What does MAAC mean in ATHLETICS

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is a collegiate athletic conference located in the Northeastern United States and composed of 11 member institutions. Founded in 1980, the MAAC sponsors 22 intercollegiate sports teams including baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball and track and field for both men and women. The MAAC is recognized by the NCAA as one of three conferences that receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship.

Member institutions who are part of the MAAC benefit from being part of a nationally-recognized athletic conference. They gain access to post season play through automatic bids to the NCAA tournaments for baseball and basketball as well as other competitive opportunities available through the conference. Additionally, there are revenue-sharing agreements among member institutions which allows them to share in any profits made from championship events or television contracts.

In order to join the MAAC you must be invited by existing member institutions. Generally speaking new members must pass certain criteria that demonstrate academic excellence and commitment to improving student athletics programs over time. Other factors may also affect admission into the conference such as agreement on accepted standards for competition or financial stability of prospective schools.

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference was founded in 1980 by six founding members - Canisius College, Fairfield University, Fordham University Siena College, Iona College and St. Peter's University - with assistance from Saint John's University which eventually joined in 1982 making it seven members at that time.

Since 2007 membership in the MAAC has steadily increased with two additional schools added during this period – Marist College in 2007 and Quinnipiac University in 2013 bringing total members up to 11 active institutions today.

The MAAC sponsors 22 intercollegiate sports teams including baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball and track and field for both men and women at all levels except football which is not sponsored by any school within this conference.

There are roughly 1078 male athletes competing across various sports at member schools as well as 1062 female athletes competing across various sports giving a total of 2140 student athletes currently participating in MAAC athletic competitions each year.

No teams do not need to participate in every single sport offered by this league but they must meet minimum participation requirements set forth by NCAA regulations for general athletic scholarship awards (GAS). This means participating teams must have at least 7 players on their roster for all sponsored sports even if they do not compete against opposing teams or have any intention of competing against anyone else outside this league.

During interleague matches certain rules apply no matter what sport or level it’s being played at such things like minimum playing times (both halves), officials qualifications/mechanics/training/discipline; uniform colors/equipment used etc., should remain constant throughout all matches no matter what school or division match participants belong too.

Academics play an important role when considering joining any athletic organization such as this one because students need to maintain good academic standing while playing sports so that they can take advantage of full scholarships available due governmental regulations tied with college athletics programs participation eligibility requirements.