2018-19 South Atlantic Conference Directory & Policy Manual by The SAC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

226 North Park Dr. Gateway Plaza Suite 130 Rock Hill, SC 29730 Phone: 803.981.5240 Fax: 803.981.9444 www.theSAC.com Commissioner Patrick Britz Senior Associate Commissioner/ Senior Woman Administrator Eliane Kebbe Assistant Commissioner Christian Stryker Director of External Operations and Administration Amelia Maher Coordinator of Strategic Communications Jessica Biggers

SAC VISION STATEMENT “The South Atlantic Conference aspires to be the premier NCAA Division II athletic conference in the country; a conference where a high priority of each member institution is a balance between athletics and the overall academic, spiritual and physical development of each student-athlete to provide these individuals with life skills for future success.”

SAC Membership......................................... 3 SAC Staff...................................................... 4 SAC Committees....................................... 5-6 SAC Sport Sponsorship................................ 7 SAC Meeting Schedule................................. 8 SAC Championship Schedule....................... 9 SAC Corporate Sponsors....................... 10-11 NCAA Division II.................................. 12-17 Anderson University................................... 19 Carson-Newman University........................ 20 Catawba College......................................... 21 Coker College............................................. 22 Lenoir-Rhyne University............................ 23 Limestone College...................................... 24 Lincoln Memorial University..................... 25 Mars Hill University................................... 26 Newberry College....................................... 27 Queens University of Charlotte.................. 28 Tusculum College....................................... 29 Wingate University..................................... 30 SAC Bylaws........................................... 32-54 Baseball Policies.................................... 57-70 Men’s Basketball Policies...................... 71-83 Women’s Basketball Policies................. 84-96 Cross Country Policies......................... 97-105 Field Hockey Policies........................ 106-117 Football Policies................................ 118-129 Golf Policies....................................... 130-140 Men’s Lacrosse Policies..................... 141-152 Women’s Lacrosse Policies................ 153-165 Men’s Soccer Policies........................ 166-179 Women’s Soccer Policies................... 180-193 Softball Policies................................. 194-208 Tennis Policies................................... 209-220 Track & Field Policies....................... 221-245 Volleyball Policies............................. 246-259

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Anderson

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SAC MEMBERSHIP

174

147

183

142

220

109

128

161

158

144

Carson-Newman

174

219

307

168

112

201

208

261

214

Catawba

147

219

105

265

152

137

189

Coker

183

307

105

139

345

241

108

278

Lenoir-Rhyne

142

168

139

215

101

148

138

109

168

103

140

Lincoln Memorial

220

265

345

215

120

248

247

302

260

Limestone

Mars Hill

109

112

152

241

101

120

103

140

142

200

149

Newberry

201

137

108

148

248

140

101

178

167

Queens

128

208

247

142

101

179

Tusculum

161

189

278

138

140

178

179

228

201

Wingate

158

261

109

302

200

167

228

SAC

144

214

260

149

201

[3]

SAC STAFF

Patrick Britz Commissioner 803.981.5240 x4 patrick@thesac.com

Eliane Kebbe Sr. Associate Commissioner 803.981.5240 x3 eliane@thesac.com

Christian Stryker Assistant Commissioner 803.981.5240 x2 christian@thesac.com

Amelia Maher Director of External Operations & Administration 803-981-5240 x1 amelia@thesac.com

Jessica Biggers Coordinator of Strategic Communications 803-981-5240 x5 intern@thesac.com

COORDINATORS OF OFFICIALS Baseball David Brown piedmontbb@gmail.com

Football Jack Childress jcref@bellsouth.net

Softball Shelley Mangrum imagoodwyn@aol.com

Men’s Basketball Rick Ridenhour ridenhourr@carolina.rr.com

Men’s Lacrosse Charlie Libby libbydaa4a@aol.com

Volleyball BJ Willard bjwillard@nrvunwired.net

Women’s Basketball Judy Stroud jlstroud@bellsouth.net

Women’s Lacrosse Lisa Clark ldclark18@gmail.com

Tennis Sue Ellen C Swanson seswanson@sc.rr.com

Field Hockey Chip Rogers chip.rogers@miamioh.edu

Men’s & Women’s Soccer Roger Morton tisoa1@aol.com

[4]

SAC GOVERNANCE COMMITTEES Executive Committee of the Presidents Council Dr. Evans P. Whitaker Anderson

Dr. J. Randall O’Brien Carson-Newman

Brien Lewis Catawba

Presidents Council

AD Council

FAR Committee

SWA Committee

Dr. Evans P. Whitaker* Anderson

Dr. Bert Epting Anderson

Bob Hanley* Anderson

Monica Lopes Anderson

Dr. J. Randall O’Brien* Carson-Newman

Matt Pope Carson-Newman

Dr. Robert Trentham Carson-Newman

Suzanne Strudwick Carson-Newman

Brien Lewis Catawba

Larry Leckonby Catawba

Mike Wilson Catawba

Mandy Harris-Morgan Catawba

Dr. Robert Wyatt Coker

Dr. Lynn Griffin* Coker

Dr. Karen Carpenter Coker

TBD Coker

Dr. Fred Whitt Lenoir-Rhyne

Kim Pate Lenoir-Rhyne

Dr. Amy Wood Lenoir-Rhyne

Shena Hollar* Lenoir-Rhyne

Dr. Clayton Hess Lincoln Memorial

Matt Green Lincoln Memorial

Ahleasha McNeal Lincoln Memorial

Maria Harris Lincoln Memorial

Tony Floyd Mars Hill

David Riggins Mars Hill

Marty Gilbert Mars Hill

Monica Gordy Mars Hill

Dr. Maurice Sherrens Newberry

Ralph Patterson Newberry

Dr. David Rachels Newberry

Dr. Sandy Scherrens Newberry

Dr. Pamela Davies Queens

Cherie Swarthout Queens

Dr. Dawn Chandler Queens

Melissa Barrett Queens

Dr. James Hurley Tusculum

Doug Jones Tusculum

Amy Brooks Tusculum

Deborah Davis Tusculum

Dr. Rhett Brown Wingate

Steve Poston Wingate

Dr. Barry Cuffe Wingate

Michelle Caddigan Wingate

[5]

Patrick Britz SAC (ex-officio)

SAC GOVERNANCE COMMITTEES Media Relations Committee

Athletic Trainer Committee

Compliance Committee

Sport Committee Chairs/AD Liaisons

Randy Jones Anderson

Monica Lopes Anderson

Matthew Finley Anderson

Football C: Curtis Walker, CAT# AD: Mike Cerino, LIME

Adam Cavalier Carson-Newman

Mike VanBruggen Carson-Newman

Eddie Carter Carson-Newman

Volleyball C: Tony Fontanelle, MHU# AD: Steve Poston, WU

Jim Lewis Catawba

Bob Casmus Catawba

Craig Turnbull Catawba

Men’s Soccer C: Chris Williams, COK# AD: Matt Green, LMU

Gus Mohlhenrich Coker

Chris Jeppson* Coker

TBD Coker

Women’s Soccer C: Denise Brolly, QU AD: Doug Jones, TU

Jeremy Zalacca Lenoir-Rhyne

Michael Flicker Lenoir-Rhyne

Brent Heaberlin* Lenoir-Rhyne

M&W Cross Country C: Corey Pratt, TU# AD: David Riggins, MHU

Scott Erland Lincoln Memorial

Don Grigsby Lincoln Memorial

Mike Smith Lincoln Memorial

Men’s Basketball C: Jeff Brookman, AU AD: Ralph Patterson, NBY

Rick Baker Mars Hill

Allen Shelley Mars Hill

Rick Baker Mars Hill

Women’s Basketball C: Mike Mincey, CN# AD: Kim Pate, LR

Randall Stewart Newberry

John Lopez Newberry

Wayne Alexander Newberry

Baseball C: Jeff Gregory, WU AD: Doug Jones, TU

Phylicia Turner* Queens

Brandon Johnson Queens

Melissa Barrett Queens

Softball C: Ciria Triplett, NBY AD: Lynn Griffin, COK

Dom Donnelly Tusculum

Chris Lenker Tusculum

Deborah Davis Tusculum

M&W Tennis C: Joey Eskridge, AU AD: Kim Pate, LR

Ryan Brown Wingate

Tim Singleton Wingate

Liz Biggerstaff Wingate

Men’s Golf C: Randy Wylie, C-N AD: TBD Women’s Golf C: Susan Strudwick, C-N# AD: TBD Men’s Lacrosse C: Greg Paradine, LR# AD: Larry Leckonby, CAT Women’s Lacrosse C: Jordan Bowers, CAT AD: Matt Green, LMU M&W Track & Field C: Jim Vahrenkamp, QU AD: Cherie Swarthout, QU *-Committee Chair #-Second Year

[6]

SAC SPORT SPONSORSHIP

[7]

SAC MEETING SCHEDULE

[8]

2018-19 SAC Championships

SPORT DATES Cross Country Nov. 3

LOCATION

Spartanburg, S.C. | Milliken Research Center

HOST(S) Anderson

Soccer

Oct. 30, Rock Hill, S.C. | Manchester Meadows Mars Hill (M) Nov. 2 & 4 Carson-Newman (W)

Volleyball

Nov. 6, 9 & 10

Hartsville, S.C. | DeLoach Center

Field Hockey Nov. 16 & 18

Campus Sites (Highest Seed)

Indoor Track Feb. 23-24

Winston-Salem, N.C. | JDL Fast Track

Basketball

Greenville, S.C. | Timmons Arena

March 6, 9-10

Coker

Queens

Women’s Golf April 7-9

Fletcher, N.C. | Broadmoor Golf Links

Mars Hill

Men’s Golf

April 14-16

Camden, S.C. | Camden Country Club

Coker

Tennis

April 16, 18-19

Rock Hill, S.C. | Rock Hill Tennis Center

Track & Field April 18-20

Hickory, N.C. | Irwin Belk Track

Lacrosse

April 23, 26 & 28 Wingate, N.C. | Graham Gill Field

Baseball

April 25-29

Kodak, Tenn. | Smokies Stadium

Softball

April 26-27

Salisbury, N.C. | Whitley Softball Field

[9]

Lenoir-Rhyne Wingate Carson-Newman Catawba

SAC CORPORATE SPONSORS

[10]

SAC CORPORATE SPONSORS

[11]

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[15]

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[17]

ANDERSON UNIVERSITY Mailing Address 316 Boulevard Anderson, S.C. 29621 Shipping Address 316 Boulevard Anderson, S.C. 29621 Year Founded 1911 Enrollment 3,400 Nickname (Mascot) Trojans School Colors Gold and Black College Website www.andersonuniversity.edu Athletics Website www.autrojans.com

Administration @andersonuniversity.edu Title Name Office Phone Cell Phone Email Admissions (800) 542-3594 President Dr. Evans P. Whitaker (864) 231-2100 (864) 958-1618 ewhitaker VP for Athletics Bert Epting (864) 231-2023 (864) 630-1384 bepting Associate A.D./Development Mark Vaughan (864) 231-5752 (864) 376-1848 mvaughan Administrative Assistant Becky Farmer (864) 231-2029 (864) 617-4335 bfarmer FAR Bob Hanley (864) 231-2007 (864) 314-5157 bhanley SWA Monica Lopes (864) 231-2144 (843) 267-3889 mlopes Sr. Associate AD/Compliance Matt Finley (864) 231-5679 (803) 944-0168 mfinley SAAC Advisor Matt Finley (864) 231-5679 (803) 944-0168 mfinley Assistant A.D./SID Randy Jones (864) 231-2097 (864) 958-2018 rjones Assistant SID Christine Korver (864) 231-2087 (864) 617-3595 ckorver Asst. A.D./Dir. of Sports Med Monica Lopes (864) 231-2144 (843) 267-3889 mlopes Financial Aid Director Nancy Tate (864) 231-2181 (864) 316-0852 ntate Registrar Carol Parker (864) 231-2073 (864) 934-9195 ctparker Athletics Fax (864) 231-5601 Ticket Office (864) 231-2029

Coaching Staff @andersonuniversity.edu Sport Name Office Phone Cell Phone Email Baseball Joe Miller (864) 231-2013 (864) 958-1456 jmiller Men’s Basketball Jeff Brookman (864) 231-2851 (864) 617-3791 jbrookman Women’s Basketball Jonathon Barbaree (864) 231-2011 (404) 556-2303 jbarbaree Cheerleading Nikki Arroyo N/A (864) 979-8350 narroyo M & W Cross Country Kevin Eagle (864) 231-2088 (864) 529-7713 keagle Men’s Golf Danny Neal (864) 231-5610 (864) 325-6468 dneal Women’s Golf Danny Neal (864) 231-5610 (864) 325-6468 dneal Men’s Soccer Michael Zion (864) 231-2034 (864) 205-9026 mzion Women’s Soccer Sarah Jacobs (864) 231-2012 (864) 380-2487 sjacobs Softball Tommy Hewitt (864) 231-2109 (864) 221-4264 thewitt M & W Tennis Joey Eskridge (864) 231-2139 (864) 933-4754 jeskridge M & W Track and Field Kevin Eagle (864) 231-2088 (864) 529-7713 keagle Volleyball Todd Hay (864) 622-6036 (501) 499-1704 thay

[19]

CARSON-NEWMAN UNIVERSITY Mailing Address Shipping Address Year Founded Enrollment Nickname (Mascot) School Colors College Website Athletics Website

2130 Branner Ave. Jefferson City, TN 37760 1646 Russell Ave, Jefferson City, TN 37760 1851 1,967 Eagles Blue & Orange www.cn.edu www.cneagles.com

Administration Title Name Admissions Aaron Porter President Randall O’Brien Athletic Director Matt Pope Administrative Assistant Libby Miller FAR Bob Trentham SWA Suzanne Strudwick Assistant AD Eddie Carter Compliance Coordinator Eddie Carter SAAC Advisor Gloria Walker SID Adam Cavalier Assistant SID Michael Wottreng Head Athletic Trainer Mike Van Bruggen Financial Aid Director Danette Seale Registrar Sheryl M. Gray Athletics Fax Ticket Office

Office Phone Cell Phone (865) 471-3229 (865) 471-3200 (865) 368-8364 (865) 471-3372 (931) 239-0325 (865) 471-3200 (865) 654-6280 (865) 471-3253 (865) 382-6467 (865) 471-4983 (865) 389-3959 (865) 471-3365 (865) 805-0924 (865) 471-3365 (865) 805-0924 (865) 471-4821 (865) 804-1895 (865) 471-3513 (304) 552-4519 (865) 471-3477 (513) 330-2582 (865) 471-3368 (865) 368-1687 (865) 471-3247 (865) 471-3240 (423) 736-3550 (865) 471-3395 (865) 471-3396

@cn.edu Email aporter robrien mpope lmiller btrentham sstrudwick ecarter ecarter gwalker acavalier mwottreng mvanbruggen financialaid sgray

Coaching Staff Sport Name Office Phone Cell Phone Baseball Tom Griffin (865) 471-3465 (865) 556-3382 Men’s Basketball Chuck Benson (865) 471-3371 (865) 386-4709 Women’s Basketball Mike Mincey (865) 471-3366 (423) 794-0049 Cheerleading Christy Bowlin (423) 416-2395 M & W Cross Country Tyler Stepp (865) 604-9296 (865) 599-4680 Men’s Golf Randy Wylie (865) 659-5990 (865) 659-5990 Women’s Golf Susan Strudwick (865) 471-4983 (865) 389-3959 Men’s Soccer Stephen Lyons (865) 471-3520 (913) 710-1415 Women’s Soccer Simon Duffy (865) 471-3520 (731) 261-3199 Softball Michael Graves (865) 471-3424 (865) 242-6337 M & W Tennis Jim Frederick M & W Track and Field David Needs (865) 471-3360 (865) 951-8789 Volleyball Dave Franklin (865) 471-4216 (937) 689-3985

@cn.edu Email tgriffin cbenson mmincey cbowlin tstepp rwylie sstrudwick slyons sduffy mgraves jferederick dneeds dfranklin

[20]

CATAWBA COLLEGE Mailing Address Shipping Address Year Founded Enrollment Nickname School Colors College Web Site Athletics Web Site

2300 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144 2300 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144 1851 1,300 Catawba Indians Blue and White www.catawba.edu www.gocatawbaindians.com

ADMINISTRATION @catawba.edu Title Name Office Home/Cell Email Admissions 800-228-2922 President Brien Lewis (704) 637-4414 wblewis Athletic Director Larry Leckonby (704) 637-4474 (843) 364-1297 lleckonb14 Associate AD/Compliance Craig Turnbull (704) 637-4475 (704) 637-0670 cturnbul Sr. Asst AD/Media Relations Jim Lewis (704) 637-4720 (704) 252-0974 jdlewis SWA Mandy Harris-Morgan (704) 637-4359 (770) 731-4114 akmorgan18 Assistant AD Peter Bourque (704) 637-4485 (704) 267-5975 pbourque Assistant AD Jeff Childress (704) 637-4265 (704) 202-3978 jchildre Administrative Asst/Tickets Pam Barber (704) 647-4474 (704) 762-0686 pebarber13 Head Athletic Trainer John Lavender (704) 637-4350 (336) 575-2201 jlevende17 Director of Athletic Facilities Ricky Joines (704) 637-4474 (704) 640-8536 rjjoines FAR Mike Wilson (704) 637-4302 jmwilson Title IX Coordinator Drew Davis (704) 637-4227 dhdavis18 SAAC Advisor Mandy Harris-Morgan (704) 637-4359 (770) 731-4114 akmorgan18 Financial Aid Director Kelli Hand (704) 637-4416 kmhand Registrar Susan Agner (704) 637-4322 sagner VP of Admissions Elaine Holden (704) 637-4225 epholden Alumni Director Erin Stringer (704) 637-4394 estringe12 Athletics Fax (704) 645-4568 Ticket Office (704) 637-4474 Football Press Box (704) 645-4547

COACHING STAFF @catawba.edu Sport Name Office Home/Cell Email Baseball Jim Gantt (704) 637-4469 (704) 637-6693 jimgantt Men’s Basketball Rob Perron (704) 637-4473 (704) 293-4277 rjperron14 Women’s Basketball Angie Morton (704) 637-4471 (704) 982-6221 acmorton M & W Cross Country Jason Bryan (704) 645-4578 (864) 915-9890 jpbryan14 Football Curtis Walker (704) 637-4724 (843) 421-6909 cjwalker M & W Golf Sam Gealy (704) 637-4236 (704) 636-6287 sgealy Men’s Lacrosse Peter Bourque (704) 637-4485 (704) 267-5975 pbourque Women’s Lacrosse Jordan Bowers (704) 637-4408 (336) 209-2917 jclodfel Men’s Soccer Ken Hassler (704) 637-4348 (205) 593-3626 khassler Women’s Soccer Nick Brown (704) 637-4324 (704) 798-9159 dnbrown Softball Mandy Harris-Morgan (704) 637-4359 (770) 731-4114 akmorgan18 M & W Swimming Michael Sever (704) 637-4762 (401) 439-1441 masever15 M & W Tennis Chris Juergens (704) 637-4467 (336) 215-3992 cjuergen17 M & W Track & Field Jason Bryan (704) 645-4578 (864) 915-9890 jpbryan14 Volleyball Ginger Hamric (704) 637-4480 (704) 639-0126 gcashley

[21]

COKER COLLEGE Mailing Address Shipping Address Year Founded Enrollment Nickname (Mascot) School Colors College Website Athletics Website

300 E. College Ave. Hartsville, SC 29550 300 E. College Ave. Hartsville, SC 29550 1908 1,300 Cobras Navy (PMS 295) & Yellow (PMS 123) www.coker.edu www.cokercobras.com

Administration Title Name Office Phone Cell Phone Admissions Adam Connolly (843) 383-4126 President Dr. Robert Wyatt Athletic Director Dr. Lynn Griffin (843) 383-8071 (317) 331-8779 Administrative Assistant Mary Buchner (843) 383-8073 (843) 639-9970 FAR Dr. Karen Carpenter (843) 383-8130 SWA TBA Assistant AD TBA Compliance Coordinator TBA SAAC Advisor Aaron Beebe (843) 857-4281 (843) 331-9441 SID Gus Mohlhenrich (843) 857-4275 (410) 596-9375 Assistant SID Jon Perdue/Scott Sewell (843) 857-4136 Head Athletic Trainer Chris Jeppson (843) 383-8390 (540) 209-5215 Financial Aid Director Betty B. Williams (843) 383-8055 Registrar Shannon Flowers (843) 383-8000 Athletics Fax (843) 383-8167 Ticket Office (843) 383-8073 Coaching Staff Sport Name Office Phone Cell Phone Baseball Luke Harrigan (843) 383-8105 (304) 518-9585 Men’s Basketball Aric Samuel (843) 383-8072 (843) 858-6782 Women’s Basketball Shannon Johnson (843) 383-8075 (843) 861-8511 Cheerleading Ali Nelson (843) 383-8393 (843) 917-8088 M & W Cross Country Peter Early (843) 857-4196 (978) 994-0406 M & W Golf Adam Goins (843) 857-4216 (864) 491-7010 Field Hockey Katrina Heterbring (843) 857-4119 (716) 587-2346 Men’s Lacrosse David Olliver (843) 857-4272 (980) 2085408 Women’s Lacrosse Chelsea Kent (843) 857-4279 (470) 970-7031 Men’s Soccer Chris Williams (843) 383-8168 (270) 361-1072 Women’s Soccer Thom Jones (843) 383-8203 (843) 624-4573 Softball Travis McCall (843) 383-8164 (770) 856-6641 M & W Tennis Tom Simpson (843) 383-8076 (843) 495-2735 M & W Track and Field Peter Early (843) 857-4196 (978) 994-0406 M & W Volleyball Julia Rowland (843) 857-4101 (423) 782-7688 Wrestling Derrick Nelson (843) 857-4214 (724) 710-1482

[22]

@coker.edu Email aconnolly lgriffin mbuchner kcarpenter

abeebe tmohlhenrich jperdue /jsewell cjeppson bwilliams sflowers

@coker.edu Email lharrigan asamuel sjohnson anelson pearly agoins kheterbring dolliver ckent cwilliams tjones tmccall tsimpson pearly jrowland dnelson

LENOIR-RHYNE UNIVERSITY Mailing Address Shipping Address Year Founded Enrollment Nickname (Mascot) School Colors College Website Athletics Website

P.O. Box 7356, Hickory, N.C. 28603 741 Stasavich Place NE, Hickory, N.C. 28601 1891 2,500 Bears Cardinal & Black www.lr.edu www.lrbears.com

Administration Title Name Office Phone Cell Phone Admissions Bradleigh Uthe (828) 328-7392 President Dr. Fred Whitt (828) 328-7334 Athletic Director Kim Pate (828) 328-7128 (828) 553-6111 Administrative Assistant Kay Smith (828) 328-7116 (828) 578-1975 FAR Dr. Amy Wood (828) 328-7228 (828) 320-5789 SWA Shean Hollar (828) 328-7113 (828) 381-0340 Associate AD for Internal Ops. Brent Heaberlin (828) 328-7114 (815) 712-8140 Compliance Coordinator Brent Heaberlin (828) 328-7114 (815) 712-8140 Associate AD for Performance Michael Flicker (828) 328-7054 (828) 612-4728 Associate AD for Marketing Aaron Bessey (828) 328-7946 (828) 406-6833 SAAC Advisor Carlee Buck (828) 328-7423 (828) 640-4390 Assistant AD for Comm. Jeremy Zalacca (828) 328-7174 (518) 369-9723 Assistant SID Will Tyner (828) 328-7174 (662) 832-0882 Assistant AD for Dig. Media Allison Luthman (828) 328-7074 (567) 644-3198 Financial Aid Director Nick Jenkins (828) 328-7356 (908) 347-4314 Registrar Stacey Brackett (828) 328-7309 (828) 310-4429 Athletics Fax (828) 267-3445 Ticket Office (828) 328-7116 Coaching Staff Sport Name Office Phone Cell Phone Baseball Tom Fleenor (828) 328-7136 (828) 855-8131 Men’s Basketball Everick Sullivan (828) 328-7122 (828) 640-4458 Women’s Basketball Cameron Sealey (828) 328-7132 (704) 905-9384 Cheerleading Christy Creson (828) 302-0538 M & W Cross Country Danny Williamson (828) 328-7140 (828) 399-1519 Men’s Golf Elliot Gealy (828) 328-7620 (704) 224-0700 Women’s Golf Elliot Gealy (828) 328-7620 (704) 224-0700 Football Drew Cronic (828) 328-7121 (864) 525-4568 Men’s Lacrosse Greg Paradine (828) 328-7497 (828) 302-2383 Women’s Lacrosse Carlee Buck (828) 328-7423 (828) 640-4390 Men’s Soccer Jack Winter (828) 328-7429 (828) 238-9589 Women’s Soccer Gary Higgins (828) 328-7137 (828) 228-4759 Softball Shena Hollar (828) 328-7133 (828) 381-0340 M & W Tennis Tom Rees (828) 328-7083 (706) 386-1690 M & W Track and Field Danny Williamson (828) 328-7140 (828) 399-1519 Volleyball Dave Markland (828) 328-7215 (828) 640-4489

[23]

@lr.edu Email bradleigh.uthe fred.whitt kim.pate kay.smith amy.wood shena.hollar brent.heaberlin brent.heaberlin michael.flicker aaron.bessey carlee.buck jeremy.zalacca will.tyner allison.luthman nick.jenkins stacey.bracket

@lr.edu Email tom.fleenor everick.sullivan cam.sealey christy.creson danny.williamson elliot.gealy elliot.gealy drew.cronic greg.paradine carlee.buck jack.winter gary.higgins shena.hollar tom.rees danny.williamson dave.markland

LIMESTONE COLLEGE Mailing Address 1115 College Drive, Gaffney, S.C. 29340 Shipping Address 1115 College Drive, Gaffney, S.C. 29340 Year Founded 1845 Enrollment 2,279 Nickname (Mascot) Saints School Colors Blue and Gold College Website www.limestone.edu Athletics Website www.golimestonesaints.com

Administration Title Name Admissions Chris Phenicie President Dr. Darrell Parker Athletic Director Michael H. Cerino Administrative Assistant Renae Lamb FAR Dawn Ranns SWA Colleen Cannon Associate AD- Compliance Dennis Bloomer SAAC Advisor Michael Sanders SID Ernest Meyers Assistant SID Kaitlyn Lentz Head Athletic Trainer Adam Ranns Financial Aid Director Bobby Greer Registrar Pennie Hughes Athletics Fax Ticket Office Jordan Falls

@limestone.edu Office Phone Cell Phone (864) 488-4549 (864) 490-1735 (864) 488-4617 (864) 488-4564 (864) 761-7399 (864) 488-8370 (864) 838-0468 (864) 488-4536 (864) 809-7478 (864) 488-4457 (864) 838-9559 (864) 488-4561 (864) 809-5353 (864) 488-4385 (919) 559-1745 (864) 488-4367 (864) 838-3156 (864) 488-8219 937-245-0161 (864) 488-8361 (864) 761-6947 (864) 488-8251 (864) 761-7290 (864) 488-4544 (864) 838-6874 (864) 488-8249 (864) 488-8289 (864) 838-6635

Coaching Staff Sport Name Office Phone Cell Phone Baseball Chris Wiley (864) 488-8271 (864) 838-9901 Men’s Basketball Brandon Scott (864) 488-8235 (864) 809-6744 Women’s Basketball Corey Fox (864) 488-4572 (864) 809-5396 Cheerleading Hailey Martin (864) 488-4472 (864) 838-7399 M & W Cross Country Nick Gibson (864) 488-8346 (864) 809-5330 M & W Golf Zack Siefert (864) 488-4560 (864) 761-6367 Field Hockey Jessica Mulhem (864) 488-8316 (864) 492-8085 Football Tony Ierulli (864) 488-8300 (864) 425-4944 Men’s Lacrosse JB Clarke (864) 488-4562 (864) 838-0324 Women’s Lacrosse Scott Tucker (864) 488-4542 (864) 761-7209 Men’s Soccer Eric Alsop (864) 488-4584 (864) 761-6648 Women’s Soccer Sam Holmes (864) 488-8229 (864) 838-4654 Softball Amy Yates (864) 488-8254 (864) 809-5325 M & W Tennis Alan Ferguson (864) 488-8268 (864) 492-8463 M & W Track and Field Joe Wassink (864) 488-4455 (864) 838-4957 Volleyball Brandon Skweres (864) 488-8374 (864) 761-6550 Wrestling Kelly Revells (864) 488-8232 (864) 761-6642

[24]

Email cphenicie dparker mcerino rlamb dranns ccannon dbloomer msanders emeyers klentz aranns bgreer phughes jfalls

@limestone.edu Email cwiley bscott cfox hpeay ngibson zsiefert jmulhern aierulli jclarke stucker ealsop sholmes ayates aferguson jwassinku bskweres krevells

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY Mailing Address Shipping Address Year Founded Enrollment Nickname (Mascot) School Colors College Website Athletics Website

6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752 1897 3,983 Railsplitters/Lady Railsplitters Blue and Gray www.lmunet.edu www.lmurailsplitters.com

Administration @lmunet.edu Title Name Office Phone Cell Phone Email Admissions Sean Long (423) 869-6712 N/A sean.long President Dr. Clayton Hess Athletic Director Matt Green (423) 869-6241 (865) 279-9325 matthew.green Admin. Assistant Maria Harris (434) 869-6285 (865) 978-7935 maria.harris FAR Ahleasha McNeal (423) 869-6322 N/A ahleasha.mcneal SWA Maria Harris (434) 869-6285 (865) 978-7935 maria.harris Assistant AD Cameron Whicker (423) 869-6346 (704) 995-2197 cameron.whicker Assoc.AD/Compliance Mike Smith (423) 869-6239 (865) 279-9296 mike.smith SAAC Advisor Mike Smith (423) 869-6239 (865) 279-9296 mike.smith SID Scott Erland (423) 869-6236 (615) 305-1610 scott.erland Assistant SID Bill Porter (423) 869-6376 (865) 300-6701 bill.porter Head Athletic Trainer Donald Grigsby (423) 869-6378 (865) 585-1029 donald.grigsby Financial Aid Director Tammy Tomfohrde (423) 869-6465 N/A tammy.tomfohrde Registrar Helen Bailey (423) 869-6434 N/A helen.bailey Athletics Fax (423) 869-6382 Ticket Office (423) 869-6285 Coaching Staff Sport Name Office Phone Cell Phone Baseball Jeff Sziksai (423) 869-6345 (423) 489-9887

@lmunet.edu Email jeff.sziksai

Men’s Basketball

Josh Schertz

(423) 869-6240

(865) 279-1411

josh.schertz

Women’s Basketball

Krystal Evans

(423) 869-6224

(202) 713-7362

krystal.evans

Cheerleading

Jessica Kagias

(423) 869-6285

(606) 671-0068

jessica.kagias

M & W Cross Country Jeremy Donahue

(423) 869-6228

(865) 765-0432

jeremy.donahue

M & W Golf

Travis Muncy

(423) 869-6383

(423) 526-7993

travis.muncy

Men’s Lacrosse

Carroll Kennedy

(423) 869-6079

(585) 748-6500

carroll.kennedy

Women’s Lacrosse

Caitlyn Corace

(423) 869-6264

(845) 661-9744

caitlyn.corace

Men’s Soccer

Helio D’Anna

(423) 869-6245

(606) 344-6379

helio.danna

Women’s Soccer

Sean Fraser

(423) 869-6596

(402) 830-9575

sean.fraser

Softball

Ritchie Richardson

(423) 869-6476

(815) 370-2592

ritchie.richardson

M & W Tennis

Benny Collins

(423) 869-6399

(606) 499-0787

benny.collins

M & W Track and Field Rochelle Black

(423) 869-6555

(706) 767-2791

rochelle.black

Volleyball

(423) 869-6246

(865) 279-9525

jenny.michael

Jenny Michael

[25]

MARS HILL UNIVERSITY Mailing Address Shipping Address Year Founded Enrollment Nickname (Mascot) School Colors College Website Athletics Website

P.O. Box 6668, Mars Hill, NC 28754 100 Athletic Street, Mars Hill, NC 28754 1856 1,250 Lions Royal Blue & Gold www.mhu.edu www.marshilllions.com

Administration @mhu.edu Title Name Office Phone Cell Phone Email Admissions Kristie Vance (828) 689-1353 (828) 206-1113 kvance President Tony Floyd (828) 689-1141 tfloyd Athletic Director David Riggins (828) 689-1215 (828) 777-4570 driggins Administrative Assistant Josh Matthews (828) 689-1219 (828) 380-0616 jdmatthews FAR Marty Gilbert (828) 689-1195 mgilbert SWA Monica Gordy (828) 689-1320 (443) 783-9466 mgordy Assistant AD Rick Baker (828) 689-1373 (828) 712-1629 rbaker Compliance Coordinator Rick Baker (828) 689-1373 (828) 712-1629 rbaker SAAC Advisor Monica Gordy (828) 689-1320 (443) 783-9466 mgordy SID Rick Baker (828) 689-1373 (828) 712-1629 rbaker Assistant SID Adam Williams (828) 689-1363 (570) 994-8049 awilliams Head Athletic Trainer Allen Shelley (828) 689-1176 (828) 777-0535 ashelley Financial Aid Director Nichole Buckner (828) 689-1103 (828) 206-1174 nbuckner Registrar Marie Nicholson (828) 689-1151 mnicholson Athletics Fax (828) 689-1501 Ticket Office (828) 689-1219 Coaching Staff Sport Name Office Phone Cell Phone Baseball Aaron Rembert (828) 689-1173 (828) 320-8352 Men’s Basketball Vic Finora (828) 689-1370 (843) 861-5218 Women’s Basketball Jenny Finora (828) 689-1229 (843) 861-5217 Cheerleading Andrea Powell (828) 689-1466 (828) 458-3550 M & W Cross Country Mike Owens (828) 689-1178 (828) 777-1084 Football Tim Clifton (828) 689-1375 (828) 776-5774 Men’s Golf David Pennell (828) 689-1149 (828) 712-6167 Women’s Golf David Pennell (828) 689-1149 (828) 712-6167 Men’s Lacrosse Brendan Storrier (828) 689-1441 (828) 772-2593 Women’s Lacrosse Kristina Llanes (828) 689-1560 (301) 512-3983 Men’s Soccer Gregg Munn (828) 689-1227 (240) 315-3942 Women’s Soccer Jamey Newsome (828) 689-1171 (706) 302-1635 Softball Monica Gordy (828) 689-1320 (443) 783-9466 M & W Tennis Bill Kreger (828) 689-1170 (843) 276-1688 M & W Track and Field Brad Nagel (828) 689-1178 (828) 712-5681 Volleyball Tony Fontanelle (828) 689-1497 (828) 773-2227

[26]

@mhu.edu Email arembert vfinora jfinora apowell mowens tclifton dpennell dpennell brendan_storrier kllanes gmunn jnewsome mgordy bkreger bnagel tfontanelle

NEWBERRY COLLEGE Mailing Address Shipping Address Year Founded Enrollment Nickname (Mascot) School Colors College Website Athletics Website

2100 College Street, Newberry SC 29108 2100 College Street, Newberry SC 29108 1856 1,070 Wolves Scarlet and Gray (PMS 186 & Cool Gray 4 & 8) www.newberry.edu www.NewberryWolves.com

@newberry.edu Administration Title Name Office Phone Cell Phone Email President Dr. Maurice Scherrens (803) 321-5102 mscherrens Athletic Director Ralph Patterson (803) 947-2064 (864) 378-6068 ralph.patterson Administrative Assistant Kitty Odom (803) 321-5166 (770) 597-2089 kitty.odom FAR Dr. David Rachels (803) 321-5189 (540) 784-5852 david.rachels SWA Dr. Sandy Scherrens (803) 321-5102 sandy.scherrens Assistant AD Dexter Odom (803) 321-5218 (803) 944-9983 dexter.odom Compliance Coordinator Wayne Alexander (803) 321-5154 (803) 348-5992 wayne.alexander SAAC Advisor TBA SID Randall Stewart (803) 321-5667 (864) 415-6560 randall.stewart Assistant SID Tristan Elledge (803) 321-5606 (336) 262-1431 tristan.elledge Assistant SID Drew Martin (803) 321-5606 (512) 968-7202 drew.martin Assistant SID Andy Rogacki (803) 321-5606 (585) 813-9612 andy.rogacki Head Athletic Trainer John Lopez (803) 321-3327 (410) 302-2764 john.lopez Financial Aid Director Holly Wood (803) 321-5120 holly.wood Registrar Carol Bickley (803) 321-5124 carol.bickley Athletics Fax (803) 321-5169 Ticket Office (803) 321-5152 Coaching Staff Sport Name Office Phone Cell Phone Baseball Russell Triplett N/A (803) 480-2598 Men’s Basketball Dave Davis (803) 321-5153 (704) 985-4317 Women’s Basketball Joanna Tincher (803) 321-5160 (813) 272-2798 Cheerleading Lindsey Swygert (803) 947-2113 (404) 386-5656 M & W Cross Country Phil Peterson (803) 321-2115 (803) 318-4870 Men’s Golf Howard Vroon (803) 321-2065 (843) 364-8322 Women’s Golf Hannah Luckett (803) 321-2051 (217) 710-8919 Football Todd Knight (803) 321-5168 (803) 944-0603 Men’s Lacrosse Nick Cotter (803) 321-5301 (813) 449-3739 Women’s Lacrosse Casey Petrusic (Interim) (803) 947-2103 (585) 469-4698 Men’s Soccer Bryce Cooper (803) 321-5640 (412) 694-3976 Women’s Soccer Deedee Alexander (803) 321-5656 (619) 517-7147 Softball Ciria Triplett (803) 321-5164 (864) 344-0566 M & W Tennis Mark Gardiner (803) 321-5349 (803) 917-1694 M & W Track and Field Kimour Bruce (803) 321-5114 (334) 552-0702 Volleyball Ross Kessler (803) 321-5237 (502) 386-2769 Wrestling Cy Wainwright (803) 321-5659 (843) 260-3389

[27]

@newberry.edu Email russell.triplett dave.davis joanna.tincher lindsey.swygert phil.peterson howard.vroon hannah.luckett todd.knight nick.cotter casey.petrusic bryce.cooper diana.alexander ciria.triplett mark.gardiner kimour.bruce ross.kessler cy.wainwright

QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE Mailing Address Shipping Address Year Founded Enrollment Nickname (Mascot) School Colors College Website Athletics Website

1900 Selwyn Avenue Charlotte, NC 28274 1900 Selwyn Avenue Charlotte, NC 28274 1857 1,600 + Royals Navy Blue and Vegas Gold www.queens.edu www.queensathletics.com

Administration @queens.edu Title Name Office Phone Cell Phone Email Admissions 704-337-2212 President Dr. Pamela Davies (704) 337-2216 (704) 608-2293 davies Athletic Director Cherie Swarthout (704) 337-2509 (704) 517-6582 swarthoutc Administrative Assistant Robbie Garriett (704) 337-2509 (704) 451-3936 garriettr FAR Dr. Dawn Chanland (704) 688-2732 (805) 305-9765 chanlandd Sr. AD/Compliance/SWA Melissa Barrett (704) 688-2818 (336) 345-9636 barrettm Associate AD-Leadership Jeff Dugdale (704) 688-2804 (704) 307-1599 dugdalej Assistant AD-Comm. Phylicia Short (704) 688-2819 (336) 508-3157 shortp Assistant AD-Sports Med. Brandon Johnson (704) 337-2405 (704) 582-2138 johnsonb4 Athletics Fund Coordinator Jennifer Meier (704) 337-2529 (704) 906-5724 meierj Associate AD-Facilities Randall Goble (704) 688-2850 (704) 589-4294 gobler SAAC Advisor Jeff Dugdale (704) 688-2804 (704) 307-1599 dugdalej Assistant SID Philip Constantino (704) 337-2585 (516) 233-8457 constantinop Assistant SID Cory Guinn (704) 337-2585 (864) 909-3444 guinnc Financial Aid Director Nancy Buchanan (704) 688-2713 buchanann Registrar Linda Fleischman (704) 337-2242 registrar Athletics Fax (704) 337-2237 Coaching Staff @queens.edu Sport Name Office Phone Cell Phone Email Baseball Jack McDowell (704) 688-2782 (619) 248-5531 mcdowellj2 Men’s Basketball Bart Lundy (704) 337-2510 (940) 453-1222 lundyb Women’s Basketball Sarah Jansen (704) 337-2598 (703) 861-5015 jansens M & W Cross Country Tom Scott (704) 688-2817 (605) 209-6309 Men’s Golf Andrew Serketich (704) 337-2428 (920) 918-4665 serketicha Women’s Golf Meggan Bunker (704) 337-2428 (661) 427-9621 bunkerm Men’s Lacrosse Chris Panos (704) 688-2812 (631) 721-8919 panosc Women’s Lacrosse Clare Gaeng (704) 688-2813 (301) 693-6323 gaengc2 Men’s Soccer Oliver Carias (704) 337-2530 (704) 369-3831 cariaso Women’s Soccer Denise Brolly (704) 337-2540 (561) 843-7995 brollyd Softball Stacey Schramm (704) 337-2254 (202) 322-2217 schramms M & W Tennis Billy Boykin (704) 337-2597 (704) 918-7005 boykinb M & W Track and Field Jim Vahrenkamp (704) 688-2814 (605) 209-6309 vahrenkampj Women’s Volleyball Hannah Long (704) 688-2808 (512) 589-8094 longh Men’s Wrestling Rob Tate (704) 688-2784 (704) 616-4342 tater Field Hockey Brandi Kist (704) 688-2710 (828) 964-1378 kistb

