASON CURRENT MODEL 20 HOUR CARA BEGINS - FIRST OFFICIAL TEAM PRACTICE (ALL TEAMS) MISSED CLASS DAYS (ESPECIALLY FOR TEAMS TRAVELING VIA AIRLINE) LAST DAY OF FINAL EXAMS (AVERAGE COMMON DATE FOR SEMESTER SCHOOLS) LAST DAY OF CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS, OR REGULAR SEASON (ALL TEAMS INCLUDING CONFERENCES WITHOUT A CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT) MOST COLD WEATHER TEAMS PLAY LESS THAN HALF OF THEIR GAMES AT HOME AND CAN MISS UP TO 8 DAYS OF CLASS TRAVELING IN FEBRUARY AND EARLY MARCH VIA AIRPLANE. MOST TEAMS RETURN VERY LATE SUNDAY NIGHT, COMPROMISING SLEEP AND JEOPARDIZING ACADEMIC SUCCESS THE NEXT DAY. THE CURRENT MODEL DEPICTS AN AVERAGE OF 14 MISSED CLASS DAYS FOR MOST COLD WEATHER TEAMS. THE NEW MODEL REDUCES MISSED CLASS DAYS TO AN AVERAGE OF 4. NEW MODEL ALMOST ALL OF THE 31 DIVISION 1 BASEBALL CONFERENCES SPLIT UP THE THE 14 WEEK REGULAR SEASON INTO 6 NON-CONFERENCE WEEKENDS WITH 8 CONFERENCE WEEKENDS, OR 4 NON-CONFERENCE WEEKENDS WITH 10 CONFERENCE WEEKENDS. ALL TEAMS CAN ACCUMULATE HIGH NUMBERS OF MISSED CLASS DAYS CONSIDERING HALF OF CONFERENCE GAMES ARE ON THE ROAD AND MANY CONFERENCES ARE SPREAD OUT GEOGRAPHICALLY REQUIRING AIR TRAVEL. MIDWEEK GAMES CAN ALSO NEGATIVELY AFFECT ACADEMIC SUCCESS CREATING CONFLICTS DURING THE SCHOOL WEEK. IN THE CURRENT MODEL, MIDWEEK GAMES ARE PLAYED WEEKLY THROUGHOUT MARCH AND APRIL, SOMETIMES 2 MIDWEEK GAMES PER WEEK. THE NEW MODEL ALLOWS MUCH MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH MIDWEEK GAMES, AND REDUCES ACADEMIC STRESS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. ACADEMIC SUCCESS STARTING EACH SEMESTER STRONG FALL - NEW MODEL THE NEW MODEL AFFORDS COLLEGE BASEBALL PLAYERS MORE PERSONAL AND SCHOLASTIC TIME SO THEY CAN THRIVE ACADEMICALLY IN THE FALL SEMESTER AND THE START OF THE SPRING TERM. PROVIDING A TRUE OFF-SEASON HAS NEVER BEEN A POSSIBILITY IN COLLEGE BASEBALL. “FALL BALL” HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF TEAM PRACTICE, INTRASQUAD GAMES AND PLAYER EVALUATION. DUE TO THE EXTREMELY SHORT PREPARATION WINDOW IN JANUARY AND EARLY FEBRUARY, THE FALL CALENDAR HAS BECOME ESSENTIAL. THIS IS COUNTERINTUITIVE AND NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED. THE NEW MODEL PRIORITIZES PLAYER DEVELOPMENT OVER PLAYER EVALUATION IN THE FALL: 4 ADDITIONAL WEEKS OFF. (DISCRETIONARY WEEKS WITH VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY ONLY) 14 COUNTABLE PRACTICE DAYS FOR IN A 28 DAY CALENDAR WINDOW. 