NAC and SIDA Meeting Summaries
Jun 14, 2020
The National Administrative Council (NAC) and the Sports Information Directors Association (SIDA) met virtually this week to conduct business that was scheduled to take place at the NACDA Annual Convention. Below is a summary of decisions made at both meetings. (For FAQs related to scheduling and competition decisions recently made by the Council of Presidents Executive Committee, click here.)
NAC Summary
Change in the Minimum Number of Contests
In response to the reduced maximum number of contest due to COVID-19, the NAC Executive Committee voted to similarly reduce the minimum number of contests for fall 2020:
- Cross Country: 4 (minimum) to 7 (maximum)
- Football: 6 (minimum) to 9 (maximum)
- Soccer: 8 (minimum) to 14 (maximum)
- Women's Volleyball: 13 (minimum) to 22 (maximum)
Fall 2020 National Championship Threshold Requirement
It was determined that each fall sports program should have a 50% participation rate four weeks prior to the national championship for the event to be held. If the number of participating programs falls below 50%, the NAC Executive Committee will assess the individual program's status and championship options.
Postseason Format Changes (full story here)
The NAC approved multiple changes to championship formats, effective for 2020:
- Women's Volleyball: The new format will reduce the final site field to 24 teams (down from 32) and will include eight pools of three (down from four) teams. The new format also eliminates a direct berth to the final site. This means 48 teams will compete in a single match opening round with the winners advancing to the 24-team final site field.
- Men’s and Women’s Soccer: The new format will change the opening round tournaments from a 15-site, three-team event to a four-team tournament hosted at 10 sites. The 10 site-winning teams will go to the final site for single elimination bracket play. The top two seeded teams in both genders will earn a first-round bye at the final site. The new format will also now allow for a rest day at both the opening rounds and final site.
- Swimming & Diving: In an effort to make the national championships more competitive, the swim and dive qualifying standards will be increased and the number of participants at the championship will be limited to 316, comprised of 300 swimmers and 16 divers.
- Men's Volleyball: The postseason field was increased to 12 teams.
- Competitive Cheer: The postseason field was increased to 15 teams.
Sport Designations (full story here)
- Women's Lacrosse moved from invitational to championship status.
- Women's Beach Volleyball moved from emerging status to invitational status
- Women's Flag Football was granted emerging sport status.
- Men's Swim & Dive was given until 2022-23 to reach the championship threshold of 40 teams.
SIDA Summary
Two new officers were elected to at-large positions:
- Tommy Chasanoff, Cumberlands (Ky.) was re-elected for a two-year term
- Sammi Wellman, Cascade Collegiate Conference, was newly elected for a two-year term