[28]

TUSCULUM COLLEGE Mailing Address PO Box 5090, Greeneville, TN 37743 Shipping Address 60 Shiloh Road, Greeneville, TN 37743 Year Founded 1794 Enrollment 1,809 Nickname (Mascot) Pioneers School Colors Orange and Black College Website www.tusculum.edu Athletics Website www.TusculumPioneers.com

Administration Title Name Admissions Paul Pinckley President Dr. James Hurley Athletic Director Doug Jones Associate Athletic Director Deborah Davis FAR Amy Brooks SWA Deborah Davis Associate Athletic Director Randy Loggins Compliance Coordinator Deborah Davis SAAC Advisor Randy Loggins Athletic Academic Coordinator Bobbie Clarkson Assistant AD/Communications Dom Donnelly Asst. Dir. of Athletic Comm. Jim Miller Dir. of Marketing & Promotions Nick Forsberg Head Athletic Trainer Chris Lenker Dir. of Athletic Development Blake Cantrell Financial Aid Director Ashley Edens Registrar TBA Athletics Fax Ticket Office

@tusculum.edu Office Phone Cell Phone Email (800) 729-0256 ppinnckley (423) 636-7301 jhurley (423) 636-7322 (423) 823-1873 djones (423) 636-7323 x-2 (423) 639-0143 ddavis (423) 636-7300 x-5129 (423) 329-7100 abrooks (423) 636-7323 x-2 (423) 639-0143 ddavis (423) 636-7323 x-3 (423) 620-4730 rloggins (423) 636-7323 x -2 (423) 639-0143 ddavis (423) 636-7323 x-3 (423) 620-4730 rloggins (423) 636-7323 bclarkson (423) 636-7326 (423) 341-0091 ddonnelly (423) 636-7494 (423) 329-7650 jmiller (423) 636-7300 x-5466 (423) 202-6583 nforsberg (423) 636-7300 x5366 (423) 552-6473 clenker (423) 636-7300 x-5331 (865) 582-5532 bcantrell (423) 636-7376 aedens (423) 636-7300 x-5311 (423) 798-1636 (423) 636-7323

Coaching Staff @tusculum.edu Sport Name Office Phone Cell Phone Email Baseball Brandon Steele (423) 636-7300 x-5615 (423) 278-0220 bsteele Men’s Basketball J.T. Burton (423) 636-0575 (859) 319-5077 jtburton Women’s Basketball Devan Carter (423) 636-7300 x-5644 (434) 251-9893 dcarter M & W Cross Country Cory Pratt (423) 312-4284 (423) 312-4284) cpratt Football Jerry Odom (423) 636-7320 (423) 218-8142 jodom M & W Golf Ross Cash (423) 636-7300 x-5221 TBA rcash Men’s Lacrosse Richard Carrington (423) 636-7300 x-5378 (757) 374-4659 rcarrington Women’s Lacrosse Jenna Handshoe (423) 636-7300 x-5443 (864) 567-7703 jhandshoe Men’s Soccer Allen Vital (423) 636-7496 (865) 368-1667 avital Women’s Soccer Mike Joy (423) 636-7321 (423) 444-9571 mjoy Softball Julie Huebner (423) 636-7300 x-5131 (267) 664-1090 jhuebner M & W Tennis Adam Jackson (423) 636-7300 x-5732 (423) 638-6882 ajackson M & W Track and Field Lionel Nau (423) 636-7300 x-5462 (423) 530-3947 lnau Volleyball Michael Robinson (423) 636-7328 (828) 230-0425 mrobinson W Beach Volleyball Ashton Hippenstiel TBA TBA ahippenstiel Spirit Coordinator Jessica Inscore (423) 636-7323 (423) 552-0150 jinscore

[29]

WINGATE UNIVERSITY Mailing Address Shipping Address Year Founded Enrollment Nickname (Mascot) School Colors College Website Athletics Website

PO Box 159, Wingate, NC 28174 230 N. Camden Rd., Wingate, NC 28174 1896 3,612 Bulldogs Navy Blue and Vegas Gold www.wingate.edu www.wingatebulldogs.com

Administration @wingate.edu Title Name Office Phone Cell Phone Email Admissions Gabe Hollingsworth (704) 233-8368 g.hollingsworth President Dr. Rhett Brown (704) 233-8111 rhbrown VP/Director of Athletics Steve Poston (704) 233-8194 (704) 507-1665 poston Asst. AD/Marketing & Promotions Courtney Callahan (704) 233-8193 (412) 498-1156 c.callahan FAR Dr. Barry Cuffe (704) 233-8279 cuffe Associate AD/SWA Michelle Caddigan (704) 233-8174 (704) 292-7099 caddigan Asst. AD/Compliance Liz Biggerstaff (704) 233-8195 (704) 506-0722 erogers Asst. Dir. Of Compliance Corey Villas (704) 233-8262 c.villas Asst. AD/Athletic Foundation Dir. Bill Nash (704) 233-8121 (704) 361-1213 bilnash SAAC Advisor Michelle Caddigan (704) 233-8174 (704) 292-7099 caddigan Asst. AD/Athletic Communications Ryan Brown (704) 233-8635 (803) 429-5447 rrbrown Dir. of Athletic Communications Hugh Patton (704) 233-8386 (336) 406-0879 hpatton Dir. Of Public Relations/Awards David Sherwood (704) 233-8186 (704) 507-0056 rrbrown Asst. Dir. Of Business & Internal Ops. Max Wolfe (704) 233-8193 ma.wolfe Asst. AD/Sports Medicine Tim Singleton (704) 233-8296 (704) 221-8305 t.singleton Financial Aid Director Teresa Williams (704) 233-8010 tgwilliam Registrar Maria Taylor (704) 233-8006 Athletics Fax 704-233-8170 Athletic Communications Fax 704-233-8169 Ticket Office 704-233-8261 Coaching Staff Sport Name Office Phone Cell Phone Baseball Jeff Gregory (704-233-8381 (704)-904-1608 Men’s Basketball Brian Good (704-233-8171 (704)-519-8169 Women’s Basketball Ann Hancock (704-233-8172 (910)-793-9124 Cheerleading Kelly Sheppard (704-233-8193 (704)-467-7640 M & W Cross Country Ashley Glover (704-233-8039 (704)-292-9098 Men’s Golf John Hackney (704-233-8385 (252)-289-5004 Women’s Golf Erin Thorne (614-597-1401 (614)-597-1401 Men’s Lacrosse Tim Boyle (704-233-8196 (510)-220-3192 Women’s Lacrosse Abby Wiley (704-233-8298 (631) 338-1919 Men’s Soccer Gary Hamill (704-233-8175 (704)-962-9411 Women’s Soccer Chip Wiggins (704-233-8166 (704)-962-4193 Softball Lani Shaffer Ries (704-233-8394 (813)-244-3012 M & W Tennis Michael Cabana (704-233-8384 (704)-453-1053 M & W Track and Field Travis LeFlore (704-233-8039 (313)-330-6745 Volleyball Shelton Collier (704-233-8251 (704)-458-3843 Swimming Kirk Sanocki (704-233-8167 (704)-840-4181 Football Joe Reich (704-233-8197 (704)-361-7590

[30]

@wingate.edu Email jgregory b.good a.hancock k.sheppard a.glover j.hackney e.thorne t.boyle a.wiley hamill c.wiggins l.shaffer mcabana t.leflore scollier ksanocki reich

BYLAWS

UPDATED – May 2018 BYLAWS OF SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE PREAMBLE We, the members of the Board of Directors of the South Atlantic Conference believe: A.

In a strong comprehensive Conference composed of small liberal arts colleges with similar academic and athletic philosophies.

That the chief executive officers have the responsibilities of providing the leadership in establishing the philosophy and direction of the Conference relative to the conduct of intercollegiate athletics.

That the primary purpose of our Conference is to enhance the educational mission of its institutions and all actions taken by the Conference leadership and its members should be toward that end.

That the proper resources and commitments to athletics must be made by the member institutions to provide the kinds of educational experiences that we collectively value.

That all member institutions should commit themselves to participating fully both in spirit and in resources to the idea and concept of a comprehensive conference. The Conference members should support each sport at a competitive level, which may provide opportunities for regional and national play-off possibilities.

We, the members of the Board of Directors of the South Atlantic Conference, strongly affirm the aforementioned goals and beliefs as an expression of our commonly held athletic philosophy and adopt the following as the Bylaws of the South Atlantic Conference. ARTICLE I.

NAME

The name of this organization shall be the South Atlantic Conference, hereinafter referred to as the "SAC” or “the Conference.” ARTICLE II.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the SAC shall be to develop, perpetuate, and enhance the educational mission of its member institutions through a regional association of senior liberal arts colleges of higher learning and a common dedication to excellence in intercollegiate athletics. It is presumed that member institutions are dedicated to help perpetuate the common goals and beliefs in the aforementioned preamble and also committed to enhancing our educational missions through mutual cooperation, respect and competition. The specific objectives of the SAC shall include the following: A.

To establish a common set of academic standards which will bring credit to the member institutions and to the SAC

To legislate bylaws that ensure the orderly and honorable conduct of the selected sports offered within the SAC

To enhance community, student and public interest in intercollegiate athletics 1

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D. ARTICLE III. A.

To establish the SAC as a premier small college Conference GENERAL PROVISIONS

Amendment of Bylaws SAC Bylaws may be amended during any annual meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors. A two-thirds vote shall be required to amend Articles I, II, V, VI and IX (Previously Article I, II, III, IV and VII.) A majority vote shall be required to amend all other Articles. Amendments may be proposed by any of the Governing Committees. All amendment proposals are to be transmitted to the Board of Directors through the Commissioner's office within ten (10) working days prior to the respective meeting.

Waiver of Notice Whenever any notice is required under the provisions of the South Carolina Nonprofit Corporation Act, or under the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or by the Bylaws of the SAC, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.

Seal i.

Corporate Seal The corporate seal of the SAC shall consist of the two concentric circles between which is the name of the SAC and in the center of which is the word "Seal", the year of incorporation and the state of incorporation.

ii.

Championship Seal The Championship seal of the SAC shall consist of “SAC” in block letters with a star in the middle of the “A” and a semi-circle swoosh beginning at the top of the “S” and continuing under the letters.

iii.

Use of Corporate or Championship Seal The use of the Corporate or Championship Seal is prohibited without prior written consent from the Office of the Commissioner. There will be a rights fee of $150 assessed to any entity that receives permission to use the Corporate or Championship Seal. In addition, a royalty fee will be negotiated, if applicable.

iv.

Seal on Uniforms of Conference Members The SAC logo (Championship Seal) is required on all home and away uniforms ordered after the 2015-16 academic year. The logo can be in the form of a patch, screen-printed or embroidered and shall be located according to distributed guidelines. Current uniforms or those ordered 2

[33]

during the 2015-16 academic year are encouraged (but not required) to have the logo on them. [June 2015] v.

Seal at Playing Venues of Conference Members The SAC logo (Championship Seal) and colors are required to be displayed on all sport venues (e.g. fields, courts) where conference competition is conducted. The logo shall be located at each venue according to distributed guidelines. In the event of a change in the SAC logo, venues that have an existing SAC logo in place are not required to update the logo until the next renovation. For example, a basketball court with the Corporate Seal does not need to be updated until the next time the court is renovated or refinished. [June 2015]

Fiscal Year The Board of Directors has determined that the fiscal year of the SAC shall be July 1 - June 30.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers Each director, officer, employee or agent of the SAC shall be entitled to indemnification or reimbursement by the SAC for any expenses or liabilities incurred by him or her under the circumstances permitting such indemnification or reimbursement under the South Carolina Nonprofit Corporation Act and subject to the conditions and limitations on such indemnifications and reimbursements set forth in said Nonprofit Corporation Act. The Board of Directors may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the SAC against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the SAC would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability.

ARTICLE IV. A.

MEMBERSHIP

Initial Member Institutions Charter members of the South Atlantic Conference are Carson-Newman College, Catawba College, Elon College, Gardner-Webb College, Lenoir-Rhyne College, Mars Hill College, Presbyterian College and Wingate College.

Current Member Institutions Current members of the South Atlantic Conference are Anderson University [2010-11], CarsonNewman University, Catawba College, Coker College [2013-14], Lenoir-Rhyne University, Limestone College [2017-18; Football Associate Member], Lincoln-Memorial University [2006-07], Mars Hill University, Newberry College [1996-97], Queens University of Charlotte [2013-14], Tusculum University [1998-99], The University of Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College at Wise [2019-20] and Wingate University.

National Affiliation The SAC is affiliated with Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Qualification 3

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To be a member of the SAC, institutions must be fully accredited senior institutions of higher education by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)/Commission on Colleges (COC) and must be members in good standing of the NCAA. Member institutions must be fully compatible with the goals and aspirations of the SAC, as set forth in the Bylaws. Member institutions must be geographically compatible and must abide by all SAC bylaws, rules and regulations. E.

Application Application for membership shall be made in writing to the Board of Directors by the chief executive officer of the interested party. If an evaluation visit is recommended and approved by the Board of Directors, the applicant institution will arrange with the commissioner for an evaluation visit by the conference. The Conference representatives will be selected by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors and be comprised of all or part of the following: at least one president, the commissioner, at least one director of athletics, one faculty athletics representative, one senior woman administrator and the conference national student-athlete advisory committee representative. [June 2010] The evaluation visit will be an in-depth review of the state of the institution’s academic and athletic programs, to include, but not limited to: • A presentation by the institution on its athletic program. This presentation will include information on the program’s philosophy; sports sponsorship; personnel; records and schedules for the past three years, including any upcoming commitments; the athletics budget for the last three years, including the most current; information on a faculty athletics committee or similar body overseeing athletics and any constitution, bylaws or similar documents for such a committee; information on booster organizations and any constitution, bylaws or similar documents for such organizations. [Note: budget information should include athletic scholarship and equivalencies by sport]. • A presentation on compliance with NCAA regulations. This should follow the prescribed ISSG if completed within three years prior to the visit and include any written reports or policy changes as a result of the study. Additionally, conference representatives will review institutional financial aid and eligibility certification procedures and records to ensure compliance. • A tour of campus and athletic facilities. • Other activities at the request of the commissioner or the institution. • A private meeting of the evaluation group before concluding the visit to outline a report for the conference. • Expenses for the evaluation visit shall be paid by the applicant institution and include: travel expenses, overnight accommodations and applicable meals. Mileage rates will be reimbursed at the applicant’s current rate. [June 2010] Institutions may be granted admission into the conference by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. The vote will be by written ballot. 4

[35]

Once an institution is granted admission into the Conference, they will be assessed with a one-time $60,000 buy-in fee. [Amended March 2016] F.

Withdrawal Membership in the SAC is voluntary. Any institution desiring to withdraw their membership must inform the Council of Presidents no later than May 31 two years prior to their anticipated departure. In such event, the withdrawal date shall become effective May 31, two years following the filing date. A withdrawing member must remain an active member of the Conference and comply with all Conference regulations until the effective withdrawal date. This includes the payment of dues. A withdrawing member shall not be entitled to any rebate and/or other accumulated assets of the Conference. If a withdrawing member is unable to comply with the withdrawal stipulations, it will be liable for the sum equal to two yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dues.

Termination Institutional membership may be terminated or suspended by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. The vote will be by written ballot.

Dues Dues will be assessed annually and will be based on a sufficient amount to cover all operating costs of the SAC. The Athletic Directors Council will offer a recommendation on the amount of annual dues one month prior to the annual spring meeting. The Board of Directors will determine the amount of the annual dues at the annual spring meeting.

Associate Membership An Associate Member shall be defined as any institution that is neither a Current Member nor an Initial Member of the Conference and competes in one or more sports sponsored by the Conference. [September 2013] The following are the stipulations related to Associate Membership: 1. An institution wishing to become an Associate Member must submit a letter of application to the Commissioner indicating the sport(s) in which affiliation is desired. 2. Associate Membership may be granted by the Board upon recommendation by the Commissioner. An institution whose current conference sponsors the sport(s) in which affiliation is desired shall not be eligible for Associate Membership. 3. Prior to being accepted as an Associate Member, an institution shall be required to provide verification of adherence to all applicable NCAA and SAC rules and regulations. Further, the Associate Member must be an active member of NCAA Division II and must align with the SAC core values as described in the Bylaws. 5

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4. The initial period of membership shall be for two years and may be rolled over annually by the Board. 5. Dues assessed an Associate Member shall be $7,500 for football and $2,500 for all other sports that are considered for NCAA revenue distribution. 6. The dues for the initial two years of Associate Membership shall be payable upon admission to the Conference. The remaining years shall be paid in accordance with Conference policy and timeframe. Associate members do not receive a share of any income received by the Conference or its Current Members. 7. An Associate Member may resign without penalty when a one-year notice (on or before June 1 of final year) is presented to the Commissioner. If prescribed notification is not received, the Associate Member will be assessed a penalty equal to two years dues. 8. The Conference may terminate an Associate Member upon presentation of a one-year notice (on or before June 1 of final year). The Conference shall refund the Associate Member any appropriate dues in the case of termination. 9. Associate Member status may allow the institution the following privileges: • Compete in a maximum of two Conference sports at one time (one men’s/one women’s) • Have its coach participate and vote at the sport’s annual meeting(s). • Have its administrators attend Conference meetings and have voting rights only on issues related to the sport(s) in which it is a member. • Become eligible for statistical inclusion, as well as all applicable and team and individual awards. • Serve as a host for SAC or NCAA championship competition in the sport(s) in which it is a member. • Represent the SAC in postseason championship play and play-in competition (if applicable). 10. Coaches and student-athletes from an Associate Member are not eligible for induction into the SAC Hall of Fame. ARTICLE V.

SAC OFFICE

The principal office of the SAC shall be located in Rock Hill, York County, South Carolina. The registered office of the SAC required by law to be maintained in the State of South Carolina may be, but need not be, identical with the principal office. Under the direct supervision of the Commissioner, the office will perform the following primary functions: A.

Oversee all regular season competition and Conference Championships and provides necessary personnel for supervision as well as presentation of awards

Develop and distribute annual Conference schedules

Serve as a liaison between the NCAA and the member institutions and assist the membership in the area of compliance with NCAA rules and regulations 6

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Act as a media/public relations liaison between the member institutions and the various Conference media outlets

Collect and report statistical data for each conference sport and inform the membership and media about contest results, Conference standings and statistics and upcoming Conference events.

ARTICLE VI. A.

CONFERENCE OFFICERS

Officers SAC officers are as follows: 1.

President The chair of the Board of Directors is the Conference President.

Vice-President The vice-chair of the Board of Directors is the Conference Vice-President.

Secretary-Treasurer The Commissioner of the SAC shall also serve as Secretary-Treasurer.

Governance Committees The SAC is governed by three (3) committees: the Council of Presidents, the Athletic Directors Council and the Faculty Athletic Representative Committee. The Council of Presidents may establish standing and/or ad hoc committees, as deemed necessary. The Commissioner is responsible for the administrative functions associated with committee operations.

Quorum A simple majority of the membership of each committee constitutes a quorum. Normally, passage or adoption of a proposal is based upon the number of member institutions present and voting.

ARTICLE VII.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The affairs and property of the SAC shall be managed by the Board of Directors, otherwise referred to as the Council of Presidents.

The Council of Presidents shall consist of the chief executive officer of each member institution or designee. The designee shall not be a member of the Athletic Directors Council (ADâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) or the Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee (FARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s). Each member institution shall have one indivisible vote.

C. D.

The Council of Presidents is the governing body of the Conference with final responsibility for all matters. 7

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The Council of Presidents will focus on policy development and delegate operational responsibility for the conference to the extent allowed by law to the Athletic Directors Council, except for the following powers which are reserved: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

All financial matters, Academic standards, Eligibility policies, Selection and employment of the conference commissioner, Conference membership, and Athletic scholarship limitations.

ARTICLE VIII. A.

COMMITTEES

Governing Committees The Council of Presidents, the Athletic Directors Council and the Faculty Athletic Representative Committee may be sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Governing Committees." 1.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall consist of the current chair and vice-chair and the most recent past chair of the Council of Presidents. Athletic Directors Council (AD)

The Athletic Directors Council shall consist of the Athletic Director of each member institution or designee. The chair of the Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee or designee shall serve as a non-voting ex-officio member of the Athletic Directors Council.

The Athletic Directors Council shall be a recommending body to the Council of Presidents.

Each member institution shall have one vote at the Athletic Directors Council meetings.

Authority for operational decisions resides with the Athletic Directors Council, except those powers reserved by the Council of Presidents or assigned to the Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee.

The Athletic Directors Council shall conduct the business and administer the affairs of the SAC in accordance with the Conference Bylaws and Sport Policies.

f. g.

The Commissioner will assist the Athletic Directors Council, as appropriate. Operational duties that have not been assigned in this document will become the responsibility of the Athletic Directors Council.

Select the male and female Conference â&#x20AC;&#x153;Athlete of the Yearâ&#x20AC;? recipients.

Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee (FAR) a.

The Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee shall consist of the FAR of each member institution. The chair of the Athletic Directors Council or designee shall serve as a non-voting ex-officio member of the Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee. 8

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The FAR Committee shall also be a recommending body to the Council of Presidents.

Each member institution shall have one vote at the FAR Committee meeting.

The FAR Committee shall be responsible for implementing and interpreting eligibility rules and regulations for each Conference sport and for developing recommendations that pertain to academic standards and eligibility.

Select the sport specific Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Award recipients.

Advisory and Sport Committees The Council of Presidents, by resolution adopted by a majority of the then existing member institutions, may designate one or more additional committees which shall be vested with such powers as may be delegated to them in such resolution. 1.

Senior Woman Administrators Committee (SWA) a.

The Senior Woman Administrators Committee shall consist of the SWA from each member institution.

Each member institution shall have one vote at the SWA Committee meeting.

Officers i. ii.

The chair of the SWA Committee shall be selected by institutional alphabetical order. The term of appointment shall be for two years. The Conference office liaison in attendance shall produce a written report of the meeting no later than two weeks after the meeting. A copy of the report shall be mailed to the Commissioner the chair of the Athletic Directors Council, the AD liaison to the SWA committee and the members of the SWA Committee.

Meetings The two (2) annual meetings of the SWA Committee shall be held on a mutually agreed upon time and date in the fall and in conjunction with the annual spring meeting.

Compliance Coordinators Committee The purpose of the Compliance Coordinators Committee shall be to serve as a collective resource to the membership. a.

The Compliance Coordinators Committee shall consist of the compliance designee from each member institution.

Each member institution shall have one vote at the Compliance Coordinators Committee meeting.

Officers 9

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The chair of the Compliance Coordinators Committee shall be selected by institutional alphabetical order. The term of appointment shall be for two years.

ii.

The Conference office liaison in attendance shall produce a written report of the meeting no later than two weeks after the meeting. A copy of the report shall be mailed to the Commissioner, the chair of the Athletic Directors Council, the AD liaison to the Compliance Coordinators committee and the members of the Compliance Coordinators Committee.

Meetings The annual meeting of the Compliance Coordinators Committee shall be held during the fall on the campus of the Committee's Chair. Other meeting dates may be assigned by the Conference office.

Coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Committees The purpose of the sport specific Coaches Committees shall be to discuss sport specific business and propose Conference policies, as necessary. a.

The sport specific Coaches Committee shall consist of the head coach from each conference member. All conference sponsored varsity sport shall have a sport specific Coaches Committee

Each member institution shall have one vote at each sport specific Coaches Committee meeting.

Officers

The chair of each sport specific Coaches Committees shall be selected by institutional alphabetical order. The term of appointment shall be for two years.

ii.

The Conference office liaison in attendance shall produce a written report of the meeting no later than two weeks after the meeting. A copy of the report shall be mailed to the Commissioner, the chair of the Athletic Directors Council, the AD liaison to the sport specific Coaches Committee and the members of the respective Coaches Committee.

Meetings Each sport specific Coaches Committee shall have one (1) annual mandatory meeting during which the head coaches discuss sport specific business and make necessary recommendations.

Media Relation Directors Committee (MRD) The purpose of the MRD Committee shall be to recommend guidelines for the public recognition of individual athletic programs and Conference sports.

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The MRD Committee shall consist of the sports information director for each member institution.

Each member institution shall have one vote at the MRD Committee meeting.

Officers

The chair of the MRD Committee shall be selected by institutional alphabetical order. The term of appointment shall be for two years.

ii.

Meetings The annual meeting of the MRD Committee shall be held during the annual spring meeting (Revised, June, 2006)

Athletic Trainers Committee (ATC) The purpose of the ATC shall be to establish guidelines for the safety of student athletes and develop recommended procedures for the areas of insurance, substance abuse and assistance for visiting teams. All SAC Athletic Trainers must be certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association. a.

The ATC shall consist of head athletic trainer of each member institution.

Each member institution shall have one vote at the ATC meeting.

Officers

The chair of the ATC shall be selected by institutional alphabetical order. The term of appointment shall be for two years.

ii.

The Conference office liaison in attendance shall produce a written report of the meeting no later than two weeks after the meeting. A copy of the report shall be mailed to the Commissioner, the chair of the Athletic Directors Council, the AD liaison to the Athletic Trainers Committee and the members of the Athletic Trainers Committee.

Meetings The annual meeting of the ATC shall be held during the fall on the campus of the Committee's Chair.

ARTICLE IX. A.

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER

The Office of the Commissioner shall be located at a place designated by the Council of Presidents. 11

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The Commissioner shall report to the Council of Presidents and be paid a salary to be determined by the Council of Presidents. The term of his/her first contract shall not exceed two years.

The Commissioner shall present a budget for consideration to the Council of Presidents at least two weeks prior to the annual spring meeting of the Council. This budget requires council approval.

The Commissioner shall have the powers necessary for the effective performance of his/her duties.

The Commissioner's duties shall be: 1.

Serve as the chief administrative officer of the Conference and sign all documents requiring a Conference signatory on behalf of the Conference membership.

Act as the Conference Secretary-Treasurer and receive, collect and distribute all income received by the Conference as directed by the Council of Presidents.

Select and engage assistants and employees as may be authorized by the Council of Presidents and fix their compensation within the limits of approved budgets.

Interpret and enforce all rules and regulations of the Conference and the NCAA. This responsibility shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, broad discretionary powers to supervise investigations, hold hearings and impose temporary or permanent measures against member institutions, their personnel and students for conduct judged to be in violation of the spirit as well as the letter of Conference Bylaws and/or Sport Policies. The above shall be carried out under procedures as set forth in the Conference Bylaws.

Serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Council of Presidents, Athletic Directors, Faculty Representatives and all other Conference Committees.

Work with the governance committee chairs to arrange conference meetings and prepare meeting agendas and materials. Produce and distribute all meeting minutes and provide notification of all decisions made by the Conference governing committees.

Update and distribute copies of the Conference Bylaws and Sport Policies to each member institution's President, Faculty Athletic Representative and Athletic Director on an annual basis.

Administer all sports information activities to include media guide publications, press releases, and statistical reports.

Receive and review all eligibility forms and certify the procedures for eligibility and compliance utilized by each institution.

10.

Appoint officials for all Conference contests (between member institutions) and for nonConference contests, as requested.

11.

Encourage and promote collegial relations among the member institutions, their students and alumni. Offer advice and assistance in resolving membership disputes.

12.

Conduct a continuing educational program to promote the development of better sportsmanship and game environment, respect for the amateur spirit and understanding of the values of 12

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competitive athletics. Exert reasonable effort to acquaint the public with the ethics and high ideals that motivate the Conference in its conduct of intercollegiate athletics. 13.

Initiate and formulate income producing and cost saving initiatives in association with Conference championships and other approved avenues. Seek and present cost saving measures for Conference athletic programs.

14.

Visit each Conference member at least once each year to observe and evaluate the operation of its intercollegiate athletic program.

15.

Provide assistance to non-member institutions, as appropriate.

16.

Select and purchase awards and trophies awarded by the Conference.

17.

Perform other duties as directed by the Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee, Athletic Director Council and/or the Council of Presidents.

18.

Perform other duties as required per the Conference Bylaws.

ARTICLE X. A.

MEETINGS

Chair of Meetings The chair of the Governing Committees and Advisory/Sport Committees will be determined by institutional alphabetical order or by election within the respective committee. The term shall be for two years and shall begin on July 1

Minutes The Commissioner shall be present at the annual meetings of the Governing Committees and shall be responsible for the recording, transcribing and distribution of minutes of said meetings to the appropriate personnel of the member institutions within 10 working days of the respective meetings. Minutes for the Advisory/Sports Committees shall be recorded by the designated Conference office liaison in attendance.

Agenda The chairs of the Governing and Advisory/Sports Committees, in conjunction with the Commissioner's office, shall publish the meeting agenda and anticipated action items to all members no later than 10 working days prior to the meeting. Agenda items that require an official conference vote should be reported to the Commissioner at least two weeks prior to the applicable meeting. Exceptions will follow the procedures set forth in Roberts' Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

Conduct The committee chairs and Commissioner are responsible for seeing that all meetings are run in a timely, organized and professional manner. Published agenda and itinerary items should be adhered to strictly. 13

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Attendance Attendance at all Conference meetings is required in order to sustain the orderly and professional operation of the Conference. The meeting minutes will include a roster of those present and not present. If an individual is unable to attend a specific Conference meeting, they must notify the Conference office within one week prior to the meeting. In addition, it is strongly encouraged that the individual designate a representative to attend the meeting in their place.

Site Site selection for regular meetings of all Conference committees shall be the responsibility of the incumbent chair of such committee, in cooperation with the Commissioner.

Schedule of Meetings 1.

The Council of Presidents shall meet twice a year at a time and place to be arranged by the chair, in consultation with the Commissioner. The fall meeting shall include members of the Council of Presidents, only. The annual spring meeting shall include members of the FAR Committee and the Athletic Directors Council.

The FAR Committee shall meet periodically throughout the year. A summary report shall be filed at the annual spring meeting.

The Athletic Directors Council shall meet four times a year at a time and place to be arranged by the chair, in consultation with the Commissioner. A summary report shall be filed at the annual spring meeting.

The Advisory/Sports Committees shall each meet once a year at a time and place to be arranged by the chair, in consultation with the Commissioner. A summary report shall be filed with the Athletics Directors at the annual spring meeting.

ARTICLE XI.

SPONSORSHIP OF NCAA LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS

The following process will be followed for the Conference to sponsor and submit legislative proposals: [June 2011] a. b. c. d.

Proposals for Conference-sponsored NCAA legislation may be submitted to the Conference by any member institution, the Conference Commissioner, or the Conference Executive Committee. Proposals must be circulated to each member institution at least three weeks prior to the annual Conference meeting in June and will only be considered at the June meeting. Voting on such proposals will be by a recorded roll call vote at a joint meeting of the AD Council and the FAR Committee. A two-thirds vote (one vote per school) in favor is required for the proposal to be recommended to the Presidents Council. If the proposal is approved, with at least a two-thirds vote (one per school) in favor, by the Presidents Council, the Conference Commissioner shall be responsible for submitting the appropriate documents to the NCAA for the proposal to be considered at the next NCAA Convention.

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ARTICLE XII. A.

ELIGIBILITY RULES AND ACADEMIC STANDARDS

General Policy Each member institution shall apply the NCAA and SAC individual and institutional eligibility requirements for regular and post-season games as well as for all scrimmages against outside competition. The most restrictive of the institutional, SAC or NCAA regulations will be applicable in all cases.

SAC Eligibility All NCAA (DII) Eligibility rules are applicable for entrance and participation in a Conference contest.

Participation While Ineligible In a team sport, if a member institution is found to have played an ineligible student-athlete against a Conference opponent, the Commissioner shall declare any wins the institution had during that time nullified. Overall records, Conference records and championship results shall be adjusted to reflect the nullifications. The member institution’s adjusted record with the nullifications cannot improve a team’s position in the Conference standings or seeding in a Conference postseason tournament. In an individual sport, the Commissioner shall declare the ineligible student-athlete’s place finish/result (or championship) vacated. The team’s place finish shall be recalculated using only the place finishes/results of the eligible student-athletes. [June 2010]

Intra-Conference Transfer Rule A student-athlete who transfers from a SAC institution (A) to another SAC institution (B) is required to complete one full academic year of residence (see NCAA bylaw 14.5.1.1) at the certifying institution (B) before being eligible to compete or represent the institution. Any appeal of this rule must be predicated on an exception listed under NCAA Bylaw 14.5.5.3 and will be heard by an ad hoc committee of SAC Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs) according to the process outlined below. This ad hoc committee has the authority to waive the Intra-Conference Transfer Rule for extraordinary circumstances (e.g. death of a spouse, death of a parent, documented health needs, etc.). SAC Intra-Conference Transfer Appeals Process (Amended May 2018) 1. The student-athlete must submit a written request for an Appeals Opportunity to the FAR and Director of Athletics at his or her current institution. In addition, the SAC office should also be notified in writing. In the written request, a student-athlete should indicate the exception (see NCAA Bylaw 14.5.5.3) upon which the appeal is being based, should articulate the reasons and unusual circumstances that he or she believes warrant a waiver of the IntraConference Transfer Rule and should include any supporting documents that are deemed pertinent to the deliberation. The FAR will also contact the head coach or another representative (e.g. athletics director, compliance coordinator) at the institution to document the position of the athletics department in regards to the student-athlete’s desire to transfer. The FAR will then forward the appeal request and all supporting documentation to the SAC office, which will then notify the Chair of the FAR Committee.

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2. The SAC office shall inform the student-athlete, within 14 consecutive days of receiving the student-athlete’s written request, that he or she shall be provided an appeal opportunity. [Amended May 2018] 3. The notification of the appeal opportunity shall include a copy of the SAC office’s process for considering the appeal. The SAC office shall be responsible for distributing the letter of appeal and supporting documentation from the student-athlete and the document from the head coach and/or athletics department representative to the ad hoc committee members in advance of the appeal opportunity so that they may review the materials and prepare any questions that they may have. [Amended May 2018] 4. The appeal opportunity shall be conducted by an ad hoc committee of five SAC FARs. The chair of the FAR Committee is responsible for assembling a committee to review and discuss the appeal (FAR participation on these hearing committees will generally rotate according to institutional alphabetical order, but will mainly be based on schedule availability: Anderson, Carson-Newman, Catawba, Coker, Lenoir-Rhyne, *Limestone, Lincoln Memorial, Mars Hill, Newberry, Queens, Tusculum and Wingate). When an FAR is unavailable to serve, or a student-athlete making the appeal is enrolled at or plans to transfer to an FAR’s institution, the next FAR (in institutional order) will be asked to participate on the committee. The Chair of the FAR Committee will be an ex-officio (i.e. non-voting) member of the ad hoc committee. [Amended May 2018] *Appeals in the sport of football only. 5. The Chair of the FAR Committee shall conduct the appeal opportunity within 30 consecutive calendar days of receiving a student-athlete’s request for the appeal. If the FAR Committee fails to conduct the appeal opportunity within 30 consecutive calendar days, the release shall be granted by default and the student-athlete shall receive a written release from the SAC office. The SAC office will make every effort to set aside a convenient, regular monthly day and time (e.g. the first Wednesday of each month at 3:30 p.m.) for such appeal opportunities to be conducted. [Amended May 2018] 6. The appeal opportunity will be conducted via conference call and shall only include members of the FAR Committee. At the conclusion of the conference call, the SAC office will email the ad hoc committee members to collect their votes. The decision, as rendered by majority vote of the five ad hoc committee members, is final. The student-athlete, head coach and athletics director will be notified, in writing, by the SAC office within five (5) days of the ad hoc committee’s decision. [Amended May 2018] Additionally, other appropriate National Letter of Intent regulations, NCAA DII transfer legislation and progress-toward-degree legislation are applicable. [January 2007] ARTICLE XIII. A.

ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES

Role of Commissioner The Commissioner shall investigate reports of alleged violations of rules and regulations of the Conference and/or the NCAA. Alleged violations must be reported in writing. The Commissioner shall be the principal enforcement officer of the Conference Bylaws and Sport Policies, but shall not undertake significant investigative responsibilities except in a supervisory 16

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capacity. The Commissioner may initiate an investigation of an institution upon his own initiative. A Conference President, Athletic Director or FAR may also submit a written request for the Commissioner to conduct an investigation of another institution. In either case, the Commissioner must inform the President prior to conducting any specific inquiry at their respective institution. B.

Intra-Conference Violation Report Procedures In order to limit intra-conference problems, the following procedures are recommended, but not required, for the purpose of reporting a potential violation of Conference and/or NCAA rules by another Conference member.

The Athletic Director of the accusing institution must submit a written inquiry or report of the potential violation to the Athletic Director of the offending institution, with a copy to the Commissioner.

The Athletic Director of the accused institution should investigate the reported offense and forward a written response back to the Athletic Director of the accusing institution within in 10 working days, with a copy to the Commissioner.

Any discovery of a Conference violation must be reported in writing to the Conference office. Any discovery of an NCAA violation must be reported to the NCAA with a copy to the Conference office.

If necessary, the Council of Presidents shall determine whether to refer a violation of NCAA bylaws to the NCAA for a full-scale investigation by that body.

Procedures for a Violation of the SAC Bylaws and/or Sport Policies If an institution violates a bylaw and/or sport policy of the Conference, the institutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s President should enact a committee to review the violation. The committee should include the FAR, the Director of Athletics, a senior administrative official and any other individuals deemed appropriate by the President. 1.

A written report of the findings shall be sent to the President of the Conference and the Commissioner within a period of time deemed appropriate by the Commissioner.

If the investigation reveals that a violation does or may exist, the institution has the right to request a hearing. The Commissioner shall determine the date and site for the hearing, in consultation with the President, the FAR, and the Athletic Director of the member institution involved.

The Commissioner may elect to hear a case privately or appoint a review panel to assist him/her in the hearing.

If the Commissioner/review panel concludes that the institution has committed a violation, or if representatives of the institution fail to appear at the hearing, the Commissioner may impose penalties such as, but not limited to, those listed in Appendix A.

Upon request, the Commissioner shall report the results of any investigations related to violations of Conference rules and regulation during an executive session of the Council of Presidents. He/she shall 17

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also render an annual report at the annual spring meeting of his/her enforcement activities, including interpretations of and rulings on general and special regulations. D.

Other Cases All other cases will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Council of Presidents. The President from the involved institution may not participate as a member of the Council of Presidents hearing body. The institution, any employee or student thereof involved in the case shall have an opportunity to present their case to the hearing body and to be represented by legal counsel. The decision of the Council of Presidents must be rendered within one week after the hearing. The Council of Presidents has the authority to impose penalties as described in the Appendix.

Sportsmanship The Commissioner shall be authorized to investigate cases involving unsportsmanlike conduct of coaches, institutional officials, participants on teams or members of the team party representing a member institution. If there is sufficient evidence of unsportsmanlike conduct, he/she shall be authorized to impose such penalties as deemed appropriate. Such penalties may include, but are not limited, to those listed in Appendix A.

Penalties Penalties imposed by the Commissioner shall be effective immediately and shall remain in effect until and unless they are set aside by the Council of Presidents upon appeal. The Athletic Directors Council (excluding the offending institution) or FAR (excluding the offending institution) may request by a majority vote that the Presidents Council hear an appeal of the Commissioner's decision.

ARTICLE XIV.

APPEALS

The decision of the Commissioner in any proceedings under Article XIII may be appealed. Such an appeal must be made by the involved institution within ten working days after receiving the notice of action by registered mail. Any appeals received after the ten working days window has expired will not be processed. A.

Appeals Process 1.

Requests for an appeal of an interpretative decision, violations or penalties imposed by the Commissioner may be presented to the Athletic Directors Council or FAR Committee through their Committee Chairman. The institution requesting an appeal must submit a written request that identifies the specific offense and corresponding rationale for which the appeal is being made. The request must include the signature of the President, FAR and Athletic Director from the institution that is seeking an appeal.

The Athletic Directors Council and/or FAR Committee shall review the written request and may recommend by a majority vote (excluding the offending institution) that the Council of Presidents hear an appeal of the Commissioner's decision. The written recommendation for a hearing by the Council of Presidents must include the specific offense and corresponding rationale for which the hearing would be warranted. 18

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The appeal proceeding shall be limited in scope and will not constitute a new hearing of the case.

The decision shall be rendered only after affording any institution, employee, or student involved in the appealed portion of the case with an opportunity to be heard and to be represented by legal counsel.

Ruling Timeline The Council of Presidents shall render a decision within five business days after hearing the appeal. The ruling will be considered final and the case will be ineligible for further appeal, except as listed below.

Additional Appeals The Council of Presidents may consider a request to reopen a case based upon receipt of new evidence or facts of prejudicial error from the original hearing or appeals procedure. If the Council determines not to reopen a case, the case is not eligible for further appeal.

ARTICLE XV. A.

