REPORT OF THE
DIVISION III
STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
1. ACTION ITEMS.
a.
Certification of
Student-Athlete Insurance Coverage.
(1) Recommendation.
Endorse the committee?s position of support for the proposal
from the Risk Management and Insurance Task Force that requires member
institutions to certify student-athlete insurance coverage.
(2) Rationale.
The committee
supports the proposal
from the Risk Management and Insurance Task Force that requires member
institutions to certify student-athlete insurance coverage. Currently, member institutions are not
required to provide insurance to student-athletes for any injury that would
require medical attention during a
practice or competition. The committee
agreed that it is very important for
student-athletes to be provided insurance because student-athletes are at a
higher risk for injury than the general student population and there are many
student-athletes that are not able to afford insurance coverage. Further, the committee recognized that many
institutions already provide this coverage and that many student-athletes have
insurance coverage through their parents.
(3) Budget
Impact. None.
b. Finance of Insurance for Injuries and Illness not
Related to Practice or Competition.
(1) Recommendation.
Endorse the committee?s position of opposition to the
proposal from the Risk Management and Insurance Task Force that would permit
member institutions to provide insurance for any illness or injury, regardless
of whether it occurs in the act of their roles as athletes.
(2)
Rationale.
The committee opposes a proposal from the
Risk Management and Insurance Task Force that would permit member institutions
to provide insurance for any illness or injury, regardless of whether it occurs
in the act of their roles as athletes.
The committee is concerned about the financial impact this permissive
proposal would have on member institutions.
The committee also raised concerns that the additional insurance
coverage would lead to a recruiting advantage for those institutions that
financially could afford it.
(3) Budget
Impact. None.
2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
a.
New Member Orientation.
The committee welcomed five new
members: Brad Coffey, Christina Gipson,
Natalie Lyons, Dave Masilunas and Adam Mohr. The new
members participated in an orientation session with the executive subcommittee
and NCAA staff.
b.Joint
SAAC.
The
committee referred the
following recommendations to the Joint SAAC at its January 11 meeting.
?
American
Indian Mascot Usage by Member Institutions. The committee
supports the Minority and Opportunity Interests Committee?s recommendation
opposing the use of American Indian mascots by member institutions. The committee believes the use of American
Indian mascots definitely could be considered offensive to American Indians
and, therefore, should not be used, especially in cases where the local tribes
are against the usage.
?
Purpose
of Joint SAAC. The committee supports the continued
existence of a Joint SAAC, with the possibility of minor adjustments. Currently, the Joint SAAC is run by the
communications team and conducts meetings twice a year (January and July). The committee feels these meetings are
productive and are a good place to address issues that affect all
student-athletes regardless of division.
However, the committee noted that the Joint SAAC meetings may be better
served to be run by the chair and vice-chair of each division. The
committee agreed that the Joint SAAC
meetings should include both information and action items. Further, the committee noted that the Joint
SAAC should have an avenue to report, possibly to President Myles Brand or the
NCAA Executive Committee.
c.
Project
Team Reports.
The
committee received oral reports from project team representatives. It was determined that the Amateurism
Project Team should be eliminated.
Julia Brown was named as chair of the Community Service Project Team and
Jami Goldman was named chair of the Regional Leadership Conference Project
Team.
d.
2003 Legislative Proposals.
The committee reviewed its positions on the following
legislative proposals for the 2003 NCAA Convention:
?
Proposal
No. 40 ? playing and practice seasons ? basketball ? first contest date.
The committee opposed the proposal.
?
Proposal
No. 41 ? playing and practice seasons ? playing seasons regulations.
The committee opposed the proposal.
?
Proposal
No. 41-1 ? playing and practice seasons ? playing seasons regulations.
The committee opposed the proposal.
?
Proposal
No. 42 ? executive regulations ? selection of teams for championships
participation ? automatic qualification. The committee
supported the proposal.
?
Proposal
No. 43 ? executive regulations ? selection of teams and individuals for
championships. The committee opposed the proposal.
?
Proposal
No. 44 ? amateurism ? professional team ? definition.
The committee supported the proposal.
?
Proposal
No. 45 ? recruiting ? definition of contact. The committee
supported the proposal.
?
Proposal
No. 46 ? recruiting ? eligibility ramifications ? restitution for improper benefits.
The committee supported the proposal.
?
Proposal
No. 47 ? recruiting ? de minimus violations. The committee supported
the proposal.
?
Proposal
No. 48 ? eligibility ? seasons of competition ? waiver.
The committee supported the proposal.
?
Proposal
No. 49 ? playing and practice seasons ? noncollegiate, amateur competition ?
basketball. The committee supported the proposal.
?
Proposal
No. 50 ? playing and practice seasons ? number of contests - ice hockey.
The committee supported the proposal.
?
Proposal
No. 51 ? playing and practice seasons ? tennis ? preseason practice.
The committee supported the proposal.
?
Proposal
No. 52 ? playing and practice seasons ? indoor and outdoor track and field ?
length of playing season. The committee supported the proposal.
?
Proposal
No. 53 ? National Collegiate Championships ? women?s bowling.
The committee supported the proposal.
?
Proposal
No. 54 ? membership ? emerging sports ? rugby. The committee supported
the proposal.
e.
Division
III Student-Athlete Regional Leadership Conference.
The committee reviewed feedback from the Division III
Student-Athlete Regional Leadership Conference evaluations for the conference
held November 8-10, 2002, in Boston, Massachusetts. The committee will look to incorporate the suggestions at its
next conference January 31-February 2 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
f.
Division
III Issues.
The committee will continue
to review athletically related activity time limitations through soliciting
feedback from other student-athletes and considering a specific weekly time
limitation that would be appropriate.
g.
Conflict
of Interest Policy.
The
committee discussed whether SAAC members who graduate from college and
become a college administrator or coach or both should resign from the committee
or relinquish leadership positions. The
committee decided against developing a conflict of interest policy at this
time.
h.
Division
III SAAC Chronology of Work Completed.
The committee reviewed a draft of the
SAAC chronology, which contains a complete history of the committee?s
achievements and initiatives.
Tim Clark, Assistant Director of Education
Outreach
Susan Peal, Assistant Director of Membership Services