NCAA To Step in; Abolish Collegiate Team Racing

Indianapolis, IN (April 1, 2014) – Top executives in the NCAA are reportedly pushing the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) to disband any and all future plans for team racing, said NCAA spokesperson Bea Wildered.

As Team Racing continues to grow in popularity across the United States, specifically in the collegiate ranks, the NCAA has ruled that this form of racing does not foster positive sportsmanship.

“We were unaware that teams are consciously attempting to put their opponents into a disadvantageous position over the course of a race,” explained Wildered. “The act of intentionally slowing an opponent’s boat and worsening their position in a race for personal benefit is something that breaches the NCAA’s sportsmanship policy, and thus cannot be supported.”

ICSA, which is opposed to the NCAA sanction, is seeking a compromise to comply with their wishes.

“One idea we have is to prohibit intentional sail luffing,” said a college coach who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Deliberately luffing a sail on an opponent to pass a teammate through can certainly hurt someone’s feelings.”

Other coaches are lobbying for a more courteous approach. “Having to ask for permission before luffing on an opponent could be reasonable,” said another coach. “That way, we would never be in a position to do something against a competitor’s wishes.”

With conference championships and nationals qualifiers quickly approaching, teams are scrambling to adjust their racing strategies to prepare for the possibility of a new protocol.