What's the Fuss?

By Josh Weinfuss
News Herald Writer
747-5069 / jweinfuss@pcnh.com
MARIANNA

Three proposals introduced during Thursday’s men’s basketball state meeting could have an immediate impact on junior college basketball in Florida.

The state’s 21 men’s coaches listened as FCCAA men’s basketball commissioner Bob Zelinkski discussed each proposal.

The first will require student-athletes to be a graduate of a high school with an accredited and recognized academic diploma. The NJCAA, junior college basketball’s governing body, will refer to the NCAA’s list of schools not approved.

The second was a proposal by the NJCAA which will require student-athletes who transfer schools without a transfer waver to sit out 12-calendar months. The rule now requires student-athletes to sit out a full season, which in basketball lasts from October to March.

The rationale provided by the NJCAA states that the new proposal could cut down in numerous transfers by athletes and proposal could also help increase the student-athletes’ eligibility at the NCAA level. In some cases, student-athletes who transfer without a transfer waiver could sit out for as many as 18 months, which the NCAA considers two years of eligibility.

The third proposal pertains to international students.

The old rule stated that if an international student who signed a letter of intent and cannot fulfill the requirements of playing for the team that spends any funding to recruit them, the school cannot replace him with another international student.

The new proposal states that if an international player does not fulfill the requirements of a letter of intent prior to the season, the school can replace him with a new commitment. If, however, the international student does begin the school year but leaves midway through, the school cannot replace him or his LOI.

Other topics discussed at Thursday’s meeting:

- Only two men’s basketball coaches from schools in Florida coaches were ejected from games this past season. That’s down from five a couple years ago. In comparison, Zelinski said, baseball had 17 coaches ejected on its first weekend.

- Practice for the 2008-2009 season will begin Oct. 1.

- The first game next season will played on Friday, Oct. 31.

- The state is proposing an appeal on technical fouls called on players. This was brought up as a way to check whether or not the penalty was assessed to the proper player.

- The length of missed time for a hardship year to be granted may be increased from 20 percent of the season to 30 percent.

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