Monday, August 25, 2014
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

ST. LOUIS – The Pioneer Football League presidents recently met by teleconference to complete the league’s annual series of summer meetings.

The meetings were highlighted by the approval of a modification to the league’s automatic qualifying tiebreaker, discussion of the league’s financial aid model and the establishment of a scholar-athlete award.

After a learning process with its first automatic qualifying bid during the 2013 season, the league has agreed to change its tiebreaking procedure beginning with the 2014 season. The updated tiebreaker removes any use of outside rankings to determine the league’s representative. Those steps have been replaced by the addition of a league strength of victory criteria followed by a league strength of schedule criteria. Both steps will be based on the league schedule only.

After a thorough survey of the league membership’s financial aid policies, the league affirmed its commitment to the non-scholarship philosophy. The league did agree to begin formulating its financial aid policies independent of the Division III financial aid legislation in an attempt to better address the needs of the league’s membership.

The league also agreed to create a scholar-athlete of the year award. The new award will join the league’s existing postseason honors announced in November. It will recognize a PFL student-athlete based on extraordinary achievements in academics and athletics.

-PFL-