8 HOUR CARA WEEKS IN ALL REMAINING WEEKS. AVERAGE COMMON START DATE - FALL SEMESTER BEGINS *OPTION TO START 28 DAY WINDOW FOR 14 COUNTABLE DAYS SPRING - NEW MODEL *LAST DAY OF FALL PRACTICE LAST DAY FOR CARA ACTIVITY AVERAGE COMMON START DATE - SPRING SEMESTER BEGINS FIRST DAY OF OFFICIAL TEAM PRACTICE COLLEGE BASEBALL OPENING DAY SPRING SEMESTER: WITH OFFICIAL TEAM PRACTICE NOT STARTING UNTIL MID-FEBRUARY, THE NEW MODEL AFFORDS ALL STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO START THE SEMESTER STRONG. RAMP TIME EXTENDING FROM 5 WEEKS TO 9 WEEKS ALSO HAS AN ACADEMIC BENEFIT REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRESS DURING THE PRESEASON. COLLEGE BASEBALL PROPOSAL “This proposal grants the opportunity for collegiate baseball programs to reach new heights on the field and allows the athletes to maximize all the resources of their University off the field.” Isaiah Paige University of Michigan Junior Pitcher, SAAC Rep MIDWEST AND NORTHERN TEAMS SAVING MONEY FINANCIAL MATTERS - TEAM TRAVEL SAVINGS TEAM TRAVEL EXPENSES: THE INCURRED COSTS ARE SIGNIFICANT FOR TEAMS IN FRINGE WEATHER CLIMATES FORCED TO TRAVEL TO WARM WEATHER SITES DURING THE FIRST 4 WEEKENDS OF THE SEASON. THE CHART ON THE RIGHT DEPICTS AVERAGE TEAM TRAVEL EXPENDITURES FOR A BIG TEN OR COMPETITIVE NORTHERN TEAM THE FIRST (4) WEEKENDS. COSTS INCLUDE COMMERCIAL AIRLINE FLIGHTS, HOTELS, MEALS AND BUS RENTALS FOR 35 PLAYERS, 4 COACHES AND 8 SUPPORT STAFF. 5 YEAR AVERAGE: $232,728 FIRST 4 WEEKS *ALL 4 WEEKS VIA COMMERCIAL AIRLINE THE LAST (4) WEEKS OF THE REGULAR SEASON INCLUDE TYPICAL REGIONALIZED TRAVEL COSTS WITHIN CONFERENCE PLAY (HOTELS, MEALS, BUS) ALONG WITH THE COSTS ASSOCIATED OF HOSTING A HOME WEEKEND SERIES (MEALS, UMPIRES, BASEBALLS) 5 YEAR AVERAGE: $88,864 LAST 4 WEEKS *0-2 COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS - MOSTLY BUS TRAVEL **WITH MORE REGIONAL TRAVEL, LARGE FINANCIAL GUARANTEES PAID BY SOUTHERN TEAMS WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED AND, IN MOST CASES, NOT NEEDED BY REGIONAL OPPONENTS. GUARANTEE MONEY IS NOT REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET ANALYSIS ON THE RIGHT.** THIS 5 YEAR STUDY INDICATES AN AVERAGE DIFFERENCE OF: $143,861 PER YEAR SOUTHERN AND WESTERN TEAMS MAKING MONEY FINANCIAL MATTERS - REVENUE STREAMS ACTUAL ATTENDANCE VS PAID ATTENDANCE FANS IN THE STANDS CREATE ADDITIONAL AVERAGE ATTENDANCE AT THE 16 REGIONAL HOST SITES IN 2019: REVENUE STREAMS WITH THE PURCHASES OF FOOD, BEVERAGES AND MERCHANDISE. FEBRUARY: 3603 ALCOHOL SALES HAVE BEEN APPROVED MARCH: 3817 (6% INCREASE FROM FEBRUARY) ACROSS MANY CAMPUSES AND HISTORICALLY APRIL: 4260 (12% INCREASE FROM MARCH) OPERATE WITH 80% PROFIT MARGINS ON SALES. MAY: 4539 (7% INCREASE FROM APRIL) JUNE: 5300 (17% INCREASE FROM MAY) OF THE 16 TEAMS THAT HOSTED REGIONALS IN NCAA BASEBALL AVG ATTENDANCE 2019, THEIR AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE 2019 REGIONAL HOSTS FIGURES GREW EACH MONTH CREATING MORE REVENUE FOR THEIR INSTITUTIONS.