MINUTES OF THE

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

COMMITTEE ON COMPETITIVE SAFEGUARDS AND MEDICAL ASPECTS OF SPORTS

NCAA National Office January 15-16, 2004

Indianapolis, Indiana

Participants:

Lauren Costello, Princeton University

Jerry Diehl, National Federation of State High School Associations

Hannah England, Princeton University

Kimberly Harmon, University of Washington

Donald Kaverman, Southeast Missouri State University

Michael Krauss, Purdue University

Arnold Mazur, Boston College

Robin Meiggs, Humboldt State University

Melinda L. Millard-Stafford, Georgia Institute of Technology

Margot Putukian, Princeton University

Rochel Rittgers, Augustana College (Illinois)

Nicolette Sinclair, University of South Carolina, Spartanburg

Gary Skrinar, Boston University

Michael Story, Bridgewater State College

Laurie Turner, University of California, San Diego

Connee Zotos, Drew University

Jerry Weber, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Andrayana Getchell, NCAA

David Klossner, NCAA

Mary Wilfert, NCAA

Tim Rausch, DePauw University, was unable to attend the meeting.

Matthew Mitten, Marquette University, chair; Frank Pettrone, George Mason University; Frank Uryasz and Andrea Wickerham, The National Center for Drug Free Sport; Colby Auld, NCAA; Myles Brand, NCAA; Elsa Cole, NCAA; Denise DeHass, NCAA; Randy Dick, NCAA; Corey Jackson, NCAA; Steve Mallonee, NCAA; Heather Perry, NCAA; and Laura Wurtz, NCAA, were in attendance for portions of the meeting.

[NOTE: These minutes contain only actions taken (formal votes or stated “sense of the meeting”) in accordance with NCAA policy regarding minutes of all Association entities. While certain items on the committee’s agenda were acted on at various times throughout the meeting, all final actions within a given topic are combined in these minutes for convenience of reference.]

Thursday, January 15

The meeting was called to order at 8 a.m. by the NCAA Drug-Education and Drug-Testing Subcommittee chair, Ms. Rittgers. All members were present as noted above.

1. Opening Remarks. Ms. Rittgers noted that Mr. Mitten, chair, would be delayed in attending today’s meeting. Ms. Rittgers welcomed the committee and new members. The committee thanked Ms. Sinclair, NCAA Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative, for her service to the committee.

2. Approval of Previous Minutes.

It was VOTED

“That the minutes of the June 20-22, 2003, Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) meeting be approved as distributed.”

3. Mission Statement and Strategic Plan. The committee approved the current mission statement and reviewed a new strategic plan model. The committee deferred discussion of its practical implication to its next meeting.

4. Report of the Injury Surveillance System (ISS). Mr. Dick gave an update on the current efforts to completely transfer the paper-based ISS data collection and reporting process to a Web-based process, and reviewed a new look for the individual sport reports. The committee provided constructive feedback and support for the direction in which the Internet-based system is following.

5. NCAA Governance Actions and Issues. The committee reviewed relevant actions from the NCAA Executive Committee, the NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet and the NCAA Divisions II and III Management Councils, and took the following actions:

a. The committee recommended a legislative change that would require it to report directly to the Division I Management Council, and that a Division I Management Council representative be appointed to sit on the CSMAS. The Divisions II and III Management Councils representatives to the CSMAS noted that health and safety recommendations that have implications Association-wide require input and attention from all three divisional governing bodies. With no direct representation from Division I on the CSMAS, and no direct report from the committee to the Division I Management Council, health and safety issues do not receive a complete review by all three divisions. This disconnect in the process may result in the Division I Management Council members reviewing and voting on health and safety decisions without the benefit of the Division II or Division III views as expressed by these representatives in the CSMAS meeting. If the CSMAS reporting structure in Division I remains with the Championships/Competition Cabinet, then the committee recommended that a Cabinet representative be appointed to sit on the CSMAS, and be present for all committee reviews and discussions of health and safety considerations of legislation and policy.