SAC SPORTS AND PARTICIPATION

Recognition of Sports The following sports are recognized as SAC championship sports with the year started in parenthesis: Men Baseball (1989-90) Basketball (1989-90) Cross Country (1993-94) Football (1975-76) Golf (1989-90) Indoor Track and Field (2017-18) Lacrosse (2013-14) Outdoor Track and Field (2013-14) Soccer (1989-90) Tennis (1989-90)

Women Basketball (1989-90) Cross Country (1993-94) Golf (1999-00) Indoor Track and Field (2017-18) Lacrosse (2013-14) Outdoor Track and Field (2013-14) Soccer (1990-91) Softball (1989-90) Tennis (1989-90) Volleyball (1989-90)

A South Atlantic Conference member is encouraged to sponsor all sports listed above and conference affiliation can be impacted if a member does not sponsor the majority of these sports at the varsity level. All SAC members must schedule other SAC members that sponsor a championship sport in accordance with SAC scheduling guidelines. B.

Minimum Requirements for Recognition Fifty percent (50%) of the member institutions must sponsor a sport for two (2) consecutive years and all years thereafter in order for that sport to be recognized as a Conference sport. In such cases, the SAC Presidents Council may vote to approve regular season competition (when applicable) and the determination of a Conference champion and/or Conference tournament. [Amended June 2010] If a member institution sponsors a sport at the varsity level that is also a conference championship sport, the member institution may not â&#x20AC;&#x153;opt outâ&#x20AC;? of competing at the conference level in that sport. [June 2012]

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Eligibility for SAC Championships and Postseason Tournaments All teams from Conference member institutions in good standing are eligible to compete for Conference Championships and in Conference postseason tournaments if those teams qualify for the postseason tournament per the specific sport's operating policy. For any sport in which the Conference has an automatic qualification to the NCAA championship, teams that are not eligible to participate in the NCAA championship for any reason (e.g. reclassifying, provisional, ineligible) shall be prohibited from participating in the Conference tournament. [January 2017]

Competitiveness Member institutions must make a good faith effort to be competitive in each Conference sponsored sport by maintaining appropriate operating budgets and providing adequate facilities.

Staffing Member institutions must make a good faith effort to staff each Conference sponsored sport with a fulltime employee of the institution whose dedication to the coaching field is appropriate to the task.

Echols Athletic Excellence Award The Echols Athletic Excellence Award shall be awarded annually to the member institution that has the best overall athletic program based on the order of the regular-season finish in all team sports (baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, football, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, softball men’s tennis, women’s tennis, volleyball) and the championship finish for all individual sports (men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s track and field, women’s track and field) in which the Conference sponsors a championship. If two or more teams are tied, the points of those teams in consideration will be combined and then divided by the number of teams involved. Starting in 2016-17, the following point system will be used to determine the winner: # Teams 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th

14 100 93 86 79 71 64 57 50 43 36 29 21 14 10

13 100 92 85 77 69 62 54 46 38 31 23 15 10 XX

12 100 92 83 75 67 58 50 42 33 25 17 10 XX XX

11 100 91 82 73 64 55 45 36 27 18 10 XX XX XX

[Amended November 2015] 20

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10 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 XX XX XX XX

9 100 89 78 67 56 44 33 22 10 XX XX XX XX XX

8 100 88 75 63 50 38 25 10 XX XX XX XX XX XX

7 100 86 71 57 43 19 10 XX XX XX XX XX XX XX

6 100 83 67 50 33 10 XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX

ARTICLE XVI. A.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Definition Financial assistance shall be construed to include any and all financial aid, which is institutionally controlled and allocated as defined by the NCAA (DII) standards.

Maximum Financial Assistance The maximum amount of athletic aid that a Conference institution may award per sport shall be as follows [Amended September 2013]: SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE and NCAA Financial Aid Limits 2018-19

Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sports Baseball Basketball Cross Country Cross Country/Track and Field Football Golf Lacrosse Soccer Tennis

NCAA Maximum Equivalency 9.0 10.0 5.0 12.6 36.0 3.6 10.8 9.0 4.5

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sports Basketball Cross Country Cross Country/Track and Field Golf Lacrosse Soccer Softball Tennis Volleyball Total

10.0 6.0 12.6 5.4 9.9 9.9 7.2 6.0 8.0 175.5

Financial Limitations Beginning 1992-93, all member institutions that vie for a Conference Championship in the sports listed above must be in full compliance with the financial limitations by the beginning of the each academic year and sports season.

Counting Process The method for financial aid computation shall be based on the NCAA (DII) method of calculating financial aid. [Amended September 2013] 21

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Federal and State Assistance Such assistance shall be awarded as per requirements for students not participating in the intercollegiate athletic program.

Direct Cost Limit The maximum amount of financial aid that a student-athlete (recruited or non-recruited) may receive shall not exceed direct cost, which is defined to include only tuition and fees and on-campus room and board. 1.

If a student-athlete receives entitlement aid (e.g. Pell grant, SEOG, state tuition grant), they may also receive additional institutionally controlled financial aid. The total of the entitlement and institutionally controlled financial aid may not exceed the direct cost of the institution.

Pell grant funds shall be used for direct educational expenses at all SAC institutions.

All student-athletes receiving athletics financial aid may receive the actual cost of book expenses. Further, only Pell grant recipients will be able to receive financial aid in excess of the direct cost limit. [Amended November 2017]

If a student-athlete receives financial aid from an established and continuing outside program (e.g., Rotary Club, National Sorority) that meets the criteria of NCAA Bylaw 15.2.5.3, the total of the financial aid from the outside program, entitlement aid (if applicable) and institutionally controlled financial aid may exceed the direct cost of the institution, but not the cost of attendance (including books). [September 2012]

ARTICLE XVII.

RULES FOR PRACTICE AND PLAY

All NCAA DII guidelines as outlined in Bylaw 17 will be followed. All Conference sport specific rules for practice and play may be found in the Sport Policies. APPENDIX A.

PENALTIES

The offending institution or staff member may be reprimanded, privately or publicly, by the Commissioner and warned against repetition of the offense.

The guilty staff member may be denied the privilege of contact with any prospective or present athlete for a period of up to one year. The same penalty may be imposed upon all staff members of the sport involved.

The institution may be denied the right to schedule games with other Conference members in the sport in which the violation occurred. This action shall be subject to approval of the Council of Presidents.

The Commissioner shall have the authority to fine any member institution a maximum of $1,000.00 for any violation of the Bylaws and Sport Policies. Fines assessed shall be paid within thirty (30) days after final determinations.

The Commissioner may order severance of athletic relations with the offending institution. This action shall be subject to the approval of the Council of Presidents. 22

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The Commissioner may declare the ineligibility of individual team members, of a team or teams for Conference Championships.

The Commissioner may determine that contests against a college on probation for violations in a sport may be determined not to count in Conference standings in that sport. The Commissioner may restrict a coach involved in violations from any coaching activity for a period of time up to one year.

8. 9.

The Commissioner may issue a reduction in the number of initial grants in football or basketball for one or more years.

10.

The Commissioner may issue a reduction in the maximum allowable grants (equivalency) in a sport for one or more years.

11.

The Commissioner may require the disassociation of the institution from a booster club or club member, or the reorganization of such a club controlled by the institution.

12.

The Commissioner may restrict a coach from summer sports camp activity.

13.

The Commissioner may require an annual or periodic report from a coach, FAR, Athletic Director, or other college official concerning the status of compliance in a sport or with any area of the athletic program.

14.

The Commissioner may require student athletes to be withheld from future competition because of the violation of Conference Regulations to include but not limited to unsportsmanlike conduct.

15.

On behalf of the Council of Presidents, the Commissioner may require an institution to show cause as to why its membership should not be terminated if appropriate action is not taken against a representative of the institution found to have been involved in serious violations.

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SPORT POLICIES POLICIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR THE MOST UP-T0-DATE POLICIES VISIT WWW.THESAC.COM/ABOUT/POLICIES

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SPORT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION [UPDATED August 2018] SECTION 1. TITLE

BASEBALL

A. South Atlantic Conference Baseball Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head baseball coach of each member institution. Each head coach shall have one vote. The Baseball Committee shall be a recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding baseball matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Baseball Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for baseball and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than October 1. The Athletic Directors Council will act on all baseball recommendations during its fall meeting. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Baseball Committee shall be chaired by a head baseball coach. The chair must have been a head coach in the conference for two (2) years before accepting the role. (October 2005)

The chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

The Baseball Committee shall elect a Secretary each year and that term shall be one year.

Duties The chair shall preside over the annual meeting of the Baseball Committee and report all recommendations in the proper written format to the Athletic Directors Council via the Athletic Director Liaison for the Baseball Committee no later than October 1. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the South Atlantic Conference office.

SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1.

The committee will meet annually in the fall during each academic year. The meeting will be in person or via conference call at a date and site determined by the conference office. 1

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BASEBALL All head coaches (or designee) are required to attend or participate in (via conference call) the annual coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting. a. b. 2. B.

Failure to be in attendance or participate (via conference call) will result in the loss of the ability to vote on any issue discussed during the meeting. Failure to be in attendance or participate (via conference call) for two (2) consecutive meetings will result in a financial penalty.

Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum. Six (6) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

Tobacco Ban The use of all tobacco products by student-athletes and game personnel (e.g. coaches, umpires athletic trainers, managers) is prohibited at the site of the game competition, as well as at Conference activities such as banquets, autograph sessions, press conferences and post game/match interviews. Violation of this ban will result in disqualification of the offending individual and the head coach for the remainder of the contest. Umpires are instructed to take a zero tolerance policy in this area. The umpiresâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; jurisdiction begins with regard to this rule upon their arrival on the field or dugout in uniform. Umpires who use tobacco before, during or after a game in the vicinity of the site shall be reported to and punished by Supervisor of Umpires and/or the Commissioner.

SECTION 7. REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE PLAY These regulations are intended to supplement NCAA rules and regulations as prescribed in Bylaw 17 of the NCAA Division II Manual. A.

Rules and Regulations 1.

All Conference regular season games will be played according to the most current NCAA Baseball Rules and Regulations publication.

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BASEBALL The first and second games of a Conference series will adhere to Rule 5-9 (Halted Game) of the most current NCAA Baseball Rules and Regulations publication in the event the game(s) cannot be played to completion due to weather or other unforeseen conflicts. The third game of a Conference series will adhere to Rule 5-8 (Regulation Game) of the most current NCAA Baseball Rules and Regulations publication in the event the game cannot be played to completion due to weather or other unforeseen conflicts. If the game is tied and cannot be completed due to weather or other unforeseen conflicts, Rule 5-9 (Halted Game) shall apply. [October 2011]

Conference members are prohibited from providing any form of a scouting report (e.g. written/verbal/game film) on another South Atlantic Conference member to any Conference or non-conference coach.

Batting practice shall be taken on the field prior to all Conference games [March 2002]. Each team will be allowed 40 minutes for batting practice and 10 minutes for infield practice.

In the case of wet or damaged field conditions, batting practice may be moved to batting cages only; however, the opportunity to use a batting cage must be provided to the visiting team, as well. The decision to conduct batting practice in batting cages shall made by the host institution.

A postgame line-up for handshakes is encouraged but not required.

Regular Season Conference Schedule 1.

The Conference office will develop the regular season schedule.

Each institution shall play a three game series against eight of the other 11 participating Conference member for a total of 24 games. The rotation of opponents played will vary each year. All games must be completed by the Sunday prior to the start of the Conference Championship. No Conference regular season games shall be played during the month of May or during any institutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s final exam schedule. [April 2014]

Series will be scheduled by the Conference office as two days (Friday and Saturday OR Saturday and Sunday). A Friday/Saturday series will consist of a single game on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday. No doubleheaders on Friday are permitted except on the Friday prior to Easter (Good Friday) or in the event both institutions do not have classes scheduled (i.e. Spring Break). [Amended April 2017] A Saturday/Sunday series will consist of a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. Conference doubleheaders will consist of one nine-inning game followed by one seveninning game and single games will be scheduled nine innings. [October 2009]

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4. C.

BASEBALL A Conference game(s) scheduled for Sunday shall not start prior to 1:00 p.m.

Rainout Policy 1.

If one or more games of a Conference series are postponed or cancelled due to inclement weather, Monday may be designated as a make-up day, assuming no games were played on Friday. If NO games of a Conference series are able to be played on Friday, Saturday or Sunday due to inclement weather, then a doubleheader may be played on Monday. In the event of inclement weather, teams have up to three days to complete a series (Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Saturday, Sunday, Monday). If a conference series carries over to three days due to weather, then the Directors of Athletics at the two participating schools must agree to allow the teams to play on the third day. The scheduled second game of a doubleheader must still remain a seveninning game even if it is played the next day (e.g. Nine-inning game on Friday. First game of a DH is completed on Saturday, but the second game is postponed until Sunday. The third and final game of the series remains a seven-inning game, inasmuch as it is still the second game of the DH). The schedule would be as follows: [October 2015] a. a. b. c. d. e.

Friday/Saturday Friday/Sunday (in the event of inclement weather on Saturday) Saturday/Sunday (in the event of inclement weather on Friday) Saturday/Monday (in the event of inclement weather on Friday and/or Sunday) Sunday/Monday (in the event of inclement weather on Friday and/or Saturday) In the event of inclement weather, a conference series may be played on three days, however every effort should be made to play the series in two days. f. If the coaches are unable to agree on a make-up date, then the Directors of Athletics at the two participating schools shall agree on a date. [March 2004]

The Conference schedule shall take precedence over non-Conference games. Conference teams are encouraged not to schedule non-Conference games on Mondays.

The Directors of Athletics may mutually consent to change the site of a Conference series due to unplayable conditions at the scheduled home site. The site may only be changed if it is done prior to the start of the first game of the series. a. The originally scheduled home team is responsible for notifying the visiting team and the officials regarding the change. b. The originally scheduled home team will continue to be the home team on the scoreboard. c. The site change will not affect the following yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s schedule. [March 2002]

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BASEBALL

Easter Weekend 1.

Conference series scheduled on Easter weekend must be played on Friday and Saturday. [June 2009]

If a series can’t be completed on Saturday of Easter weekend, no makeup games will be played on Easter Sunday. Games may be scheduled for a future date if both Directors of Athletics mutually consent to the date(s) and location. This policy is applicable regardless of whether the visiting team has incurred expenses. [June 2009]

If no games of a Conference series can be played on both Friday and Saturday due to rain or inclement weather, then a makeup doubleheader will be played on Monday if both Directors of Athletics agree. [June 2009]

Game Balls The Wilson WTA1010BPROFSAC will be the official baseball for all Conference regular season and tournament games. [Amended June 2014]

Umpires 1.

All umpires for Conference regular season and tournament games will be assigned by the SAC Coordinator of Baseball Umpires.

Umpires should be notified of the applicable rules of play by the host institution’s coach. The host institution’s coach is required to have a baseball rulebook available.

One umpire in chief and two additional umpires will be assigned for each Conference regular-season and tournament contest. If a scheduled umpire is not at the site, the game(s) shall start on time and a two-person system shall be used until the third umpire arrives. [Amended April 2017]

Coaches, student-athletes and institutional representatives are prohibited from making public comments about umpires.

Protests 1.

Umpires’ judgment decisions are final and not subject to protest. Protests may only be made on rules interpretations. At the time of the protest, the official scorer is notified and the game shall continue. A protest of a decision made by an umpire must be submitted in writing to the SAC Coordinator of Baseball Umpires no earlier than 24 hours and no later than 48 hours following the completion of the contest. The written protest must include the signature of the head coach and athletic director (or designee). A copy of the protest will also be sent to the Conference office. [March 2008]

A fee of $250 must accompany the written protest. If the protest is upheld, the $250 fee will be returned to the protesting institution. If the protest is not upheld, the $250 will be used to offset costs associate with the Conference awards program. [March 2008] 5

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BASEBALL

Upon receipt of the protest, the Commissioner shall decide if the protest will be upheld (after proper investigation and counsel). This may include a conference call with all involved parties (both head coaches, coordinator of baseball umpires, AD liaison, etc.). [March 2008]

If the protest is upheld, the game will be nullified for both teams. [March 2008]

The decision of the Commissioner will be final and unable to be appealed. [March 2008]

Publicity 1.

All game results shall be reported to the Conference office no later than 11:00 a.m. each Monday of the regular season. All statistics shall be reported to the Conference office no later than 11:00 a.m. each Monday of the regular season. The Conference office will prepare and post on its website results, standings, statistics and award winners.

A Preseason Poll will be determined by a vote of the head baseball coaches and released to the public approximately one month prior to the start of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own team. [Amended June 2012]

A First-Team Preseason All-Conference and a Second-Team Preseason All-Conference shall be selected by the Conference sports information directors and released to the public at the same time as the Preseason Poll.

Regular Season Champion 1.

The regular season champion will be the team with the highest winning percentage based on games against conference opponents and shall be declared the Conference champion.

Any tie for regular season champion will not be broken. In the case of a tie, cochampions shall be named.

SECTION 8. CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT Wherever applicable, policies and procedures governing the administration and conduct of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Baseball Championship shall be utilized. A.

Date and Site 1.

The Conference tournament site shall be determined by an approved rotation schedule. In the event the tournament is conducted at a neutral site, the designated host institution will be responsible for providing assistance with athletic trainers, sports information personnel and any other pertinent personnel deemed necessary by the Conference office. [March 2003] 6

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Year 2019 2020 2021 2022

Site/Host Smokies Stadium, TN/C-N & LMU Smokies Stadium, TN/C-N & LMU Smokies Stadium, TN/C-N & Tusculum TBD

BASEBALL

Dates April 25-29 April 23-27 April 22-26 April 28-May 2

The tournament will be conducted on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. If the tournament dates fall on Easter weekend, it will be conducted on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. [Amended April 2014]

The tournament shall be conducted on the final full weekend of April. [June 2012] Actual dates shall be set at least one year in advance.

Format 1.

The tournament will be conducted with two ‘play-in’ games, #5 vs. # 8 and # 6 vs. # 7 on the first day of the tournament using a single elimination format. The top four seeds will receive a bye. Beginning on the second day, the tournament will be conducted using a traditional six-team double elimination format. [Amended April 2014] Thursday

Game 1 – #5 vs. #8 Game 2 – #6 vs. #7

Friday

Game 3 – #1 vs. Lowest remaining seed from Games 1 and 2 Game 4 – #2 vs. Highest remaining seed from Games 1 and 2 Game 5 – #3 vs. #4

Saturday

Game 6 – Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Loser Game 7 – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Loser Game 8 – Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner

Sunday

Game 9 – Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner Game 10 – Game 6 Winner vs. Game 8 Loser Game 11 – Game 10 Winner vs. Game 9 Loser

Monday

Game 12 – Game 9 Winner vs. Game 11 Winner Game 13 – Game 12 Winner vs. Game 12 Loser (if necessary)

An alternate bracket will be used if five teams remain after Game 8 and two after Game 9 or if five teams remain after Game 8 and three after Game 11. [Amended April 2014]

The host institution/site in conjunction with the Conference office will determine all tournament game times. Game times will be published in the tournament handbook. 7

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BASEBALL

No game in the Conference tournament may begin later than 10:30 p.m. [November 2016]

The practice and warm-up schedule will be determined by the host institution/site and/or tournament director.

The higher seeded team, or designated home team, will occupy the dugout on the third base line for all games.

The higher seed in first round games shall be the home team. In determining the home team in all rounds following the first round, the following procedures will be used in order: a. The team that has been the home team the fewer number of times in that particular tournament. b. If the two teams are equal in this respect but unequal in the number of times they were the visitor, then the team that has been the visitor more often will be designated as the home team. c. If the two teams are equal in the number of times that they have been home and visitor, the games committee or the committee representative shall observe the following procedures in the order stated: i. ii. iii.

If the two teams have met previously in the tournament, the visitor in the previous game shall be the home team in the game in question. The team that was visitor in its preceding game shall be the home team unless both teams were visitors in their preceding games; or If the above procedures do not resolve the matter, the home team shall be determined by a coin toss.

*In an “if necessary” game, the teams will reverse the home and away designation regardless of the above guidelines, but remain in the same dugout and same uniforms. 9.

The team that wins the Conference tournament shall receive the Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. If the tournament cannot be played to completion due to weather or other unforeseen conflicts, then the regular season champion will receive the automatic bid, irrespective of that team’s record in the Conference tournament. Should the regular season have co-champions in this scenario, the team designated as the number one seed will receive the automatic bid. [July 2006]

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BASEBALL 1. Two-way Ties. The following methods (in order) will be used to break the tie: a. Head-to-head record among the tied teams. b. If a tie still exists or the teams did not play any conference games against each other, a comparison of each team’s winning percentage against the highest seeded common opponent. c. If a tie still exists, then a comparison of each team’s winning percentage against the next highest seeded common opponent (and continuing straight down through the standings, if necessary). d. If a tie still exists, the Commissioner shall conduct a coin flip.

2. Three-way Ties: (when one team is removed from the three-way tie, the two-way tie is broken using the above criteria) a. The highest winning percentage in head-to-head competition among the tied teams. If the tied teams did not all play each other (e.g. Team A played Team C, Team B played Team C, but Teams A and B did not play each other), then this criteria is skipped and No. 2 below is the first criteria. b. If a tie still exists, a comparison of each team’s winning percentage against the highest seeded common opponent. c. If a tie still exists, a comparison of each team’s winning percentage against the next highest seeded common opponent (and continuing straight down through the standings, if necessary). d. If a tie still exists, the Commissioner shall put the team names in a hat and conduct a blind draw. The first team drawn receives the higher seed. 3. Four-way (or greater) Ties: The same criteria listed in “B” shall be used. Once one team is removed from the four-way (or greater) tie, the remaining three- and/or two-way ties are broken using the processes in “1” or “2”. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, it shall be broken by a coin flip conducted by the Commissioner. D.

Pre-Tournament Conference Call 1.

During the week before the Championship, the Conference office will conduct a mandatory pre-tournament conference call with the following participants: all involved head coaches, the host Athletic Director, the host sports information personnel, the host facilities staff, the head official and a Conference representative. The purpose of the conference call will be to review the schedule of events, awards presentation, practice times and general tournament details.

The Conference office will set the time of the call, create an agenda and provide the necessary conference call information to each participating institution. The Commissioner shall inform the Director of Athletics in writing when institutional representatives do not participate on the conference call.

Umpires 1.

The supervisor of baseball umpires shall assign three (3) umpires to all tournament 9

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BASEBALL

games. 2.

The Conference office will be responsible for paying the tournament umpires.

SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

Player of the Year 1.

The Baseball Player of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the baseball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a trophy.

Pitcher of the Year 1.

The Baseball Pitcher of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the baseball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a trophy.

Freshman of the Year 1.

The Baseball Freshman of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the baseball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Coach of the Year 1.

The Baseball Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the baseball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Regular Season Champion 1.

The Conference champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the regular season champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

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BASEBALL

All-Conference Teams 1.

A thirteen (13) person First-Team All-Conference, a thirteen (13) person Second-Team All-Conference and a thirteen (13) person Honorable Mention Team shall be selected by the head baseball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. [Amended October 2013]

Each team shall be comprised of one (1) catcher, three (3) starting pitchers, one (1) relief pitcher, four (4) infielders, three (3) outfielders and one (1) designated hitter. Winners will be selected by position. All designated hitter nominees must have been the designated hitter of record in at least 50% of all games to be eligible at that position. A student-athlete may be nominated for only one position.

In the event of ties, the number of individuals on the first and second team may be adjusted.

Nomination forms and ballots will be sent to each head coach by the Conference office along with deadlines for them to be returned. Final ballots will be tallied by the Conference office. A First-Team vote will be awarded two (2) points and a Second-Team vote will be awarded one (1) point. The student-athletes receiving the greatest number of points will be named First and Second Team All Conference at each position.

At the conclusion of the final regular-season contest, a conference call with all head coaches to discuss the nominees is permitted. The call shall be scheduled, coordinated and managed by the current chair of the coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; committee; however, ALL voting shall be conducted via the online system on the SAC website (i.e. No voting shall take place during the conference call). The voting system will open one hour after the scheduled conference call and close at a designated and communicated deadline. Final ballots will be reviewed by the AD Liaison to the coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; committee and tallied by the Conference office. [April 2015]

Coaches may not vote for their own player(s) and must vote for every position.

First and Second Team winners will be awarded a plaque. [Amended 2016]

All-Defense Team 1.

A nine (9) person All-Defense Team shall be selected by the head baseball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season.

The team shall be comprised of one (1) pitcher, one (1) catcher, one (1) first baseman, one (1) second baseman, one (1) third baseman, one (1) shortstop, one (1) left fielder, one (1) center fielder and one (1) right fielder. Winners will be selected by position. A student-athlete may be nominated for only one position. 11

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BASEBALL Nomination forms and ballots will be sent to each head coach by the Conference office along with deadlines for them to be returned. Final ballots will be tallied by the Conference office.

Coaches may not vote for their own player(s) and must vote for every position.

Winners will be awarded a framed personalized certificate. [Amended 2016]

Tournament Champion The tournament Champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the tournament champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

Tournament Runner-Up The team that is the tournament runner-up will be awarded a plaque.

All-Tournament Team 1.

A fifteen (15) person All-Tournament Team, regardless of position, shall be selected at the conclusion of the tournament. The All-Tournament Team will consist of the following individuals and the head coach will select the representatives from his team no later than the Tuesday following the conclusion of the tournament [Amended October 2012 and April 2014] a. Seven (7) members (the MVP shall be one of the seven) from the tournament champion. b. Four (4) from the runner-up team. c. Two (2) from the third-place team. d. Two (2) from the fourth-place team.

2. K.

Members of the All-Tournament team will be awarded a medal. [July 2015]

Tournament Most Valuable Player 1.

The tournament Most Valuable Player shall be selected by the head coach of the tournament champion team. [October 2009]

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Honor Roll All South Atlantic Conference baseball student-athletes who have a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll. [June 2010]

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BASEBALL

Elite 20 1.

The Elite 20 award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site of each of the SAC Championships. [April 2016]

Ties will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed.

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

SAC Athlete of the Year Award 1.

The baseball Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year shall be considered nominees for the SAC Male Athlete of the Year Award. No other baseball student-athlete shall be nominated as Athlete of the Year. [Amended 2013]

The Athletic Directors Council will select one male and one female student-athlete as the Athlete-of-the-Year. Members of the Athletic Directors Council may vote for their own student-athlete.

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Scholar-Athlete Award 1.

Each institution may nominate one student-athlete per sport for each sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award.

Nominees for the Scholar-Athlete must meet the following criteria: a. A minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA b. Be of sophomore status, at minimum c. Excel in academics, athletics and community/leadership activities.

Each sport in which the Conference awards a team champions will have one winner. The sport-specific winners shall be selected by the Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee at the end of each sport season. [June 2009]

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Presidents Award 1.

Only student-athletes that have won a sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award during the same academic year are eligible for the Presidents Award.

Institutions may nominate one male and one female sport specific Scholar-Athlete award winners for the Presidents Award. The nominees must be of junior status, at minimum and it is expected that the nominees will represent a superior level of academic, athletic, and community/leadership qualities. 13

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BASEBALL

The Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee shall select one male and one female winner at the end of the academic year.

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Senior Participation Award All baseball student-athletes competing in their final season of eligibility will receive a senior memento award sponsored by the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. [Revised 2004] A student-athlete shall have competed in the sport of baseball at a SAC institution for a minimum of two years in order to be eligible to receive the senior award. [June 2012]

SAC Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week 1.

Nominations are due by Monday at 10:00 a.m. and the winners are selected by 12:00 noon the same day.

Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week winners will be announced as part of the weekly sport report and will be awarded a personalized certificate. [Amended 2004]

Statistical Champions 1.

The baseball Statistical Champions will be the leaders in each of the following statistical categories at the conclusion of the regular season: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k.

Batting Average On-Base Percentage Slugging Percentage Home Runs Per Game Runs Batted In Per Game Runs Scored Per Game Triples Per Game Stolen Bases Per Game Earned Run Average Strikeouts Per Game Pitching Victories

l. m. n. o. p. q. r. s. t. u. v.

Team Batting Average Team Slugging Percentage Team Triples Per Game Team Doubles Per Game Team Runs Scored Per Game Team Home Runs Per Game Team Runs Batted In Per Game Team On-Base Percentage Team Stolen Bases Per Game Team Earned Run Average Team Strikeouts Per Game

Each winner will be awarded a personalized certificate.

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Sport Specific Legislation [UPDATED August 2018]

MEN’S BASKETBALL

SECTION 1. TITLE South Atlantic Conference Men’s Basketball Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head men’s basketball coach of each member institution. Each head coach shall have one vote. The Men’s Basketball Committee shall be a recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding men’s basketball matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Men’s Basketball Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for men’s basketball and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than May 1. The Athletic Directors Council will act on all men’s basketball recommendations during its annual meeting in June. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Men’s Basketball Committee shall be chaired by a head men’s basketball coach. The chair must have been a head coach in the conference for two (2) years before accepting the role.

The chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

Duties The chair shall preside over the annual meeting of the Men’s Basketball Committee and report all recommendations in the proper written format to the Athletic Directors Council via the Athletic Director Liaison for the Men’s Basketball Committee no later than May 1. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the SAC Commissioner.

SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1.

The committee will meet annually on the second Monday in April (i.e. two days prior to the start of the regular National Letter of Intent signing period for basketball). The meeting will be in person or via conference call at a date and site determined by the conference office. 1

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3. B.

All head coaches (or designee) are required to attend or participate in (via conference call) the annual coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting. a.

Failure to be in attendance or participate (via conference call) will result in the loss of the ability to vote on any issue discussed during the meeting.

Failure to be in attendance or participate (via conference call) for two (2) consecutive meetings will result in a financial penalty.

Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum. Seven (7) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

Tobacco Ban The use of all tobacco products by student-athletes and game personnel (e.g. coaches, officials, athletic trainers, managers) is prohibited at the site of the game competition. Violation of this ban will result in disqualification of the offending individual and the head coach for the remainder of the contest. Officials are instructed to take a zero tolerance policy in this area.

SECTION 7. REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE PLAY These regulations are intended to supplement NCAA rules and regulations as prescribed in Bylaw 17 of the NCAA Division II Manual. A.

Rules and Regulations 1.

All Conference regular season games will be played according to the most current NCAA Basketball Rules and Regulations publication.

Conference members are prohibited from providing any form of a scouting report (e.g. written/verbal/film) to any coach outside the Conference.

The host school shall provide a minimum of five (5) warm-up balls, water, ice and towels for the visiting team. 2 2

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All students from the visiting team’s school shall be admitted at the student price of the host institution provided they present a valid student identification card.

The home team shall wear light colored uniforms and the visiting team shall wear dark colored uniforms.

The following crowd control statement shall be read prior to all Conference games: “The South Atlantic Conference and NCAA encourage and promote good sportsmanship by student-athletes, coaches and spectators. We request your cooperation by supporting the participants and officials in a positive manner. Profanity, racial or ethnic comments, or other intimidating actions directed at officials, student-athletes, coaches or team representatives will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the gym. Further, the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.”

At the conclusion of each game, teams shall shake hands and go directly to their dressing room. Neither the home team nor the away team is permitted to congregate at center court at the conclusion of the game. Prior to the start of the game, teams are only permitted to huddle on the side of the court (e.g., the foul line) where their bench is located and not at center court. During introductions, student-athletes are not permitted to shake the hands of the opposing coach or the officials. [March 2005]

Teams are prohibited from “shooting around” at halftime of the women’s game. [April 2014]

The host school shall make statistics available (e.g. box scores) during all media timeouts. [April 2015]

Electronic-Media Timeout Policy [June 2010] 1.

During all Conference regular season games, an electronic-media timeout shall occur at the first dead ball after the 16-, 12-, 8- and 4-minute marks of each half when the game clock is stopped.

The first timeout requested by either team in the second half shall become an electronic-media timeout. In any overtime period, the first timeout granted to either team may become an electronic-media timeout.

The length of each electronic-media timeout shall be 75 seconds if the game is not televised. The first horn shall sound at the 60-second mark and the second horn at the 75-second mark. 3 3

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In the event the game is televised, the length of each electronic-media timeout shall be 105 seconds. The first horn shall sound at the 90-second mark and the second horn at the 105 seconds. 4.

In addition to the electronic-media timeouts, each team shall have four (4) 30second timeouts and one (1) 60-second timeout per regulation game. Each team may carry up to three (3) 30-second timeouts into the second half.

Each team shall be entitles to one (1) additional 30-second timeout during each extra period in addition to any timeouts it has not used previously.

Regular Season Conference Schedule 1.

The Conference office will develop the regular season schedule.

Each institution shall play all other Conference members at least twice during the regular season on a home and away basis.

Mid-week games shall start at 8:00 p.m. or 25 minutes after the conclusion of the preceding womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game.

Saturday games shall start at 4:00 p.m. or 25 minutes after the conclusion of the preceding womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game. [Amended April 2014]

The scheduled date and/or time of a game may be changed based on mutual consent of the institutions involved.

All Conference regular season games must be completed by the Saturday preceding the Conference tournament.

Rescheduling Policy 1.

A Conference game that is cancelled due to inclement weather or circumstances beyond the control of the participating institutions must be rescheduled at the first available date, as determined by mutual consent of the institutions involved. If the involved institutions are unable to agree on a rescheduled date, then the Conference office shall select the date. [July 1999]

The rescheduling of a Conference game shall take precedence over a nonconference game.

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b. The originally scheduled home team will continue to be the designated home team for purposes of scoring and uniform color. The host institution may use its regular bench. c. The site change will not affect the following year’s schedule.

Film Exchange 1.

All Conference members must use the Synergy Sports Technology system [Amended April 2014] for the purpose of the Conference film exchange policy. A complete copy of the South Atlantic Conference Film Exchange Policy will be provided to each head coach and Athletic Director prior to the start of the season and may also be obtained from the Conference office at any time. [Amended April 2014]

All Conference members are responsible for capturing and uploading each of its home and non-conference away games onto the Synergy Sports Technology system website. [Amended April 2014]

All non-conference away games shall be uploaded within 24 hours of the team’s return to campus from the road trip. [June 2010]

All home and conference games shall be uploaded by noon the following day. [June 2010]

When two conference teams are competing against one another, the home team is responsible for capturing and uploading the game film. The visiting team may film the game if it wishes, but the home team is responsible for uploading the game to the Synergy Sports Technology system website. [Amended April 2014]

All Conference game officials are granted access to Synergy Sports Technology system for purposes of reviewing game film. [Amended April 2014]

Institutions are not permitted to use their livestream video for the purpose of film exchange. [April 2015]

Game Balls The Wilson Solution will be the official ball for all regular season and Conference tournament games. [2002]

Officials 1.

All officials for Conference regular season and tournament games will be assigned by the SAC Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officials. 5 5

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Publicity

Coaches, student-athletes and institutional representatives are prohibited from making public comments about officials.

All game results and statistics shall be reported to the Conference office no later than 11:00 a.m. each Monday of the regular season. The Conference office will prepare and post on its website a weekly release providing results, standings, statistics and award winners.

A Preseason Poll will be determined by a vote of the head men’s basketball coaches and released to the public approximately one month prior to the start of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own team. [Amended June 2012]

A First-Team Preseason All-Conference and a Second-Team Preseason AllConference shall be selected by the Conference sports information directors and released to the public at the same time as the Preseason Poll.

Regular Season Champion 1.

The regular season champion will be the team with the highest winning percentage based on games against Conference opponents and shall be declared the Conference champion.

Any tie for the regular season champion will not be broken. In the case of a tie, co-champions shall be named.

Date and Site 1.

The Conference tournament semifinals and finals shall play at a pre-determined site as approved by the Athletic Directors Council. [July 2002] Year 2019 2020 2021 2022

Site/Host Timmons Arena, Greenville, S.C./TBD Timmons Arena, Greenville, S.C./TBD Timmons Arena, Greenville, S.C./TBD TBD

Dates March 6, 9-10 March 4, 7-8 March 3, 6-7 March 2, 5-6

The tournament shall be conducted on a Wednesday (Quarterfinals), Saturday 6 6

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(Semifinals) and Sunday (Final). 3.

The tournament shall be scheduled for the week prior to the start of the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship. Actual dates shall be set at least one year in advance.

Format 1.

The tournament will be conducted using an eight-team single-elimination format. The quarterfinal games will be played at the home site of the higher seed and the semifinal and final games will be played at a pre-determined as described in Section 8-A. Wednesday Quarterfinals

#8 at #1 #7 at #2 #6 at #3 #5 at #4

Saturday Semifinals

Winner of #1 vs. #8 vs. Winner of #4 vs. #5 Winner of #2 vs. #7 vs. Winner of #3 vs. #6

Sunday Final

Winners of semifinal games

Quarterfinal round games will be hosted by the higher seed. If it is a single game, the start time shall be 7:00 p.m. If the game is a doubleheader with a women’s quarterfinal game, the start time shall be 8:00 p.m. or 25 minutes after the conclusion of the women’s game. Game times for the semifinal and final rounds will be determined by the Conference office and will be published in the tournament handbook.

The practice and warm-up schedule will be determined by the Conference office.

For all tournament games, the higher seed shall be designated as the home team and will wear light-colored uniforms.

For the quarterfinal games, the home team shall occupy its normal bench. For the semifinal and final games, the higher seeded team shall occupy the bench to the right of the scorer’s table when facing the court.

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The team that wins the Conference tournament shall receive the Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. If the tournament cannot be played to completion due to weather or other unforeseen conflicts, then the regular season champion will receive the automatic bid. Should the regular season have cochampions in this scenario, the team designated as the number one seed will receive the automatic bid.

Head-to-head record among the tied teams. If a tie still exists, a comparison of each team’s record against all remaining seeds in the tournament. The comparison of records will begin with the highest seed possible and continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. If a tie still exists, the Commissioner shall conduct a coin flip.

In the event of multiple ties (more than two teams tying at a position) a comparison of the tied teams’ records shall be evaluated to determine if a team(s) has an advantage in wins. If that process does not resolve the tie or reduce the multiple tie to less teams [when one team is removed from a multiple tie, the remaining ties are broken by reverting back to the first step until the tie is reduced to two teams. At that point, the seeding for the remaining teams is resolved by following the tie-breaking procedures described above], then a comparison of each team’s record against the tournament’s number one seed (or highest possible seed) shall be evaluated. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, then a comparison of each team’s record against the next highest seed shall be evaluated. This process will continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, it shall be broken by a coin flip conducted by the Commissioner. D.

Event Management Conference Call 1.

On the Thursday prior to the semifinals and finals, the Conference office will conduct a mandatory pre-tournament conference call with the following participants: all involved head coaches, applicable Directors of Athletics or designee, the host sports information personnel, the host athletic training personnel, the host facilities staff, and a Conference representative(s). The purpose of the conference call will be to review the administrative details and game operations for the tournament.

The Conference office will set the time of the call, create an agenda and provide the necessary conference call information to each participating institution. The 8 8

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Commissioner shall inform the Director of Athletics in writing when required institutional representatives do not participate on the conference call. Officials 1.

The SAC Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officials shall assign three (3) officials for all games of the tournament. One (1) alternate official will also be assigned for the semifinals and final.

The Conference office will be responsible for paying the tournament officials.

SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

Player of the Year 1.

The Men’s Basketball Player of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the head men’s basketball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season and will be student-athlete who receives the most votes for the All-Conference Team (see 9E). [March 2003] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a trophy.

Freshman of the Year 1.

The Men’s Basketball Freshman of the Year shall be the student-athlete who receives the most votes for the All-Freshman Team (see 9-G). [March 2003] Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015] [March 2005] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Defensive Player of the Year [April 2017] 1.

The Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the head men’s basketball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Each coach may nominate one (1) player for this award and coaches may not vote for their own player.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Coach of the Year 1.

The Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the head men’s basketball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may 9 9

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not vote for themselves. 2.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Regular Season Champion 1.

The Conference champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the regular season championship team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

All-Conference Teams 1.

A First-Team All-Conference, a Second-Team All-Conference and an Honorable Mention Team shall be selected by the head men’s basketball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. [Amended October 2013]

Each team shall be comprised of six (6) student-athletes, regardless of position.

At the conclusion of the final regular-season contest, a conference call with all head coaches to discuss the nominees is permitted. The call shall be scheduled, coordinated and managed by the current chair of the coaches’ committee; however, ALL voting shall be conducted via the online system on the SAC website (i.e. no voting shall take place during the conference call). The voting system will open one hour after the scheduled conference call and close at a designated and communicated deadline. Final ballots will be reviewed by the AD Liaison to the coaches’ committee and tallied by the Conference office. [April 2015]

In the event of ties, the number of student-athletes on the First and Second Team may be adjusted.

Coaches may not vote for their own student-athlete(s).

The student-athlete who receives the most votes for the All-Conference Team shall be named the Player of the Year (see 9-A).

First and Second Team winners will be awarded a plaque. [Amended 2016]

All-Freshman Team

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The All-Freshman Team shall be selected by the head men’s basketball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of fulltime enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015]. Coaches may not vote for their own player(s). The team shall be comprised of five (5) student-athletes regardless of position.

The student-athlete who receives the most votes for the All-Freshman Team shall be named the Freshman of the Year (see 9-B).

The winners will be awarded a framed personalized certificate. [Amended 2016]

Tournament Champion The tournament champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the tournament champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

Tournament Runner-Up The team that is the tournament runner-up will be awarded a plaque.

All-Tournament Team 1.

A five (5) person All-Tournament Team, regardless of position, shall be selected at the conclusion of the tournament. The All-Tournament Team will be selected by a committee consisting of participating head coaches, SIDs and members of the media.

Members of the All-Tournament Team will be awarded a medal. [July 2015]

Tournament Most Valuable Player 1.

