Rules Change Proposals for 2009

The following outline potential rules changes for the 2009 seasons, to be presented and discussed at the November Fall Meeting. Please feel free to discuss these suggestions on the conference listserv or pass your comments on to Caitlin and Joe.

Aero Equipment

As noted in the official posting, restrictions on the use of aero equipment in time trials has been submitted to the USA Cycling Collegiate Board of Trustees for consideration as a national rule. They have also been submitted as rules for consideration within the Eastern Conference. The two main variants of this suggested change are:

1. Permit use of time trial legal equipment in Category A team and individual time trials, while restricting time trials in all other categories to using solely mass start legal equipment, as defined by the USA Cycling Road rulebook.
2. Restrict time trials in all categories to using solely mass start legal equipment, as defined by the USA Cycling Road rulebook.

Primary motivations for these suggestions are:

• Enabling a more level playing field by eliminating the aerodynamic advantage enjoyed by teams and individuals with better funding.
• Reduce the cost associated with traveling and remaining competitive, by reducing the need for bike transport.
• Promote increased safety while traveling to and from races by reducing the need for bike transport and the associated extra vehicles.

Season Long Scoring

It has also been suggested that team and individual scoring for all seasons be placed on an "X out of Y" format. Under this scheme, only each rider and team's best X results from the Y events held in the season are included in final points tallying. This change is further documented in the following:

• Proposal document further outlining the motivations and suggested change.
• Support document examining reduced travel times under the proposed change.
• Support document demonstrating effects on the 2008 season if held under the proposed change.

Primary motivations for these suggestions are:

• Enabling a more level playing field by eliminating the geographic advantage enjoyed by teams located more centrally within the conference.
• Reduce the cost associated with season travel as well as the pressure on other activities (such as school work...) by reducing miles traveled throughout the season.
• Promote increased safety while traveling to and from races by reducing miles traveled throughout the season.

Overall Team Scoring

This proposal modifies the current weekend scoring scheme to issue team points 20 places deep to all teams together, rather than 9 deep per division (as explained in the 2008 ECCC rulebook). Each event and gender would continue to yield points toward that ranking within the weekend. Essentially, rather than two seperate sets of rankings for D1 and D2, a total overall team ranking would be maintained throughout the season. D1, D2, and Ivy League results would then be pulled directly from those rankings. The season results spreadsheets would most likely to be changed to have a single team rankings page, with columns indicating overall rank, rank within division, and Ivy League rank where appropriate. This proposal is supported by the following:

• Spreadsheet demonstrating effects on 2008 scoring under this change.

Primary motivations for this suggestions are:

• Enable direct comparison of Division 1 and Division 2 team rankings, and promote competition between those divisions.
• Eliminate oddities whereby teams may flip positions on the separate rankings, e.g. in D2 versus Ivy League.
• Reduce the complexity of scoring.