The Loop

GCAA, NGCA propose hybrid recruiting models

December 07, 2010

__LAS VEGAS--__The hurry-up phase is over, with the leadership at the Golf Coaches' Association of America cobbling together more than a two-thirds majority of members behind a recruiting calendar proposal that involves a limitation on the number of days on the road as well as quiet periods for all coaches.

Now comes the waiting.

GCAA staff will write a formal proposal in the next few days that will be submitted to the NCAA Division I Recruiting and Personnel Cabinet by the extended deadline of Dec. 13. From there, the cabinet is expected to convene in February to review the proposal, along with submissions from other sports associations also asked to submit ideas to streamline recruiting, and figure out a way to proceed.

After a spirited two-hour discussion during GCAA's national convention, in which coaches weighed the pros and cons of several different ideas, 74 of the 90 Division I coaches agreed they could support a hybrid model that included the following details:

Interestingly, the proposal differs only slightly from the one the National Golf Coaches Association, the women's counterpart to the GCAA, told its membership at its annual meeting this afternoon that it had submitted to the NCAA cabinet last week.

The NGCA proposal, according to executive director Roger Yaffe, included the same 50-day limit on recruiting and dead period, but included one additional quiet period from the first day of the NCAA regionals through the final day of the NCAA Championship. That quiet period included one exception that allowed coaches to attend high school state championships within the college's state during that time.

The GCAA's proposal also differs only slightly from the original one that its national advisory board had floated as a trial balloon to members last month.

While a substantial number of men's coaches eventually backed the hybrid proposal, it was not without some consternation. Many in attendance weren't sold on the need for quiet periods, preferring instead to simply limit the number of days coaches could recruit but give them the flexibility to choose when it was best for their institution, depending on school size, location and other factors.

Others, though, weren't convinced that going with only a restriction on days would be enough of a reduction in the eyes of the NCAA cabinet to appease that body in its efforts to improve quality of life issues for coaches and prospective student-athletes as well as help to reduce costs to schools.

Several coaches anticipate that the cabinet will return after its February meeting with questions and comments that in all likelihood will require both the GCAA and NGCA to modify there proposals.