FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sflzman]

Here's something that I believe was missed in the Calvin Football conversation....

Calvin currently has 9 mens and 9 womens teams, so that would mean another womens team needed to be added. Lacrosse? Then mens lacrosse stays at club status? Not really fair i'd think.

So what other sport? I know Alma added womens bowling to get wrestling.....

Calvin only has 8 men's teams.

Volleyball is the outlier (with no men's counterpart).

Correct me if I'm wrong (because I have been many times before )

1. Baseball
2. Basketball
3. XC
4. golf
5. Hockey
6. Soccer
7. Swim
8. Tennis
9. Track

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Hockey is only a club sport at Calvin (Hope too).  Club sports are not part of the equation

[Mr. Ypsi]

If I recall correctly, there has been some discussion on here about both Hope and Calvin going varsity in hockey - any updates?

[Flying Dutch Fan]

If I recall correctly, there has been some discussion on here about both Hope and Calvin going varsity in hockey - any updates?

Not to my knowledge.  If I were a betting man, I would think we might see varsity lacrosse first at Hope - given that you could add both the mens and womens teams and maintain the "balance". 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Yeah, I think I may have mixed it up with discussion of LaX going varsity.

[sac]

If I recall correctly, there has been some discussion on here about both Hope and Calvin going varsity in hockey - any updates?

Not to my knowledge.  If I were a betting man, I would think we might see varsity lacrosse first at Hope - given that you could add both the mens and womens teams and maintain the "balance". 

...or they could be like Adrian and add women's hockey.

[formerd3db]

FDF, Mr. Ypsi, sflzman and sac:

In regards to your questions/comments, here is the current status.  Actually, hockey and lacrosse are a part of the equation.

1) Currently at Hope, hockey and lacrosse are actually "virtual varisty", which is a distanct difference than simply a club sport designation, as are most club sports at other NCAA schools, regardless of division.  Univ. of Michigan's lacrosse team is the same also i.e. "virtual varisty".  That means that those sports are essentially run exactly like the other varsity sports offered by those institutions with the exception being that the college doesn't completely fund the sport.  These aspects include, for example, at Hope, the College pays for all of the ice arena time, the head coach is paid (sometimes assistant coaches might receive a very small stipend), the College paid for jerseys and new helmets, the team gets to use the official college team buses for away games; the rules are governed by the national and league organization that same as NCAA rules  including academic parameters concerning eligibility maintanence, also, all other governing rules as the NCAA.  The College also oversees and has control over the $, although the student-athletes do have to "pay to play" also as well as fundraising, much of which is done by the parents booster groups, although again, with College administration oversight.  Also, the athletic director has oversight and control, and while athletic training staff is not permitted to cover the team due to its not being an "official varsity status" sport, the athletic director still helps out in assistance in making sure that proper medical coverage is provided for home contests - the team medical staff is approved by them, although chosen by the coaches as well.  

2) This is the exact same status as the lacrosse programs at Hope; i.e. for men's lacrosse (head coach paid, uniforms, use of travel vans, soccer/acrosse stadium, $ oversight, etc., etc.).

3) Lacrosse at Hope will be designated as "full varisty" before hockey (although I do not know why they just don't do it for hockey now - there are enough DIII hockey teams such like Adrian participates with that it could be done - the hockey team travels a lot already.  I'm sure there could be some type of arrangement, within the NCAA rules, of course, that might allow some fundraising as it is done now, again provided it is done under the watchful eye, auspices of the College, to help defray the cost of the program, if the college didn't want to fund the entire aspect.  But then again, if you have an arean that is already paid for like Adrian's, the cost is already covered, again by bringing in the student-athletes (as has already been discussed by other posters such as cav2 and is proven by Adrian's example) and also renting out the arena to the public to add additional revenue,

At any rate, lacrosse for the MIAA is to be full varisty after next year i,.e. 2013 - it was supposed to be for next year, however, the reason for this latest delay is because the Midwest Lacrosse League will not let Adrian, Trine and Albion out of their league commitments until those are through.  That is why Alma will be an independent in lacrosse for next year (and Olivet if they add lacrosse as they've already said they are going to do). IMO, Hope cdertainly could go full varsity lacrosse now in both men's and women's as independents, however, it is my understanding that the College administration prefers to wait until it is for all the MIAA.  It worked fine for Albion in going varsity lacrosse and our lacrosse team was way better than theirs when they were in the CCLA with us. Yet, on the other hand, they dropped their club hockey program, although I believe that was more due to having a tough time getting ice time at the arena in Jackson (no nearby "in-town" ice arena like Hope, Calvin and Grand Valley State has for their hockey programs).

4) As far as the Title IX issues, at least for Hope, that is actually not an issue because they already have a very succesful established women's lacrossse team.  I can't speak for Calvin, but if they wanted to do hockey (which their program is an established and good one), then they certainly could add women's lacrosse to account for that whether they elevated hockey to full varisty or lacrosse as is planned - at least to start out with.

So no Mr. Ypsi you did not mess (mix) the discussion up!

And FDF, yes you will win the bet as lacrosse is scheduled to go varsity before hockey at Hope. (and not Mr. Ypsi)   Admittedly, however, it will probably and unfortunately be quite some time before hockey is granted full stats, but...they have an excellent program and that,too, like lacrosse, is now highly supported by the administration as they've seen it is run the right way and those programs extremely successful in recent years as they've been improved.

So there you have it.

[sflzman]

Hockey is only a club sport at Calvin (Hope too).  Club sports are not part of the equation

Ok. Thought the ACHA counted even though it isn't an NCAA team.....

[formerd3db]

Hey Pat.  Just curious, but on your front page regarding the section on this fall's schedules, the photo shows Reeves Field.  Which college is this at?  Looks like a very nice facility.   

[DBQ1965]

Hey Pat.  Just curious, but on your front page regarding the section on this fall's schedules, the photo shows Reeves Field.  Which college is this at?  Looks like a very nice facility.   

Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.

[formerd3db]

Hey Pat.  Just curious, but on your front page regarding the section on this fall's schedules, the photo shows Reeves Field.  Which college is this at?  Looks like a very nice facility.   

Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.

Thanks DBQ1965!  Really nice.  I'm glad they came over to the NCAA a couple of years ago.

[Raider 68]

Great discussions this time of year! Thanks, I am learning alot.

[sflzman]

Well, with the last spring team from Alma being eliminated yesterday, I think it's fitting to be back in a helmet 

[formerd3db]

Yes, me too, Raider68!

sflzman:
Welcome back to "The Helmet Club"!

[Raider 68]

Yes, me too, Raider68!

sflzman:
Welcome back to "The Helmet Club"!

Well, with the last spring team from Alma being eliminated yesterday, I think it's fitting to be back in a helmet 

Having some problems with my Helmet, I do not like the look of it, looks like it was flattened. It is not the same size as formerd3db, or sflzman, which it should be.

Any suggestions?