Based on discussion at the 2014 USCAA National Convention and the recommendations of the USCAA’s subcommittee for ratings and selections, the following changes have been put into effect for the 2014-15 season.
All-American Nominations
To be considered for first or second team, players will now be required to have participated in 75% of their team’s games. Those that are nominated and do not meet the 75% criteria will still be eligible for honorable mention recognition. Pitchers in baseball and softball will be exempt from this policy.
For soccer, a specific selection format will be implemented for first and second team All-Americans (shown below). Honorable Mention All-Americans will still be at the discretion of the selection committee in terms of position and number of players awarded.
Soccer First and Second Team All-American Selection Format
-Two Goalkeepers
-Four Backs
-Four Midfielders
-Four Forwards
Coaches Poll
The USCAA National Office uses an oversight policy in administering the Coaches Poll that allows for an individual voter to deviate no more than eight points from the mean of the other voters. That deviation will be reduced to six points.
New Awards
The USCAA will begin offering three new awards in the 2014-15 season. The description and selection process for those awards are noted below.
USCAA Coach of the Year: This award will be for all USCAA sanctioned sports. One coach will be selected as the award recipient each year in each USCAA sport. Ballots will be distributed to schools toward the end of the sport season through the USCAA’s award platform (the same place where schools submit nominations for Player of the Week and All-Americans). Athletic Directors and coaches will be allowed to nominate, but only one nomination will be accepted per school. The award will be selected by a committee comprised of National Office members, board members, and member Athletic Directors.
USCAA Player of the Year: This award will be for all USCAA sanctioned sports. One player will be selected as the award recipient each year in each USCAA sport. The players considered would be the top five vote getters in the online All-American votes. After the final selection of All-Americans from the selection committee, an email vote will take place between those same committee members. They will be asked to rank the top five vote getters 1-5 and submit their vote to the National Office, who will then compile those votes and determine the Player of the Year.
USCAA Student-Athlete of the Year: This award will be for all USCAA sanctioned sports. One player will be selected as the award recipient each year in each USCAA sport. The nomination process will take place through the USCAA award system, and schools will be allowed to nominate one player per sport. The emphasis of this award is going to be on academics and community involvement, versus athletic performance. The award winner will be selected by a committee comprised of National Office members, board members, and member Athletic Directors.
Each of the awards above will be announced during the championship banquet for their respective sports.
-USCAA