Full NCAA Announcement
Table of New Maximums/Minimums

INDIANAPOLIS - The NCAA Division II Presidents Council has voted to lower the number of maximum and minimum regular-season contests members are allowed to play in the 2020-21 academic year.

For the 2020-21 year only, the minimums and maximums will be smaller than in years past as a result of financial impacts from COVID-19. These reductions varied by sport, based on results from a survey administered to presidents and chancellors, directors of athletics and conference commissioners. 

Mines Athletics is currently working to revise 2020-21 schedules to meet the new maximums, and updates to schedules will be announced in the coming weeks. At this time, it is expected that full RMAC schedules will be played as normal in each sport, and reductions in games will come from non-conference play. The new limits do not affect postseason play. 

The reductions stemmed from financial struggles Division II institutions are facing due to the pandemic. Many institutions, per feedback from leadership throughout Division II, will not be able to afford the same level of travel or meet current standards for championships selections or sports sponsorship, even if sports begin as scheduled in the fall term. In addition, concerns of competitive inequity also have been expressed from across the division if maximum numbers for playing and practice seasons were not adjusted along with reductions to the minimums.

"The financial challenges faced by institutions because of COVID-19 are considerable and, as we prepare for summer and fall, continue to increase," said Sandra Jordan, chancellor of South Carolina Aiken and chair of the Division II Presidents Council. "The approved reductions strike an important balance of providing schools with scheduling flexibility, maintaining competitive equity within the one-year reductions to minimums and maximums, and continuing to prioritize opportunities for student-athletes to compete in NCAA championships. Periods of national crisis require carefully considered compromise."

The Presidents Council made the final decision on all three issues after receiving recommendations from the Division II Management Council, which considered feedback from several leadership groups, Division II governance committees and two surveys of the division's leadership.

The new sport-by-sport recommended maximums affecting Mines teams for the 2020-21 academic year only:

Baseball: 40 contests
Men's Basketball: 22 contests
Women's Basketball: 22 contests
Cross Country: 6 dates
Football: 10 contests
Men's Golf: 16 dates
Men's Soccer: 14 contests
Women's Soccer: 14 contests
Softball: 44 contests
Swimming: 12 dates
Track & Field: 14 combined indoor and outdoor dates
Volleyball: 20 dates
Wrestling: 12 dates