Southland Conference Redefines Sports Sponsorship Requirements

[CSN Log]

06-04-2010 02:38 PM

GALVESTON, Texas - The Southland Conference’s Board of Directors has redefined the league’s sports sponsorship standards for its member institutions, requiring all institutional varsity sports programs to participate fully within the conference’s competitive structure if the league also sponsors the sport.

The decision, with an effective date of July 1, 2011, was announced by the Southland’s governing presidential body at the conclusion of the conference’s annual spring business meeting Friday. If an institution chooses not to meet this requirement, then it shall relinquish its membership and notify the Conference per the withdrawal provisions listed in Article 3.04 of the league’s constitution, which requires a two-year notification of withdrawal or $250,000 penalty.

Read more » (http://www.championshipsubdivisionnews.com/log/index.php/2010/06/04/southland-conference-redefines-sports-sp?blog=2#more6572)

More... (http://www.championshipsubdivisionnews.com/log/index.php/2010/06/04/southland-conference-redefines-sports-sp?blog=2)

[TexasTerror]

QUICK SUMMARY

1) If you have a sport that is currently sponsored by the Southland, you MUST compete in the Southland in that sport. So, if you have a football program, it must compete in the SLC. If you have a women's soccer program, better be in the SLC.

2) It is also saying that if you have a sport (i.e. SHSU and SFA's bowling programs) that are not sponsored by the SLC, it is okay. But, if the league begins to sponsor the sport, you must move it into the SLC.

3) Also states that you are not required to add all the SLC sports that the league sponsors championships in. So, if you are SHSU - you do not have add to bring in men's tennis. Or if you do not have softball (i.e. Lamar), you do not have to add it.

[TexasTerror]

Article out of Conway regarding the change in rules...


At the SLC’s summer meeting in Galveston, Texas, last weekend, the league’s presidents voted 11-1 that effective, July 1, 2011, any member of the conference must play all its varsity sports within the league if those sports are offered by the league.

Bottom line. A school must make a commitment to the conference. You’re in fully or you’re not.

If an institution intends to leave the conference because it wants to seek Football Bowl Championship membership, it must give a two-year notice and would not be eligible for its new home until 2013. In other words, the Southland presidents don’t want a school to use Southland membership (and postseason eligibility and other benefits that go with it in other sports) as a prop while it shops around for an FBS conference in football.

http://thecabin.net/news/2010-06-07/mccollums-column-southland-address-old-issue-new-light