Tuesday, May 16, 2017 --- 1:00 p.m. EST (conference call) Brian Stanley called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Brian Stanley facilitated the call. Those present Conference Representatives Patti Gerckens (UC San Diego) – California Collegiate Athletic Conference; Dean Johnson (Caldwell)- Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference; Amy Yates (Limestone)- Conference Carolinas; Susan Cassidy-Lyke (Molloy)- East Coast Conference; Sheilah Gulas (Ashland)- Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; Todd Buckingham (Saginaw Valley State)- Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; Sue Kunkle (Southern Indiana)- Great Lakes Valley Conference; Miles Mallette (Kentucky Wesleyan)- Great Midwest Athletic Conference; Lonny Sargent (Western Oregon)- Great Northwest Athletic Conference; Casey Bourgoyne- Charles (Delta State)- Gulf South Conference; Scott Libby (Texas A&M International)- Heartland Conference; Richie Bruister (Texas A&M Commerce)- Lone Star Conference; Susan Anderson (Central Missouri)- Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association; Mairin Dudek (AIC)- Northeast-10 Conference; Gretta Melsted (Augustana)- North Sun Intercollegiate College; Brittany Bennett (USC Pembroke)- Peach Belt Conference; Randy Simkins (Dixie State)- PacWest Conference; Dan Gierlak (Edinboro)- Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Dervin Taylor (Adams State)- Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference; Shena Hollar (Lenoir-Rhyne)- South Atlantic Conference; Patrick Peasant (Miles College)- Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; Erin Kinberger (Saint Leo)- Sunshine State Conference; Additional NFCA non-voting members on Brian Stanley (NFCA) – NCAA Division II Liaison; Gary Bryce (Wayne State University) Division II Board Representative; Coaches Connection: Mel Cope (NCAA Representative); Erin Brown (Great Lake Valley Conference); Jamie Dunn (Northern Sun); Kayla Lucas (Peach Belt Conference); Val Silvestrini (Sunshine State Conference) Additional non-members on call Molly Simons (NCAA); Vickie Van Kleeck – NCAA Secretary Rules editor; Chelsea Crawford (NCAA) HCC Not present: Lataya Hilliard-Gray (Winston-Salem State)- Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association; Destini Anderson (East Central)- Great American Conference; Danielle Easton (Shephard)- Mountain East Conference; 1. Roll Call 2. Accepted April minutes 3. Brian Stanley a. Frosh finalist announced on May 17 and top 3 POTY finalists on May 18 b. Explained all-american banquet process c. Fundraising podcast coaches (email Brian) d. Podcast ideas (email Brian) 4. NCAA rule reminders (Mel Cope) a. Congratulations to NCAA participant coaches b. Reminded coaches of foul pole rule implemented 2018 (white/optical orange – 20 feet recommended / minimum of 10 feet) c. Netting in front of dugouts (min. 6 feet) d. Patti Gercken – requested examples of complete dugouts (images) 5. Vickie Van Kleeck a. Netting continued – Allowed two openings (screened) – reminded it is 6 feet from bottom of dugout. b. Recommended Netting Professionals for examples c. Shena Hollar – asked about fence (height) rule i. Forward information to Vickie ii. If field is not owned by school, it is not required, but recommended 6. Coaches Connection (Mel Cope) a. Coaches Connection has grown. Will add m/w golf, swimming & diving and lacrosse b. Opportunity to have voices hear 7. Molly (NCAA Tournament) a. Announced final sites for NCAA Championships b. Re-seeding final eight teams – Softball committee will see bases on Regional RPI 8. Dean Johnson – Inquired about Festival year (May 13-16). a. Molly – Evaluate sports affected by shortened season (SB in spring / VB in fall). Early discussion on how to make changes and come up with possible solutions. (ex. Count fall competition). b. Mel Cope – Inquired about 8-team regional format. Need to find out how the coaching body feels about it. Get feedback. Need to make proposal to sports committee – sooner the better. Need total compliance from all coaches. c. Randy Simkins – need to consider the situation the Northern teams are in. Push it forward. d. Need to be strategic with proposal (more formalized)- example – Dates, brackets e. Dean Johnson – Does it have to be uniform? Four regions that play in February keep four-team regionals & supers; The other four regions use the 8-team format; Molly – would be tough from the operational side and how the selection process works. 9. Rules Survey – Vickie Van Kleeck a. Closed on May 12 b. Rules meeting in June 19-22 in Indianapolis to discuss rules changes and make booklet user friendly c. Compile results during June 10. Scholarships data – Gary Bryce a. In discussion with Wayne State AD regarding letter b. Chelsea Crawford reminded that July 15th is deadline for scholarship letter 11. Next call will June 19 at 1:00 PM EST 12. Meeting adjourned at 1:38 PM .