The tournament Most Valuable Player shall be selected at the conclusion of the tournament and must be one of the five (5) members of the All Tournament Team. The Most Valuable Player will be selected by a committee consisting of participating head coaches, SIDs and members of the media.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Honor Roll All South Atlantic Conference men’s basketball student-athletes who have a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll. [June 2010]

SAC Athlete of the Year Award

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The men’s basketball Player of the Year shall be considered a nominee for the SAC Male Athlete of the Year Award. No other men’s basketball student-athlete shall be nominated as Athlete of the Year. [Amended 2013]

The Athletic Directors Council will select one male and one female studentathlete as the Athlete of the Year. Members of the Athletic Directors Council may vote for their own student-athlete.

The winner will be awarded a personalized plaque.

Elite 20 1.

The Elite 20 award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site of each of the SAC Championships. [April 2016]

Ties will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed.

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

SAC Scholar-Athlete Award 1.

Each institution may nominate one student-athlete per sport for each sportspecific Scholar-Athlete award.

Nominees for the Scholar-Athlete must meet the following criteria: a. A minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA b. Be of sophomore status, at a minimum c. Excel in academics, athletics and community/leadership activities.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Presidents Award 1.

Student-athletes that have won a sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award during the same academic year are eligible for the Presidents’ Award.

Institutions may nominate one male and one female sport specific Scholar-Athlete award winner for the Presidents’ Award. The nominees must be of junior status, at a minimum and it is expected that the nominees will represent a superior level 12 12

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of academic, athletic, and community/leadership qualities. 3.

The Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee shall select one male and one female winner at the end of the academic year.

4. The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque. SAC Senior Participation Award All men’s basketball student-athletes competing in their final season of eligibility will receive a senior memento award sponsored by the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. [Amended 2004] A student-athlete shall have competed in the sport of men’s basketball at a SAC institution for a minimum of two years in order to be eligible to receive the senior award. [June 2012]

SAC Player of the Week 1.

Each week of the regular season, the Conference office shall select a Player of the Week. The winners will be chosen from the nominees received from the member institutions. [October 2009]

Nominations are due by Monday at 10:00 a.m. and the winners are selected by 12:00 noon the same day.

Player of the Week winners will be announced as part of the weekly sport report and will be awarded a personalized certificate. [Amended 2004]

Statistical Champions 1.

The men’s basketball Statistical Champions will be the leaders in each of the following statistical categories at the conclusion of the regular season. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i.

Points Per Game Three-Pointers Per Game Rebounds Per Game Blocked Shots Per Game Field Goal Percentage Assists Per Game Assist-to-Turnover Ratio Steals Per Game Three-Pt. Field Goal Percentage j. Free Throw Percentage 2.

k. l. m. n. o. p. q. r. s. t. u.

Team Scoring Offense Team Steals Team Field Goal Percentage Team FG Percentage Defense Team Assists Team Rebounding Team Blocked Shots Team Three-Pt. FG Percentage Team Scoring Defense Team Free Throw Percentage Team Assist-to-Turnover Ratio

Each winner will be awarded a personalized certificate.

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SPORT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION [UPDATED August 2018]

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

SECTION 1. TITLE

South Atlantic Conference Women’s Basketball Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head women’s basketball coach of each member institution. Each head coach shall have one vote. The Women’s Basketball Committee shall be a recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding women’s basketball matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Women’s Basketball Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for women’s basketball and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than May 1. The Athletic Directors Council will act on all women’s basketball recommendations during its annual meeting in June. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Women’s Basketball Committee shall be chaired by a head women’s basketball coach. The chair must have been a head coach in the conference for two (2) years before accepting the role.

The chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

Duties The chair shall preside over the annual meeting of the Women’s Basketball Committee and report all recommendations in the proper written format to the Athletic Directors Council via the Athletic Director Liaison for the Women’s Basketball Committee no later than May 1. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the SAC Commissioner.

SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1.

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3. B.

All head coaches (or designee) are required to attend or participate in (via conference call) the annual coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting. a.

Failure to be in attendance or participate (via conference call) will result in the loss of the ability to vote on any issue discussed during the meeting.

Failure to be in attendance or participate (via conference call) for two (2) consecutive meetings will result in a financial penalty.

Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum. Seven (7) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

SECTION 7. REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE PLAY These regulations are intended to supplement NCAA rules and regulations as prescribed in Bylaw 17 of the NCAA Division II Manual. A.

Rules and Regulations 1.

All Conference regular season games will be played according to the most current NCAA Basketball Rules and Regulations publication.

Conference members are prohibited from providing any form of a scouting report (e.g. written/verbal/film) to any coach outside the Conference.

The host school shall provide a minimum of five (5) warm-up balls, water, ice and towels for the visiting team. 2 2

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All students from the visiting team’s school shall be admitted at the student price of the host institution provided they present a valid student identification card.

The home team shall wear light colored uniforms and the visiting team shall wear dark colored uniforms.

Home institution will make the court available at least sixty (60) minutes prior to the scheduled tip-off time. [October 2015]

The host school shall make statistics available (i.e. box scores) during all media timeouts. [April 2015]

Electronic-Media Timeout Policy [June 2010] 1.

During all Conference regular season games, an electronic-media timeout shall occur at the first dead ball at or below the five-minute mark of each period and at the end of the first and third periods. [Amended June 2015]

The length of each electronic-media timeout shall be 75 seconds if the game is not televised. The first horn shall sound at the 60-second mark and the second horn at the 75-second mark. 3 3

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In the event the game is televised, the length of each electronic-media timeout shall be 105 seconds. The first horn shall sound at the 90-second mark and the second horn at the 105 seconds. 4.

In addition to the electronic-media timeouts, each team shall have three (3) 30second timeouts and one (1) 60-second timeout per regulation game. Each team may carry up to three (3) timeouts into the second half. [Amended June 2015]

Each team shall be entitled to one (1) additional 30-second timeout during each extra period in addition to any timeouts it has not used previously.

Regular Season Conference Schedule 1.

The Conference office will develop the regular season schedule.

Each institution shall play all other Conference members at least twice during the regular season on a home and away basis.

Mid-week games shall start at 6:00 p.m.

Saturday games shall start at 2:00 p.m. [Amended April 2014]

The scheduled date and/or time of a game may be changed based on mutual consent of the institutions involved.

All Conference regular season games must be completed by the Saturday preceding the Conference tournament.

Rescheduling Policy 1.

The rescheduling of a Conference game shall take precedence over a nonconference game.

The Directors of Athletics may mutually consent to change the site of a Conference game due to unplayable conditions at the scheduled home site. a. The originally scheduled home team is responsible for notifying the visiting team and the officials regarding the change. b. The originally scheduled home team will continue to be the designated home team for purposes of scoring and uniform color. The host institution may use its regular bench. 4 4

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL c. The site change will not affect the following year’s schedule. Film Exchange 1.

All Conference members must use the Synergy Sports Technology system for the purpose of the Conference film exchange policy. A complete copy of the South Atlantic Conference Film Exchange Policy will be provided to each head coach and Athletic Director prior to the start of the season and may also be obtained from the Conference office at any time. [Amended April 2014]

All Conference members are responsible for capturing and uploading each of its home and non-conference away games onto the Synergy Sports Technology website. [Amended April 2014]

All non-conference away games shall be uploaded within 24 hours of the team’s return to campus from the road trip. [June 2010]

All home and conference games shall be uploaded by noon the following day. [June 2010]

All Conference game officials are granted access to Synergy Sports Technology for purposes of reviewing game film. [Amended April 2014]

Institutions are not permitted to use their livestream video for the purpose of film exchange. [April 2015]

Game Balls The Wilson Solution will be the official ball for all regular season and Conference tournament games. [2002]

Officials 1.

All officials for Conference regular season and tournament games will be assigned by the SAC Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officials.

Coaches, student-athletes and institutional representatives are prohibited from making public comments about officials.

Publicity 1.

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statistics and award winners. A Preseason Poll will be determined by a vote of the head women’s basketball coaches and released to the public approximately one month prior to the start of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own team. [Amended June 2012] A First-Team Preseason All-Conference and a Second-Team Preseason AllConference shall be selected by the Conference sports information directors and released to the public at the same time as the Preseason Poll.

Regular Season Champion 1.

The regular season champion will be the team with the highest winning percentage based on games against Conference opponents and shall be declared the Conference champion.

Any tie for the regular season champion will not be broken. In the case of a tie, co-champions shall be named.

Date and Site 1.

The Conference tournament semifinals and finals shall play at a pre-determined site as approved by the Athletic Directors Council. [July 2002] Year 2019 2020 2021 2022

Dates March 6, 9-10 March 4, 7-8 March 3, 6-7 March 2, 5-6

The tournament shall be conducted on a Wednesday (Quarterfinals), Saturday (Semifinals) and Sunday (Final).

The tournament shall be scheduled for the week prior to the start of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship. Actual dates shall be set at least one year in advance.

Format 1.

Site/Host Timmons Arena, Greenville, S.C./TBD Timmons Arena, Greenville, S.C./TBD Timmons Arena, Greenville, S.C./TBD TBD

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL breaking procedures described in Section 8-C will be used. 2.

#8 at #1 #7 at #2 #6 at #3 #5 at #4

Saturday Semifinals

Winner of #1 vs. #8 vs. Winner of #4 vs. #5 Winner of #2 vs. #7 vs. Winner of #3 vs. #6

Sunday Final

Winners of semifinal games

Quarterfinal round games will be hosted by the higher seed. If it is a single game, the start time shall be 7:00 p.m. If the game is a doubleheader with a men’s quarterfinal game, the start time shall be 6:00 p.m. Game times for the semifinal and final rounds will be determined by the Conference office and will be published in the tournament handbook.

The practice and warm-up schedule will be determined by the Conference office.

For all tournament games, the higher seed shall be designated as the home team and will wear light-colored uniforms.

The team that wins the Conference tournament shall receive the Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. If the tournament cannot be played to completion due to weather or other unforeseen conflicts, then the regular season champion will receive the automatic bid. Should the regular season have cochampions in this scenario, the team designated as the number one seed will receive the automatic bid.

Head-to-head record among the tied teams. If a tie still exists, a comparison of each team’s record against all remaining seeds 7 7

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL in the tournament. The comparison of records will begin with the highest seed possible and continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. c. If a tie still exists, the Commissioner shall conduct a coin flip. In the event of multiple ties (more than two teams tying at a position) a comparison of the tied teams’ records shall be evaluated to determine if a team(s) has an advantage in wins. If that process does not resolve the tie or reduce the multiple tie to less teams [when one team is removed from a multiple tie, the remaining ties are broken by reverting back to the first step until the tie is reduced to two teams. At that point, the seeding for the remaining teams is resolved by following the tie-breaking procedures described above], then a comparison of each team’s record against the tournament’s number one seed (or highest possible seed) shall be evaluated. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, then a comparison of each team’s record against the next highest seed shall be evaluated. This process will continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, it shall be broken by a coin flip conducted by the Commissioner. Event Management Conference Call 1.

The Conference office will set the time of the call, create an agenda and provide the necessary conference call information to each participating institution. The Commissioner shall inform the Director of Athletics in writing when required institutional representatives do not participate on the conference call.

Officials 1.

The SAC Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officials shall assign three (3) officials for all games of the tournament. One (1) alternate official will also be assigned for the semifinals and final.

The Conference office will be responsible for paying the tournament officials.

SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

Player of the Year 1.

The Women’s Basketball Player of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the head women’s basketball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season and will be student-athlete who receives the most votes for the All-Conference Team (see 9-E). [March 2003] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s). 8 8

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The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Freshman of the Year 1.

The Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Year shall be the student-athlete who receives the most votes for the All-Freshman Team (see 9-G). [March 2003] Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Defensive Player of the Year [April 2017] 1.

The Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the head women’s basketball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Each coach may nominate one (1) player for this award and coaches may not vote for their own player.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Coach of the Year 1.

The Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the head women’s basketball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Regular Season Champion 1.

The Conference champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the regular season championship team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

All-Conference Teams 1.

A First-Team All-Conference, a Second-Team All-Conference and an Honorable Mention Team shall be selected by the head women’s basketball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. [Amended October 2013]

Each team shall be comprised of six (6) student-athletes, regardless of position.

Nomination forms and ballots will be sent to each head coach by the Conference office along with deadlines for them to be returned. Final ballots will be tallied by 9 9

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the Conference office. [April 2015] At the conclusion of the final regular-season contest, a conference call with all head coaches to discuss the nominees is permitted. The call shall be scheduled, coordinated and managed by the current chair of the coaches’ committee; however, ALL voting shall be conducted via the online system on the SAC website (i.e. no voting shall take place during the conference call). The voting system will open one hour after the scheduled conference call and close at a designated and communicated deadline. Final ballots will be reviewed by the AD Liaison to the coaches’ committee and tallied by the Conference office. [April 2015]

In the event of ties, the number of student-athletes on the First and Second Team may be adjusted.

Coaches may not vote for their own student-athlete(s).

The student-athlete who receives the most votes for the All-Conference Team shall be named the Player of the Year (see 9-A).

First and Second Team winners will be awarded a plaque. [Amended 2016]

All-Freshman Team 1.

The All-Freshman Team shall be selected by the head women’s basketball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The team shall be comprised of five (5) student-athletes regardless of position.

The student-athlete who receives the most votes for the All-Freshman Team shall be named the Freshman of the Year (see 9-B).

The winners will be awarded a framed personalized certificate. [Amended 2016]

Tournament Champion The tournament champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the tournament champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

Tournament Runner-Up The team that is the tournament runner-up will be awarded a plaque.

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All-Tournament Team 1.

Members of the All-Tournament Team will be awarded a medal. [July 2015]

Tournament Most Valuable Player 1.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Honor Roll All South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball student-athletes who have a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll. [June 2010]

SAC Athlete of the Year Award 1.

The women’s basketball Player of the Year shall be considered a nominee for the SAC Female Athlete of the Year Award. No other women’s basketball studentathlete shall be nominated as Athlete of the Year. [Amended June 2013]

The Athletic Directors Council will select one male and one female studentathlete as the Athlete of the Year. Members of the Athletic Directors Council may vote for their own student-athlete.

The winner will be awarded a personalized plaque.

Elite 20 1.

The Elite 20 award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site of each of the SAC Championships. [April 2016]

Ties will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed.

The winners will be awarded a trophy. 11 11

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SAC Scholar-Athlete Award 1.

Each institution may nominate one student-athlete per sport for each sportspecific Scholar-Athlete award.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Presidents Award 1.

Student-athletes that have won a sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award during the same academic year are eligible for the Presidents’ Award.

The Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee shall select one male and one female winner at the end of the academic year.

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Senior Participation Award All women’s basketball student-athletes competing in their final season of eligibility will receive a senior memento award sponsored by the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. [Amended 2004] A student-athlete shall have competed in the sport of women’s basketball at a SAC institution for a minimum of two years in order to be eligible to receive the senior award. [June 2012]

SAC Player of the Week 1.

Each week of the regular season, the Conference office shall select a Player of the Week. The winners will be chosen from the nominees received from the member institutions. [October 2009] 12 12

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WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BASKETBALL 2.

Nominations are due by Monday at 10:00 a.m. and the winners are selected by 12:00 noon the same day.

Player of the Week winners will be announced as part of the weekly sport report and will be awarded a personalized certificate. [Amended 2004]

Statistical Champions 1.

The womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball Statistical Champions will be the leaders in each of the following statistical categories at the conclusion of the regular season. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i.

Points Per Game Three-Pointers Per Game Rebounds Per Game Blocked Shots Per Game Field Goal Percentage Assists Per Game Assist-to-Turnover Ratio Steals Per Game Three-Point FG Percentage j. Free Throw Percentage 2.

k. l. m. n. o. p. q. r. s. t. u.

Team Scoring Offense Team Steals Team Field Goal Percentage Team FG Percentage Defense Team Assists Team Rebounding Team Blocked Shots Team 3-Point FG Percentage Team Scoring Defense Team Free Throw Percentage Team Assist-to-Turnover Ratio

Each winner will be awarded a personalized certificate.

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SPORT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION (UPDATED March 2018) SECTION 1. TITLE

CROSS COUNTRY

South Atlantic Conference Cross Country Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cross country coach and the head womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cross country coach of each member institution. Each head coach shall have one vote. The Cross Country Committee shall be a recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding cross country matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Cross Country Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for cross country and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than March 1. The Athletic Directors Council will act on all cross country recommendations during its spring meeting. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Cross Country Committee shall be chaired by a head cross country coach. The chair must have been a head coach in the conference for two (2) years before accepting the role.

The chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

Duties The chair shall preside over the annual meeting of the Cross Country Committee and report all recommendations in the proper written format to the Athletic Directors Council via the Athletic Director Liaison for the Cross Country Committee. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the SAC Commissioner.

SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1.

The committee will meet annually in the spring during each academic year. The meeting will be in person or via conference call at a date and site determined by the Conference office. 11

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All head coaches (or designee) are required to attend or participate in (via conference call) the annual coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting. Failure to be in attendance or participate (via conference call) will result in the loss of the ability to vote on any issue discussed during the meeting. Failure to be in attendance or participate (via conference call) for two (2) consecutive meetings will result in a financial penalty.

Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum. Six (6) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

Tobacco Ban The use of all tobacco products by student-athletes and game personnel (e.g. coaches, officials, athletic trainers, managers) is prohibited at the competition site, as well as at Conference activities such as banquets, autograph sessions, press conferences and post round interviews Violation of this ban will result in disqualification of the offending individual and the head coach for the remainder of the event. Officials are instructed to take a zero tolerance policy in this area.

SECTION 7. REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE PLAY These regulations are intended to supplement NCAA rules and regulations as prescribed in Bylaw 17 of the NCAA Division II Manual. A.

Playing Rules and Regulations All meets shall be conducted according to the most current NCAA Cross Country Rules and Regulations publication.

Regular Season Schedule There is no regular-season Conference scheduling requirement; however, Conference members are encouraged to schedule intra-Conference competition.

Publicity 1.

Meet results must be reported to the Conference office by Monday morning of each 22

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week. The Conference office will post on its website results, rankings, statistics and award winners. 2.

A Preseason Poll will be determined by a vote of the head cross country coaches and released to the public approximately one month prior to the start of the season. Coaches may not vote for their own team. [Amended June 2012]

SECTION 8. CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP Wherever applicable, policies and procedures governing the administration and conduct of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Men's and Women’s Cross Country Championship shall be utilized. A.

Date and Site 1.

The men’s and women’s Conference Championships shall be conducted on the same date at the same site determined by the approved rotation schedule. In the event the championships are conducted at a neutral site, the designated host institution will be responsible for providing assistance with athletic trainers, sports information personnel and any other pertinent personnel deemed necessary by the Conference office. [March 2003] Year 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

2. B.

Host Anderson Wingate Carson-Newman Coker Queens

Date November 3 October 26 October 24 October 23 TBD

The championship shall be scheduled for the Saturday two (2) weeks prior to the NCAA Regional Meet. The actual date will be set at least one (1) year in advance.

Playing Rules and General Regulations 1.

In even-numbered years, the men’s championship will start at 9:00 a.m. and the women’s championship will start at 10:15 a.m. In odd-numbered years, the women’s championship will start at 9:00 a.m. and the men’s championship will start at 10:00 a.m. [March 2004]

The men’s championship course shall be 8,000 meters and the women’s championship course shall be 6,000 meters. [Amended March 2018]

The ‘course’ is defined as the ground lying between the starting line and the finish line, assigned by the legal path of the runner while in the race. The course must be properly 3 3

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measured, laid out and marked, as prescribed by Rule 8, Section 2 of the most current NCAA Cross Country/Track & Field Rules and Regulations publication. 4.

A properly marked official should be stationed at any location where there is any possibility of the runners going the wrong way and/or getting lost.

The start should be surveyed to permit each competitor to line up equidistant from the first turn and must be described per Rule 8, Section 3 of the most current NCAA Cross Country/Track & Field Rules and Regulations publication.

Two elevated video cameras will be placed at the finish line in order to have a visual tool to assist in case of any discrepancies or protests. The finish area, line and chute must be described per Rule 8, Section 4 of the most current NCAA Cross Country/Track & Field Rules and Regulations publication.

All team members must wear uniforms clearly indicating, through color, logo and combination of all worn outer garments, that they are from the same team. Visible undergarments on top (e.g. t-shirts) worn by team members must be of an identical solid color. Visible undergarments on the bottom (e.g. tights) must be of an identical solid color.

The chair of the Cross Country Committee in conjunction with the Conference office shall be responsible for the distribution of all Conference championship information.

The games committee shall consist of the chair of the Cross Country Committee, the Athletic Director Liaison for the Cross Country Committee and the head referee/official.

10.

The games committee, along with the host Athletic Director and a Conference representative will be responsible for making the decision to postpone the Championship in the event of inclement weather that could endanger the participants.

Squad Size and Entry Forms 1.

Squad sizes will be limited to ten (10) entries. [June 2014]

Official entry forms must be sent to the head coach of the host institution and the Conference office no later than the Monday prior to the Conference championship. The head coach of the host institution and the Conference office will be responsible for submitting the entry forms to the head referee/official.

Officials and Protests 1.

The Conference office, in conjunction with the host institution, will assign time recorders, place-finish recorders and a USATF Association certified official to serve as the head referee/official. The number of officials and their duties should be similar to those described in Rule 8, Section 5 of the most current NCAA Cross Country/Track & 4 4

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Field Rules and Regulations publication. 2.

The head referee/official shall rule over any protests and his or her decision will be final. All protests must be filed within 10 minutes after the conclusion of the race, which is when the last runner crosses the finish line. A fee of $50 shall accompany the protest, which will be returned if the protest is upheld.

Coaches, student-athletes and institutional representatives are prohibited from making public comments about officials.

Team Scoring 1.

Team scoring will be conducted according to the most current NCAA Cross Country Rules and Regulations publication.

Only the first seven (7) runners on any one team may be used in scoring places.

The score shall be determined by totaling the points of the first five (5) runners of each team to finish. The team scoring the lower number of points shall be the Conference champion.

Although the sixth (6th) and seventh (7th) runners of a team to finish do not score points toward their team’s total, their places, if better than those of any of the five of an opposing team, serve to increase the team score of the opponents.

If there is a tie in the team scoring, it shall be broken by comparing the place of each of the first five (5) team members versus their respective competitors on the opposing team (i.e. Team A’s first finisher vs. Team B’s first finisher, Team A’s second finisher vs. Team B’s second finisher, etc.). The team winning the majority (best of five) comparisons shall win the tiebreaker.

Pre-Championship Conference Call 1.

On the Wednesday prior to the championship, the Conference office will conduct a mandatory conference call with the following participants: all involved head coaches, the host Athletic Director(s), the host sports information personnel, the host facilities staff, the head official and a Conference representative. The purpose of the conference call will be to review the schedule of events, awards presentation and general championship details.

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SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

CROSS COUNTRY

Runner of the Year 1.

The Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year shall be the individual winner of the Conference championship meet.

The Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year shall be the individual winner of the Conference championship meet.

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

Freshman of the Year 1.

The Women’s Cross Country Freshman of the Year shall be the top female freshman finisher of the Conference championship meet. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015]

The Men’s Cross Country Freshman of the Year shall be the top male freshman finisher of the Conference championship meet. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015]

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Coach of the Year 1.

The Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the cross country coaches at the conclusion of the Conference championship meet. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the cross country coaches at the conclusion of the Conference championship meet. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Team Champion 1.

The Team Champion will be awarded a trophy and also be considered the Conference Champion. In addition, each member of the tournament champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

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A team that does not post a team score shall not receive points toward the Echols Athletic Excellence Award. Such an institution shall have the right to appeal this decision to the Commissioner. [July 2004]

A team that does not meet the NCAA minimum-contest requirements for cross country (5 contests with 5 participants), including the Conference championship, shall not receive points toward the Echols Athletic Excellence Award. [July 2004]

Team Runners-Up The teams that finish second and third in the team scoring will be awarded a plaque. [Amended August 2018]

All-Conference Teams 1.

The All-Conference team for both Men’s and Women’s Cross Country shall consist of seven (7) first-team members and seven (7) second-team members.

The top seven (1-7) finishers of the Conference championship meet shall be the first team.

The second seven (8-14) finishers of the Conference championship meet shall be the second team.

The third seven (15-21) finishers of the Conference championship meet shall be named honorable mention. [October 2013]

First and Second Team winners will be awarded a plaque. [Amended 2016]

All-Freshman Team 1.

The All-Freshman team for both Men’s and Women’s Cross Country shall consist of the top five (5) finishers of the Conference championship meet. Only those studentathletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015]

The winners will be awarded a personalized certificate.

SAC Honor Roll 1.

SAC Athlete of the Year Award 1.

All South Atlantic Conference cross country student-athletes who have a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll.

The male and female Cross Country Runner of the Year shall be considered nominees for the SAC Athlete of the Year Award. No other cross country student-athletes shall be 7 7

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nominated as Athlete of the Year. [Amended 2013] The Conference Athletic Directors will select one male and one female student-athlete as Athlete of the Year. The Athletic Directors may vote for their own student-athlete(s).

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Scholar-Athlete Award 1.

Each institution may nominate one student-athlete per sport for each sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Elite 20 1.

The Elite 20 award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site of each of the SAC Championships. [April 2016]

Ties will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed.

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

SAC Presidents Award 1.

Only student-athletes that have won a sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award during the same academic year are eligible for the Presidentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Award.

Institutions may nominate one male and one female sport specific Scholar-Athlete award winners for the Presidentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Award. The nominees must be of junior status, at minimum and it is expected that the nominees will represent a superior level of academic, athletic, and community/leadership qualities.

The Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee shall select one male and one female winner at the end of the academic year.

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque. 8 8

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SAC Senior Participation Award

CROSS COUNTRY

All cross country student-athletes competing in their final season of eligibility will receive a senior memento award sponsored by the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. [July 2004] A student-athlete shall have competed in the sport of cross country at a SAC institution for a minimum of two years in order to be eligible to receive the senior award. [June 2012] O.

Runner of the Week 1.

Each week of the regular season, the Conference office shall select a male and female Runner of the Week. The winners will be chosen from the nominees received from the member institutions. [October 2009]

Nominations are due by Monday at 10:00 a.m. and the winners are selected by 12:00 noon the same day.

Runner of the Week winners will be announced as part of the weekly sport report and will be awarded a personalized certificate. [Amended 2004]

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SPORT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION [APPROVED July 2018] SECTION 1. TITLE

FIELD HOCKEY

South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Field Hockey Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head field hockey coach of each member institution in the South Atlantic Conference and Conference Carolinas. Each head coach shall have one vote. The Field Hockey Committee shall be a recommending body to the joint Athletic Directors Council regarding field hockey matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Field Hockey Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for field hockey and the South Atlantic Conference and Conference Carolinas offices no later than March 1. The joint Athletic Directors Councils will act on all field hockey recommendations during its spring meeting. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Field Hockey Committee shall be chaired by a head field hockey coach. The chair must have been a head coach in the conference for two (2) years before accepting the role.

The chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

Duties The chair shall preside over the annual meeting of the Field Hockey Committee and report all recommendations in the proper written format to the joint Athletic Directors Councils via the Athletic Director Liaison for the Field Hockey Committee no later than March 1. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the Commissioners of both conferences.

SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1. 2.

The committee will meet annually in the spring during each academic year. The meeting will be in person or via teleconference at a date and site determined by the conference offices. All head coaches (or designee) are required to attend or participate in (via 1

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teleconference) the annual coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting. a. b. 3.

FIELD HOCKEY

Failure to be in attendance or participate (via teleconference) will result in the loss of the ability to vote on any issue discussed during the meeting. Failure to be in attendance or participate (via teleconference) for two (2) consecutive meetings will result in a financial penalty.

Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum. Four (4) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

SECTION 7. REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE PLAY These regulations are intended to supplement rules and regulations as prescribed in the Rules of Hockey per the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the NCAA Rules Modifications publication. A.

Rules and Regulations 1.

All Conference regular season games will be played according to the most current rules of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the NCAA Rules Modifications.

Conference members are prohibited from providing any form of a scouting report (e.g. written/film) on another Conference member to any non-conference coach.

The home team shall wear dark-colored uniforms and the visiting team shall wear light-colored uniforms. 2 2

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Game shirts must have a minimum of three-inch numbers on the front and six-inch numbers on the back.

The numbers must be of a color that itself is clearly in distinct contrast with the color of the jersey, irrespective of any border around the numbers.

If a team is playing consecutive days (i.e. back-to-back games), the home team may wear light-colored uniforms and the visiting team may wear dark-colored uniforms upon mutual consent by both head coaches.

The Conference logo on a team’s uniform shall be that of the institution’s primary Conference. For example, Limestone should have Conference Carolina’s logo on its uniform.

The field of play must conform to the dimensions and markings outlined in the most current International Hockey Federation (FIH) publication and the NCAA Rules Modifications.

On multi-lined (use) fields, the 23-meter line (2y yd.) must be clearly distinguishable from all other non-field hockey lines. If the 23-meter line (25 yd.) is not clearly distinguishable, six X’s must be marked on the 23-meter line (25 yd.), intersecting the line every 10 yards, with the lines of the X’s being one yard long.

10.

All member institutions must adhere to the Open Video Exchange Agreement mandated by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.

Regular Season Conference Schedule 1.

Each institution shall play all other Conference members at least twice during the regular season in a double round-robin format where each institution shall be the host team once.

Midweek Conference games are encouraged to allow for non-conference games to be played on weekends.

Game start times shall be determined by the host institution, taking into consideration length of travel and/or potential missed class time.

If two teams are scheduled to play more than twice, the first two scheduled games shall be designated as the Conference games and one team may not host the first two games.

All Conference games must be completed by the Saturday preceding the Conference tournament.

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FIELD HOCKEY

Rescheduling Policy 1.

A game that is cancelled after the visiting team has arrived on site (due to inclement weather or circumstances beyond the control of the participating institutions) must be rescheduled at the first available date.

The rescheduling of a Conference game shall take precedence over a nonconference match.

Game Management 1.

Each member institution is responsible for securing and training the following match personnel: a. b. c. d. e. f.

Game administrator; Scoreboard operator; Official scorer; Statisticians; Public address announcer; and Ball runners.

A visible game clock and scoreboard must be available.

For each Conference field hockey contest, the host institution shall provide and identify to game officials and the visiting team, an athletics department designee on the premises as the person in charge of game management for that event. The game administrator should have access to means of electronic communication in order to promptly address any game management issues during the contest. 4 4

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The host institution must ensure that direct two-way communication is available at all times between the press box and the scorerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s table if official scoring and/or timing functions are not handled at field level.

The following timeline shall be used for each Conference game. Activity Warm-up begins/Field opens Clear field Coaches and officials meet International Walk Out/ Introductions e. National Anthem f. GAME BEGINS a. b. c. d.

Game Clock 52:00 0:00 0:00 0:00

Time of Day 1:00 1:52 1:53 1:54

0:00 35:00

1:58 2:00

Players must stay on their half of the field during the duration of the warm-up period. F.

Game Balls 1.

The Penn Monto Elite Turf Ball shall be used for all Conference regular season games. If an institution has water-based artificial turf, the Kookabura Dimple Standard Ball is preferred. The color of the ball shall be white unless another color (e.g. optic orange) is mutually agreed upon by both coaches.

The home team must provide a minimum of two (four is preferable) ball runners for all games.

Upon request, the host institution should provide the visiting team with at least 50 balls and 25 cones when the time starts on the clock for warm-up.

Officials 1.

All officials for Conference regular season and tournament games will be assigned by the Conference Coordinator of Field Hockey Officials.

All Conference regular-season games shall have two (2) field officials assigned.

3. H.

Coaches, student-athletes and institutional representatives are prohibited from making public comments about officials. Publicity 1.

A Preseason Poll will be determined by a vote of the head field hockey coaches 5 5

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and released to the public approximately one month prior to the start of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own team. 3.

FIELD HOCKEY

A First-Team Preseason All-Conference and a list of Honorable Mention studentathletes shall be selected by the Conference sports information directors and released to the public at the same time as the Preseason Poll.

Regular Season Champion 1.

The regular-season champion will be the team with the highest winning percentage based on games against Conference opponents and shall be declared the Conference champion.

Any tie for the regular season champion will not be broken. In the case of a tie, co-champions shall be named.

Date and Site 1.

The Conference tournament site must be hosted by an institution or location that has a synthetic turf field. In the event the tournament is conducted at a neutral site, the designated host institution will be responsible for providing assistance with athletic trainers, sports information personnel and any other pertinent personnel deemed necessary by the Conference office. Year 2018 2019 2020 2021

Dates Nov. 16 & 18 Nov. 8 & 10 TBD TBD

The tournament shall be conducted on a Friday (Semifinals) and Sunday (Final).

The tournament shall be scheduled for the weekend prior to the start of the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship. Actual dates shall be set at least one year in advance.

Format 1.

Host Highest Seed w/ Turf Highest Seed w/ Turf TBD TBD

The top four (4) teams at the end of the regular season shall qualify for the Conference tournament and will be seeded according to the final regular season order of finish. Should two or more teams tie for fourth (4th) place, the 6 6

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Conference tie-breaking procedures described in Section 8-C will be used. 2.

The tournament will be conducted using a four (4)-team single-elimination format. The semifinal and final games will be played at one site, which will be a neutral site or the highest seed that has a synthetic turf field. Semifinals

#1 vs. #4 #2 vs. #3

Final

Winners of semifinal matches

The host institution (if applicable) in conjunction with the Conference office will determine the game times for the all rounds.

The practice and warm-up schedule will be determined by the host institution (if applicable) and/or tournament director.

For all tournament games, the higher seed be designated as the home team and will wear dark-colored uniforms.

The pre-game protocol for the Conference tournament shall be the same as during the regular season (Section 7, Item D-5), except reserves will be introduced during the semifinals. Further, the lower-seeded team shall be introduced first followed by the higher-seeded team.

For all tournament games, if the score is tied at the end of regulation play (70 minutes), both teams will have a five-minute rest prior to two (2) 10--minute â&#x20AC;&#x153;sudden victoryâ&#x20AC;? periods of teams consisting of seven (7) players (of which one may be a goalkeeper). A coin toss to determine ball possession or direction of attack. The designated visiting team will call all coin tosses. If a second overtime period is necessary, the teams shall switch attacking ends and the team that did not have possession at the beginning of the first overtime period will begin the second overtime with the center pass. Any player who has been disqualified (Red Carded) during regulation play is not eligible for the overtime period and the team plays short for the entire overtime. A player suspended (Yellow/Green Carded) during regulation play would be eligible at the completion of the suspension timeframe. The team plays short until the suspension is completed. The defending team is permitted to have only four team members (of which one may be a goalkeeper) behind its goal line on penalty corners. If the score remains tied at the end of the second overtime period, a shoot-out will take place.

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The team that wins the Conference tournament shall receive the Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, if applicable. If the tournament cannot be played to completion due to weather or other unforeseen conflicts, then the regular-season champion will receive the automatic bid. Should the regular season have co-champions in this scenario, the team designated as the number one seed will receive the automatic bid.

Seeding and Tie-Breaker Formula The seeding for the tournament shall be based on the results of the regular season conference matches. If a tie(s) exists in the final regular season standings, the following criteria will used to determine the tournament seeds: a. Head-to-head record among the tied teams. b. If a tie still exists, a comparison of each team’s record against all other teams. The comparison of records will begin with the highest seed possible and continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary (including teams that may not qualify for the tournament). c. If a tie still exists, a comparison of goal differential in Conference games among the tied teams. Goal differential for any game will be capped at four (4) goals. d. If a tie still exists, a comparison of goals against in Conference games among the tied teams. e. If a tie still exists, the Commissioner shall conduct a coin flip. In the event of multiple ties (more than two teams tying at a position) a comparison of the tied teams’ records shall be evaluated to determine if a team(s) has an advantage in winning percentage. If that process does not resolve the tie or reduce the multiple tie to less teams [when one team is removed from a multiple tie, the remaining ties are broken by reverting back to the first step until the tie is reduced to two teams. At that point, the seeding for the remaining teams is resolved by following the tie-breaking procedures described above], then a comparison of each team’s record against the tournament’s number one seed (or highest possible seed) shall be evaluated. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, then a comparison of each team’s record against the next highest seed shall be evaluated. This process will continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, it shall be broken by a coin flip conducted by the Commissioner.

Pre-Tournament Conference Call 1.

On the Tuesday prior to the tournament, the Conference office will conduct a mandatory pre-tournament conference call with the following participants: all involved head coaches, applicable Directors of Athletics or designee, the host sports information personnel, the host athletic training personnel, the host facilities staff, and a Conference representative(s). The purpose of the conference call will be to review the administrative details and match operations for the tournament. 8 8

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The Conference office will set the time of the call, create an agenda and provide the necessary conference call information to each participating institution. The Commissioner shall inform the Director of Athletics in writing when required institutional representatives do not participate on the conference call.

Officials/Scorer 1.

The Conference Coordinator of Field Hockey Officials shall assign two (2) officials and one (1) alternate official for all tournament games.

The Conference office will be responsible for paying the tournament officials.

The host institution shall provide an official scorer for all matches of the Conference tournament.

Game Ball The game ball used for all rounds of the Conference Championship shall be the Penn Monto Elite Turf Ball. In the event of wet synthetic turf, the Kookabura Dimple Standard Ball is preferred. The color of the ball shall be white unless another color (e.g. optic orange) is mutually agreed upon by both coaches.

SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

Player of the Year 1.

An Offensive and Defensive Field Hockey Player of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the head field hockey coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

Freshman of the Year 1.

The Field Hockey Freshman of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the head field hockey coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those studentathletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Coach of the Year 1.

The Field Hockey Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the head field hockey coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for themselves. 9 9

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Regular-Season Champion

FIELD HOCKEY

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

The Conference champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the regular season champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate. E.

All-Conference Teams 1.

An All-Conference Team and an Honorable Mention Team shall be selected by the head field hockey coaches at the conclusion of the regular season.

Each team shall be comprised of thirteen (13) individuals and selections shall not be based on position.

Nomination forms and ballots will be sent to each head coach by the Conference office along with deadlines for them to be returned. Final ballots will be tallied by the Conference office.

At the conclusion of the final regular-season contest, a conference call with all head coaches to discuss the nominees is permitted. The call shall be scheduled, coordinated and managed by the current chair of the coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; committee; however, ALL voting shall be conducted via the online system on the SAC website (i.e. no voting shall take place during the conference call). The voting system will open one hour after the scheduled conference call and close at a designated and communicated deadline. Final ballots will be reviewed by the AD Liaison to the coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; committee and tallied by the Conference office.

In the event of ties, the number of individuals at each position on the First and Honorable Mention Team may be adjusted.

Coaches may not vote for their own student-athlete(s) and must vote for every position.

First Team winners will be awarded a plaque.

Tournament Champion The tournament champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the tournament champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

Tournament Runner-Up The team that is the tournament runner-up will be awarded a plaque.

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All-Tournament Team 1.

A nine (9) person All-Tournament Team, regardless of position, shall be selected at the conclusion of the tournament. a. The head coach of the tournament championship team will submit four (4) selections. b. The head coach of the tournament runner-up team will submit three (3) selections. c. The head coaches of the two teams eliminated in the semifinals will submit one (1) selection each.

2. I.

Members of the All-Tournament Team will be awarded a medal.

Tournament Most Valuable Player 1.

The tournament Most Valuable Player will be selected by the head coach of the tournament championship team and must be one of the four (4) student-athletes selected for the All-Tournament Team.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Commissioner’s Honor Roll All field hockey student-athletes who meet their respective conference’s criteria to be named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll will be named to such. For example, a field hockey student-athlete from a SAC institution who has a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll.

Athlete of the Year Award The Field Hockey Players of the Year shall be considered a nominee for their respective conference’s Female Athlete-of-the-Year Award. For example, if a Field Hockey Player of the Year is from a Conference Carolinas institution, she may be considered for the Conference Carolinas Female Athlete-of-the-Year. No other field hockey student-athlete shall be nominated as Athlete of the Year.

Academic Excellence Award (name of award subject to change) 1.

The Academic Excellence Award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site Conference Championship.

The criteria for the award will be the same as the NCAA Elite 90 award.

Ties will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed. 11 11

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Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week

The winner will be awarded a trophy.

Each week of the regular season, the Conference office shall select an Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week. The winners will be chosen from the nominees received from the member institutions.

Nominations are due by Monday at 10:00 a.m. and the winners will be announced by 12:00 noon on Wednesday.

Player of the Week winners will be announced as part of the weekly sport report and will be awarded a personalized certificate.

Statistical Champions 1.

The Field Hockey Statistical Champions will be the leaders in each of the following statistical categories at the conclusion of the regular season. An individual student-athlete must appear in at least 75% of the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s games played and goalkeepers must play at least 50% of the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total minutes. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i.

FIELD HOCKEY

Points per game Goals per game Assists per game Shot percentage Defensive saves Save percentage Goals against average Saves per game Team points per game

j. k. l. m.

Team scoring average Team scoring margin Team save percentage Team goals against average n. Team saves per game o. Team defensive saves p. Team penalty corners per game

Each winner will be awarded a personalized certificate.

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SPORT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION (UPDATED March 2018)

FOOTBALL

SECTION 1. TITLE A. South Atlantic Conference Football Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head football coach of each member institution. Each head coach shall have one vote. The Football Committee shall be a recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding football matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Football Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for football and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than May 1. The Athletic Directors Council will act on all football recommendations during its June meeting. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Football Committee shall be chaired by a head football coach. The chair must have been a head coach in the conference for two (2) years before accepting the role. (October 2005).

The chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

Duties The chair shall preside over the annual meeting of the Football Committee and report all recommendations in the proper written format to the Athletic Directors Council via the Athletic Director Liaison for the Football Committee. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the SAC Commissioner no later than May 1.

SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1.

The committee will meet annually in the spring during each academic year. The meeting will be in person or via conference call at a date and site determined by the chair, Athletic Director Liaison and Conference office.

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Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum. Five (5) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations 1.

All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

The home team will be responsible for providing the following for the visiting team: a. The best available dressing/locker room and halftime accommodations, which include restroom and shower facilities (soap and towels are the responsibility of the visiting team); b. A key (or security guard) for the dressing/locker room; c. Sufficient coolers, ice, water and cups on the sideline and in the dressing/locker room; d. Four (4) cases of soft/sport drinks to be used at halftime or at the conclusion of the game, and; e. Sufficient chairs/benches and tables on the sideline.

The visiting team will be responsible for providing the following: a. Its own headphone system; b. Its own pregame and postgame meal arrangements; and c. Its own heating/cooling units.

Game Management The home team shall be responsible for the following game management items. The training of certain personnel (when applicable) shall also be the responsibility of the home team. a. b. c. d.

Sufficient parking for busses and support vans; A game itinerary including pregame and halftime activities; Appropriate sideline security; Emergency medical technician and ambulance on call (preferably on site) throughout the game; 22

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e. Stretcher, backboard, crutches, splints and cart; f. First down chain, marker and chain crew; and g. Ball persons on both sideline.

FOOTBALL

SECTION 7. REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE PLAY These regulations are intended to supplement NCAA rules and regulations as prescribed in Bylaw 17 of the NCAA Division II Manual as well as the most current edition of the NCAA Football Playing Rules. A.

General Rules and Regulations 1.

All Conference games will be played according to the most current NCAA Football Rules and Regulations publication.

The field of play and sidelines must conform to the dimensions and markings outlined in the most current NCAA Football Rules and Regulations publication.

The home team shall wear dark colored jerseys and the visiting team shall wear light colored jerseys.

The home team shall provide a minimum of four (4) game balls during normal conditions and a minimum of six (6) game balls during inclement weather. The visiting team has the option of using its own balls when on offense.

One hour prior to the start of the game, the warm-up area will be formatted in an ‘Lshape’ with the long side on the side of each team’s bench. The end zones are to be determined by the home team. Kickers are permitted to use the other half of the field to warm-up until 60 minutes prior to the start of the game.

No complimentary tickets will be provided to the visiting team for any Conference game.

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ethnic comments, or other intimidating actions directed at officials, student-athletes, coaches or team representatives will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the stadium. Further, the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.” 8.

FOOTBALL

Only university owned or sponsored drones will be allowed to fly over the stadium playing enclosure on game day, and then only until the winner of the coin toss is determined. The flying of drones inside the playing enclosure will be restricted from the time of the pregame toss and until time has expired for the first half of playing time. University sponsored drones may be used from the end of the second period until the 5:00 mark of the halftime intermission. University drones will again be restricted from this point until the completion of the game (including any extra periods needed). No other drones will be allowed within the stadium enclosure on game day. [September 2014]

Media Timeout Protocol [March 2018] 1.

During all Conference regular-season games, one (1) media timeout shall occur during each quarter.

Each institution is responsible for securing a Sideline Timeout Coordinator (i.e. Red Hat). The Red Hat should report at least 75 minutes prior to kickoff time and report to the official’s locker room for a brief discussion on signals and coordination of duties. The host institution shall also be responsible for arranging compensation for the Red Hat and that shall NOT be paid through the SAC office.

The length of each media timeout shall be 90 seconds. The Red Hat should notify the referee at the 60- and 75-second mark and then count down the last five (5) seconds to 90. The referee shall notify both teams after 90 seconds. Five (5) seconds after the referee’s notification, the ball shall be ready for play; therefore, starting the 25-second play clock.

The media timeout will be taken at the first approved opportunity of each quarter at the discretion of the head referee. Each team should have a possession before the first approved opportunity should occur (unless there is a score). Approved opportunities for media timeouts are following a PAT, field goal, punt or safety. Turnovers, blocked kicks, punts resulting in the receiving team taking the ball on the opponent’s half of the field or possessions ending on downs are not opportunities for media timeouts. In the event a media timeout is not taken during a quarter, it shall not carry over to succeeding quarters.

The media timeouts are not to be replaced by any other timeouts and may not be shortened even if both teams are ready to play prior to the end of the 90 seconds.

Extra Periods If a game is tied at the conclusion of the fourth quarter, the NCAA tiebreaker system as described in the most current edition of the NCAA Football Playing Rules shall be used.

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Regular Season Schedule

FOOTBALL

The Conference office will develop the regular season schedule.

Each institution shall play all other Conference members at least once during the regular season.

The total allowable number of regular season games is 11.

Sites for the contests alternate home/away over a two-year period.

If two teams are scheduled to play more than once, the first scheduled game shall be designated as the Conference game.

All Conference games must be completed by the Saturday preceding the start of the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs.

Delayed/Postponed, Suspended Game and Rescheduling Policy 1.

For all Conference games, up to 60 minutes prior to the kick-off the decision to delay the start of or postpone the game shall rest with the host institutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration and in consultation with the administration of the visiting team and the Commissioner.

The officialsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; jurisdiction begins 60 minutes before the scheduled kick-off and ends when the referee determines the score to be final.

Subsequent to the start of the game, if the officials declare the game suspended due to inclement weather and/or unplayable field conditions, the following procedures shall be followed: a. If fewer than three (3) quarters have been completed, the game will be resumed as soon as possible on the same day, conditions permitting. Games that must be postponed to another day shall not start any later than the originally scheduled kickoff time, unless mutually agreed upon by both institutions. b. If a game is suspended after the completion of the third quarter and cannot be resumed on the same day, the game shall be declared complete for the purpose of Conference standings. c. If the game is tied at the end of the third quarter and cannot be resumed on the same day, the game will be resumed the next day, conditions permitting. d. In the event that the game cannot be resumed the next day, a decision to postpone the game to a weekday or cancel the game should be made by the Athletic Directors of both institutions and the Commissioner. Every reasonable effort will be made to play the game on its scheduled day or the next day.

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The rescheduling of a Conference game shall take precedence over a non-conference game.

If a Conference game cannot be played as scheduled and the Conference office, in consultation with the involved institutions, determines that the game cannot be rescheduled, then the game will be considered no contest and will not count as a win or a loss for either team. In such a situation, the final regular-season standings shall be determined by the number of Conference losses. Any resulting ties will be broken based on the head-to-head results of the tied teams.

Film Exchange 1.

All Conference members must use the Hudl system for the purpose of the Conference film exchange policy. A complete copy of the South Atlantic Conference Film Exchange Policy will be provided to each head coach and Athletic Director prior to the start of the season and may also be obtained from the Conference office at any time. [Amended April 2015]

All Conference members are responsible for capturing and uploading each of its home and non-conference away games onto the Hudl website. [Amended April 2015]

All non-conference away games shall be uploaded as soon as reasonably possible upon the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s return to campus from the road trip.

All home day games shall be uploaded by midnight of the same day. [June 2010]

All home night games shall be uploaded by 6:00 a.m. the following day. [June 2010] 6 6

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When two conference teams are competing against one another, the home team is responsible for capturing and uploading the game film. The visiting team may film the game if it wishes, but the home team is responsible for uploading the game to the Game Tape Exchange website. The home team shall provide the visiting team with a covered filming area with access to power and space for two cameras. [June 2010]

All Conference game officials are granted access to Hudl for purposes of reviewing game film. [Amended April 2015]

Officials 1.

All officials for Conference regular season and nonconference home games will be assigned by the SAC Coordinator of Football Officials.

Halftime Video Review – First Half Targeting Penalties [April 2017]: a. Each institution shall designate one ‘SAC Replay Official’ in charge of video for halftime reviews. This individual will be introduced to the Head Referee during a pre-game meeting. During this meeting, the ‘SAC Replay Official’ should ensure the equipment is working properly and answer any questions the Referee may have. Designation of the ‘SAC Replay Official’ shall be left up the host institution’s Director of Athletics. b. Coach’s video (both the wide-angle sideline shot and tight end-zone shot) of all targeting penalties will be used for halftime reviews. The host institution will provide a compatible viewing device (e.g. a laptop or monitor) in the officials’ locker room. c. When a targeting penalty is called during the first half, the ‘SAC Replay Official’ will mark the actual time (e.g. 3:42 p.m.) and game time (e.g. 08:33, 2nd Quarter) of the penalty. d. The ‘SAC Replay Official’ shall deliver the video to the officials’ locker room within the first five minutes of halftime for their review. The ‘SAC Replay Official’ must exit the officials’ locker room while the video is being viewed, but remain just outside the locker room in the event the officials require technical assistance. e. The Referee will conduct the review under the fundamental assumption of Instant Replay. The ruling on the field is correct and may be reversed only on the basis of indisputable video evidence. The decision of the Referee is final and may not be appealed. f. Upon arriving at a decision, the Referee will inform each head coach of the outcome of the review. Prior to the second-half kickoff, the Referee will announce to the stadium the outcome of the review.

3. H.

Publicity 1.

Coaches, student-athletes and institutional representatives are prohibited from making public comments about officials.

Game results and statistics shall be reported to the Conference office no later than 7 7

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Sunday afternoon each week. Defensive statistics shall be reported to the Conference office each Monday following film review. The Conference office will prepare and post on its website a weekly release providing results, standings, statistics and award winners. 2.

A Preseason Poll will be determined by a vote of the head football coaches and released to the public approximately one month prior to the start of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own team. [Amended June 2012]

A First-Team and Second-Team Offense and Defense Preseason All-Conference shall be selected by the Conference sports information directors and released to the public at the same time as the Preseason Poll.

Regular Season Champion 1.

The regular season champion will be the team with the highest winning percentage based on games against Conference opponents and shall be declared the Conference champion.

Any tie for the regular season champion will not be broken. In the case of a tie, cochampions shall be named.

SECTION 8. POSTSEASON PARTICIPATION Selection to participate in the NCAA Division II playoffs is based upon the decision of the Division II Football Committee per a recommendation from the Super Region 2 Advisory Committee. There is no automatic qualification in the sport of Division II football; therefore, the Conference champion is not guaranteed selection to the NCAA Division II playoffs. SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

Players of the Year 1.

The Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the head football coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own players.

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

Freshmen of the Year 1.

The Offensive and Defensive Freshmen of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the head football coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those studentathletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winners will be awarded a plaque. 8 8

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Coach of the Year

FOOTBALL

The Football Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the football coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Regular Season Champion 1.

The regular season champion will be determined the Conference champion and will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the Conference champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

All-Conference Teams 1.

A sixteen (16) person First-Team Offense All-Conference team and a sixteen (16) person Second-Team Offense All-Conference team shall be selected by the head football coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Each team shall be comprised of one (1) quarterback, three (3) running backs, three (3) wide receivers, five (5) offensive linemen, one (1) tight end, one (1) long snapper, one (1) punter and one (1) placekicker. Winners will be selected by position. A studentathlete may be nominated for more than one position.

A thirteen (13) person First-Team Defense All-Conference and a thirteen (13) person Second-Team Defense All-Conference shall be selected by the head football coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Each team shall be comprised of four (4) defensive linemen, four (4) linebackers, four (4) defensive backs and one (1) return specialist. Winners will be selected by position. A student-athlete may be nominated for more than one position.

In the event of ties, the number of individuals on the first and second team may be adjusted.

Coaches may not vote for their own player(s) and must vote for every position.

First and Second Team winners will be awarded a plaque. [Amended 2016]

Jacobs Blocking Trophy 1.

The winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy shall be the top interior lineman or blocking 9 9

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FOOTBALL

back selected by a vote of the head football coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own players. 2.

The award is named in honor of William P. Jacobs, the founder and president of Presbyterian College from 1935 to 1945. The trophy is awarded by a member of the Jacobs family.

The winner will be awarded a plaque or trophy by the Jacobs family.

SAC Honor Roll All South Atlantic Conference football student-athletes who have a cumulative 3.30 (June 2010) or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll.

SAC Athlete of the Year Award 1.

The Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year shall be considered nominees for the SAC Athlete-of-the-Year Award. No other football student-athletes shall be nominated as Athlete of the Year. [Amended 2013]

The Conference Athletic Directors will select one male and one female student-athlete as Athlete of the Year. The Athletic Directors may vote for their own student-athlete(s).

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Scholar-Athlete Award 1.

Each institution may nominate one student-athlete per sport for each sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Elite 20 1.

The Elite 18 award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating on the team that wins the SAC Championship. [April 2016] 10 10

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A tie (including if there are Co-Champions) will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed.

The winner will be awarded a trophy.

SAC Presidents Award 1.

Only student-athletes that have won a sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award during the same academic year are eligible for the Presidentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Award.

The Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee shall select one male and one female winner at the end of the academic year.

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Senior Participation Award All football student-athletes competing in their final season of eligibility will receive a senior memento award sponsored by the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. [July 2004] A student-athlete shall have competed in the sport of football at a SAC institution for a minimum of two years in order to be eligible to receive the senior award. [June 2012]

SAC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week 1.

Each week of the regular season, the Conference office shall select an Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week. The winners will be chosen from the nominees received from the member institutions. [October 2009]

Nominations are due by Monday at 10:00 a.m. and the winners are selected by 12:00 noon the same day.

Players of the Week winners will be announced as part of the weekly sport report and will be awarded a personalized certificate. [Revised 2004]

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Statistical Champions

FOOTBALL

The football Statistical Champions will be the leaders in each of the following statistical categories at the conclusion of the regular season: n. Field Goal Percentage a. Rushing Yards Per Game o. Tackles Per Game b. Passing Yards Per Game p. Sacks Per Game c. Total Offense Per Game q. Tackles For Loss Per Game d. Receptions Per Game r. Interceptions Per Game e. Receiving Yards Per Game s. Team Scoring Offense f. All-Purpose Yards Per Game t. Team Scoring Defense g. Passing Efficiency Rating u. Team Passing Offense h. Punt Return Average v. Team Passing Defense i. Kick Return Averag w. Team Rushing Offense j. Punting Average x. Team Rushing Defense k. Scoring Average (TDs) y. Team Total Offense l. Scoring Average (Kicking) z. Team Total Defense m. Field Goals Per Game

Each winner will be awarded a personalized certificate.

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SPORT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION [UPDATED August 2018]

GOLF

SECTION 1. TITLE

A. South Atlantic Conference Golf Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head men’s golf coach and the head women’s golf coach of each member institution. Each head coach shall have one vote. The Golf Committee shall be a recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding golf matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Golf Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for golf and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than March 1. The Athletic Directors Council will act on all golf recommendations during its spring meeting. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Golf Committee shall be co-chaired by a head coach of men’s golf and a head coach of women’s golf. The co-chairs must have been a head coach in the conference for two (2) years before accepting the role. (October 2005)

The co-chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

Duties The co-chairs shall preside over the annual meeting of the Golf Committee and report all recommendations in the proper written format to the Athletic Directors Council via the Athletic Director Liaison for the Golf Committee. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the SAC Commissioner.

SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1.

The committee will meet annually in the fall during each academic year. The meeting will be in person or via conference call at a date and site determined by the Conference office. 1

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GOLF 2.

Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum. Seven (7) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

Playing Rules and Regulations United States Golf Association (USGA) rules govern except when superseded by NCAA or South Atlantic Conference rules.

Regular Season Schedule There is no regular-season Conference scheduling requirement; however, Conference members are encouraged to schedule intra-Conference competition.

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GOLF Publicity 1.

Tournament results must be reported to the Conference office by Tuesday morning of each week. The Conference office will prepare and post on its website results, standings, statistics and award winners.

The Conference office will publish the adjusted scoring averages per Golfstat on its website during the second and fourth week of March in addition to the Wednesday prior to the start of the Conference tournament. [November 2010]

Date and Site 1.

The men’s and women’s Conference tournaments shall be played on separate dates at the site determined by the approved rotation schedule. [Amended October 2013] WOMEN Year 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Site

Host

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

Lenoir-Rhyne Lincoln Memorial Coker Anderson Brevard Catawba Queens

Dates April 7-9 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

Site Camden (S.C.) Country Club TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

Host Coker Lincoln Memorial Lenoir-Rhyne Tusculum Mars Hill Newberry Wingate Carson-Newman

Dates April 14-16 TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA

Broadmoor Golf Links (Fletcher, NC) Mars Hill

MEN Year 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2.

The tournament must be completed prior to the first date of final exams for any Conference member. Actual dates shall be set at least one year in advance. 3

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GOLF Playing Rules and General Regulations 1.

USGA rules govern except when superseded by NCAA or South Atlantic Conference rules. The USGA officials will act as the official rules interpreters. [Amended October 2013]

The Tournament Committee shall consist of the co-chairs of the Golf Committee, the head professional of the host course, the Athletic Director Liaison of the Golf Committee and a designated person from the Conference office.

Play is conducted in threesomes beginning at the #1 (for rounds one and two) and #1 and #10 (for round three) tee(s) unless determined otherwise by the Tournament Committee. [Amended October 2014]

A significant display of slow play and/or misconduct, which shall include abusive language and/or the throwing of a club by a participant will result in the following: [March 2005] a. First offense â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Warning b. Second offense â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Two-stroke penalty c. Third offense â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Disqualification

Participants are expected to dress appropriately for championship golf competition, including a shirt and/or sweater identifying the institution.

Measuring devices are permitted during all rounds of the Conference tournament. [Amended November 2010]

Institutions may designate two (2) coaches to provide advice to participating studentathletes during all rounds of the Conference tournament. Designated coaches must be considered coaches (i.e. head, assistant, student or volunteer) by their institution. It is permissible to change the two (2) designated coaches after the first day of competition, provided all participating institutions and the rules officials are notified prior to the start of play on the second day.

All designated coaches shall be required to wear a bracelet identifying them as a designated coach. Parents of participating student-athletes may not be designated as volunteer coaches for this purpose. [October 2012]

Parents and spectators are to remain on the cart path only and are not permitted on the practice green or driving range during the Conference tournament. [March 2005]

10.

Individual and team scores will be updated via live stats (e.g. Golfstat, BirdieFire) at the completion of every three holes, at a minimum. [March 2010]

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GOLF Squad Size and Entry Forms 1.

Squad sizes are limited to five (5) participants for each men’s and each women’s team. In the event a team does not have (5) participants, another team may bring an additional player(s), whose score will not be included in the team results, in order to fill out the pairings.

Additional players will be selected based their adjusted scoring average per Golfstat based on all the results as of the Wednesday prior to the start of Conference tournament. To be selected as an individual participant, the student-athlete must have completed a minimum of six competitive rounds during the season. [November 2010]

The chairs of the Men’s and Women’s Golf Committees, in conjunction with the Conference office, shall be responsible for the distribution of all Conference tournament information.

Official entry forms must be sent to the applicable chairs of the Golf Committee and the Conference office no later than the Wednesday prior to the start of the Conference tournament. The applicable chair of the Golf Committee and Conference office will be responsible for submitting the entry forms to the head professional at the host course.

An injured or ill player may be substituted for up to one hour prior to the tee time of the first round for that specific individual. Proper medical documentation must be presented from the athletic trainer on site, the institution’s athletic trainer and/or a physician. [October 2014]

Format 1.

The format for both the men’s and women’s tournament will be a three-day, 54-hole tournament, with 18 holes of play scheduled on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The Saturday prior to the tournament shall be available for a practice round. [October 2011]

If weather or other unforeseen conflicts precludes a 54-hole tournament, a Conference tournament will be declared based on whatever number of completed 18-hole rounds are played over a three-day period (minimum is 18 holes). If play is halted or shortened any day and all teams have completed the same nine (9) holes, then the scores for those nine (9) holes will count toward the championship. [Amended October 2011]

The Medalist (individual champion) for both the men’s and the women’s tournament shall be determined by the low aggregate score for 54 holes or whatever number of holes are completed (minimum of 18). All individual ties for first place shall be decided by a sudden victory playoff following the final round of play. The desired order of holes for the playoff will be determined by the Tournament Committee prior to the start of the tournament. [November 2010]

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GOLF 4.

Team scores consist of the low four (4) scores to be counted each round. In case of a tie by two (2) or more teams at the conclusion of the final round, the team champion shall be decided by a sudden victory playoff. Weather and time permitting, all five (5) golfers from each team tied for first place will play an additional hole. The low four (4) scores are counted with the lowest overall total winning the playoff. If a tie still remains, a second hole will be played, etc. If weather and time do not permit, a match of cards will be conducted. Final round fifth (5th) person scores will be compared. If a tie still exists, second round fifth (5th) person scores will be compared. If a tie still exists, first round fifth (5th) person scores will be compared. If a playoff begins but cannot be completed, fifth (5h) person scores on the last hole completed shall be compared. If a tie still exists, a match of cards as described above will be conducted. It is the responsibility of the sport committee to rule on the feasibility of continuing with a playoff, but every attempt should be made to conduct one if possible.

The team that wins the Conference tournament shall receive the Conferenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, where applicable. If the minimum of 18 holes cannot be played to completion due to weather or other unforeseen conflicts, the Tournament Committee will select the Conferenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, taking into consideration the most recent rankings per Golfstat. If a member of the Tournament Committee has a team in consideration, that person shall recuse himself/herself from the Committee. [November 2010]

Pairings 1.

Pairings for all three rounds shall consist of threesomes with teams ranked tenth, eleventh and twelfth paired together, teams ranked seventh, eighth and ninth paired together, teams ranked fourth, fifth and sixth paired together and teams ranked first, second and third paired together. [Amended October 2013]

Pairings for the first day shall be determined by the most recent rankings per Golfstat as of the Wednesday prior to the start of the Conference tournament. The committee cochairs shall forward the final pairings to the Conference office no later than the Thursday prior to the start of the Conference tournament.

Pairings for the second and third day shall be determined based on the results of the previous day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; by total team scores first and individual scores within each team second. [Amended October 2011]

Pre-Tournament Conference Call 1.

During the week prior to each tournament, the Conference office will conduct a mandatory pre-tournament conference call with the following participants: all involved head coaches, the host Athletic Director(s), the host sports information personnel, the host facilities staff, the head official and a Conference representative. The purpose of the conference call will be to review the schedule of events, awards presentation, practice times and general tournament details. 6

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GOLF

Balls

All balls used in the Conference tournament must conform to USGA standards. H.

Officials and Protests 1.

The Rules Committee shall consist of one certified USGA approved officials and the head professional of the host course. [Amended October 2014]

Protests must be submitted in writing to the Commissioner with a copy to the Athletic Director Liaison of the Golf Committee. All protests must be submitted no earlier than 24 hours and no later than 48 hours following the completion of the Conference tournament and must have the signature of the Head Coach and Athletics Director.

SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

Golfer of the Year 1.

The Women’s Golfer of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the head women’s golf coaches the Wednesday prior to the start of the Conference tournament. Each member institution shall be responsible for sending the adjusted scoring averages per Golfstat and a complete description of results for the year (i.e. bio) of the nominated studentathletes to the Conference office and the Conference office will then compile the information and distribute to the head coaches to vote. [Amended October 2014]

The Men’s Golfer of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the head men’s golf coaches the Wednesday prior to the start of the Conference tournament. Each member institution shall be responsible for sending the adjusted scoring averages per Golfstat and a complete description of results for the year (i.e. bio) of the nominated student-athletes to the Conference office and the Conference office will then compile the information and distribute to the head coaches to vote. [Amended October 2014]

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

Freshman of the Year 1.

The Women’s Golf Freshman of the Year shall be the freshman student-athlete with the lowest adjusted scoring average per Golfstat based on all results as of the Wednesday prior to the start of the Conference tournament. [November 2008] Only those studentathletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015] 7

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GOLF 2.

The Men’s Golf Freshman of the Year shall be the freshman student-athlete with the lowest adjusted scoring average per Golfstat based on all results as of the Wednesday prior to the start of the Conference tournament. [November 2008] Only those studentathletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015]

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Coach of the Year 1.

The Women’s Golf Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the women’s golf coaches prior to the Conference tournament. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The Men’s Golf Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the men’s golf coaches prior to the Conference tournament. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Tournament Champion 1.

The Tournament Champion will be awarded a trophy and also be considered the Conference Champion. In addition, each member of the tournament champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

A team that does not meet the NCAA minimum-contest requirements for golf (6 contests with 5 participants), including the Conference tournament, shall not receive points toward the Echols Athletic Excellence Award. [July 2004]

Tournament Runner-Up The teams that finish second and third in the team scoring will be awarded a plaque. [Amended August 2018]

All-Conference Teams 1.

The All-Conference team for both Men’s and Women’s Golf shall consist of five (5) first-team members, five (5) second-team members and five Honorable Mention team members [Amended October 2013] 8

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GOLF 2.

The first five (5) individuals with the lowest adjusted scoring average per Golfstat based on all results (minimum of 12 completed rounds) up to the Wednesday prior to the Conference tournament shall be the first team. [Amended October 2015]

The second five (5) individuals with the lowest adjusted scoring average per Golfstat based on all results (minimum of 12 completed rounds) up to the Wednesday prior to the Conference tournament shall be the second team. [Amended October 2015]

In the event of ties, the number of individuals on the first and second team may be adjusted.

First and Second Team winners will be awarded a plaque. [Amended 2016]

Tournament Medalist 1.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

All-Tournament Team 1.

The top five finishers, including ties, in both the men’s and women’s tournaments shall be named First-Team All-Tournament.

The second five finishers, including ties, in both the men’s and women’s tournaments shall be named Second-Team All-Tournament.

In the event of ties, the number of individuals on the first and second team may be adjusted.

The First-Team winners will be awarded a medal and the Second-Team winners will be awarded a personalized certificate. [Amended July 2015]

SAC Honor Roll All South Atlantic Conference golf student-athletes who have a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll. [June 2010]

SAC Athlete of the Year Award 1.

The male and female Golfer of the Year shall be considered nominees for the SAC Athlete-of-the-Year Award. No other men’s or women’s golf student-athletes shall be nominated as Athlete of the Year. [Amended June 2013] 9

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GOLF 2.

The Conference Athletic Directors will select one male and one female student-athlete as Athlete of the Year. The Athletic Directors may vote for their own student-athlete(s).

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Scholar-Athlete Award 1.

Each institution may nominate one student-athlete per sport for each sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Elite 20 1.

The Elite 20 award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site of each of the SAC Championships. [April 2016]

Ties will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed.

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

SAC Presidents’ Award 1.

Only student-athletes that have won a sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award during the same academic year are eligible for the Presidents’ Award.

Institutions may nominate one male and one female sport specific Scholar-Athlete award winners for the Presidents’ Award. The nominees must be of junior status, at minimum and it is expected that the nominees will represent a superior level of academic, athletic, and community/leadership qualities.

The Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee shall select one male and one female winner at the end of the academic year.

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque. 10

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GOLF SAC Senior Participation Award All golf student-athletes competing in their final season of eligibility will receive a senior memento award sponsored by the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. [July 2004] A student-athlete shall have competed in the sport of golf at a SAC institution for a minimum of two years in order to be eligible to receive the senior award. [June 2012]

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SPORT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION [UPDATED October 2018]

MEN’S LACROSSE

SECTION 1. TITLE South Atlantic Conference Men’s Lacrosse Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head men’s lacrosse coach of each member institution. Each head coach shall have one vote. The Men’s Lacrosse Committee shall be a recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding men’s lacrosse matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Men’s Lacrosse Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for Men’s lacrosse and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than October 1. The Athletic Directors Council will act on all men’s lacrosse recommendations during its fall meeting. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Men’s Lacrosse Committee shall be chaired by a head men’s lacrosse coach. The chair must have been a head coach in the conference for two (2) years before accepting the role.

The chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

Duties The chair shall preside over the annual meeting of the Men’s Lacrosse Committee and report all recommendations in the proper written format to the Athletic Directors Council via the Athletic Director Liaison for the Men’s Lacrosse Committee no later than October 1. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the SAC Commissioner.

SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1.

The committee will meet annually in the fall during each academic year. The meeting will be in person or via conference call at a date and site determined by the conference office. 1

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All head coaches (or designee) are required to attend or participate in (via conference call) the annual coaches’ meeting. a. b.

3. B.

MEN’S LACROSSE

Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum. Five (5) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

SECTION 7. REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE PLAY These regulations are intended to supplement NCAA rules and regulations as prescribed in Bylaw 17 of the NCAA Division II Manual. A.

Rules and Regulations 1.

All Conference regular season games will be played according to the most current NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Rules and Regulations publication as well as the rules of U.S. Lacrosse/USILA.

Conference members are prohibited from providing any form of a scouting report (e.g. written/verbal/game film) on another Conference member to any nonconference coach.

The home team shall wear light colored uniforms and the visiting team shall wear dark colored uniforms. 2 2

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MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LACROSSE

The field of play must conform to the dimensions and markings outlined in the most current NCAA Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lacrosse Rules and Regulations publication.

Regular Season Conference Schedule 1.

The Conference office will develop the regular season schedule and shall consist of a nine (9) team single round-robin schedule. [Amended June 2014]

Each institution shall play all other Conference members at least once during the regular season.

All Conference games will be scheduled as a doubleheader with the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teams playing the same day at the same location. A minimum of three (3) hours must be scheduled between the start of the doubleheader (e.g. 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.) and the teams playing the second game must be allowed a minimum of 45 minutes of warm-up time on the actual game field. [November 2016]

Game start times shall be determined by the host institution, taking into consideration length of travel and/or potential missed class time.

If two teams are scheduled to play more than once, the first scheduled game shall be designated as the Conference game.

All Conference games must be completed by the Saturday preceding the Conference tournament.

Rescheduling Policy 1.

The rescheduling of a Conference game shall take precedence over a nonconference game.

3 3

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MEN’S LACROSSE

Game Management 1.

Each member institution is responsible for securing and training the following game personnel: a. b. c. d. e. f. g.

Game administrator; Scoreboard operator; Official scorer; Statisticians; Ball chasers; Public address announcer; and Penalty box timekeeper.

A visible game clock and scoreboard must be available.

For each Conference men’s lacrosse contest, the host institution shall provide and identify to game officials and the visiting team, an athletics department designee on the premises as the person in charge of game management for that event. The game administrator should have access to means of electronic communication in order to promptly address any game management issues during the contest. It is strongly recommended that security be on site for all contests to assist with crowd control and assisting officials on and off the field of play. [Amended October 2018]

For games conducted at a neutral site, a home/host team must be designated and is responsible for ensuring all items in 1-3 above are met. [October 2018]

The host institution must ensure that direct two-way communication is available at all times between the press box and the scorer’s table if official scoring and/or timing functions are not handled at field level.

The following timeline shall be used for each Conference game. This example is for a 2:00 p.m. start. [Amended November 2017] Activity a. Warm-up begins/Field opens b. Captains and officials meet c. Player introductions/ National Anthem d. GAME BEGINS

4 4

Game Clock 60:00 5:00 0:00

Time of Day 12:55 p.m. 1:50 p.m. 1:55 p.m.

15:00

2:00 p.m.

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Players must stay on their half of the field during the duration of the warm-up period. Game Balls and Ball Persons 1.

The home team shall supply no fewer than 32 game balls, all of which must meet the dimensions, style, shape and material according to the most current NCAA Lacrosse Rules and Regulations publication.

The color of the ball shall be white unless there is inclement weather then the color of the ball shall be orange.

The home team shall provide a minimum of two (2) ball chasers, preferably four (4) and at least 10 years of age, at all games. Failure to abide by this policy will result in a reprimand from the Commissioner.

Officials 1.

All officials for Conference regular season and tournament games will be assigned by the SAC Coordinator of Men’s Lacrosse Officials.

All Conference games shall use a three-person officiating system. If a scheduled official is not at the site, a two-person system shall be used until the third official arrives.

Coaches, student-athletes and institutional representatives are prohibited from making public comments about officials.

Publicity 1.

A Preseason Poll will be determined by a vote of the head men’s lacrosse coaches and released to the public approximately one month prior to the start of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own team. [June 2012]

Regular Season Champion 1.

MEN’S LACROSSE

The regular-season champion will be the team with the highest winning percentage based on games against Conference opponents and shall be declared the Conference champion. 5 5

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MEN’S LACROSSE

Any tie for the regular season champion will not be broken. In the case of a tie, co-champions shall be named.

Date and Site 1.

Host Wingate Lenoir-Rhyne Lenoir-Rhyne TBD

Dates April 23, 26 & 28 April 20, 23 & 25 TBD TBD

The tournament shall be conducted on a Tuesday (Quarterfinals), Friday (Semifinals) and Saturday (Final). [Amended June 2017]

The tournament shall be scheduled for the final full week in April and no later than week prior to the start of the NCAA Division II Men’s Lacrosse Championship. Actual dates and location shall be set at least one year in advance. [Amended October 2014]

Format 1.

The top six (6) teams at the end of the regular season shall qualify for the Conference tournament and will be seeded according to the final regular season order of finish. Should two or more teams tie for sixth place, the Conference tiebreaking procedures described in Section 8-C will be used. [Amended October 2013]

The tournament will be conducted using a six-team single-elimination format. The quarterfinal games will be played at the home site of the higher seed and the semifinal and final games will be played at one site, which will be a neutral site or based on the rotation schedule described on Section 8-A. [Amended June 2017] Tuesday Quarterfinals

# 6 at # 3 # 5 at # 4

6 6

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Friday Semifinals

Sunday Final

MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LACROSSE

#1 vs. Winner of # 4 vs. # 5 #2 vs. Winner of # 3 vs. # 6

Winners of semifinal games

The host institution in conjunction with the Conference office will determine the game times for the all rounds.

The practice and warm-up schedule will be determined by the host institution and/or tournament director.

For all tournament games, the higher seed be designated as the home team and will wear light-colored uniforms.

The pre-game protocol for the Conference tournament shall be the same as during the regular season (Section 7, Item D-5). Further, the lower-seeded team shall be introduced first followed by the higher-seeded team.

For all tournament games, if the score is tied at the end of regulation play (60 minutes), there will be a two-minute intermission followed by four-minute, suddenvictory overtime periods shall be played until one team scores. There will be a twominute in between sudden-victory periods.

The team that wins the Conference tournament shall receive the Conferenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, if applicable. If the tournament cannot be played to completion due to weather or other unforeseen conflicts, then the regular-season champion will receive the automatic bid. Should the regular season have co-champions in this scenario, the team designated as the number one seed will receive the automatic bid.

7 7

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MEN’S LACROSSE

In the event of multiple ties (more than two teams tying at a position) a comparison of the tied teams’ records shall be evaluated to determine if a team(s) has an advantage in winning percentage. If that process does not resolve the tie or reduce the multiple tie to less teams [when one team is removed from a multiple tie, the remaining ties are broken by reverting back to the first step until the tie is reduced to two teams. At that point, the seeding for the remaining teams is resolved by following the tie-breaking procedures described above], then a comparison of each team’s record against the tournament’s number one seed (or highest possible seed) shall be evaluated. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, then a comparison of each team’s record against the next highest seed shall be evaluated. This process will continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, it shall be broken by a coin flip conducted by the Commissioner. Pre-Tournament Conference Call 1.

On the Tuesday prior to the semifinal and final rounds, the Conference office will conduct a mandatory pre-tournament conference call with the following participants: all involved head coaches, applicable Directors of Athletics or designee, the host sports information personnel, the host athletic training personnel, the host facilities staff, and a Conference representative(s). The purpose of the conference call will be to review the administrative details and game operations for the tournament.

The Conference office will set the time of the call, create an agenda and provide the necessary conference call information to each participating institution. The Commissioner shall inform the Director of Athletics in writing when required institutional representatives do not participate on the conference call.

Officials/Scorer 1.

The SAC Coordinator of Men’s Lacrosse Officials shall assign three (3) officials and to all tournament games.

The Conference office will be responsible for paying the tournament officials.

The host institution shall provide an official scorer for all games of the Conference tournament.

Game Ball The game ball used for all rounds of the Conference Championship will be the ball used by the host institution.

8 8

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SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

MEN’S LACROSSE

Player of the Year 1.

The Men’s Lacrosse Player of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the men’s lacrosse coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a trophy.

Freshman of the Year 1.

The Men’s Lacrosse Freshman of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the men’s lacrosse coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Coach of the Year 1.

The Men’s Lacrosse Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the men’s lacrosse coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Regular-Season Champion 1.

The Conference champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the regular season champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

All-Conference Teams 1.

A First-Team All-Conference, Second-Team All-Conference and the Honorable Mention Team shall be selected by the head men’s lacrosse coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. [Amended October 2013]

Each team shall be comprised of three (3) attack, three (3) midfield, three (3) defense, one (1) long pole midfield, one (1) specialist and one (1) goalkeeper. Winners will be selected by position. A student-athlete may be nominated for only one position. 9 9

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MEN’S LACROSSE

Nomination forms and ballots will be sent to each head coach by the Conference office along with deadlines for them to be returned. Final ballots will be tallied by the Conference office.

At the conclusion of the final regular-season contest, a conference call with all head coaches to discuss the nominees is permitted. The call shall be scheduled, coordinated and managed by the current chair of the coaches’ committee; however, ALL voting shall be conducted via the online system on the SAC website (i.e. no voting shall take place during the conference call). The voting system will open one hour after the scheduled conference call and close at a designated and communicated deadline. Final ballots will be reviewed by the AD Liaison to the coaches’ committee and tallied by the Conference office. [April 2015]

In the event of ties, the number of individuals at each position on the First and Second Team may be adjusted.

Coaches may not vote for their own student-athlete(s) and must vote for every position.

First and Second Team winners will be awarded a plaque. [Amended 2016]

Tournament Champion The tournament champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the tournament champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

Tournament Runner-Up The team that is the tournament runner-up will be awarded a plaque.

All-Tournament Team 1.

A 10-person All-Tournament Team, regardless of position, shall be selected at the conclusion of the tournament. a. The head coach of the tournament championship team will submit five selections. b. The head coach of the tournament runner-up team will submit three selections. c. The head coaches of the two teams eliminated in the semifinals will submit one selection each.

2. I.

Tournament Most Valuable Player 1.

Members of the All-Tournament Team will be awarded a medal. [July 2015]

The tournament Most Valuable Player will be selected by the head coach of the 10 10

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2. J.

MEN’S LACROSSE

tournament championship team and must be one of the five student-athletes selected for the All-Tournament Team. The winner will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Honor Roll All South Atlantic Conference men’s lacrosse student-athletes who have a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll. (Revised June 2010)

SAC Athlete of the Year Award 1.

The men’s lacrosse Player of the Year shall be considered a nominee for the SAC Male Athlete of the Year Award. No other men’s lacrosse student-athlete shall be nominated as Athlete of the Year. (Revised 2013)

The Athletic Directors Council will select one male and one female studentathlete as the Athlete of the Year. Members of the Athletic Directors Council may vote for their own student-athlete(s).

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Scholar-Athlete Award 1.

Each institution may nominate one student-athlete per sport for each sportspecific Scholar-Athlete award.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Elite 20 1.

The Elite 20 award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site of each of the SAC Championships. [April 2016]

Ties will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed. 11 11

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SAC Presidents Award

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

MEN’S LACROSSE

Student-athletes that have won a sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award during the same academic year are eligible for the Presidents’ Award.

The Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee shall select one male and one female winner at the end of the academic year.

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Senior Participation Award All men’s lacrosse student-athletes competing in their final season of eligibility will receive a senior memento award sponsored by the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. [Amended 2004] A student-athlete shall have competed in the sport of men’s lacrosse at a SAC institution for a minimum of two years in order to be eligible to receive the senior award. [June 2012]

SAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week 1.

Each week of the regular season, the Conference office shall select an Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week. The winners will be chosen from the nominees received from the member institutions. [October 2009]

Nominations are due by Monday at 10:00 a.m. and the winners are selected by 12:00 noon the same day.

Player of the Week winners will be announced as part of the weekly sport report and will be awarded a personalized certificate. [Amended 2004]

Statistical Champions 1.

The men’s lacrosse Statistical Champions will be the leaders in each of the following statistical categories at the conclusion of the regular season. An individual student-athlete must appear in at least 75% of the team’s games played and goalkeepers must play at least 50% of the team’s total minutes.

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SPORT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION [UPDATED October 2018] SECTION 1. TITLE

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

South Atlantic Conference Women’s Lacrosse Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head women’s lacrosse coach of each member institution. Each head coach shall have one vote. The Women’s Lacrosse Committee shall be a recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding women’s lacrosse matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Women’s Lacrosse Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for women’s lacrosse and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than October 1. The Athletic Directors Council will act on all women’s lacrosse recommendations during its fall meeting. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Women’s Lacrosse Committee shall be chaired by a head women’s lacrosse coach. The chair must have been a head coach in the conference for two (2) years before accepting the role.

The chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

Duties The chair shall preside over the annual meeting of the Women’s Lacrosse Committee and report all recommendations in the proper written format to the Athletic Directors Council via the Athletic Director Liaison for the Women’s Lacrosse Committee no later than October 1. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the SAC Commissioner.

SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1.