It was VOTED

“That the recommendation be approved.”

b. Mr. Mallonee from membership services joined the committee for a review of Bylaw 16.5.2.g, Nutritional Supplements. The committee recommended an updated list of examples of impermissible supplements and agreed such an update would be provided by the Resource Exchange Center (REC). The committee also discussed the implications of this legislation for NCAA institutions who conduct nutritional supplement research using current student-athletes. Further review will be taken up at the next committee meeting.

c. The committee recommended an editorial change in Legislative Proposal 2003-49 from “return to competition” to either “participate in competition” or “return to participation.” The current proposal language may not cover all student-athletes participating in athletic activities, such as first year redshirt student-athletes or other student-athletes who have not yet commenced competition.

d. The committee considered the impact of the acclimatization and recovery model on Division III institutional resources. This model forces earlier summer return of student-athletes as institutions seek to maintain the maximum number of practices allowed. The committee noted that its priority is to provide health and safety recommendations, and that the NCAA sports committees will review these recommendations and forward their comments through the governing process.

6. NCAA SAAC Report. Ms. England reported that in its January meeting, the Division I SAAC addressed student-athlete welfare issues pertaining to weekly hour limits permitted in athletic activities for two-sport athletes, and the criteria to define travel days as days off. Ms. Sinclair reported that in its January meeting, the Division II SAAC addressed the issue of discretionary time and agreed upon a definition of voluntary time. Ms. Zotos, the Division III Management Council representative, provided a report regarding recent Division III actions, including the elimination of redshirting; a reduction in the non-traditional and playing seasons; and the elimination of the safety exception.

7. The National Center for Drug Free Sport Update. Ms. Wickerham gave a preview to the committee regarding its report to the Drug-Education and Drug-Testing (DEDT) Subcommittee, including drug testing at NCAA championships and the all-sport drug testing programs.

8. DEDT Subcommittee. Ms. Rittgers reviewed the subcommittee agenda for the afternoon’s meeting.

9. Sports Sciences Safety (SSS) Subcommittee. Mr. Weber, chair, reviewed the subcommittee agenda for the afternoon’s meeting.

[Note: The meeting recessed at 5:30 p.m.]

Friday, January 16

The meeting was called to order at 8 a.m. by Mr. Mitten. All members were present as noted above.

10. Research Issues. NCAA President Brand joined the committee in its review of recent health and safety research, presented by Ms. DeHass. NCAA member institutions participated in three surveys during the past year on the topics of drug education and testing, the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook and eating disorder prevention. The committee recommended staff consider a process by which both the director of athletics and the head athletic trainer provide responses to the Drug-Education and Testing Survey. After review by the SSS Subcommittee of comments received in the handbook survey and a discussion of recent trends in athletics health care, the committee recommended a membership survey to evaluate the current athletics health care environment in intercollegiate athletics. The survey would seek health care demographics, and data regarding emergency care coverage and staff workload practices. The committee also recommended that the Association conduct its next Survey of the Substance Use Habits of College Student-Athletes in September 2004 and include a new question to detect usage of tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), a controlled steroid.

11. Sport Specific Issues.

a. Softball. The committee continued to support the intent of the softball bat research as proposed by the NCAA Softball Rules Committee, noting that a system has been developed for baseball bat testing and the distances in softball are much shorter for the pitcher and in-field players. In addition, the committee agreed to recommend exploring options for random testing of bats at NCAA softball championships to ensure adherence to specifications for bats outlined in the NCAA softball rules. The committee suggested that the current baseball bat testing model at championships may provide a good outline. The NCAA general counsel gave an opinion as to the legal risk connected with the proposed bat testing recommendation.

It was VOTED

“To recommend to the NCAA Softball Rules Committee that softball bats be randomly tested at all NCAA Championship events.”

b. Women’s Lacrosse. The committee recommended supporting the US Lacrosse plan to track injuries as the eyewear mandate is implemented and as US Lacrosse reviews whether additional head-protection equipment is indicated. The SSS Subcommittee will continue to work with the women’s lacrosse national governing body in their efforts to reduce the risk of injuries in the sport through continued NCAA injury surveillance.

