REVISED
REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
SPORTSMANSHIP AND ETHICAL CONDUCT
1. ACTION
ITEM.
Election of New Chair. Approve the election of Chandra Bierwirth of Marist College
to succeed Bob Frederick, University of Kansas, as committee chair. Ms. Bierwirth’s term will begin in
September 2002.
2. INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS.
a. Team Sportsmanship Award. The committee shall recommend to
the NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet and NCAA Divisions II and
III Management Councils that the NCAA present a sportsmanship award to one
institution in each NCAA championship sport from each division that qualified
for a NCAA-sponsored championship.
A formal recommendation with supporting rationale to approve the measure
effective for the 2003-04 academic year will be set forth in more detail in the
committee’s November report.
b. Institution of Character Award. The committee is considering the
establishment of an “Institution of Character” award program beginning with the
2003-04 academic year, to recognize institutions whose teams exhibit a
commitment to sportsmanship.
Winners of this award must be nominated by their conference. No more than one institution per conference
may be nominated. The committee
will present a formal recommendation with supporting rationale to the
governance structure in the committee’s November report.
c. Committee
to be More Active as the Conscience of the Association. The committee voted to become more assertive in reacting on
behalf of the Association to situations or events that clearly depict unethical
and unsportsmanlike behavior.
d. Statement
on the Use of Native American Mascots, Nicknames and Logos. In January, the committee endorsed
a statement discouraging member institutions from using Native American
mascots, nicknames and logos. The
statement was forwarded to the NCAA’s Minority Opportunities and Interests
Committee in preparation for that committee’s report on this issue to the NCAA
Executive Committee.
e. Gamesmanship
vs. Sportsmanship. A written
communication will be sent to the chief executive officers (CEOs) and directors
of athletics of all member institutions, and CEOs of all coaching associations,
urging them to emphasize to their institutional employees and/or organization
members the distinction between gamesmanship (attempts to gain improper
advantages that are not explicitly prohibited by the rules) and
sportsmanship. The committee
believes that gamesmanship has replaced sportsmanship as a guiding principle of
fair play and competition, and underminies the character-building aspects of
athletics.
f. Sportsmanship
Tool Kit CD-ROM. A written
communication will be sent to CEOs and directors of athletics urging them to
use the information on sportsmanship contained in the sportsmanship tool kit
CD-ROM.
g. Presentation
at Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA) Convention. The chair shall request an opportunity to appear at the CCA
fall meeting to discuss with conference leaders the committee’s role and
strategies to promote sportsmanship.
Staff Liaisons: Ron Stratten, Education Services; Mark Jones, Enforcement Services; Bill Saum, Enforcement Services