The committee will meet annually in the fall during each academic year. The meeting will be in person or via conference call at a date and site determined by the conference office. 1

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All head coaches (or designee) are required to attend or participate in (via conference call) the annual coaches’ meeting. a. b.

3. B.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum. Five (5) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

SECTION 7. REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE PLAY These regulations are intended to supplement NCAA rules and regulations as prescribed in Bylaw 17 of the NCAA Division II Manual. A.

Rules and Regulations 1.

All Conference regular season games will be played according to the most current NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules and Regulations publication as well as the rules of U.S. Lacrosse/IWLCA.

The home team shall wear light colored uniforms and the visiting team shall wear dark colored uniforms.

The field of play must conform to the dimensions and markings outlined in the most current NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules and Regulations publication. 2 2

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WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LACROSSE

Regular Season Conference Schedule 1.

The Conference office will develop the regular season schedule and shall consist of a nine (9) team (10-team starting in 2020) single round-robin schedule. [Amended June 2014]

Each institution shall play all other Conference members at least once during the regular season.

All Conference games will be scheduled as a doubleheader with the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teams playing the same day at the same location. A minimum of three (3) hours must be scheduled between the start of the doubleheader (e.g. 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.) and the teams playing the second game must be allowed a minimum of 45 minutes of warm-up time on the actual game field. [November 2016]

Game start times shall be determined by the host institution, taking into consideration length of travel and/or potential missed class time.

If two teams are scheduled to play more than once, the first scheduled game shall be designated as the Conference game.

All Conference games must be completed by the Saturday preceding the Conference tournament.

Rescheduling Policy 1.

The rescheduling of a Conference game shall take precedence over a nonconference game.

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WOMEN’S LACROSSE

c. The site change will not affect the following year’s schedule. Game Management 1.

Each member institution is responsible for securing and training the following match personnel: a. b. c. d. e. f.

Game administrator; Scoreboard operator; Official scorer; Statisticians; Ball chasers; and Public address announcer.

A visible game clock and scoreboard must be available.

For each Conference women’s lacrosse contest, the host institution shall provide and identify to game officials and the visiting team, an athletics department designee on the premises as the person in charge of game management for that event. The game administrator should have access to means of electronic communication in order to promptly address any game management issues during the contest. It is strongly recommended that security be on site for all contests to assist with crowd control and assisting officials on and off the field of play. [Amended October 2018]

For games conducted at a neutral site, a home/host team must be designated and is responsible for ensuring all items in 1-3 above are met. [October 2018]

The following timeline shall be used for each Conference game. This example is for a 2:00 p.m. start. a. b. c. d. e. e. f.

Activity Warm-up begins/Field opens Coaches and officials meet Captains and officials meet Stick check Player introductions National Anthem GAME BEGINS

Game Clock 60:00 10:00 5:00 0:00 0:00 0:00 30:00

Time of Day 12:50 p.m. 1:40 p.m. 1:45 p.m. 1:50 p.m. 1:53 p.m. 1:57 p.m. 2:00 p.m.

Players must stay on their half of the field during the duration of the warm-up period.

4 4

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WOMEN’S LACROSSE

During player introductions, the captains of each team shall shake the hand of the opposing coach.

Carding/Score Verification Card 1.

The host institution is responsible for having this form at the field level for each game.

If a card is issued during the game, the officials should ensure that the scorer’s table is aware that a card has been issued and which player received the card. This should be done prior to play resuming.

One member of the officiating crew shall be responsible for keeping track of carding information during the game. This information will be used to verify what has been documented on the form at the scorer’s table both at halftime and at the conclusion of the game.

At the conclusion of the game, the form shall be verified and signed by the officials. The reason for the issuance of any cards should be completed in the “Offense” category of the form.

The host institution is responsible for sending the form to the NCAA Secretary/Rules editor in a timely fashion once the game is over. This form is the official record if there is any dispute regarding cards issued, in particular red cards.

Game Balls 1.

The home team shall supply no fewer than nine (9) game balls, all of which must meet the dimensions, style, shape and material according to the most current NCAA Lacrosse Rules and Regulations publication.

The color of the ball shall be yellow.

Officials 1.

All officials for Conference regular season and tournament games will be assigned by the SAC Coordinator of Women’s Lacrosse Officials.

All Conference games shall use a three-person officiating system. If a scheduled official is not at the site, a two-person system shall be used until the third official arrives.

Coaches, student-athletes and institutional representatives are prohibited from making public comments about officials. 5 5

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WOMEN’S LACROSSE

Publicity 1.

A Preseason Poll will be determined by a vote of the head women’s lacrosse coaches and released to the public approximately one month prior to the start of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own team. (June 2012)

Regular Season Champion 1.

The regular-season champion will be the team with the highest winning percentage based on games against Conference opponents and shall be declared the Conference champion.

Any tie for the regular season champion will not be broken. In the case of a tie, co-champions shall be named.

Date and Site 1.

Host Wingate Lenoir-Rhyne Lenoir-Rhyne TBD

Dates April 23, 26 & 28 April 20, 23 & 25 TBD TBD

The tournament shall be conducted on a Tuesday (Quarterfinals) Friday (Semifinals) and Sunday (Final). [Amended June 2017] 6 6

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WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LACROSSE

The tournament shall be scheduled for the final full week in April and no later than week prior to the start of the NCAA Division II Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lacrosse Championship. Actual dates and location shall be set at least one year in advance. [Amended October 2014]

Format 1.

The tournament will be conducted using a six-team single-elimination format. The quarterfinal games will be played at the home site of the higher seed and the semifinal and final games will be played at one site, which will be a neutral site or based on the rotation schedule described in Section 8-A. [Amended June 2017] Tuesday Quarterfinals

#6 at #3 #5 at #4

Friday Semifinals

#1 vs. Winner of #4 vs. #5 #2 vs. Winner of #3 vs. #6

Sunday Final

Winners of semifinal games

The host institution in conjunction with the Conference office will determine the game times for the all rounds.

The practice and warm-up schedule will be determined by the host institution and/or tournament director.

For all tournament games, the higher seed be designated as the home team and will wear light-colored uniforms.

7 7

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WOMEN’S LACROSSE

For all tournament games, if the score is tied at the end of regulation play (60 minutes), both teams will have a five-minute rest and toss a coin for choice of ends. The coin toss will not include a choice of possession. The alternate possession shall continue from regulation. Six minutes (two three-minute halves) of stop-clock sudden-victory overtime will be played. Teams will change ends after the first threehalf with no delay for coaching. No substitutions may take place at this time. The game will be restarted by a center draw. The winner will be decided by a ‘sudden victory.’ The team that scores the first goal wins the game. If neither team has scored after the first overtime period of six minutes, there will be a three-minute rest followed by the teams switching ends again and beginning a second period of six minutes (two three-minute halves) of stop-clock sudden-victory overtime. Substitutions may occur at this time. The game will be restarted by a center draw. This procedure of play will continue until the first goal is scored. Note: During ‘sudden-victory overtime,’ the clock will stop on every whistle. [Amended October 2016]

Seeding and Tie-Breaker Formula The seeding for the tournament shall be based on the results of the regular season conference games (point total). If a tie(s) exist in the final regular season standings, the following criteria will used (in this order) to determine the tournament seeds: [April 2010] a. Head-to-head record among the tied teams. b. If a tie still exists, a comparison of each team’s record against all remaining seeds in the tournament. The comparison of records will begin with the highest seed possible and continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary (including teams that may not qualify for the tournament). c. In the event of multiple ties (more than two teams tying at a position); a comparison of the goal differential among the tied teams shall be used to resolve the tie. For example, Team A defeats Team B 10-8, Team B defeats Team C 10-6; Team C defeats Team A 12-11, the goal differentials are Team A +1, Team B +2, Team C -3. Team B would win this tie and the head-to-head result would break the tie between Teams A and C. [Amended March 2018] d. If a tie still exists, a comparison of the goal differential in all Conference games shall be used to resolve the tie. [Amended March 2018] e. If a tie still exists, the Commissioner shall conduct a coin flip.

When one team is removed from a multiple tie, the remaining ties are broken by reverting back to the first step until the tie is reduced to two teams. At that point, the seeding for 8 8

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the remaining teams is resolved by following the tie-breaking procedures described above.

Pre-Tournament Conference Call

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

The Conference office will set the time of the call, create an agenda and provide the necessary conference call information to each participating institution. The Commissioner shall inform the Director of Athletics in writing when required institutional representatives do not participate on the conference call.

Officials/Scorer 1.

The SAC Coordinator of Women’s Lacrosse Officials shall assign three (3) officials and to all tournament games.

The Conference office will be responsible for paying the tournament officials.

The host institution shall provide an official scorer for all games of the Conference tournament.

Game Ball The game ball used for all rounds of the Conference Championship will be the ball used by the host institution.

SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

Player of the Year 1.

The Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the women’s lacrosse coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a trophy.

Freshman of the Year 1.

The Women’s Lacrosse Freshman of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the women’s lacrosse coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those 9 9

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2. C.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s). The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Coach of the Year 1.

The Women’s Lacrosse Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the women’s lacrosse coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Regular-Season Champion 1.

The Conference champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the regular season champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

All-Conference Teams 1.

A First-Team All-Conference, a Second-Team All-Conference and an Honorable Mention Team shall be selected by the head women’s lacrosse coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. [Amended October 2013]

Each team shall be comprised of four (4) attack, four (4) midfield, four (4) defense and one (1) goalkeeper. Winners will be selected by position. A studentathlete may be nominated for only one position.

Nomination forms and ballots will be sent to each head coach by the Conference office along with deadlines for them to be returned. Final ballots will be tallied by the Conference office.

At the conclusion of the final regular-season contest, a conference call with all head coaches to discuss the nominees is permitted. The call shall be scheduled, coordinated and managed by the current chair of the coaches’ committee; however, ALL voting shall be conducted via the online system on the SAC website (i.e. no voting shall take place during the conference call). The voting system will open one hour after the scheduled conference call and close at a designated and communicated deadline. Final ballots will be reviewed by the AD Liaison to the coaches’ committee and tallied by the Conference office. [April 2015]

In the event of ties, the number of individuals at each position on the First and 10 10

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Second Team may be adjusted. 6. 7.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

Coaches may not vote for their own student-athlete(s) and must vote for every position. First and Second Team winners will be awarded a plaque. [Amended 2016]

Tournament Champion The tournament champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the tournament champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

Tournament Runner-Up The team that is the tournament runner-up will be awarded a plaque.

All-Tournament Team 1.

A twelve (12) person All-Tournament Team, regardless of position, shall be selected at the conclusion of the tournament. a. The head coach of the tournament championship team will submit six selections. b. The head coach of the tournament runner-up team will submit four selections. c. The head coaches of the two teams eliminated in the semifinals will submit one selection each.

2. I.

Members of the All-Tournament Team will be awarded a medal. [July 2015]

Tournament Most Valuable Player 1.

The tournament Most Valuable Player will be selected by the head coach of the tournament championship team and must be one of the six student-athletes selected for the All-Tournament Team.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Honor Roll All South Atlantic Conference women’s lacrosse student-athletes who have a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll. (Amended June 2010)

SAC Athlete of the Year Award 1.

The women’s lacrosse Player of the Year shall be considered a nominee for the SAC Female Athlete-of-the-Year Award. No other women’s lacrosse studentathlete shall be nominated as Athlete of the Year. (Amended 2013) 11 11

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2. 3.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

The Athletic Directors Council will select one male and one female studentathlete as the Athlete of the Year. Members of the Athletic Directors Council may vote for their own student-athlete(s). The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Scholar-Athlete Award 1.

Each institution may nominate one student-athlete per sport for each sportspecific Scholar-Athlete award.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Elite 20 1.

The Elite 20 award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site of each of the SAC Championships. [April 206]

Ties will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed.

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

SAC Presidents Award 1.

Student-athletes that have won a sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award during the same academic year are eligible for the Presidents’ Award.

The Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee shall select one male and one female winner at the end of the academic year.

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque. 12 12

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SAC Senior Participation Award

All women’s lacrosse student-athletes competing in their final season of eligibility will receive a senior memento award sponsored by the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. (Amended 2004) A student-athlete shall have competed in the sport of women’s lacrosse at a SAC institution for a minimum of two years in order to be eligible to receive the senior award. (June 2012) SAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week 1.

Nominations are due by Monday at 10:00 a.m. and the winners are selected by 12:00 noon the same day.

Player of the Week winners will be announced as part of the weekly sport report and will be awarded a personalized certificate. (Amended 2004)

Statistical Champions 1.

The women’s lacrosse Statistical Champions will be the leaders in each of the following statistical categories at the conclusion of the regular season. An individual student-athlete must appear in at least 75% of the team’s games played and goalkeepers must play at least 50% of the team’s total minutes. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

Draw controls per game Ground balls per game Assists per game Saves per game Goals-against average Save percentage Goals per game Caused turnovers Points per game Team points per game

k. Team caused turnovers per game l. Team ground balls per game m. Team scoring defense n. Team scoring offense o. Team scoring margin p. Team draw controls per game

Each winner will be awarded a personalized certificate.

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SPORT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION [UPDATED March 2018]

MEN’S SOCCER

SECTION 1. TITLE South Atlantic Conference Men’s Soccer Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head men’s soccer coach of each member institution. Each head coach shall have one vote. The Men’s Soccer Committee shall be a recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding men’s soccer matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Men’s Soccer Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for men’s soccer and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than March 1. The Athletic Directors Council will act on all men’s soccer recommendations during its spring meeting. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Men’s Soccer Committee shall be chaired by a head men’s soccer coach. The chair must have been a head coach in the conference for two (2) years before accepting the role.

The chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

Duties The chair shall preside over the annual meeting of the Men’s Soccer Committee and report all recommendations in the proper written format to the Athletic Directors Council via the Athletic Director Liaison for the Men’s Soccer Committee no later than March 1. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the SAC Commissioner.

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MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SOCCER SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1.

The committee will meet annually in the winter or spring during each academic year. The meeting will be in person or via conference call at a date and site determined by the conference office.

All head coaches (or designee) are required to attend or participate in (via conference call) the annual coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting.

3. B.

Failure to be in attendance or participate (via conference call) will result in the loss of the ability to vote on any issue discussed during the meeting.

Failure to be in attendance or participate (via conference call) for two (2) consecutive meetings will result in a financial penalty.

Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum. Seven (7) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

SECTION 7. REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE PLAY These regulations are intended to supplement NCAA rules and regulations as prescribed in Bylaw 17 of the NCAA Division II Manual.

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MEN’S SOCCER A.

Rules and Regulations 1.

All Conference regular season games will be played according to the most current NCAA Soccer Rules and Regulations publication.

Conference members are prohibited from providing any form of a scouting report (e.g. written/verbal/game film) on another Conference member to any nonconference coach.

Any student-athlete who receives a red card for the following offenses per the NCAA Soccer Rules and Interpretations shall be suspended for, at a minimum, the next two (2) regularly scheduled games, including any Conference of NCAA tournament games. a. 12.5.2 – Is guilty of violent behavior b. 12.5.3 – Is guilty of fighting (the NCAA mandates a minimum two-game suspension for fighting. c. 12.5.4 - Spits at an opponent or any other person d. 12.5.7 – Engages in hostile behavior or abusive language or harassment that refers to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or national origin, or other abusive or threatening or obscene language, behavior or conduct. e. Any head coach whose team receives a red card for any of the aforementioned in three games in one season shall be suspended for a minimum of one (1) game. The suspension will occur at the next regularly scheduled game, including any conference or NCAA tournament game.

Any caution (i.e. yellow card) issued to a TEAM shall be assessed to the head coach for the purposes of accumulated caution and suspensions. [Amended October 2015]

The home team shall wear light colored uniforms and the visiting team shall wear dark colored uniforms.

The field of play must conform to the dimensions and markings outlined in the most current NCAA Rules and Regulations publication. All institutions will establish field dimensions prior to the start of each season and report them to the conference office no later than August 1st. The conference office will disseminate the information to all head coaches. Institutions may not alter those dimensions at any point during the course of the season unless some unforeseen situation occurs. Should that happen the visiting team and conference office should be notified at least one day in advance. [Amended April 2015]

It is recommended that the team benches be on the opposite side of the spectator seating. 3 3

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MEN’S SOCCER 8.

A Conference game that is halted due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances may continue if conditions permit within a maximum time of one hour. If the game is unable to continue and within the allotted time of one hour, the game shall be considered “no contest” if it has not progressed to 70 minutes. A “no contest” shall be rescheduled and played from the beginning with a 0-0 score; however, all cautions or ejections will stand. If the game has progressed to 70 minutes, the game will be considered official after the one-hour time limit.

If the score is tied at the end of regulation play (90 minutes), two (2) 10-minute, sudden-victory overtime periods shall be played. If the score remains tied at the end of the second sudden-victory overtime period, the game will remain a tie.

10.

All artificial noisemakers are prohibited at men’s and women’s soccer games played at SAC venues. [April 2016]

Regular Season Conference Schedule 1.

The Conference office will develop the regular season schedule.

All Conference games will be scheduled as a doubleheader with the women’s teams playing the same day at the same location. [April 2011] A minimum of 2 ½ hours must be scheduled between the start of the doubleheader (e.g. 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.) and the teams playing the second game must be allowed a minimum of 20 minutes of warm-up time on the actual game field. [April 2012] a. It is recommended that from the 8:00 mark on the pregame clock until the 5:00 mark, neither team leave the field and return to the locker room. [April 2014] b. At the 5:00 mark teams must be in the bench area for introduction of players.[April 2014]

Each institution shall play all other Conference members at least once during the regular season.

If two teams are scheduled to play more than once, the first scheduled game shall be designated as the Conference game.

All Conference games must be completed by the Saturday preceding the Conference tournament.

Rescheduling Policy 1.

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MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SOCCER

the involved institutions are unable to agree on a rescheduled date, then the Conference office shall select the date. [July 1999] A game that is cancelled after the visiting team has arrived on site (due to inclement weather or circumstances beyond the control of the participating institutions) must be rescheduled at the first available date. [July 2005]

The rescheduling of a Conference game shall take precedence over a nonconference match.

Game Balls and Ball Persons 1. The Wilson Forte FYbrid II will be the official ball for all Conference regular season and tournament games starting with the 2015 season. [Amended April 2015] 2. The home team shall supply no fewer than three game balls, all of which must meet the dimensions, style, shape and material according to the most current NCAA Soccer Rules and Regulations publication. 3. The home team shall provide a minimum of four (4) ball persons, preferably at least 10 years of age, at all games. Failure to abide by this policy will result in a reprimand from the Commissioner. [March 2005]

Officials 1.

All officials for Conference regular season and tournament games will be assigned by the SAC Coordinator of Soccer Officials.

All Conference games shall use a three-person officiating system. If a scheduled official is not at the site, a two-person system shall be used until the third official arrives.

For all Conference games the center official shall use RefSpray to indicate where a free kick will be taken from and where the wall shall remain, if necessary. The SAC office will provide each program with three cans of RefSpray prior to the start of the season. Additional cans will be the responsibility of the institution. [July 2014] 5 5

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MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SOCCER Starting in 2018, member institutions will be responsible for providing the RefSpray for the officials prior to each game. 4. F.

Coaches, student-athletes and institutional representatives are prohibited from making public comments about officials.

Protests 1.

Officialsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; judgment decisions are final and not subject to protest. Protests may only be made on rules interpretations. At the time of the protest, the official scorer is notified and the game shall continue. A protest of a decision made by an official must be submitted in writing to the SAC Coordinator of Soccer Officials no earlier than 24 hours and no later than 48 hours following the completion of the contest. The written protest must include the signature of the head coach and athletic director (or designee). A copy of the protest will also be sent to the Conference office.

Upon receipt of the protest, the Commissioner shall decide if the protest is legitimate (after proper investigation and counsel). If so, and the outcome of the game was affected, the game shall be replayed from the point of the protest.

Publicity 1.

A Preseason Poll will be determined by a vote of the head menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soccer coaches and released to the public approximately one month prior to the start of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own team. [Amended June 2012]

Regular Season Champion 1.

During the regular season, teams will be awarded three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie and zero (0) points for a loss. The regular season champion will be the team with the highest point total based on games against conference opponents at the conclusion of the regular season and shall be declared the Conference champion. [March 2007]

Any tie for the regular season champion will not be broken. In the case of a tie, co-champions shall be named. 6 6

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MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SOCCER SECTION 8. CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT Wherever applicable, policies and procedures governing the administration and conduct of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Soccer Championship shall be utilized. A.

Date and Site 1.

Site/Host Manchester Meadows, SC/Mars Hill TBD/Coker

2020

TBD/Mars Hill

2021

TBD/Queens

2022

TBD/LMU

Dates Oct. 30, Nov. 2 and 4 Nov. 9, 14 or 15 and 16 or 17 Nov. 7, 12 or 13 and 14 or 15 Nov. 6, 11 or 12 and 13 or 14 TBD

The tournament shall be conducted on a Tuesday (Quarterfinals), Friday (Semifinals) and Sunday (Final). [Amended August 2012] Beginning in 2019, the tournament shall be conducted on a Saturday (Quarterfinals), Thursday or Friday (Semifinals and Saturday or Sunday (Final). [March 2018]

The tournament shall be scheduled for the week prior to the start of the NCAA Division II Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Soccer Championship. Actual dates shall be set at least one year in advance.

Format 1.

The tournament will be conducted using an eight-team single-elimination format. The quarterfinal games will be played at the home site of the higher seed and the semifinal and final games will be played at one site, which will be a neutral site or based on the rotation schedule described on Section 8-A.

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MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SOCCER

Quarterfinals

#8 at #1 #7 at #2 #6 at #3 #5 at #4

Semifinals

Winner of #1 vs. #8 vs. Winner of #4 vs. #5 Winner of #2 vs. #7 vs. Winner of #3 vs. #6

Championship

Winners of semifinal games

The host institution in conjunction with the Conference office will determine the game times for the quarterfinal round. Game times for the semifinal and final rounds will be determined by the Conference office and will be published in the tournament handbook.

The practice and warm-up schedule will be determined by the host institution and/or tournament director.

For all tournament games, the higher seed be designated as the home team and will wear light-colored uniforms.

For the quarterfinal games, the home (higher seeded) team will occupy its usual bench. For the semifinals and finals, the higher seeded team shall occupy the bench to the left of the scorerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s table when facing the field.

For all tournament games, if the score is tied at the end of regulation play (90 minutes), two (2) 10-minute, sudden-victory overtime periods shall be played. If the score remains tied at the end of the second sudden-victory overtime period, the game shall be recorded as a tie and the tiebreaker procedure of taking kicks from the penalty-kick line or spot, as set forth in the most current NCAA Soccer Rules and Regulations publication, shall be used to determine advancement.

The team that wins the Conference tournament shall receive the Conferenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. If the tournament cannot be played to completion due to weather or other unforeseen conflicts, then the regular season champion will receive the automatic bid. Should the regular season have cochampions in this scenario, the team designated as the number one seed will receive the automatic bid. [August 2017]

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MEN’S SOCCER a. Head-to-head record among the tied teams. b. If a tie still exists, a comparison of each team’s record against all remaining seeds in the tournament. The comparison of records will begin with the highest seed possible and continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. c. If a tie still exists, a comparison of goal differential in Conference games among the tied teams. d. If a tie still exists, a comparison of goals against in Conference games among the tied teams. e. If a tie still exists, a comparison of goals scored in Conference games among the tied teams. f. If a tie still exists, the Commissioner shall conduct a coin flip. In the event of multiple ties (more than two teams tying at a position) a comparison of the tied teams’ records shall be evaluated to determine if a team(s) has an advantage in wins. If that process does not resolve the tie or reduce the multiple tie to less teams [when one team is removed from a multiple tie, the remaining ties are broken by reverting back to the first step until the tie is reduced to two teams. At that point, the seeding for the remaining teams is resolved by following the tie-breaking procedures described above], then a comparison of each team’s record against the tournament’s number one seed (or highest possible seed) shall be evaluated. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, then a comparison of each team’s record against the next highest seed shall be evaluated. This process will continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, it shall be broken by a coin flip conducted by the Commissioner. D.

Pre-Tournament Conference Call 1.

On the Thursday prior to the semifinal and final rounds, the Conference office will conduct a mandatory pre-tournament conference call with the following participants: all involved head coaches, applicable Directors of Athletics or designee, the host sports information personnel, the host athletic training personnel, the host facilities staff, and a Conference representative(s). The purpose of the conference call will be to review the administrative details and game operations for the tournament.

The Conference office will set the time of the call, create an agenda and provide the necessary conference call information to each participating institution. The Commissioner shall inform the Director of Athletics in writing when required institutional representatives do not participate on the conference call.

Officials 1.

The SAC Coordinator of Soccer Officials shall assign three (3) officials and one (1) alternate official to all tournament games.

The Conference office will be responsible for paying the tournament officials. 99

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MEN’S SOCCER SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

Player of the Year 1.

The Offensive and Defensive Men’s Soccer Players of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the men’s soccer coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own player(s). [Amended March 2018]

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Freshman of the Year 1.

The Men’s Soccer Freshman of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the men’s soccer coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those studentathletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Coach of the Year 1.

The Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the men’s soccer coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Regular Season Champion 1.

The Conference champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the regular season champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

All-Conference Teams 1.

A First-Team All-Conference, a Second-Team All-Conference and an Honorable Mention Team shall be selected by the head men’s soccer coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. [Amended October 2013]

Each team shall be comprised of four (4) forwards, four (4) midfielders, four (4) defenders and one (1) goalkeeper. Winners will be selected by position. A student-athlete may be nominated for only one position. 10 10

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MEN’S SOCCER 3.

Nomination forms and ballots will be sent to each head coach by the Conference office along with deadlines for them to be returned. Final ballots will be tallied by the Conference office.

The number of nominations per team shall be based on the final standings of the regular season as follows [April 2017]: • • • • • • •

1st Place – 7 nominations 2nd Place – 6 nominations 3rd and 4th Place – 5 nominations 5th and 6th Place – 4 nominations 7th and 8th Place – 3 nominations 9th and 10th Place – 2 nominations 11th Place – 1 nomination

If one or more teams finish tied in the standings, each team may nominate the corresponding number of student-athletes for the tied position. 5.

At the conclusion of the final regular-season contest, a conference call with all head coaches to discuss the nominees is permitted. The call shall be scheduled, coordinated and managed by the current chair of the coaches’ committee; however, ALL voting shall be conducted via the online system on the SAC website (i.e. no voting shall take place during the conference call). The voting system will open one hour after the scheduled conference call and close at a designated and communicated deadline. Final ballots will be reviewed by the AD Liaison to the coaches’ committee and tallied by the Conference office. [April 2015 In the event of ties, the number of individuals at each position on the First and Second Team may be adjusted.

Coaches may not vote for their own student-athlete(s) and must vote for every position.

First and Second Team winners will be awarded a plaque. [Amended 2016]

Tournament Champion The tournament Champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the tournament champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

Tournament Runner-Up The team that is the tournament runner-up will be awarded a plaque.

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MEN’S SOCCER H.

All-Tournament Team 1.

An eleven (11) person All-Tournament Team, regardless of position, shall be selected at the conclusion of the tournament. a. The head coach of the tournament championship team will submit four selections. b. The head coach of the tournament runner-up team will submit three selections. c. The head coaches of the two teams eliminated in the semifinals will submit two selections each.

2. I.

Members of the All-Tournament Team will be awarded a medal. [July 2015]

Tournament Most Valuable Player 1.

The tournament Most Valuable Player will be selected by the head coach of the tournament championship team and must be one of the four student-athletes selected for the All-Tournament Team.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Honor Roll 1.

All South Atlantic Conference men’s soccer student-athletes who have a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll. [June 2010]

The winners will be awarded a personalized certificate.

SAC Athlete of the Year Award 1.

The men’s soccer Player of the Year shall be considered a nominee for the SAC Male Athlete of the Year Award. No other men’s soccer student-athlete shall be nominated as Athlete of the Year. [Amended 2013]

The Athletic Directors Council will select one male and one female studentathlete as the Athlete of the Year. Members of the Athletic Directors Council may vote for their own student-athlete.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Elite 20 1.

The Elite 20 award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site of each of the SAC Championships. [April 2016]

Ties will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed. 12 12

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MEN’S SOCCER 3. M.

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

SAC Scholar-Athlete Award 1.

Each institution may nominate one student-athlete per sport for each sportspecific Scholar-Athlete award.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Presidents Award 1.

Student-athletes that have won a sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award during the same academic year are eligible for the Presidents’ Award.

The Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee shall select one male and one female winner at the end of the academic year.

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Senior Participation Award All men’s soccer student-athletes competing in their final season of eligibility will receive a senior memento award sponsored by the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. [Amended 2004] A student-athlete shall have competed in the sport of men’s soccer at a SAC institution for a minimum of two years in order to be eligible to receive the senior award. [June 2012]

SAC Player of the Week 1.

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MEN’S SOCCER

Nominations are due by Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. and the winners are selected by 12:00 noon the same day.

Player-of-the-Week winners will be announced as part of the weekly sport report and will be awarded a personalized certificate. [Amended 2004]

Statistical Champions 1.

The men’s soccer Statistical Champions will be the leaders in each of the following statistical categories at the conclusion of the regular season. An individual student-athlete must appear in at least 75% of the team’s games played and goalkeepers must play at least 50% of the team’s total minutes. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i.

2. R.

Goals Per Game Points Per Game Assists Per Game Goals Against Average Saves Per Game Save Percentage Total Saves Team Scoring Offense Team Save Percentage

j. Team Shutout Percentage k. Team Goals Against Average l. Team Total Assists m. Team Total Goals n. Team Total Points o. Team Won-Lost-Tied Percentage

Each winner will be awarded a personalized certificate.

Fair-Play Award 1.

The Fair-Play Award is based on the number of yellow and red cards each team receives during the Conference regular season. A team that receives no yellow or red cards in a Conference game is awarded 20 points. For each yellow card a team receives, two (2) points are deducted and for each red card a team receives, four (4) points are deducted. At the conclusion of the regular season, the total number of points is divided by the number of Conference games played and the team with the highest average is awarded the Fair-Play Award. The Conference office will be responsible for tabulating the results for this award. [March 2004, Amended March 2005]

The team winner will be awarded a personalized certificate.

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SPORT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION (UPDATED March 2018)

WOMEN’S SOCCER

SECTION 1. TITLE South Atlantic Conference Women’s Soccer Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head women’s soccer coach of each member institution. Each head coach shall have one vote. The Women’s Soccer Committee shall be a recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding women’s soccer matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Women’s Soccer Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for women’s soccer and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than March 1. The Athletic Directors Council will act on all women’s soccer recommendations during its spring meeting. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Women’s Soccer Committee shall be chaired by a head women’s soccer coach. The chair must have been a head coach in the conference for two (2) years before accepting the role.

The chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

Duties The chair shall preside over the annual meeting of the Women’s Soccer Committee and report all recommendations in the proper written format to the Athletic Directors Council via the Athletic Director Liaison for the Women’s Soccer Committee no later than March 1. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the SAC Commissioner.

SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1.

The committee will meet annually in the winter or spring during each academic year. The meeting will be in person or via conference call at a date and site determined by the conference office. 1

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All head coaches (or designee) are required to attend or participate in (via conference call) the annual coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting. a. b.

3. B.

WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SOCCER

Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum. Seven (7) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

SECTION 7. REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE PLAY These regulations are intended to supplement NCAA rules and regulations as prescribed in Bylaw 17 of the NCAA Division II Manual. A.

Rules and Regulations 1.

All Conference regular season games will be played according to the most current NCAA Soccer Rules and Regulations publication.

Conference members are prohibited from providing any form of a scouting report (e.g. written/verbal/game film) on another Conference member to any nonconference coach.

2 2

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WOMEN’S SOCCER

a. 12.5.2 – Is guilty of violent behavior b. 12.5.3 – Is guilty of fighting (the NCAA mandates a minimum two-game suspension for fighting. c. 12.5.4 - Spits at an opponent or any other person d. 12.5.7 – Engages in hostile behavior or abusive language or harassment that refers to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or national origin, or other abusive or threatening or obscene language, behavior or conduct. e. Any head coach whose team receives a red card for any of the aforementioned in three games in one season shall be suspended for a minimum of one (1) game. The suspension will occur at the next regularly scheduled game, including any conference or NCAA tournament game. 4.

Any caution (i.e. yellow card) issued to a TEAM shall be assessed to the head coach for the purposes of accumulated caution and suspensions. [October 2015]

The home team shall wear light colored uniforms and the visiting team shall wear dark colored uniforms.

The field of play must conform to the dimensions and markings outlined in the most current NCAA Rules and Regulations publication. All institutions will establish field dimensions prior to the start of each season and report them to the conference office no later than August 1st. The conference office will disseminate the information to all coaches. Institutions may not alter those dimensions at any point during the course of the season unless some unforeseen situation occurs. Should that happen the visiting team and conference office should be notified at least one day in advance. [Amended April 2015]

It is recommended that the team benches be on the opposite side of the spectator seating.

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WOMEN’S SOCCER

For all regular season games, if the score is tied at the end of regulation play (90 minutes), two (2) 10-minute, sudden-victory overtime periods shall be played. If the score remains tied at the end of the second sudden-victory overtime period, the game will remain a tie.

10.

All artificial noisemakers are prohibited at men’s and women’s soccer games played at SAC venues [April 2016].

Regular Season Conference Schedule 1.

The Conference office will develop the regular season schedule.

All Conference games will be scheduled as a doubleheader with the men’s teams playing the same day at the same location. [April 2011] A minimum of 2 ½ hours must be scheduled between the start of the doubleheader (e.g. 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.) and the teams playing the second game must be allowed a minimum of 20 minutes of warm-up time on the actual game field. [April 2012]

Each institution shall play all other Conference members at least once during the regular season.

If two teams are scheduled to play more than once, the first scheduled game shall be designated as the Conference game.

All Conference games must be completed by the Saturday preceding the Conference tournament.

Rescheduling Policy 1.

The rescheduling of a Conference game shall take precedence over a nonconference match.

4 4

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WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SOCCER

Game Balls and Ball Persons 1.

The Wilson Forte FYbrid II will be the official ball for all Conference regular season and tournament games starting with the 2015 season. [Amended April 2015]

The home team shall supply no fewer than three game balls, all of which must meet the dimensions, style, shape and material according to the most current NCAA Soccer Rules and Regulations publication.

The home team shall provide a minimum of two (2) ball persons, preferably four (4) and at least 10 years of age, at all games. Failure to abide by this policy will result in a reprimand from the Commissioner. [March 2005]

Officials 1.

All officials for Conference regular season and tournament games will be assigned by the SAC Coordinator of Soccer Officials.

All Conference games shall use a three-person officiating system. If a scheduled official is not at the site, a two-person system shall be used until the third official arrives.

Coaches, student-athletes and institutional representatives are prohibited from making public comments about officials.

5 5

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Protests

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Officials’ judgment decisions are final and not subject to protest. Protests may only be made on rules interpretations. At the time of the protest, the official scorer is notified and the game shall continue. A protest of a decision made by an official must be submitted in writing to the SAC Coordinator of Soccer Officials no earlier than 24 hours and no later than 48 hours following the completion of the contest. The written protest must include the signature of the head coach and athletic director (or designee). A copy of the protest will also be sent to the Conference office.

Publicity 1.

A Preseason Poll will be determined by a vote of the head women’s soccer coaches and released to the public approximately one month prior to the start of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own team. [Amended June 2012]

Regular Season Champion 1.

2. Any tie for the regular season champion will not be broken. In the case of a tie, cochampions shall be named.

6 6

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SECTION 8. CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SOCCER

Wherever applicable, policies and procedures governing the administration and conduct of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Soccer Championship shall be utilized. A.

Date and Site 1.

Site/Host Manchester Meadows, SC/C-N TBD/Coker

2020

TBD/Mars Hill

2021

TBD/Queens

2022

TBD/LMU

Dates Oct. 30, Nov. 2 and 4 Nov. 9, 14 or 15 and 16 or 17 Nov. 7, 12 or 13 and 14 or 15 Nov. 6, 11 or 12 and 13 or 14 TBD

The tournament shall be scheduled for the week prior to the start of the NCAA Division II Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Soccer Championship. Actual dates shall be set at least one year in advance.

Format 1.

The tournament will be conducted using an eight-team single-elimination format. The quarterfinal games will be played at the home site of the higher seed and the semifinal and final games will be played at one site, which will be a neutral site or based on the rotation schedule described on Section 8-A.

7 7

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Quarterfinals

#8 at #1 #7 at #2 #6 at #3 #5 at #4

WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SOCCER

Semifinals

Winner of #1 vs. #8 vs. Winner of #4 vs. 5 Winner of #2 vs. #7 vs. Winner of #3 vs. #6

Championship

Winners of semifinal games

The practice and warm-up schedule will be determined by the host institution and/or tournament director.

For all tournament games, the higher seed be designated as the home team and will wear light-colored uniforms.

8 8

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WOMEN’S SOCCER

a. Head-to-head record among the tied teams. b. If a tie still exists, a comparison of each team’s record against all remaining seeds in the tournament. The comparison of records will begin with the highest seed possible and continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. c. If a tie still exists, a comparison of goal differential in Conference games among the tied teams. d. If a tie still exists, a comparison of goals against in Conference games among the tied teams. e. If a tie still exists, a comparison of goals scored in Conference games among the tied teams. f. If a tie still exists, the Commissioner shall conduct a coin flip.

In the event of multiple ties (more than two teams tying at a position) a comparison of the tied teams’ records shall be evaluated to determine if a team(s) has an advantage in points/wins. If that process does not resolve the tie or reduce the multiple tie to less teams [when one team is removed from a multiple tie, the remaining ties are broken by reverting back to the first step until the tie is reduced to two teams. At that point, the seeding for the remaining teams is resolved by following the tie-breaking procedures described above], then a comparison of each team’s record against the tournament’s number one seed (or highest possible seed) shall be evaluated. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, then a comparison of each team’s record against the next highest seed shall be evaluated. This process will continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, items ‘c through e’ above will be followed in order. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, it shall be broken by a coin flip conducted by the Commissioner. D.

Pre-Tournament Conference Call 1.

The Conference office will set the time of the call, create an agenda and provide the necessary conference call information to each participating institution. The Commissioner shall inform the Director of Athletics in writing when required institutional representatives do not participate on the conference call.

Officials 1.

The SAC Coordinator of Soccer Officials shall assign three (3) officials and one (1) alternate official to all tournament games.

The Conference office will be responsible for paying the tournament officials. 9 9

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SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Player of the Year 1.

The Offensive and Defensive Women’s Soccer Players of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the women’s soccer coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own player(s). [Amended March 2018]

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Freshman of the Year 1.

The Women’s Soccer Freshman of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the women’s soccer coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Coach of the Year 1.

The Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the women’s soccer coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Regular Season Champion 1.

The Conference champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the regular season champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

All-Conference Teams 1.

A First-Team All-Conference, a Second-Team All-Conference and an Honorable Mention Team shall be selected by the head women’s soccer coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. [Amended October 2013]

Nomination forms and ballots will be sent to each head coach by the Conference 10 10

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WOMEN’S SOCCER

office along with deadlines for them to be returned. Final ballots will be tallied by the Conference office. [April 2015]

5. The number of nominations per team shall be based on the final standings of the regular season as follows [April 2017]: • • • • • • •

If one or more teams finish tied in the standings, each team may nominate the corresponding number of student-athletes for the tied position.

At the conclusion of the final regular-season contest, a conference call with all head coaches to discuss the nominees is permitted. The call shall be scheduled, coordinated and managed by the current chair of the coaches’ committee; however, ALL voting shall be conducted via the online system on the SAC website (i.e. no voting shall take place during the conference call). The voting system will open one hour after the scheduled conference call and close at a designated and communicated deadline. Final ballots will be reviewed by the AD Liaison to the coaches’ committee and tallied by the Conference office. [April 2015]

In the event of ties, the number of individuals at each position on the First and Second Team may be adjusted.

Coaches may not vote for their own student-athlete(s) and must vote for every position.

First and Second Team winners will be awarded a plaque. [Amended 2016]

Tournament Champion The tournament champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the tournament champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

Tournament Runner-Up The team that is the tournament runner-up will be awarded a plaque.

11 11

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All-Tournament Team 1.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

2. I.

Members of the All-Tournament Team will be awarded a medal. [July 2015]

Tournament Most Valuable Player 1.

The tournament Most Valuable Player will be selected by the head coach of the tournament championship team and must be one of the four student-athletes selected for the All-Tournament Team.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Honor Roll All South Atlantic Conference women’s soccer student-athletes who have a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll. [Amended June 2010]

SAC Athlete of the Year Award 1.

The women’s soccer Player of the Year shall be considered a nominee for the SAC Female Athlete-of-the-Year Award. No other women’s soccer studentathlete shall be nominated as Athlete of the Year. [Amended 2013]

The Athletic Directors Council will select one male and one female studentathlete as the Athlete of the Year. Members of the Athletic Directors Council may vote for their own student-athlete.

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

Elite 20 1.

The Elite 18 award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site of each of the SAC Championships. [April 2016]

Ties will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed.

The winners will be awarded a trophy. 12 12

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SAC Scholar-Athlete Award 1. 2.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Each institution may nominate one student-athlete per sport for each sportspecific Scholar-Athlete award. Nominees for the Scholar-Athlete must meet the following criteria: a. A minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA b. Be of sophomore status, at a minimum c. Excel in academics, athletics and community/leadership activities.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Presidents Award 1.

