REPORT OF THE
NCAA COMMITTEE ON SPORTSMANSHIP AND ETHICAL CONDUCT
1. ACTION ITEMS
a. Revisions to the Sportsmanship of the Year Award.
(1) Recommendation. Amend the award process as follows: (1) that athletics department staff members (e.g., coaches, trainers, etc.) be eligible to receive the award in addition to enrolled student-athletes; (2) to honor each nominee, who, in the committee's view meets the criteria as an award winner -- this would eliminate the restriction of no more than one male and one female winner per divisional classification; and (3) to request assistance of NCAA sports committees and NCAA championship staff in identifying noteworthy acts of sportsmanship that occur during championship events.
(2) Rationale. Expanding the group of potential honorees to include athletics department personnel is consistent with the committee's mission statement to improve sportsmanship and ethical conduct not only among student-athletes, but with athletics department staff members as well.
The committee is requesting the authority to present an award to each nominee deemed worthy by the committee. It should be noted that none of the nominees submitted for the 2000-01 academic year satisfied the criteria and last year only three of a possible six awards were presented for the same reason. The committee concluded that a noteworthy act of sportsmanship during an athletic contest is unique and the opportunities to honor this behavior are limited. This being the case, the committee believes that a deserving individual should be rewarded without regard to arbitrary restrictions based on gender, divisional or other classifications. The committee also believes that with a concerted effort by sports committees and the NCAA championships staff at championship events, these awards will be enhanced.
(3) Budget Impact. N/A.
b. Concern about Regular Season Basketball Events Conducted at Casinos.
(1) Recommendation. Notify the sports committees responsible for the administration of the men's and women's basketball championships, and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committees of its concern about the scheduling of regular season contests at casinos.
(2) Rationale. The committee believes that the scheduling of regular season basketball games at venues within casinos undermines the Association's message to discourage gambling and sends the wrong message to student-athletes.
(3) Budget Impact. N/A.
2. INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS.
a. Budget Requests for the 2001-02 Academic Year. The committee learned that none of its budget requests were approved, even though its proposals were modest in size and supported by each of the Management Councils. The committee noted that it does not have any other budget from which it can reallocate funds to support any sportsmanship initiatives for 2001-02.
b. Strategic Planning and Budget Proposals for the 2002-03 and 2003-04 Academic Years. The Association's new budget cycle was reviewed and the committee renewed its support for the creation of videos regarding sportsmanship and ethical conduct and hazing and public service announcements that focus upon sportsmanship and ethical conduct. Membership requests for support of these items continues to be an issue for staff to address.
The committee also reviewed its strategic plan for the ensuing academic years. The committee will begin to work with conference offices to develop behavior guidelines and disciplinary actions for unsportsmanlike behavior at sporting events. The committee will continue its efforts to raise the awareness of sportsmanship through the sportsmanship award and its outreach to constituent organizations, such as, coaching and officiating associations as well as the Collegiate Commissioner Association (CCA) and Divisions II and III commissioners’ associations.
c. Gambling. The committee was briefed about a press conference to be held in Washington, D.C., on June 27, to garner support for a bill to outlaw sports wagering on intercollegiate athletics in the state of Nevada. At least 25 high-profile men's and women's coaches, along with Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Sam Brownback (R-KAN) were scheduled to appear in support of the legislation.
d. Presentations during the June Meeting. In-person appearances were made by commissioners (one from each division) and supervisors of football officials (one from each division) and two basketball officials (a Division I women's official and a Division II men's official). The committee made the following observations:
? Each group encouraged the committee to take the lead in advocating sportsmanship and ethical conduct to the membership.
? The NCAA membership must become interested and supportive of efforts to improve sportsmanship and ethical conduct if any changes are to ensue.
? The development of minimum standards for game management that provide security for officials and effective crowd control.
? The development of consistent interpretations across divisional lines on what constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct violations will improve officials' ability to make these tough calls and keep events from getting out of control.
? In the sport of football, the Association should develop clearer guidelines for conduct deemed to be taunting or excessive celebration. It is too subjective at this time.
? It was recommended that the NCAA implement a progressive penalty structure in football that would provide an official the discretion to penalize a team with a five-yard penalty for an unsportsmanlike infraction the first time it occurs and 15-yards if the penalties recur. Flagrant or dangerous infractions would be always assessed 15 yards.
? Sportsmanship is everybody's (conference, institution, coaches, student-athletes, etc.) concern and issue.
? Most of the officials felt as though they had the support of their supervisors and that it was essential for their effectiveness.
? The actions of a head coach are the most important factor in teaching sportsmanship to the student-athletes.
? Division II and III student-athletes are less likely to challenge an official's calls than Division I student-athletes.
? Today's student-athletes will accept an official's ruling if it is explained adequately.
? In the sport of soccer, add an intermediate card that would allow for a two-step process for disqualification (e.g., red card for disqualification, blue card for new penalties and a yellow card for a warning).
e. 2001 NCAA Foundation Leadership Foundation Conference -- Feedback. The committee reviewed a report developed by the student-athletes of their concerns about sportsmanship and civility. The committee noted similarities between the issues identified by the student-athletes and those shared by commissioners and officials that appeared before the committee. The committee recommended that the NCAA staff forward this information to the attention of the directors of athletics and senior woman administrators of each division.
f. Sportsmanship Tool-Kit Update. In September, the committee will distribute the sportsmanship tool kit to the membership. The kit consists of a CD-Rom that contains three subsections of information: (a) video messages; (b) Internet connections; and (c) print resources. The tool kit will serve as a resource for the institution to develop programs and materials to support sportsmanship and ethical behavior. The membership will also receive a mailing containing four new "Sportsmanship - It Starts with You" posters.
Staff Liaisons: Ron Stratten, Mark Jones; Bill Saum
The National Collegiate Athletic Association
July 9, 2001 MPJ:sc