It was VOTED

“To approve the recommendation.”

12. Government Affairs Update. Mr. Mitten gave an oral update on current government affairs involving health and safety issues, such as the ephedrine ban and the committee’s commitment to continue support of federal legislation to include steroid precursors in the Controlled Substances Act.

13. NCAA Legal Issues. The NCAA general counsel gave an oral update on litigation involving the Association related to health and safety issues.

14. Report of the Drug-Education and Drug-Testing (DEDT) Subcommittee. Ms. Rittgers called the committee’s attention to selected recommendations.

a. The committee took the following actions:

(1) Drug Test Sanctions. Amend Bylaw 18.4.1.5.1 to allow the DEDT Subcommittee of the CSMAS to reduce a drug-testing penalty during a drug-test appeal from one year to the next 50 percent of a season of competition in all sports if the student-athlete demonstrates that he or she was not at significant fault in testing positive for a banned substance. The subcommittee will continue to have current options as outlined in the Bylaw. Effective August 1, 2005.

It was VOTED

“That the Bylaw be amended as recommended.”

(2) Acceptance of National/International Drug-Testing Suspensions. Amend Bylaw 31.2.3.1.2 to state that an athlete under a drug-testing suspension from a national or international sports governing body that has adopted the WADA code shall not participate in NCAA intercollegiate competitions. Effective August 1, 2005.

It was VOTED

“That the Bylaw be amended as recommended.”

(3) Drug-Education Budget. The DEDT Subcommittee recommended reallocating within the drug-education budget to allow for an increase in the APPLE Conference budget, as proposed by the Center for Alcohol and Substance Education (CASE), the administrator of the APPLE Conferences. This increase will allow for the scheduling of a west-coast conference and accommodate a modest inflationary increase.

It was VOTED

“That the recommendation be approved.”

b. Ms. Rittgers noted that the DEDT Subcommittee discussed the following issues. All actions were approved by the committee.

(1) Drug Testing at Bowling Championships. The subcommittee reviewed and recommended a drug-testing plan for bowling championships presented by The National Center for Drug Free Sport.

(2) Drug Testing at Swimming and Diving Championships in Division II. The subcommittee reviewed a request to test at the end of each day a student-athlete that competes in swimming and diving championships in Division II instead of testing after each event won, and recommended approval for this process.

(3) Banned Drug List. The subcommittee recommended listing THG, trenbolone and gestrinone as named steroids on the list of NCAA banned substances.

(4) Protocol Changes. The subcommittee recommended the following:

(a) Change the drug-testing protocol to allow only one exit test for reinstatement of eligibility lost to a positive drug test and confirm that The National Center for Drug Free Sport will determine the date the student-athlete will be retested. Also, clarify language in Drug-Testing Bylaw 14.1.1.1. to state that “a student-athlete who is found to have utilized a substance on the list of banned drugs through an NCAA drug test...shall be declared ineligible.”

(b) In addition, identify in Protocol 3.3 that a breach of protocol be considered the same as a positive test for non-street drugs and can result in the loss of lifetime eligibility if it is one of two positive tests for substances other than street drugs.

(5) Drug-Test Appeals. The subcommittee confirmed that an approved appeal cannot be overturned by a subsequent positive drug test and the original positive drug test is negated once an appeal is granted. In addition, the subcommittee determined that if an appeal decision is not finalized pending a follow-up drug test, and the follow-up test is positive, it will not be considered a second positive if it is the same substance, but it can be considered a second positive if it is for a different substance.

(6) Medical Exceptions. The subcommittee will maintain the current list of substances available for a medical exception and not consider medical testosterone use for the medical exception process.

(7) Year-Round Drug Testing in Division III. The subcommittee will review the upcoming 2005 drug-use survey in order to address the need to forward a recommendation for year-round drug testing in Division III.

(8) Resource Exchange Center (REC). The subcommittee recommended publishing the password for the REC more widely so that the membership can easily access this service.