Student-athletes that have won a sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award during the same academic year are eligible for the Presidents’ Award.

The Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee shall select one male and one female winner at the end of the academic year.

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Senior Participation Award All women’s soccer student-athletes competing in their final season of eligibility will receive a senior memento award sponsored by the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. [Revised 2004] A student-athlete shall have competed in the sport of women’s soccer at a SAC institution for a minimum of two years in order to be eligible to receive the senior award. [June 2012]

SAC Player of the Week 1.

Nominations are due by Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. and the winners are selected by 12:00 noon the same day. 13 13

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Statistical Champions 1.

Player of the Week winners will be announced as part of the weekly sport report and will be awarded a personalized certificate. [Amended 2004]

The women’s soccer Statistical Champions will be the leaders in each of the following statistical categories at the conclusion of the regular season. An individual student-athlete must appear in at least 75% of the team’s games played and goalkeepers must play at least 50% of the team’s total minutes. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i.

2. R.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Goals Per Game Points Per Game Assists Per Game Goals Against Average Saves Per Game Save Percentage Total Saves Team Scoring Offense Team Save Percentage

j. Team Shutout Percentage k. Team Goals Against Average l. Team Total Assists m. Team Total Goals n. Team Total Points o. Team Won-Lost-Tied Percentage

Each winner will be awarded a personalized certificate.

Fair-Play Award 1.

The winner will be awarded a personalized certificate.

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SPORT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION [UPDATED August 2018]

SOFTBALL

SECTION 1. TITLE

South Atlantic Conference Softball Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head softball coach of each member institution. Each head coach shall have one vote. The Softball Committee shall be a recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding softball matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Softball Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for softball and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than October 1. The Athletic Directors Council will act on all softball recommendations during its fall meeting. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Softball Committee shall be chaired by a head softball coach. The chair must have been a head coach in the conference for two (2) years before accepting the role. [October 2005]

The chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

Duties The chair shall preside over the annual meeting of the Softball Committee and report all recommendations in the proper written format to the Athletic Directors Council via the Athletic Director Liaison for the Softball Committee no later than October 1. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the SAC Commissioner.

SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1.

The committee will meet annually in the fall during each academic year. The meeting will be in person or via conference call at a date and site determined by the conference office. 1

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SOFTBALL

All head coaches (or designee) are required to attend or participate in (via conference call) the annual coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting. a. b. 2.

Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum. Seven (7) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

Tobacco Ban The use of all tobacco products by student-athletes and game personnel (e.g. coaches, umpires athletic trainers, managers) is prohibited at the site of the game competition. Violation of this ban will result in disqualification of the offending individual and the head coach for the remainder of the contest. Umpires are instructed to take a zero tolerance policy in this area. The umpiresâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; jurisdiction begins with regard to this rule upon their arrival on the field or dugout in uniform. Umpires who use tobacco before, during or after a game in the vicinity of the site shall be reported to and punished by Supervisor of Umpires and/or the Commissioner.

SECTION 7. REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE PLAY These regulations are intended to supplement NCAA rules and regulations as prescribed in Bylaw 17 of the NCAA Division II Manual. A.

Rules and Regulations 1.

All Conference regular season games will be played according to the most current NCAA Softball Rules and Regulations publication.

Conference members are prohibited from providing any form of a scouting report (e.g. written/verbal/game film) on another Conference member to any conference or nonconference coach. 2 2

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The host institution shall be considered the “home team” for both games of a Conference doubleheader.

The home team shall wear light colored uniforms and the visiting team shall wear dark colored uniforms.

The hitting and fielding pregame protocol for all Conference games shall be as follows [October 2012]: a. 30 minutes – Home team batting practice in batting cage. b. 30 minutes – Visiting team batting practice in batting cage. c. 30 minutes – Shared lines and stretching.

All Conference games must be seven (7) innings in length. If a game is called after the regulation number of innings (5) due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, it is considered a completed game unless the score is tied. If the score is tied the game is declared halted by the home plate umpire. Prior to the restart of a halted game, the home plate umpire shall conduct a pre-game meeting to verify the lineup information remains correct (i.e. note uniform number changes necessitated by a change in jerseys, personnel no longer available, etc.). When play resumes after having been temporarily suspended, it must start at exactly the point being halted. The lineups and batting orders of both teams must be exactly the same as they were, subject to the rules of substitution, and any player who played or was announced as a substitute before the game was halted must be in the lineup when play resumes or be ineligible for the remainder of the game. If a halted game that is tied is unable to be completed, the result shall remain a tie.

Conference games that end in a tie shall remain a tie. Conference games that end in a tie will count as a half win and a half loss. [Amended 2002]

The eight (8)-run rule shall be in effect for all Conference regular season games (i.e. game ends when one team has an eight run lead after at least four and half innings).

The NCAA Tie-Breaker rule shall be in effect at the top of the 8th inning for all Conference regular-season games.

Bat Compression Testing (BCT Policy and Procedures 1.

Pre-Competition Barrel Compression Testing: a. Mandatory for ALL teams to utilize the G4 SSL (ASA Model) Barrel Compression Tester provided by the conference office. b. Bat Testing before ALL CONFERENCE double headers. Strongly recommended but not mandated for non-conference games, including tournaments. c. Each team must have every bat that will be in a team area or on the field in the round tested during the pre-competition testing.

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d. Coaches must bring a current NCAA Approved Softball Bat List with their bat models highlighted to the testing site and have available at testing and in their dugout during each game. e. Each bat that passes BCT will be marked with an appropriate sticker. f. Bats that have not undergone BCT, and thus do not have the appropriate sticker, will

not be permitted on the competition field or in team areas.

Location and Time of Testing a. Home team’s machine is used for testing. Visiting team should travel with theirs as a back-up. b. Members of each teams’ coaching staff will bring bats to the testing location, as well as their logo stickers. c. For conference double headers testing will be conducted prior to the first game. d. Location to be determined by home team and that information is shared with visiting team no later than 24 hours prior to the start of the first game. It is highly recommended to provide a climate control private area for bat testing. e. Umpires do not have to be present for initial testing. f. Testing shall not be conducted in public view. g. Bat testing must begin 1 hour and 45 minutes prior to game time. Initial testing must

be completed by 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to game time. Coaches from each team, or appointed designee, must be present during both teams’ testing. Ø In the event a visiting team arrives late due to unforeseen circumstances, the start time of the game will be delayed to accommodate bat testing.

Testing Procedure a. The on-site administrator will test both teams’ bats in full view of both head coaches and/or designee. In the rare event that the administrator is not able to be present due to an unforeseen conflict, each head coach will physically complete the testing on their opponents bats in full view of the opposing Teams’ head coach. If this situation occurs, the conference office needs to be notified as to why the on-site administrator was not present within 24 hours. b. Bats must be inserted into the machine according to the specifications listed in the manual.

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c. A bat tested in multiple spots must pass the test in at least 2 out of 3 attempts. For example, if test one passes, the bat is rotated 90 degrees and is tested again. If this passes, the bat is permitted to be used. If test two fails, it is rotated 90 degrees again. And tested. If this 3rd and final test passes, it is stickered and permitted to be used. d. Bats passing the BCT will receive a tamper-proof sticker to be placed on the taper of the bat so that it is easily visible. e. The opponents’ sticker will be placed on bats that have passes. For example, the home team sticker will be placed on the visiting team bats and the visiting team sticker will be placed on the home team bats. f. The visiting team shall always travel with its own stickers to be used during the testing. The home team is not responsible for stickers of the opposing team. g. The stickers must remain in place until the double header has been completed. h. If two coaches cannot agree as to whether a particular bat(s) pass or fail, the specific bat(s) in question shall be re-tested in the presence of the head umpire prior to the start of the game with the umpire decision being final. i. Only bats with the appropriate opponent’s sticker attached are permitted in the dugout, team area and during competition. j. All bats shall be placed in front of the dugout for review by the umpire before the

first game of the double header.

Procedure for Failed Bats a. A bat that fails BCT testing prior to the start of the double-header will be deemed illegal and remain in the immediate possession of the home teams’ on-site administrator until the end of the double header. b. If a bat fails testing, the bat is “dead” for that double header and cannot be re-tested for that double header. c. For each failed bat, the home team on-site administrator will complete the SAC Failed Form via email to the conference office no later than 24 hours after the completion of the double header. The SAC office will compile the data on model number failed bats (no institutions name included) and submit a report at the conclusion of the season to the NCAA and all softball playing institutions.

Penalties for Noncompliance with Policy a. In instances where an institution is found to be in non-compliance with the SAC bat testing policy, the penalties administered by the conference shall be: i. Public reprimand of institution, and 5 5

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ii.

Suspension of the head coach for a number of conference games equal to the number of games at which testing did not occur, This could include games in the conference tournament of the following year.

Penalties for using a bat that has not passed the BCT a. If a player steps into the battersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; box with an illegal bat (one that does not have the appropriate sticker affixed) and a pitch is thrown, the following penalties will apply: i. The batter is immediately called out for that at bat, ii. Base runner(s) return to original base(s). iii. The batter and coach are ejected for the remainder of that game, AND iv. The bat shall be removed from play the remainder of the double header. v. Incident report filed.

Regular Season Conference Schedule 1.

The Conference office will develop the regular season schedule.

Each institution shall play all other Conference members at least twice during the regular season. Conference games will be scheduled as a single date doubleheader. The sites will rotate on alternating years.

All Conference games must be completed by the Sunday preceding the Conference tournament.

Rescheduling Policy 1.

A Conference doubleheader that is cancelled due to inclement weather or circumstances beyond the control of the participating institutions must be rescheduled at the first available date, as determined by mutual consent of the institutions involved. If the involved institutions canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t agree to a rescheduled date, then the Conference office shall select the date. [Amended October 2010]

If the first game of a doubleheader is played but the second game is cancelled or unable to be completed due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances, the game will not be rescheduled. [Amended October 2010]

The rescheduling of a Conference doubleheader shall take precedence over a nonconference game(s).

The Directors of Athletics may mutually consent to change the site of a Conference doubleheader due to unplayable conditions at the scheduled home site. a. The originally scheduled home team is responsible for notifying the visiting team and the umpires regarding the change.

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b. The originally scheduled home team will continue to be the designated home team for purposes of scoring, uniform color and batting order. The host institution may use its regular dugout. c. The site change will not affect the following year’s schedule.

Game Balls The WTA901BSST – Wilson Collegiate Softball will be the official ball for all Conference regular season and tournament games. [July 2012]

Umpires 1.

All umpires for Conference regular season and tournament games will be assigned by the SAC Coordinator of Softball Umpires.

Umpires should be notified of the applicable rules of play by the host institution’s coach. The host institution’s coach is required to have a softball rulebook available.

One (1) umpire in chief and two (2) additional umpires are required for each Conference contest. Games must begin at the designated start time provided there are at least two (2) umpires present. [Amended November 2016]

Coaches, student-athletes and institutional representatives are prohibited from making public comments about officials.

Protests 1.

Umpires’ judgment decisions are final and not subject to protest. Protests may only be made on rules interpretations. At the time of the protest, the official scorer is notified and the game shall continue. A protest of a decision made by an umpire must be submitted in writing to the SAC Coordinator of Softball Umpires no earlier than 24 hours and no later than 48 hours following the completion of the contest. The written protest must include the signature of the head coach and athletic director (or designee). A copy of the protest will also be sent to the Conference office.

Publicity 1.

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A Preseason Poll will be determined by a vote of the head softball coaches and released to the public approximately one month prior to the start of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own team. [Amended June 2012]

Regular Season Champion 1.

The regular season champion will be the team with the highest winning percentage based on games against conference opponents and shall be declared the Conference champion.

Any tie for regular season champion will not be broken. In the case of a tie, cochampions shall be named.

Date and Site 1.

Site/Host Whitley Softball Field/Catawba J.C. Red Edmonds Field/Tusculum Newberry Softball Field/Newberry Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Softball Complex/Carson-Newman

Dates April 26-27 April 24-25 April 23-24 April 29-30

The tournament will be conducted on a Friday and Saturday and Sunday will be reserved for a rain date. When the tournament dates fall on Easter weekend, it will be conducted on Thursday and Friday with Saturday being reserved as a rain date. [Amended May 2017]

The tournament shall be conducted on the final full weekend of April. [June 2012] Actual dates shall be set at least one year in advance.

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Format 1.

The tournament will be conducted using an eight-team single-elimination format. [Amended November 2016] Friday

Game 1 - #4 vs. #5 Game 2 - #1 vs. #8 Game 3 - #2 vs. #7 Game 4 - #3 vs. #6

Saturday

Game 5 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner Game 6 – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner Game 7 – Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner

The host institution in conjunction with the Conference office will determine all tournament game times. Game times will be published in the tournament handbook.

The practice and warm-up schedule will be determined by the host institution and/or tournament director.

The higher seed in all games shall be designated as the home team.[Amended November 2016]

The higher seeded team will occupy the dugout on the third base line for all games.

The home team will warm-up first and wear white/light uniforms.

If a game is called after the required minimum of five (5) innings because of weather or other unforeseen conflicts, it will be considered a completed game.

The eight (8)-run rule is in effect for all Conference tournament games (i.e. game ends when one team has an eight run lead after at least four and half innings).

10.

The NCAA Tie-Breaker rule will not be used in any Conference tournament game. [April 2010]

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Seeding and Tie-Breaker Formula The seeding for the tournament shall be based on the results of the regular season conference games (winning percentage). If a tie(s) exist in the final regular season standings, the following criteria will used to determine the tournament seeds: a. Head-to-head record among the tied teams. b. If a tie still exists, a comparison of each team’s record against all remaining seeds in the tournament. The comparison of records will begin with the highest seed possible and continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. c. If a tie still exists, the Commissioner shall conduct a coin flip. In the event of multiple ties (more than two teams tying at a position), a comparison of the tied teams’ records shall be evaluated to determine if a team(s) has an advantage in wins. If that process does not resolve the tie or reduce the multiple tie to less teams [when one team is removed from a multiple tie, the remaining ties are broken by reverting back to the first step until the tie is reduced to two teams. At that point, the seeding for the remaining teams is resolved by following the tie-breaking procedures described above], then a comparison of each team’s record against the tournament’s number one seed (or highest possible seed) shall be evaluated. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, then a comparison of each team’s record against the next highest seed shall be evaluated. This process will continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, it shall be broken by a coin flip conducted by the Commissioner.

Pre-Tournament Conference Call 1.

During the week before the tournament, the Conference office will conduct a mandatory pre-tournament conference call with the following participants: all involved head coaches, the host Athletic Director, the host sports information personnel, the host facilities staff, the head official and a Conference representative. The purpose of the conference call will be to review the schedule of events, awards presentation, practice times and general tournament details.

Umpires 1. 2.

The supervisor of softball umpires shall assign three (3) umpires to all tournament games. The Conference office will be responsible for paying the tournament umpires.

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SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

Player of the Year 1.

The Softball Player of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the softball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a trophy.

Pitcher of the Year 1.

The Softball Pitcher of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the softball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a trophy.

Freshman of the Year 1.

The Softball Freshman of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the softball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Coach of the Year 1.

The Softball Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the softball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Regular Season Champion 1.

The Conference champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the regular season champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

All-Conference Teams 1.

A twelve (12) person First-Team All-Conference, a twelve (12) person Second-Team 11 11

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All-Conference and a twelve (12) person Honorable Mention Team shall be selected by the head softball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. [Amended October 2013] Each team shall be comprised of one (1) catcher, two (2) pitchers, one (1) first baseman, one (1) second baseman, one (1) third baseman, one (1) shortstop, three (3) outfielders, one (1) utility player and one (1) designated player. Winners will be selected by position. A student-athlete may be nominated for only one position. [Amended October 2010] Nomination forms and ballots will be sent to each head coach by the Conference office along with deadlines for them to be returned. Final ballots will be tallied by the Conference office. A First-Team vote will be awarded two (2) points and a Second-Team vote will be awarded one (1) point. The student-athletes receiving the greatest number of points will be named First and Second Team All-Conference at each position.

Coaches may not vote for their own student-athlete(s) and must vote for every position.

First and Second Team winners will be awarded a plaque. [Amended 2016]

Tournament Champion The tournament Champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the tournament champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

Tournament Runner-Up The team that is the tournament runner-up will be awarded a plaque.

All-Tournament Team 1.

An eleven (11) person All-Tournament Team, regardless of position, shall be selected at the conclusion of the tournament. a. A ballot will be provided to all head coaches prior to the start of the tournament. b. Ballots are due by 11:00 a.m. on the Monday following the conclusion of the tournament. 12 12

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c. Coaches may vote for their own players. d. The Conference office will tabulate the votes and announce the All-Tournament Team on Monday afternoon. 2.

Members of the All-Tournament Team will be awarded a medal. [July 2015]

Tournament Most Valuable Player 1.

The tournament Most Valuable Player shall be the student-athlete that receives the most votes from the head coaches for the All-Tournament Team. If there is a tie, it will be broken by the Conference office.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Honor Roll All South Atlantic Conference softball student-athletes who have a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll. [June 2010]

SAC Athlete of the Year Award 1.

The softball Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year shall be considered nominees for the SAC Female Athlete of the Year Award. No other softball student-athlete shall be nominated as Athlete of the Year. [Amended June 2013]

The Athletic Directors Council will select one male and one female student-athlete as the Athlete of the Year. Members of the Athletic Directors Council may vote for their own student-athlete.

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

Elite 20 1.

The Elite 20 award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site of each of the SAC Championships. [April 2016]

Ties will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed.

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

SAC Scholar-Athlete Award 1.

Each institution may nominate one student-athlete per sport for each sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award. 13 13

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The winners will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Presidents Award 1.

Student-athletes that have won a sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award during the same academic year are eligible for the Presidents Award.

Institutions may nominate one male and one female sport specific Scholar-Athlete award winner for the Presidents Award. The nominees must be of junior status, at a minimum and it is expected that the nominees will represent a superior level of academic, athletic, and community/leadership qualities.

The Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee shall select one male and one female winner at the end of the academic year.

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Senior Participation Award All softball student-athletes competing in their final season of eligibility will receive a senior memento award sponsored by the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. [Revised 2004] A student-athlete shall have competed in the sport of baseball at a SAC institution for a minimum of two years in order to be eligible to receive the senior award. [June 2012]

SAC Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week 1. 2. 3.

Each week of the regular season, the Conference office shall select a Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week. The winners will be chosen from the nominees received from the member institutions. [October 2009] Nominations are due by Monday at 10:00 a.m. and the winners are selected by 12:00 noon the same day. Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week winners will be announced as part of the weekly sport report and will be awarded a personalized certificate. [Amended 2004]

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Statistical Champions 1.

The softball Statistical Champions will be the leaders in each of the following statistical categories at the conclusion of the regular season: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j.

Batting Average On-Base Percentage Slugging Percentage Home Runs Per Game Runs Batted In Per Game Runs Scored Per Game Triples Per Game Doubles Per Game Stolen Bases Per Game Earned Run Average

k. l. m. n. o. p. q. r. s. t.

Strikeouts Per Game Pitching Victories Team Batting Average Team Slugging Percentage Team Runs Scored Per Game Team Home runs Per Game Team Runs Batted In Per Game Team On-Base Percentage Team Stolen Bases Per Game Team Earned Run Average

Each winner will be awarded a personalized certificate.

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SPORT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION [UPDATED October 2018]

TENNIS

SECTION 1. TITLE

South Atlantic Conference Tennis Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head men’s tennis coach and the head women’s tennis coach of each member institution. Each head coach shall have one vote. The Tennis Committee shall be a recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding tennis matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Tennis Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for tennis and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than October 1. The Athletic Directors Council will act on all tennis recommendations during its fall meeting. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Tennis Committee shall be co-chaired by a head coach of men’s tennis and a head coach of women’s tennis.

The co-chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

Duties 1.

The co-chairs shall preside over the annual meeting of the Tennis Committee and report all recommendations in the proper written format to the Athletic Directors Council via the Athletic Director Liaison for the Tennis Committee. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the SAC Commissioner.

The co-chairs shall serve on the Protest Committee.

SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1.

The committee will meet annually in the fall during each academic year. The meeting will be in person or via conference call at a date and site determined by the conference office. 1

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Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum 1.

A majority of all conference college/university representatives present constitutes a quorum. Seven (7) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

Tobacco Ban The use of all tobacco products by student-athletes and game personnel (e.g. coaches, officials, athletic trainers, managers) is prohibited at the site of the match competition, as well as at Conference activities such as banquets, autograph sessions, press conferences and post game/match interviews Violation of this ban will result in disqualification of the offending individual and the head coach for the remainder of the contest. Officials are instructed to take a zero tolerance policy in this area.

Playing Rules and Regulations 1.

ITA official rules and scoring procedures govern except when superseded by Conference rules. [Amended September 2010]

Each coach shall submit their singles and doubles line-up to the opposing coach and official no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the match. The line-ups shall be according to strength of play per ITA rules. In the case of an injury and/or sickness to a student-athlete, all remaining student-athletes must sequentially move up in the line-up. [1999] 2

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Regular Season Schedule/Match Format

Only head coaches, assistant coaches and designated graduate assistants are allowed to coach during matches. [October 2015]

Each institution shall play one (1) match in the spring against all participating Conference members. The sites will rotate on alternating years.

All Conference matches must be completed by the Sunday preceding the Conference tournament.

The match format shall consist of three doubles matches (six-game pro set with a 7point tiebreak at 6-6 and no-advantage scoring) followed by six singles matches (best two out of three sets with a 7-point tiebreaker at 6-6 each set and no-advantage scoring). All team matches will be played to completion in the regular season. [Amended July 2018]

The team match will be a seven-point format. The team that wins two of three doubles matches receives one point. Each singles match is worth one point. Four or more points are required to win the team match. [July 2018]

Each Conference match will be played using the following policies: a. There shall be no warm-up for in doubles or singles. b. As doubles matches finish, singles players from the same position shall begin their matches as soon as possible even if other doubles matches have not ended. c. When singles players are available after doubles, the higher ranked (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) players shall be placed on the open courts first. d. If only six courts are available, a coin toss occurring immediately after the lineups are exchanged will determine the order of play for singles for both the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s matches. If the coin toss lands on heads, the #1, #3 and #5 singles for both genders will play first. If the coin toss lands on tails, the #2, #4 and #6 singles for both genders will play first. In either scenario, the remaining matches will be played in order of ranking. e. Intermission between the completion of doubles and the beginning of singles shall be five (5) minutesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; f. For those singles players that did not participate in doubles, warm-up shall be five (5) minutes; g. Once the outcome of the team match has been determined (i.e. one team has four wins), a Match Tiebreak (10-point tiebreaker) shall be played in lieu of a third set for any singles match that is currently being played in the event of split sets. For a singles match that begins after the team match has been determined, an eight-game pro set with a 7-point tiebreak at seven games all and no-advantage scoring shall be played. [Amended October 2018]

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Rescheduling Policy 1.

A Conference match that is cancelled due to inclement weather or circumstances beyond the control of the participating institutions must be rescheduled at the first available date, as determined by mutual consent of the institutions involved. If the involved institutions canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t agree to a rescheduled date, then the Conference office shall select the date. [July 1999]

A match that is cancelled after the visiting team has arrived on site (due to inclement weather or circumstances beyond the control of the participating institutions) must be rescheduled at the first available date. [July 2005]

The rescheduling of a Conference match shall take precedence over a non-conference match.

General Policies and Procedures 1.

The host institution is encouraged to provide a scoreboard for each court that is being used throughout the match.

Net sticks shall be used for all singles matches.

Teams are responsible for providing their own towels.

Starting in 2018, the home team shall wear light-colored uniforms (shirts/dresses) and the visiting team shall wear dark-colored uniforms. [November 2016].

Match Balls 1.

The Wilson US Open Extra Duty ball will be the official ball for all regular season Conference matches. [October 2011]

The host institution shall provide new tennis balls for the third set of a singles match upon request from either participant.

Officials 1.

A minimum of two (2) ITA/USTA certified officials will be assigned to each conference match in the spring season by the SAC Coordinator of Tennis Officials. Due to extenuating circumstances (e.g. rescheduled match due to inclement weather), and based on mutual agreement by both head coaches, Directors of Athletics and the Coordinator of Tennis Officials, a match may be played with only one (1) certified official. [Amended May 2017]

SAC institutions are encouraged to assign their own officials (or have the SAC Coordinator of Tennis Officials) for all non-conference matches they host. [October 4 4

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The duties of the official(s) shall include: assigning tennis courts, determining whether to call off play due to darkness or weather, acting as final interpreter of rules and maintaining sportsmanlike conduct by the participants and spectators. [March 2002]

Coaches, student-athletes and institutional representatives are prohibited from making public comments about officials.

Protest Committee 1.

The following individuals will serve on the Women’s Tennis Protest Committee: the Athletic Director Liaison for tennis, the current women’s tennis coaches’ chair and the most recent past women’s tennis coaches’ chair. (Note: a coach must be replaced if they are directly involved in the protest) The Women’s Tennis Protest Committee will rule on all protests in women’s tennis.

The following individuals will serve on the Men’s Tennis Protest Committee: the Athletic Director Liaison for tennis, the current men’s tennis coaches’ chair and the most recent past men’s tennis coaches’ chair. (Note: a coach must be replaced if they are directly involved in the protest) The Men’s Tennis Protest Committee will rule on all protests in men’s tennis.

Protests of a lineup and/or officials’ decision must be filed in writing using the SAC protest form. a. The protest form must be filed in the Conference office within 48 hours of the start of the match. b. The protest form must include the signatures of the head coach, the head match official and the institution’s Athletic Director (or designee). c. The protest committee will not review the protest if any of the application requirements are not met.

The protest will be reviewed as either a Level I or Level II violation. a. Level I Violation – A blatant and intentional violation of ITA and/or conference rules. The penalty shall be a reversal of the match result and a letter of admonishment to the offending coach. b. Level II Violation – A violation of ethical conduct, integrity and/or sportsmanship. The penalty shall be a letter of admonishment to the offending coach. Multiple Level II violations by the same individual and of a similar nature shall result in the violation being processed as a Level I violation.

A ruling made by the Protest Committee shall be considered final and may not be appealed.

Third Party Protest Policy- The following policy (ITA rule 9b) will be allowed for a 5 5

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lineup not being played in the order of ability using records [October 2017]: o In Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, coaches will be allowed to protest a violation of the ITA “one position move” rule (ITA Regulation I.F.4), even if the coach is not directly involved with the match. This means that if a coach is not competing against a team whose line up is in violation, this coach can report this infraction to the ITA. Publicity 1.

Match results must be reported to the Conference office by Tuesday morning of each week. The Conference office will prepare and post on its website results, standings, statistics and award winners.

A Preseason Poll will be determined by a vote of the head tennis coaches and released to the public approximately one month prior to the start of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own team. [Amended June 2012]

Regular Season Champion 1.

The men’s and women’s regular season champion will be the team with the best record against Conference opponents and shall be declared the Conference champion.

Any tie for regular season champion will not be broken. In the case of a tie, cochampions shall be named.

Date and Site 1.

The Conference tournament site shall be determined by the approved rotation schedule. In the event the tournament is conducted at a neutral site, the designated host institution will be responsible for providing assistance with athletic trainers, sports information personnel and any other pertinent personnel deemed necessary by the Conference office. [March 2003] Year 2019 2020 2021

Site/Host Rock Hill Tennis Center/TBD Rock Hill Tennis Center/TBD TBD 6 6

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Date April 15, 16 and 18-19 April 14, 15 and 17-18 TBD

TENNIS

2022

TBD

The tournament will be conducted on Tuesday/Wednesday (Quarterfinals), Friday (Semifinals) and Saturday (Finals), with Sunday being used as a rain date, if needed. Matches played on Sunday may not begin prior to 12:00 noon. When the tournament dates fall on Easter weekend, it will be conducted on Monday/Tuesday (Quarterfinals) Thursday (Semifinals) and Friday (Finals), with Saturday being used as a rain date, if needed. [Amended November 2016]

The tournament shall be scheduled for the third full weekend in April and must be completed prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament. Actual dates and location shall be set at least one year in advance

Format 1.

The top eight teams at the end of the regular season shall qualify for the Conference tournament and will be seeded according to the final regular season order of finish. Should two or more teams tie for eighth place, the Conference tie-breaking procedures described in Section 8-D will be used. The tournament will be conducted using an eight-team single-elimination format. The quarterfinal matches will be played at the home site of the higher seed and the men’s and women’s quarterfinal matches will be played on separate days. The semifinal and final matches will be played at one (preferably neutral) site. Both the men’s and women’s semifinals will be held on Friday and both championship matches will be held on Saturday. [Amended November 2016] Tuesday/Wednesday Quarterfinals Match 1 - #8 at #1 Match 2 - #5 at #4 Match 3 - #7 at #2 Match 4 - #6 at #3

Friday Semifinals

Match 5 – Match 1 Winner vs. Match 2 Winner Match 6 – Match 3 Winner vs. Match 4 Winner

Saturday Championship

Match 7 – Match 5 Winner vs. Match 6 Winner

The match format shall consist of three doubles matches (six-game pro set) followed by six singles matches (best two out of three sets). All singles matches will stop upon the determination of a team winner.

The 7-point tie-breaker shall be used in all doubles match at seven games all and in all singles matches at six games all in every set. [Amended October 2017]

All doubles and singles matches will be played with no-advantage scoring. [October 2017] 7 7

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Lineups 1. 2.

The team that wins the Conference tournament shall receive the Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. If the tournament cannot be played to completion due to weather or other unforeseen conflicts, then the regular season champion will receive the automatic bid. Should the regular season have co-champions in this scenario, the team designated as the number one seed will receive the automatic bid. [March 2004]

All tournament participants must play at the position that they have played the majority of their regular season Conference matches. [Amended October 2010] Lineups for the tournament are due to the Conference office no later than 5 pm EST on the Saturday prior to the start of the tournament. Lineups must include all roster players in order by strength (per ITA rules) as well as corresponding regular season records for singles and doubles.

Seeding and Tie-Breaker Formula The seeding for the tournament shall be based on the results of the regular season conference games (winning percentage). If a tie(s) exist in the final regular season standings, the following criteria will used to determine the tournament seeds: a. Head-to-head record among the tied teams. b. In the event of multiple ties (more than two teams tying at a position); a comparison of the total dual match scores among the tied teams shall be used to resolve the tie. For example, Team A defeats Team B 5-4; Team B defeats Team C 7-2; Team C defeats Team A 6-3, the total dual match scores are Team A: 8-10, Team B: 11-7, Team C: 810. Team B would win this tie and the head-to-head result would break the tie between Teams A and C. c. If a tie still exists, a comparison of each team’s record against all remaining seeds in the tournament. The comparison of records will begin with the highest seed possible and continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. d. If a tie still exists, a comparison of each team’s total number of individual matches won against all other nine Conference teams. (For this criterion to be implemented/utilized, all team matches, three doubles and all six singles matches, must be played to completion). [October 2011] e. If a tie still exists, the Commissioner shall conduct a coin flip.

Pre-Tournament Conference Call 1.

During the week of the Championship, the Conference office will conduct a mandatory pre-tournament conference call with the following participants: all involved head coaches, the host Athletic Director, the host sports information personnel, the host facilities staff, the head official and a Conference representative. The purpose of the conference call will be to review the schedule of events, awards presentation, practice times and general tournament details. 8 8

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The head coaches will review and discuss all of the tournament lineups during the pretournament conference call. Conflicts must be resolved on the call by a majority vote of all the coaches. The applicable Protest Committee will break any ties.

Tournament lineups that are approved during the pre-tournament conference call shall be considered final at the conclusion of the call and may not be protested. In the case of an injury and/or illness, final tournament lineups may only be adjusted per ITA rules.

General Policies and Procedures 1.

A method of posting the scoreboards and identifying the players on the court should be established for all matches.

Net sticks will be used for all singles matches. The assigned host site will be responsible for providing net sticks for all tournament matches.

New balls will be made available for the third set of all singles matches if requested by either participant.

Matches will not start earlier than the scheduled times.

There shall be a 20-minute warm-up period for each team prior to each match, regardless of the scheduled match time.

Balls Wilson US Open Extra Duty balls will be used for all Conference tournament matches and will be provided by the Conference office or host site.

Officials 1.

A minimum of two ITA/USTA certified, neutral officials will be assigned to all matches of the Conference tournament [July 2000].

The Conference office will be responsible for assigning and paying the tournament officials.

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SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

Player of the Year 1.

The Women’s Tennis Player of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the women’s tennis coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The Men’s Tennis Player of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the men’s tennis coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

Freshman of the Year 1.

The Women’s Tennis Freshman of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the women’s tennis coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The Men’s Tennis Freshman of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the men’s tennis coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Coach of the Year 1.

The Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the women’s tennis coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the men’s tennis coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Regular Season Champion 1.

The Conference champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the regular season champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate. 10 10

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The Conference Champion will earn 100 points toward the Echols Athletic Excellence Award. The remaining places shall be awarded points per the chart in Article XV, Item E of the SAC Bylaws. [Amended November 2015] Tournament Champion The tournament Champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the tournament champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

Tournament Runner-Up The team that is the tournament runner-up will be awarded a plaque.

All-Conference Teams 1.

The All-Conference team shall consist of six (6) first-team singles players and three (3) first-team doubles teams, regardless of flight. The second-team and the Honorable Mention team shall consist of the same number of singles players and doubles teams as the first team. [Amended October 2013]

Nomination forms and ballots for both men’s and women’s tennis will be sent to each head coach by the Conference office along with deadlines for them to be returned. Final ballots will be tallied by the Conference office. [April 2015]

Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

At the conclusion of the final regular-season contest, a conference call with all head coaches to discuss the nominees is permitted. The call shall be scheduled, coordinated and managed by the current chair of the coaches’ committee; however, ALL voting shall be conducted via the online system on the SAC website (i.e. no voting shall take place during the conference call). The voting system will open one hour after the scheduled conference call and close at a designated and communicated deadline. Final ballots will be reviewed by the AD Liaison to the coaches’ committee and tallied by the Conference office. [April 2015]

In the event of ties, the number of individuals on the first and second team may be adjusted.

First and Second Team winners will be awarded a plaque. [Amended 2016]

Tournament Most Valuable Player 1.

The head coach of the tournament champion team shall select the Tournament Most Valuable Player.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Honor Roll 11

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TENNIS All South Atlantic Conference tennis student-athletes who have a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll. [June 2010] SAC Athlete of the Year Award 1.

The male and female tennis Player of the Year shall be considered nominees for the SAC Athlete of the Year Award. No other tennis student-athletes shall be nominated as Athlete of the Year. [Amended June 2013]

The Conference Athletic Directors will select one male and one female student-athlete as Athlete of the Year. The Athletic Directors may vote for their own student-athlete(s).

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

Elite 20 1.

The Elite 20 award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site of each of the SAC Championships. [April 2016]

Ties will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed.

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

SAC Scholar-Athlete Award 1.

Each institution may nominate one student-athlete per sport for each sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Presidentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Award 1.

Only student-athletes that have won a sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award during the same academic year are eligible for the Presidentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Award.

Institutions may nominate one male and one female sport specific Scholar-Athlete 12 12

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SPORT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION (Updated October 2018)

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

SECTION 1. TITLE South Atlantic Conference Indoor Track and Field Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s track and field coach and the head womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s track and field coach of each member institution. Each head institution shall have one vote. The Track and Field Committee shall be a recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding track and field matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Track and Field Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for track and field and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than October 15. The Athletic Directors Council will act on all indoo track and field recommendations during its fall meeting. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Track and Field Committee shall be chaired by a head track and field coach. The chair must have been a head coach in the conference for two (2) years before accepting the role.

The chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

Duties The chair shall preside over the annual meeting of the Track and Field Committee and report all recommendations in the proper written format to the Athletic Directors Council via the Athletic Director Liaison for the Track and Field Committee. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the SAC Commissioner.

SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1.

The committee will meet annually in the fall during each academic year, preferably on a Monday or Tuesday afternoon. The meeting will be in person or via conference call at a date and site determined by the Conference office. 1 1

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Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum. Six (6) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

SECTION 7. REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE PLAY These regulations are intended to supplement NCAA rules and regulations as prescribed in Bylaw 17 of the NCAA Division II Manual. A.

Playing Rules and Regulations All meets shall be conducted according to the most current NCAA Cross Country/Track and Field Rules and Regulations publication.

Regular Season Schedule There is no regular-season Conference scheduling requirement; however, Conference members are encouraged to schedule intra-Conference competition.

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Publicity 1.

Meet results must be reported to the Conference office via the Track & Field Results Reporting System (www.tffrs.org) by Monday morning of each week. The Conference office will prepare and post on its website results, standings, statistics and award winners.

A Preseason Poll will be determined by a vote of the head track and field coaches and released to the public during the last week of November. Coaches may not vote for their own team. [Amended June 2012]

A Preseason Watch List shall be selected by the Conference sports information directors and released to the public at the same time as the Preseason Poll. The Watch List shall include no more than one sprinter, one distance runner and one field athlete from each men’s team and each women’s team. Any running event longer than 400m shall be considered a distance event.

Date and Site 1.

The men’s and women’s Conference Championships site shall be determined by an approved rotation schedule. In the event the championship is conducted at a neutral site, the designated host institution will be responsible for providing assistance with athletic trainers, sports information personnel and any other pertinent personnel deemed necessary by the Conference office. [March 2003] Year 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Date Feb. 23-24 Feb. 29-March 1 TBD TBD TBD

The championship shall be scheduled for a two-day event (Thursday-Friday, FridaySaturday or Saturday-Sunday) and every attempt will be made to schedule the championship two weeks prior to the NCAA Division II National Championship. The actual date and location will be determined at least one (1) year in advance. [Amended June 2018]

Playing Rules and General Regulations 1.

Site/Host Winston-Salem, NC/TBD Winston-Salem, NC/TBD TBD TBD TBD

The running track, competitive area and competitive equipment shall meet NCAA specifications. 3 3

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INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

Student-athletes are to abide by the letter and spirit of the rules and shall be responsible for conducting themselves in an honest and sporting fashion at all times toward opponents, officials and spectators. This includes competing to the best of their ability for a given circumstance (i.e., honest effort).

A failure to participate by a student-athlete shall be considered an assumption that the student-athlete has abandoned the competition and, therefore, shall be barred from all remaining events in the championship.

All team members must wear uniforms that conform to NCAA regulations and be of school issue and color. If team members wish to wear tights, they must be of the same color.

The host institution shall provide and identify to the officials and competing teams and athletic department designee on the premises as the person (Championship Director) in charge of game management for the championship. The Championship Director may not be the host schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Athletic Director or indoor track and field coach.

The Games Committee shall consist of the chair of the Indoor Track and Field Committee, the Athletic Director Liaison for the Indoor Track and Field Committee, a conference office representative and the head referee/official.

The Games Committee, along with the host Athletic Director shall give special assistance and guidance to the Championship Director when questions and problems arise during the conduct of the championship, which are not explicitly covered in either conference or NCAA policies. The committee shall issue whatever interpretations or rulings are necessary to assure fair competition for all participants. If a committee member is associated with an institution under discussion, he or she will recuse themselves from the committee during that discussion and vote (if applicable).

The Games Committee will be responsible for making the decision to postpone the Championship in the event of inclement weather or other unforeseen conflicts that could endanger the participants.

The chair of the Track and Field Committee in conjunction with the Conference office shall be responsible for the distribution of all Conference championship information.

10.

The schedule for the events shall be as follows. Specific times will be listed by the host once all the entries and declarations have been finalized. The Heptatlon for men (60m, Long Jump, Shot Put, High Jump, 60m Hurdles, Pole Vault, 1,000m) and Pentathlon for women (60m Hurdles, High Jump, Shot Put, Long Jump, 800m) will be conducted approximately two weeks prior to the Conference championship; however, the results of these events will count toward the team scoring.

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Day 1

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

Field Events • Shot Put Final (Men and Women) • Triple Jump Final (Men and Women) Track Events • Mile Preliminaries (Men and Women) • 400m Preliminaries (Men and Women) • 60m Preliminaries (Men and Women) • 800m Preliminaries (Men and Women) • 200m Preliminaries (Men and Women) • 60m Hurldes Preliminaries (Men and Women) • 5,000m Final (Men and Women) • Distance Medley Relay Final (Men and Women)

Day 2

Field Events: • Weight Throw Final (Men and Women) • High Jump Final (Men and Women) • Long Jump Final (Men and Women) • Pole Vault Final (Men and Women) Track Events: • Mile Final (Men and Women) • 400m Final (Men and Women) • 60m Final (Men and Women) • 800m Final (Men and Women) • 60m Hurdle Final (Men and Women) • 200m Final (Men and Women) • 3,000m Final (Men and Women) • 4x400 Relay Final (Men and Women)

[Amended October 2018] C.

Entry Procedures 1.

All entries for the championships shall be done through Direct Athletics.

All performances must be entered on the SAC Performance List on Direct Athletics by Monday at 5:00 p.m. the week prior to the championship.

Each team shall make its final declarations by Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. the week prior to the championship. Any emergency declaration(s) shall be handled by the games committee.

If a coach declares his or her entries after the established deadline or omits a student5 5

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athlete either from the meet or an event, the deadline will be noted and a letter indicating the circumstances will be sent to the institutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s director of athletics. If the omission is discovered prior to the distribution of heat sheets, the timing coordinator shall redraw the heats, if necessary. If the omission is discovered after the distribution of heat sheets or on the day of the championship, the games committee shall convene to determine if the heat needs to be redrawn. 5.

