The growing chorus of advocates for a revamped college-soccer schedule picked up a very influential voice on Saturday, as Indiana University head coach Todd Yeagley threw his backing behind the proposed plan for NCAA soccer to shift from a fall season to a year-long season.
According to TheSoccerObserver.com, the split-season proposal -- in which college teams would play 25 games spread out over the fall and spring semesters with conference championships held in May and the College Cup in June -- is being finalized by a number of the USA's top college coaches, including, presumably, Yeagley. The coaches are reportedly working to ensure that the schedule will help player/team development without compromising the student-athlete's academic responsibilities.
"We’re not really adding time on to the academic year, just spreading it out and giving athletes a more balanced experience," Yeagley told the Bloomington (Ind.) Herald Times. "Not as much travel, not as much quick recovery, less class time missed and better development – a lot of positives that go with the full-year model."
Yeagley, who played for the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer from 1996-2002, has been Indiana's head coach since December 2009. He led the Hoosiers to the 2012 NCAA Championship, the program's 8th national title.