15. Report of the Sports Sciences Safety (SSS) Subcommittee. Mr. Weber noted that the subcommittee discussed the following issues and called the committee’s attention to selected recommendations regarding health and safety practices and policies.

a. The committee took the following actions:

(1) Non-Transparent Eye Shields in Football. The SSS Subcommittee has documented a significant increase in the number of exception requests for non-transparent eye shields in football. The subcommittee recommended a letter be sent to the Football Rules Committee and the American Football Coaches Association asking for their support in deterring unwarranted requests. The subcommittee will explore alternative options to the tinted eye shield that allow student-athletes to participate with medical conditions requiring a shaded lens. The committee was in support of this action.

(2) Medical Disqualification at Championships. The committee reviewed the 2003 Championship Handbook general information section, “Procedure to Medically Disqualify a Student-Athlete During an NCAA Championship.” The committee recommended adding the following language: “In the absence of a team physician, the NCAA tournament physician, as designated by the host school, has the unchallengeable authority to examine the student athlete and make a decision of continued participation or medical disqualification. If, in the opinion of the tournament physician, continued participation by the injured student-athlete may expose others to a significantly enhanced risk of harm, or life threatening risk to himself or herself, the tournament physician has the final decision regarding participation by the student-athlete.” NCAA general counsel will provide a review of medical responsibility of the sponsor of the championship.

It was VOTED

“That the recommendation be approved and revised in both the Championship Handbook and the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook.”

b. Mr. Weber noted that the SSS Subcommittee discussed the following issues and called the committee’s attention to the following informational items:

(1) The subcommittee reviewed previously funded research results pertaining to the football model and wrestling weight assessment techniques. The football data will be presented in May at the annual American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) meeting by the researchers. The wrestling study supported current NCAA weight management requirements.

(2) The subcommittee routinely reviews trends of all sports looking for trends in injury rates, in mechanisms of injury and other components of the sport that may compromise the health and safety of student-athletes. The media has noted increased incidence of injuries in women as compared to men. However, the subcommittee has not noticed a significant difference between the genders, and injury types seem to be sport specific. Factors that may influence these findings may be that females tend to report injuries to medical care professionals more frequently, thus slightly elevating the injury rate. However, there may be several factors that come into play to create these small indiscriminate differences. The subcommittee will continue to review injury data to determine injury trends in those sports in which data is collected.

16. Education Resources.

a. Members were assigned to review and update specific Sports Medicine Handbook guidelines for the next edition. A new guideline on catastrophic incidence (crisis management) was approved to be added in the next edition.

b. Articles were solicited for the spring Health and Safety Newsletter insert in The NCAA News. Articles are due March 24 for the April 12 edition. Members will be e-mailed a reminder of those articles identified for this publication.

c. Ms. Getchell presented the committee an update on the health and safety Web site.

d. Mr. Auld, intern with education services, presented the latest Nutrition and Performance resources sent to the membership.

17. Outreach. Committee Outreach reports were deferred until the June meeting.

18. Other Health and Safety Issues.

a. Emergency Care and Coverage. The committee supported the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA) in their public initiative to ensure that all athletics department personnel are certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid. The committee made a point of emphasis that institutions follow the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook Guideline 1F recommendation that all athletics personnel associated with practices, competitions, skill instruction, and strength and conditioning have certification in CPR, First Aid and prevention of disease transmission.

b. Emerging Sports. The committee recommended the following:

(1) To contact the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA) regarding adding language to the emerging sport criteria. This additional criterion would require the requesting body to include information about health and safety considerations in order to educate the membership. This information should be supplied by the governing body for that sport.

(2) To request that the CWA forward to the CSMAS the rules pertaining to health and safety for existing emerging sports in order that rules related to equipment may be addressed in the Sports Medicine Handbook.

(3) To send a letter to the membership to emphasize the NCAA health and safety principle, which requires institutional responsibility to provide medical coverage of all intercollegiate student-athletes, including those participating in emerging sports. The committee is urging that such sports be provided health care and medical coverage consistent with that provided for other sports, and