Track Events 1.

60m, 200m, 400m, 800m, Mile, 5,000m, 3,000m, 60m Hurdles, Distance Medley, 4x400m Relay

Formation of Heats and Lane Assignments for Track Events in Lanes

A student-athlete shall not be penalized for late or omitted entries by a coach and shall be allowed to compete in the championship pending an appeal to the games committee up to 48 hours after entries are due. In addition, a $100 fine per student-athlete will be levied by the Conference to the institution.

The competitors shall be assigned to first-round heats in the order in which their names appear on the declared performance list using serpentine method. Two (2) or more athletes from the same team may be placed in the same heat.

Heat order shall be selected randomly in all non-final rounds.

In all subsequent non-final rounds, heats and lanes shall be assigned using the mark attained in the previous round using the serpentine method.

In those events in which more than two (2) rounds are contested, it is preferredthat at least two (2) qualifiers from each heat advance to the next round.

In all running events which have at least nine (9) entries and require a preliminary round, only eight (8) athletes shall advance to the finals.

In all final or subsequent rounds, lanes shall be assigned using the mark attained in the previous roundand the criteria described later in this section.

Formation of Heats for Track Events Not in Lanes a.

In general, the competitors shall be assigned to heats in the order in which their names appear on the declared performance list.

The number of competitors in each heat varies by event. Please see specific event descriptions below.

Starting positions shall be a RANDON DRAW for each section. 6 6

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Qualifying for Finals for Track Events with Qualifying Rounds a.

55m/60m i. Whenever possible, the 60m shall be run rather than the 55m. ii. A preliminary round shall be run if there are more than eight (8) entries. iii. Heat winners shall qualify for the final. iv. Any remaining positions in the final shall be determined by time.

55m/60m Hurdles i. Whenever possible, the 60m Hurdles shall be run rather than the 55m Hurdles. ii. A preliminary round shall be run if there are more than eight (8) entries. iii. Heat winners shall qualify for the final. iv. Any remaining positions in the final shall be determined by time.

200m – Timed finals will be used for this event i. Heats will be run slow to fast. ii. Lanes one (1) and two (2) shall not be used. iii. For seeding purposes, lane preference shall be follows, assuming the use of a six (6)-lane track: 1. Lane 5 2. Lane 6 3. Lane 4 4. Lane 3

400m – Timed finals will be used for this event i. Heats will be run slow to fast. ii. Lanes one (1) and two (2) shall not be used. iii. For seeding purposes, lane preference shall be follows, assuming the use of a six (6)-lane track: 1. Lane 5 2. Lane 6 3. Lane 4 4. Lane 3

Events Without Qualifying Rounds – The declared competitors in events without qualifying rounds shall be assigned to heats in the order in which their names appear on the declared perfotrmance list. Heats will run from slowest to fastest. a.

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

800m i. No more than nine (9) competitors in each race, be it a preliminary or a final. ii. The competitors will be assigned to their heats in the order in which their names appear on the declared performance list. iii. Starting positions shall be a RANDOM DRAW for each section. iv. Competitors shall be assigned to alleys and run on a two (2)- turn stagger. 7 7

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Mile i. A ‘fast’ heat shall be composed of the top 12 competitors as determined by the order in which their names appear on the declared performance list. ii. In the vent there are 15 or less total entries, there will be one (1) heat with the top 12 entries starting on the front trow and entries 13-15 stareting behind the front row. iii. In the event there are more than 15 total entries, each section will consist of no more than 12 and no fewer than four (4) competitors (e.g. with 16 total entries, the heat breakdown slow to fast will be 4-12; with 25 entries, the heat breakdown will be 4-9-12; with 27 entries, the heat breakdown will be 4-11-12; with 29 entries, the heat breakdown will be 5-12-12, etc.). iv. Competitors shall be assigned to alleys and run on a two (2)- turn stagger.

3,000m i. The top 16 competitors are guaranteed to be in the ‘fast’ heat. ii. Hip numbers shall be assigned based on the seed time in an effort to aid the lap-counting effort. iii. If the field size is 20 or more, the event will be run as a timed final with the slower-seeded section running first. iv. Each section shall consist of no more than 16 and fewer than four (4) competitors (e.g. with 20 entries, the heat breakdown slow to fast will be 4-16; with 21 entries, the heat breakdown will be 5-16, etc.). v. If during the meet, there are known scratches which will put the total number of runners at 19 or less, one (1) hour prior to the start time of the event, it will be announced that it will be a one-section final. This section will be run during the second time slot for the event when the ‘fast’ section is scheduled.

5,000m i. The top 16 competitors are guaranteed to be in the ‘fast’ heat. ii. Hip numbers shall be assigned based on the seed time in an effort to aid the lap-counting effort. iii. If the field size is 20 or more, the event will be run as a timed final with the slower-seeded section running first. iv. Each section shall consist of no more than 16 and fewer than four (4) competitors (e.g. with 20 entries, the heat breakdown slow to fast will be 4-16; with 21 entries, the heat breakdown will be 5-16, etc.). v. If during the meet, there are known scratches which will put the total number of runners at 19 or less, one (1) hour prior to the start time of the event, it will be announced that it will be a one-section final. This section will be run during the second time slot for the event when the ‘fast’ section is scheduled. vi. The host site/institution (in addition to all FAT timing methods) must video the entire race being able to see the finish line. vii. The host site/institution is responsible for all lap counting obligations and these lap counters shall supersede all other lap counters. viii. If the lap counters are unsure, it is recommended for all competitors to run 8 8

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ix.

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

an extra lap. Any protests shall be filed per Section G below.

Distance Medley Relay i. The event shall be conducted as a one (1)-heat final with all teams entered taking part. ii. Starting positions shall be a RANDOM DRAW.

4x400 Relay i. The event shall be run in heats. ii. The heats should be split as evenly as possible, with at least four (4) teams being in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; heat.

Field Events 1.

High Jump, Pole Vault, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put, Weight Throw

The number of qualifiers for the finals in the field events shall equal the number of qualifiers (nine) for those finals run after qualifying.

Competitors in the shot put, discus throw, weight throw, long jump, high jump and triple jump shall be arranged in flights not larger than 16 and not smaller than five. The order will be based on entry performance going from last to first. The order in the finals will be based on the qualifying marks going from last to first.

Opening heights and bar progression for the pole vault and high jump shall be decided during the pre-championship conference call. Coaches will vote and come to an agreement on a fair starting height and bar progression for the events.

Qualifying Standards There are no qualifying standards; however, each institution is limited to five (5) entries per event with the exception of relay events. Relay events shall be limited to one (1) entry per institution.

Officials and Protests 1.

The Conference office will hire the following officials: referee, starter, clerk (2), finish line (2), umpire, weight throw/shot put (3), long jump/triple jump (2), pole vault/high jump (2), Lynx operator, Hytek operator. All judges shall be USATF certified if possible.

All protests must be made in writing and shall be entered and managed as codified in the NCAA Track & Field Rule Book. A fee of $50 shall accompany the protest, which will be returned if the protest is upheld. The official protest form shall be included in the championship handbook provided to each head coach approximately one month prior to the Conference championship.

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INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

Official pictures under protests may be viewed only by the fully automatic device official, the referee and the games committee. The coach(es) involved in the protest may view the picture with the referee present.

4. H.

Coaches, student-athletes and institutional representatives are prohibited from making public comments about officials. Team Scoring 1.

The championships shall be scored to eight (8) places for both track and field events and shall be the same for individual and relay events. Scoring shall be: 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

If two (2) or more competitors are judged to as having tied for a place, the points for the places involved shall be equally divided between those competitors.

All ties in team and individual competition shall stand, with the exception of ties in field events. The games committee shall refer to the NCAA Track & Field Rule Book for the method of separating ties in the field events.

Pre-Championship Conference Call 1.

On the Thursday prior to the championship, the Conference office will conduct a mandatory conference call with the following participants: all involved head coaches, the host Athletic Director(s), the host sports information personnel, the host facilities staff, the head official and a Conference representative. The purpose of the conference call will be to review the schedule of events, awards presentation and general championship details.

During the Conference Call the coaches will come to a consensus on the opening heights and bar progressions to be implemented in the high jump and pole vault.

SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Year 1.

The Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year shall be voted on by the head coaches after the completion of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Coaches may not vote for their own student-athlete [Amended October 2018]

The Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year shall be voted on by the head coaches after the completion of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. 10 10

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Coaches may not vote for their own student-athlete [Amended October 2018]

Coaches shall be permitted to nominate one male and one female student-athlete for this award and nominations must be submitted no later than 12:00 noon on Wednesday following the NCAA National Championship. [October 2018]

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

Indoor Track and Field Most Outstanding Athletes of the Meet 1.

The Outstanding Female Track Athlete of the Meet shall be the female student-athlete who scores the most points for her team in the track events (including relays) during the Conference championship. [Amended October 2018]

The Outstanding Female Field Athlete of the Meet shall be the female student-athlete who scores the most points for her team in the field events during the Conference championship. [Amended October 2018]

The Outstanding Male Track Athlete of the Year shall be the male student-athlete who scores the most points for his team in the track events (including relays) during the Conference championship. [Amended October 2018]

The Outstanding Male Field Athlete of the Year shall be the male student-athlete who scores the most points for his team in the field events during the Conference championship. [Amended October 2018]

In the event of a tie(s), the winner shall be decided by a vote of the head coaches. Coaches may not vote for their own student-athletes.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Freshman of the Year 1.

The Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Indoor Track and Field Freshman of the Year shall be the female freshman student-athlete who scores the most points (including relays) for her team during the championship. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended October 2018]

The Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Indoor Track and Field Freshman of the Year shall be the male freshman student-athlete who scores the most points (including relays) for his team during the championship. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended October 2018]

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Coach of the Year 11

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INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

The Women’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the track and field coaches at the conclusion of the Conference championship meet. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The Men’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the track and field coaches at the conclusion of the Conference championship meet. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Team Champion 1.

The Team Champion will be awarded a trophy and also be considered the Conference Champion. In addition, each member of the championship team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

A team must have a minimum of 10 participants in order to be considered a participant at the Conference championship and receive points toward the Echols Athletic Excellence Award. If an institution is unable to meet this requirement it shall have the right to appeal to the Commissioner. [April 2013]

A team that does not meet the NCAA minimum-contest requirements for track and field (4 contests with 10-4 participants), including the Conference championship, shall not receive points toward the Echols Athletic Excellence Award. [July 2004]

Team Runner-Up The teams that finish second and third in the team scoring will be awarded a plaque. [Amended August 2018]

All-Conference Teams 1.

The All-Conference team for both Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field shall be based on order of finish at the championship. Event winners and members of first-place relay teams shall be First Team and event runners-up and members of second-place relay teams shall be Second Team. Third place finishers in both individual and relay events shall be considered Third Team. [Amended October 2015]

First Team, Second Team and Third Team winners will be awarded a medal. [Amended October 2015]

SAC Honor Roll 12 12

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All South Atlantic Conference indoor track and field student-athletes who have a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll. Student-athletes on the honor roll will receive a composite certificate. (June 2010) I.

SAC Athlete of the Year Award 1. 2. 3.

The male and female Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Year shall be considered nominees for the SAC Athlete of the Year Award. No other track and field studentathletes shall be nominated as Athlete of the Year. [Amended 2013] The Conference Athletic Directors will select one male and one female student-athlete as Athlete of the Year. The Athletic Directors may vote for their own student-athlete(s). The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Scholar-Athlete Award 1.

Each institution may nominate one student-athlete per sport for each sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Elite 20 1.

The Elite 20 award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site of each of the SAC Championships. [April 2016]

Ties will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed.

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

SAC Presidents Award 1.

Only student-athletes that have won a sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award during the same academic year are eligible for the Presidentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Award.

Institutions may nominate one male and one female sport specific Scholar-Athlete 13

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SPORT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION (Updated October 2018)

OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

SECTION 1. TITLE South Atlantic Conference Track and Field Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s track and field coach and the head womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s track and field coach of each member institution. Each head institution shall have one vote. The Track and Field Committee shall be a recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding track and field matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Track and Field Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for track and field and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than October 15. The Athletic Directors Council will act on all track and field recommendations during its fall meeting. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Track and Field Committee shall be chaired by a head track and field coach. The chair must have been a head coach in the conference for two (2) years before accepting the role.

The chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1.

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Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum. Six (6) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

SECTION 7. REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE PLAY These regulations are intended to supplement NCAA rules and regulations as prescribed in Bylaw 17 of the NCAA Division II Manual. A.

Playing Rules and Regulations All meets shall be conducted according to the most current NCAA Cross Country/Track and Field Rules and Regulations publication.

Regular Season Schedule There is no regular-season Conference scheduling requirement; however, Conference members are encouraged to schedule intra-Conference competition.

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Publicity 1.

A Preseason Poll will be determined by a vote of the head track and field coaches and released to the public on or around February 15. Coaches may not vote for their own team. [Amended June 2012]

Date and Site 1.

Date April 18-20 April 30-May 1 April 29-30 TBD

The championship shall be scheduled for the Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the third full weekend of April. Starting in 2020, the championship will be scheduled for the Thursday and Friday following the completion of the Conference baseball, lacrosse and softball championships. The actual date and location will be determined at least one (1) year in advance. [Amended October 2018]

Playing Rules and General Regulations 1.

Host Lenoir-Rhyne Lenoir-Rhyne TBD TBD

The running track, competitive area and competitive equipment shall meet NCAA specifications. 3 3

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All team members must wear uniforms that conform to NCAA regulations and be of school issue and color. If team members wish to wear tights, they must be of the same color.

The Games Committee shall consist of the chair of the Track and Field Committee, the Athletic Director Liaison for the Track and Field Committee, a conference office representative and the head referee/official.

The Games Committee will be responsible for making the decision to postpone the Championship in the event of inclement weather or other unforeseen conflicts that could endanger the participants.

The chair of the Track and Field Committee in conjunction with the Conference office shall be responsible for the distribution of all Conference championship information.

10.

The schedule for the events shall be as follows. Specific times will be listed by the host once all the entries and declarations have been finalized. [Amended May 2018]

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Thursday Decathlon (100m, Long Jump, Shot Put, High Jump, 400M) Heptathlon (100m Hurdles, High Jump, Shot Put, 200M) Field Events • Hammer Throw Final (Men and Women) • Women’s Pole Vault Final • Long Jump Final (Men and Women) Track Events • 1500m Preliminaries (Men and Women) • 400m Preliminaries (Men and Women) • 100m Preliminaries (Men and Women) • 400m Hurdles Preliminaries (Men and Women) • 10,000m Run Final (Men and Women) Friday

Decathlon (100m Hurdles, Discus, Pole Vault, Javelin, 1500m) Heptathlon (Long Jump, Javelin, 800m) Field Events: • High Jump Final (Men and Women) • Men’s Discus Final • Women’s Triple Jump Final Track Events: • 200m Preliminaries (Men and Women) • 800m Preliminaries (Men and Women) • 110m Hurdles Preliminaries (Men) • 100m Hurdles Preliminaries (Women) • 3,000 Steeplechase Final (Men and Women)

Saturday Field Events: • Javelin Final (Men and Women) • Shot Put Final (Men and Women) • Men’s Pole Vault Final • Men’s Triple Jump • Women’s Discus Final

Track Events: • 4x100m Relay Final (Men and Women) • 1,500m Final (Men and Women) • Men’s 110m Hurdles Final 5 5

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• • • • • • • •

Women’s 100m Hurdles Final 400m Final (Men and Women) 100m Final (Men and Women) 800m Final (Men and Women) 400m Hurdles Final (Men and Women) 200m Final (Men and Women) 5,000m Final (Men and Women) 4x400 Relay Final (Men and Women)

Entry Procedures 1.

All entries for the championships shall be done through Direct Athletics.

All performances must be entered on the SAC Performance List on Direct Athletics by Monday at 5:00 on the week of the championship.

Each team shall make its final declarations by Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. the week of the championship. Any emergency declaration(s) shall be handled by the games committee.

If a coach declares his or her entries after the established deadline or omits a studentathlete either from the meet or an event, the deadline will be noted and a letter indicating the circumstances will be sent to the institution’s director of athletics. If the omission is discovered prior to the distribution of heat sheets, the timing coordinator shall redraw the heats, if necessary. If the omission is discovered after the distribution of heat sheets or on the day of the championship, the games committee shall convene to determine if the heat needs to be redrawn.

Running Events 1.

4x400m Relay 2.

OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m, 3,000m Steeplechase, 5,000m, 10,000m, 100m Hurdles (Women), 110m Hurdles (Men), 400m Hurdles, 4x100m Relay, Heats and lanes shall be drawn in accordance with the NCAA Rule Book unless otherwise specified in these regulations. Runners shall advance to the next round on the basis of place and time, with a premium on place unless otherwise specified here. a.

There shall be no fewer than two competitors or teams in the slowest section of time-comparison races. If there is one participant, the next slowest time shall be moved into the slower section to create competition.

The 5,000m shall be limited to a 24-person final. In the event more than 24 individuals are entered, a 16-person second heat will be conducted with the 6 6

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remainder being placed in the first (slower) heat. Further, recorded times from indoor 5,000m races may be used for seeding purposes. [October 2014] c.

If there are fewer heats than the number of lanes, winners of each heat plus next fastest times will qualify of the finals. Eight competitors will advance to the finals in events that have specific lane assignments (e.g. 100m, 100m Hurdles). Nine competitors will advance in events with no specific lane assignments (e.g. 1500m). The number of qualifiers to the final based on place and time will depend on the number of heats.

If there are the same numbers or more heats than number of lanes, qualifiers shall be determined by time.

The declared competitors shall be assigned to first round heats in the order their names are listed on the ranked performance list, working alternately from left to right and then right to left. This procedure could cause two or more teammates to be assigned to the same heat. Example: 4 heats Heat #1 1 8 9 16 17 24

Heat #2 2 7 10 15 18 23

Heat #3 3 6 11 14 19 22

Heat #4 4 5 12 13 20 21

Field Events 1.

High Jump, Pole Vault, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put, Discus Throw, Hammer Throw, Javelin Throw

The number of qualifiers for the finals in the field events shall equal the number of qualifiers (nine) for those finals run after qualifying.

Competitors in the shot put, discus throw, hammer throw, javelin throw, long jump and triple jump shall be arranged in flights not larger than 16 and not smaller than five. The order will be based on entry performance going from last to first. The order in the finals will be based on the qualifying marks going from last to first.

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institution. G.

Officials and Protests 1.

The Conference office will hire the following officials: referee, starter, clerk (2), finish line (2), umpire, hammer/discus (2), javelin/shot put (3), long jump/triple jump (2), pole vault/high jump (2), Lynx operator, Hytek operator. All judges shall be USATF certified if possible.

Coaches, student-athletes and institutional representatives are prohibited from making public comments about officials.

Team Scoring 1.

The championships shall be scored to eight (8) places for both track and field events and shall be the same for individual and relay events. Scoring shall be: 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

If two (2) or more competitors are judged to as having tied for a place, the points for the places involved shall be equally divided between those competitors.

Pre-Championship Conference Call 1.

The Conference office will set the time of the call, create an agenda and provide the necessary conference call information to each participating institution. The 8

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Commissioner shall inform the Director of Athletics in writing when institutional representatives do not participate on the conference call 3.

During the Conference Call the coaches will come to a consensus on the opening heights and bar progressions to be implemented in the high jump and pole vault.

SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Year 1.

The Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year shall be voted on by the head coaches after the completion of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Coaches may not vote for their own student-athlete [Amended October 2018]

The Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year shall be voted on by the head coaches after the completion of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Coaches may not vote for their own student-athlete [Amended October 2018]

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

Outdoor Track and Field Most Outstanding Athletes of the Meet 1.

The Outstanding Male Field Athlete of the Year shall be the male student-athlete who scores the most points for his team in the field events during the Conference championship. [Amended October 2018]

In the event of a tie(s), the winner shall be decided by a vote of the head coaches. Coaches may not vote for their own student-athletes.

The winners will be awarded a plaque. 9 9

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Freshman of the Year 1.

The Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Freshman of the Year shall be the female freshman student-athlete who scores the most points (including relays) for her team during the championship. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended October 2018]

The Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Freshman of the Year shall be the male freshman student-athlete who scores the most points (including relays) for his team during the championship. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended October 2018]

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Coach of the Year 1.

The Women’s Track and Field Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the track and field coaches at the conclusion of the Conference championship meet. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The Men’s Track and Field Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the track and field coaches at the conclusion of the Conference championship meet. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Team Champion 1.

The Team Champion will be awarded a trophy and also be considered the Conference Champion. In addition, each member of the championship team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

A team must have a minimum of 14 participants in order to be considered a participant at the Conference championship and receive points toward the Echols Athletic Excellence Award. If an institution is unable to meet this requirement it shall have the right to appeal to the Commissioner. [April 2013]

A team that does not meet the NCAA minimum-contest requirements for track and field 10

[243]

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(4 contests with 14 participants), including the Conference championship, shall not receive points toward the Echols Athletic Excellence Award. [July 2004] F.

Team Runner-Up The teams that finish second and third in the team scoring will be awarded a plaque. [Amended August 2018]

All-Conference Teams 1.

The All-Conference team for both Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Track and Field shall be based on order of finish at the championship. Event winners and members of first-place relay teams shall be First Team and event runners-up and members of second-place relay teams shall be Second Team. Third place finishers in both individual and relay events shall be considered Third Team. [Amended October 2015]

First Team, Second Team and Third Team winners will be awarded a medal. [Amended October 2015]

SAC Honor Roll All South Atlantic Conference track and field student-athletes who have a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll. Student-athletes on the honor roll will receive a composite certificate. (June 2010)

SAC Athlete of the Year Award 1.

The male and female Track and Field Athletes of the Year shall be considered nominees for the SAC Athlete of the Year Award. No other track and field student-athletes shall be nominated as Athlete of the Year. [Amended 2013]

The Conference Athletic Directors will select one male and one female student-athlete as Athlete of the Year. The Athletic Directors may vote for their own student-athlete(s).

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Scholar-Athlete Award 1.

Each institution may nominate one student-athlete per sport for each sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award.

11 11

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The winners will be awarded a plaque.

Elite 20 1.

The Elite 20 award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site of each of the SAC Championships. [April 2016]

Ties will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed.

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

SAC Presidents Award 1. 2.

OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

Only student-athletes that have won a sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award during the same academic year are eligible for the Presidentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Award. Institutions may nominate one male and one female sport specific Scholar-Athlete award winners for the Presidentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Award. The nominees must be of junior status, at minimum and it is expected that the nominees will represent a superior level of academic, athletic, and community/leadership qualities.

The Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee shall select one male and one female winner at the end of the academic year.

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Senior Participation Award All track and field student-athletes competing in their final season of eligibility will receive a senior memento award sponsored by the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. [July 2004] A student-athlete shall have competed in the sport of track and field at a SAC institution for a minimum of two years in order to be eligible to receive the senior award. [June 2012]

Track and Field Athlete of the Week 1.

Each week of the outdoor track and field season, the Conference office shall select a male and female Track Athlete of the Week and a male and female Field Athlete of the Week. The winners will be chosen from the nominees received from the member institutions. [October 2009]

Nominations are due by Monday or Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. and the winners are selected by 12:00 noon the same day. 12

[245]

SPORT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION (UPDATED March 2018)

VOLLEYBALL

SECTION 1. TITLE South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Committee. SECTION 2. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The committee shall be comprised of the head volleyball coach of each member institution. Each head coach shall have one vote. The Volleyball Committee shall be a recommending body to the Athletic Directors Council regarding volleyball matters. SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO OPERATING POLICIES All recommended amendments must be included in the annual report of the Volleyball Committee and submitted to the Athletic Director liaison for volleyball and the South Atlantic Conference office no later than March 1. The Athletic Directors Council will act on all volleyball recommendations during its spring meeting. SECTION 4. OFFICERS A.

Status and Term of Office 1.

The Volleyball Committee shall be chaired by a head volleyball coach. The chair must have been a head coach in the conference for two (2) years before accepting the role.

The chair term shall be two (2) years and will rotate by institutional alphabetical order. A coach has the option of passing their term as the committee chair to the next eligible coach.

Duties The chair shall preside over the annual meeting of the Volleyball Committee and report all recommendations in the proper written format to the Athletic Directors Council via the Athletic Director Liaison for the Volleyball Committee no later than March 1. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the SAC Commissioner.

SECTION 5. MEETING AND QUORUM A.

Date and Site 1.

The committee will meet annually in the winter or spring during each academic year. The meeting will be in person or via conference call at a date and site determined by the conference office. 1

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All head coaches (or designee) are required to attend or participate in (via conference call) the annual coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting. a. b.

3. B.

VOLLEYBALL

Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.

Quorum A majority of all conference college representatives present constitutes a quorum. Seven (7) votes are necessary to recommend change in policies or procedures.

SECTION 6. GENERAL PROTOCOL A.

Host Obligations All teams will exercise a hospitable attitude in treating visiting teams as guests, and in the manner that they would want to be treated.

SECTION 7. REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE PLAY These regulations are intended to supplement NCAA rules and regulations as prescribed in Bylaw 17 of the NCAA Division II Manual. A.

Rules and Regulations 1.

All Conference regular season matches will be played according to the most current NCAA Volleyball Rules and Regulations publication.

Any NCAA experimental rule will be in effect for all Conference regular-season matches. [March 2002]

The court of play, standards and equipment must conform to the dimensions and markings outlined in the most current NCAA Volleyball Rules and Regulations publication. 2

[247]

VOLLEYBALL

Conference members are prohibited from providing any form of a scouting report (e.g. written/verbal/film) to any other coach inside or outside the Conference. The exchange of videos or the filming of a Conference match with the intent of scouting is strictly prohibited.

Team benches shall be on the opposite side of the spectator seating and spectators may not sit behind the baseline or end zone bleachers. [Amended April 2016]

Regular Season Conference Schedule 1.

The Conference office will develop the regular season schedule.

Each institution shall play all other Conference members at least twice during the regular season.

The scheduled date of a match may be changed based on mutual consent of the institutions involved.

Saturday matches may not start prior to 2:00pm unless agreed upon by the Directors of Athletics at both participating institutions [April 2016]

All Conference regular season matches must be completed by the Saturday preceding the Conference tournament.

Rescheduling Policy 1.

A Conference match that is cancelled due to inclement weather or circumstances beyond the control of the participating institutions must be rescheduled at the first available date, as determined by mutual consent of the institutions involved. If the involved institutions are unable to agree on a rescheduled date, then the Conference office shall select the date. [July 1999]

The rescheduling of a Conference match shall take precedence over a nonconference match.

The Directors of Athletics may mutually consent to change the site of a Conference match due to unplayable conditions at the scheduled home site. a. The originally scheduled home team is responsible for notifying the visiting team and the officials regarding the change. b. The originally scheduled home team will continue to be the designated home team for purposes of scoring and uniform color. The host institution may use its regular bench. c. The site change will not affect the following yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s schedule. 3

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Match Management 1.

The match facility set-up and preparation shall be completed at least 60 minutes prior to the scheduled match time. [Amended April 2015]

Adequate locker and meeting room facilities shall be available at least two hours prior to the scheduled match time and should remain available throughout the match, specifically during the 10-minute intermission in between the second and third set, if applicable. [Amended April 2013]

For all mid-week (e.g. Tuesday, Wednesday) and Friday Conference matches, the home team shall wear light-colored jerseys and the visiting team shall wear darkcolored jerseys. For all Saturday Conference matches, the home team shall wear dark-colored jerseys and the visiting team shall wear light-colored jerseys. [April 2013]

The training room staffed with at least one (1) certified athletic trainer shall be available at least 90 minutes prior to the scheduled match time.

The home team shall provide ice, water and cups for the visiting teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bench.

The home team shall provide practice balls (a minimum of 20 is recommended) for the visiting teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s warm-up.

The court shall be available for warm ups and set up at least 60 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the match and warm-up protocol will follow NCAA playing rules [Amended April 2016]

If the home team is planning on having a 10-minute intermission in between second and third set per NCAA playing rule 8.4.2.3, the visiting team must be notified prior to arrival. If the visiting team is not notified prior to arrival, the intermission is not allowed. [April 2013]

Each member institution is responsible for securing and training the following match personnel: a. b. c. d. e. f.

Match administrator; Scoreboard operator; Official scorers; Statisticians; Three-ball rotation crew; and Public address announcer.

VOLLEYBALL

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10.

VOLLEYBALL

The following crowd control statement shall be read prior to all Conference matches: “The South Atlantic Conference and NCAA encourage and promote good sportsmanship by student-athletes, coaches and spectators. We request your cooperation by supporting the participants and officials in a positive manner. Profanity, racial or ethnic comments, or other intimidating actions directed at officials, student-athletes, coaches or team representatives will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the gym. Further, the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.”

11.

Player introduction protocol will be as follows; players will line up on the end line prior to introduction, the announcer will introduce the team members in numerical order, first non-starters (in numerical order), starters (in numerical order) and Libero. [February 2015]

12.

At the conclusion of the match, teams shall shake hands under the net; however, coaches will shake hands in front of the scorer’s table. [March 2018]

Film Exchange [April 2013] 1.

All Conference members must use the Krossover system for the purpose of the Conference film exchange policy. A complete copy of the South Atlantic Conference Film Exchange Policy will be provided to each head coach and Athletic Director prior to the start of the season and may also be obtained from the Conference office at any time.

All Conference members are responsible for capturing and uploading each of its home and non-conference away matches onto the Krossover website.

When two conference teams are competing against each other, the home team is responsible for taping and uploading the game film. The visiting team may select to film if it wishes, but the home team is responsible for uploading to Krossover.

All single matches are to be uploaded to the Krossover website within 24 hours of the conclusion of the contest. If a SAC institution plays a con-conference opponent away from home, it is permissible for the non-conference opponent to upload the match film for the SAC institution, assuming the non-conference opponent is also a Krossover client.

When teams have matches on consecutive days (e.g. Friday and Saturday), both matches are to be uploaded by 11:59 p.m. the day following the second match. For example, if a team plays on Friday and Saturday, both matches are to be uploaded no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.

When teams have matches on consecutive days (e.g. Friday and Saturday), the match that was played the first day shall not be uploaded until the second match is completed. For example, if a team plays on Friday and Saturday, the match played 5 5

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VOLLEYBALL

on Friday shall not be uploaded until the match on Saturday is completed. 7.

All non-conference tournament matches are to be uploaded within 36 hours of the conclusion of the tournament.

Match Balls The Molten IV58L-N Super Touch will be the official ball for all regular season and Conference tournament matches.

Officials 1.

All officials and line judges for Conference regular season and tournament matches will be assigned by the SAC Coordinator of Volleyball Officials. [Amended April 2013]

The head official (R1) for any Conference match should have a minimum state rating. [March 1999]

Coaches, student-athletes and institutional representatives are prohibited from making public comments about officials.

Protests 1.

Officialsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; judgment decisions are final and not subject to protest. Protests may only be made on rules interpretations. At the time of the protest, the official scorer is notified and the match shall continue. A protest of a decision made by an official must be submitted in writing to the SAC Coordinator of Volleyball Officials no earlier than 24 hours and no later than 48 hours following the completion of the contest. The written protest must include the signature of the head coach and athletic director (or designee). A copy of the protest will also be sent to the Conference office.

Upon receipt of the protest, the Commissioner shall decide if the protest is legitimate (after proper investigation and counsel). If so, and the outcome of the match was affected, the match shall be replayed from the point of the protest.

Publicity 1.

All match results and statistics shall be reported to the Conference office no later than 11:00 a.m. each Monday of the regular season. The Conference office will prepare and post on its website results, standings, statistics and award winners.

A Preseason Poll will be determined by a vote of the head volleyball coaches and released to the public approximately one month prior to the start of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own team. [Amended June 2012]

A First-Team Preseason All-Conference and a Second-Team Preseason All6 6

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VOLLEYBALL

Conference shall be selected by the Conference sports information directors and released to the public at the same time as the Preseason Poll. Regular Season Champion 1.

The regular season champion will be the team with the highest winning percentage based on matches against Conference opponents and shall be declared the Conference champion.

Any tie for the regular season champion will not be broken. In the case of a tie, co-champions shall be named.

Date and Site 1.

Dates Nov. 6, 9-10 Nov. 19, 22-23 Nov. 17, 20-21 Nov. 16, 19-20 TBD

An institution may ‘pass’ its scheduled hosting opportunity one time and stay in the current rotation for the following year. If an institution chooses to ‘pass’ again the following year, it shall be moved to the end of the current rotation schedule. [April 2010]

The tournament shall be conducted on a Tuesday (Quarterfinals), Friday (Semifinals) and Saturday (Final). [Amended April 2016]

The tournament shall be scheduled based on the start of the NCAA Division II Women’s Volleyball Championship. Actual dates shall be set at least one year in advance.

Format 1.

Host Coker Mars Hill Queens Tusculum Catawba

The top eight teams at the end of the regular season shall qualify for the 7 7

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VOLLEYBALL

Conference tournament and will be seeded according to the final regular season order of finish. Should two or more teams tie for eighth place, the Conference tiebreaking procedures described in Section 8-C will be used. 2.

The tournament will be conducted using an eight-team single-elimination format. All matches will be a best three (3) out of five (5) sets format.

The quarterfinal matches will be played at the home site of the higher seed and the semifinal and final matches will be played at a pre-determined as described in Section 8-A. [Amended April 2016] Tuesday Quarterfinals

#8 seed at #1 seed #5 seed at #4 seed #7 seed at #2 seed #6 seed at #3 seed

Friday Semifinals

Winner of #1/#8 vs. Winner of #4/#5 Winner of #2/#7 vs. Winner #3/#6

7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 4:00* 6:30*

*The host institution (if applicable) will play the 6:30 semifinal match Saturday Final

Winners of semifinal matches

The host institution in conjunction with the Conference office will determine the match times for all rounds. No match will start earlier than the scheduled time. [March 1999]

The practice and warm-up schedule will be determined by the host institution and/or tournament director. The court will be available for warm-up 60 minutes prior to the scheduled start time for the first match each day. There will be a minimum of 40 minutes available for warm-ups for the remaining matches.

For all tournament matches, the higher seed be designated as the home team and will wear light-colored uniforms.

For all matches, the higher seeded team shall occupy the bench to the right of the scorerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s table when facing the court.

The host institution shall provide practice/warm-up balls for the tournament. [March 1999]

2:00

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Seeding and Tie-Breaker Formula The seeding for the tournament shall be based on the results of the regular season conference matches (winning percentage). If a tie(s) exist in the final regular season standings, the following criteria will used to determine the tournament seeds: [March 2003] a. Head-to-head record among the tied teams. b. If a tie still exists, a comparison of each team’s record against all remaining seeds in the tournament. The comparison will begin with the highest seed possible and continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. (April 2011) c. If a tie still exists, a comparison of the head to head set record among the tied teams. d. If a tie still exists, a comparison of the overall set record in Conference matches among the tied teams. e. If a tie still exists, a comparison of the point differential in matches involving the tied teams. f. If a tie still exists, a comparison of the overall point differential in Conference matches among the tied teams. g. If a tie still exists, the Commissioner shall conduct a coin flip. In the event of multiple ties (more than two teams tying at a position) a comparison of the tied teams’ records shall be evaluated to determine if a team(s) has an advantage in wins. If that process does not resolve the tie or reduce the multiple tie to less teams [when one team is removed from a multiple tie, the remaining ties are broken by reverting back to the first step until the tie is reduced to two teams. At that point, the seeding for the remaining teams is resolved by following the tie-breaking procedures described above], then a comparison of each team’s record against the tournament’s number one seed (or highest possible seed) shall be evaluated. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, then a comparison of each team’s record against the next highest seed shall be evaluated. This process will continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, steps ‘c through f’ above will be followed in order. If none of those steps break the tie, it shall be broken by a coin flip conducted by the Commissioner.

Pre-Tournament Conference Call 1.

On the Wednesday prior to the tournament, the Conference office will conduct a mandatory pre-tournament conference call with the following participants: all involved head coaches, applicable Directors of Athletics or designee, the host sports information personnel, the host athletic training personnel, the host facilities staff, and a Conference representative(s). The purpose of the conference call will be to review the administrative details and game operations for the tournament.

The Conference office will set the time of the call, create an agenda and provide the necessary conference call information to each participating institution. The Commissioner shall inform the Director of Athletics in writing when required institutional representatives do not participate on the conference call. 9

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Officials 1.

The SAC Coordinator of Volleyball Officials shall assign two (2) officials, two (2) line judges, one (1) official scorer and one (1) assistant scorekeeper (i.e. Libero tracker) for all matches of the tournament.

The Conference office will be responsible for paying the tournament officials.

SECTION 9. AWARDS A.

Player of the Year 1.

The Volleyball Player of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the head volleyball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a trophy.

Freshman of the Year 1.

The Volleyball Freshman of the Year shall be the student-athlete who receives the most votes for the All-Freshman Team (See 9-G). Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Coach of the Year 1.

The Volleyball Coach of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the head volleyball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Coaches may not vote for themselves.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

Regular Season Champion 1.

The Conference champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the regular season championship team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

All-Conference Teams 1.

A First-Team All-Conference, a Second-Team All-Conference and an Honorable 10 10

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Mention Team shall be selected by the head volleyball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. [Amended October 2013] 2.

Each team shall be comprised of eight (8) student-athletes and at least one (1) member of each team shall be a Libero. [Amended April 2012]

VOLLEYBALL

In the event of ties, the number of student-athletes on the First and Second Team may be adjusted.

Coaches may not vote for their own student-athlete(s).

First and Second Team winners will be awarded a plaque. [Amended 2016]

All-Freshman Team 1.

The All-Freshman Team shall be selected by the head volleyball coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition within their first two years of full-time enrollment are eligible for the award. [Amended April 2015] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).

The team shall be comprised of six (6) student-athletes regardless of position.

The student-athlete who receives the most votes for the All-Freshman Team shall be named the Freshman of the Year (see 9-B).

The winners will be awarded a framed personalized certificate. [Amended 2016]

Tournament Champion The tournament champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the tournament champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

Tournament Runner-Up

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The team that is the tournament runner-up will be awarded a plaque.

All-Tournament Team 1.

VOLLEYBALL

A seven (7) person All-Tournament Team, regardless of position, shall be selected at the conclusion of the tournament. a. The head coach of the tournament championship team will submit three (3) selections. b. The head coach of the tournament runner-up team will submit two (2) selections. c. The head coaches of the two teams eliminated in the semifinals will submit one (1) selection each.

2. J.

Members of the All-Tournament Team will be awarded a medal. [July 2015]

Tournament Most Valuable Player 1.

The tournament Most Valuable Player will be selected by the head coach of the tournament championship team and must be one of the three (3) student-athletes selected for the All-Tournament Team.

The winner will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Honor Roll All South Atlantic Conference volleyball student-athletes who have a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA at the conclusion of the spring semester shall be named to the SAC Academic Honor Roll. [Amended June 2010]

SAC Athlete of the Year Award 1.

The volleyball Player of the Year shall be considered a nominee for the SAC Female Athlete of the Year Award. No other volleyball student-athlete shall be nominated as Athlete of the Year. [Amended 2013]

The Athletic Directors Council will select one male and one female studentathlete as the Athlete of the Year. Members of the Athletic Directors Council may vote for their own student-athlete. The winner will be awarded a personalized plaque.

3. M.

Elite 20 1.

The Elite 20 award will be presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site of each of the SAC Championships. [April 2016] 12

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Ties will be broken by the number credit hours the student-athlete has completed.

The winners will be awarded a trophy.

SAC Scholar-Athlete Award 1.

Each institution may nominate one student-athlete per sport for each sportspecific Scholar-Athlete award.

The winners will be awarded a plaque.

SAC Presidents’ Award 1.

Student-athletes that have won a sport-specific Scholar-Athlete award during the same academic year are eligible for the Presidents’ Award.

The Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee shall select one male and one female winner at the end of the academic year.

The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.

SAC Senior Participation Award All volleyball student-athletes competing in their final season of eligibility will receive a senior memento award sponsored by the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. [Revised 2004] A student-athlete shall have competed in the sport of volleyball at a SAC institution for a minimum of two years in order to be eligible to receive the senior award. [June 2012]

SAC Player of the Week and Specialist of the Week 1.

Each week of the regular season, the Conference office shall select a Player of the 13 13

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Week and a Specialist of the Week (e.g. Libero, setter, defensive specialist). [March 2007] The winners will be chosen from the nominees received from the member institutions. [October 2009] 2.

Nominations are due by Monday at 10:00 a.m. and the winners are selected by 12:00 noon the same day.

Player of the Week and Specialist of the Week winners will be announced as part of the weekly sport report and will be awarded a personalized certificate. [Amended 2004]

Statistical Champions 1.

The volleyball Statistical Champions will be the leaders in each of the following statistical categories at the conclusion of the regular season. a. b. c. d. e. f. g.

Hitting Percentage Kills Per Set Assists Per Set Blocks Per Set Service Aces Per Set Digs Per Set Team Hitting Percentage

h. i. j. k. l. m. n.

Each winner will be awarded a personalized certificate.

Team Assists Per Game Team Kills Per Game Team Winning Percentage Team Opponent Hitting Percentage Team Blocks Per Game Team Service Aces Per Game Team Digs Per Game

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