REPORT OF THE

NCAA OLYMPIC SPORTS LIAISON COMMITTEE (OSLC)

1. ACTION ITEMS.

Association-wide.

a. Waiver United States Olympic Committee/National Governing Bodies.

(1) Recommendation. The Olympic Sports Liaison Committee recommends the NCAA Division I Championship/Competition Cabinet and the NCAA Divisions II and III Management Council sponsor legislation to amend NCAA Bylaw 14.1.8.1.6 (Waiver – United States Olympic Committee/National Governing Bodies) to permit student-athletes with eligibility remaining and who are not enrolled full-time to participate in practices for national governing bodies team sports. [Attachment A]

(2) Rationale. Currently, Bylaw 14.1.8.1.6 allows conference offices to grant a waiver to allow a student-athlete with eligibility remaining and who is not enrolled full-time or a former student-athlete to participate in practice sessions on a regular basis provided specific parameters are met. One of the criteria for granting the waiver specifies that the practice sessions must involve an individual sport, rowing or synchronized swimming.

Recently two student-athletes with eligibility remaining, who were also participants on the USA Softball team, wished to be able to practice with their team while not enrolled full-time, during the times of the semester when no National team activities were taking place. Due to the exclusion of certain team sports from Bylaw 14.1.8.1.6, the student-athletes’ institution filed an ARS waiver which was granted and allowed the student-athletes to practice with their team. In reviewing this situation, the OSLC believes that student-athletes with eligibility remaining who are not enrolled and who are taking the year just prior to the Olympics off from school in order to participate in National Team activities, should be provided the same practice opportunities as student-athletes participating in individual sports. The committee believes that the nature of the Olympic experience is exceptional and no competitive advantage would be gained by allowing student-athletes with eligibility remaining who take time off to participate in the Olympics to participate in practice activities while not enrolled. This change is consistent with other exceptions available to student-athletes who compete at the Olympic level. It appears that the individual sport restriction was included in this bylaw to address concerns regarding possible abuses in team sports if former players are allowed to practice. Therefore, the committee noted that for competitive equity reasons it did not recommend that the former student-athlete component of the bylaw be expanded to team sport participants

(3) Budget impact. None.

b. Formation of Joint United States Olympic Committee (USOC)/NCAA Task Force to Develop Strategies to Maintain Olympic Sports at the NCAA Level.

(1) Recommendation. The committee recommends that the Championships Cabinet and Divisions II and III Management Councils approve the formation of a joint task force with the USOC to study the decline in sponsorship of Olympic sports at NCAA institutions and develop strategies to maintain sponsorship at the NCAA level. Further, the OSLC wishes to be involved in these discussions and will serve as the vehicle for the task force to bring any recommendations to the NCAA membership.

(2) Rationale. The formation of the task force was a recommendation made by the USOC at the October meeting of the committee. The committee strongly supports this concept and believes it is a necessary step to work with the USOC towards possible solutions. The committee notes that a similar task force was formed in 1995 and resulted in several legislative changes and the formation of the USOC conference grant program. Based on the crisis many Olympic sports are facing with the decline in sponsorship at the NCAA level; the USOC and the NCAA need to work together to formulate solutions. This task force will enable individuals from both organizations to focus on this issue and make recommendations to both the NCAA and the USOC regarding possible solutions.

(3) Budget. $25,000 for a two-year period.

c. Travel of OSLC members to attend National Governing Body (NGB) Events.

(1) Recommendation. The committee recommends that the Championships/Competition Cabinet and Divisions II and III Management Councils approve a budgetary allotment for OSLC members to attend a limited number of National Governing Body events to foster relationships and work with the NGBs to resolve issues.

(2) Rationale. In its October meeting with the NGBs, it became apparent that communication is essential between the NGBs and the NCAA so that issues may be addressed appropriately. In an effort to increase the level of communication and working relationship with the NGBs on several issues, including the maintaining of sport sponsorship, the OSLC believes it will be essential on limited occasions to permit committee members to travel to NGB events. The committee members will use this time to attend meetings and learn more about the issues that are important to the NGBs.

(3) Budget. $8,000.

1. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

Association-wide.

a. Statement of Purpose for the Olympic Sports Liaison Committee. The following was approved by the committee as a statement of the committee’s purpose:

“The purpose of the Olympic Sports Liaison Committee is to facilitate communication and understanding between the NCAA, the USOC and the national governing bodies. Through this communication, the Olympic Sports Liaison Committee will assist the USOC and national governing bodies in facilitating the best possible development of elite athletes within the contact of the NCAA’s commitment to education and a broad-based development of all student-athletes.

The Olympic Sports Liaison Committee will provide an avenue of communication and access for the USOC and national governing bodies in to the NCAA process and, where appropriate, make recommendations to the NCAA membership. Finally, the Olympic Sports Liaison Committee will strive to provide education to the USOC, national governing bodies and student-athletes regarding NCAA rules and regulations as they apply to world-class athletes.”

b. Strategic Plan. The committee reviewed and approved the OSLC strategic plan. This plan outlines activities of the committee which will address the committee’s goals of education, communication, facilitation and representation. A copy of the strategic plan is attached. [Attachment B]

c. Update regarding the United States Olympic Committee’s Board Meeting and Structure. The chair of the OSLC provided an update of the activities of the recent USOC board meeting. In addition, Jim Scherer, acting CEO of the USOC provided an overview and answered questions regarding the structure of the USOC board and the future direction of the USOC. The committee discussed the USOC’s recent decision to reduce the number of members on its board of directors from 123 to 11. The board will consist of four independent seats, two individuals selected by the NGBs, two individuals selected by the athletes’ advisory council and the three current International Olympic Committee members.

While the committee supports this change as a necessary step toward reform of the USOC, the committee is extremely discouraged that the NCAA does not have a permanent seat on the USOC Board. Historically, the overwhelming majority of Olympic athletes have been enrolled at NCAA institutions or have graduated from NCAA institutions and trained under college coaches. Of the Olympic team members from 1980 through 2000, approximately 94 percent were attending or had attended an NCAA institution. Since 1991, the OSLC has proposed, and the NCAA membership adopted, approximately 40 pieces of legislation to accommodate the needs of the U.S. Olympic movement. Two of the most prominent initiatives were legislation to allow enrolled and prospective student-athletes to accept Operation Gold funds and legislation to exempt Olympic sports from the minimum sponsorship requirements to maintain an NCAA championship.

One constant message from all NGBs the OSLC meets with is that the NCAA is essential to the future of their sport. Being the primary developer of Olympic athletes and coaches, the OSLC believes it is essential for one of the independent seats to be filled with an individual who can represent the NCAA voice.

d. Maintaining Olympic Sport Sponsorship at the NCAA Level. The committee continued its discussion on the decline in sponsorship of Olympic sports at the intercollegiate level. The OSLC has been discussing the issue of maintaining Olympic sport sponsorship at NCAA institutions for the past several years. In this effort, the committee has been working with the USOC and the NGBs to develop strategies and solutions to the increasing problem. An NCAA analysis of sports lost between 1988-89 and 2001-02 shows, across all three divisions, wrestling has lost 99 teams, tennis has lost 53 teams, women’s gymnastics has lost 34 teams, rifle has lost 33 teams and men’s gymnastics has lost 32 teams. The committee noted the crisis many Olympic sports are facing and also the decrease in participation opportunities for NCAA student-athletes. The committee noted that this is an issue across all three divisions and that the decrease in sport sponsorship at all levels within the NCAA is of concern to the NGBs.

Committee Position.

The committee discourages the practice of dropping men’s and women’s Olympic sports and will continue to work with the USOC to develop strategies to assist NCAA institutions in seeking avenues to maintain and expand sponsorship of endangered Olympic sports. At the October meeting, the committee took several steps to attempt to generate solutions to assist in maintaining sports sponsorship.

· The 2004 NCAA Convention will feature a session that seeks to provide the entire NCAA membership with a forum to discuss methods and strategies for maintaining Olympic sports on college and university campuses. The session, called “Protecting Student-Athlete Opportunities: The Future of Olympic Sport Sponsorship at NCAA Institutions” will be held Saturday, January 10, 2004, at the Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. All three divisions are encouraged to attend, and the committee seeks feedback and information regarding possible solutions.

· The committee has formed division-specific subcommittees to discuss strategies and solutions within each division.

· The committee supported a recommendation from the USOC to develop a joint NCAA/USOC task force to study the issue.

e. Meeting with NGBs. The committee met with representatives from USA Swimming, USA Wrestling, USA Field Hockey, The US Tennis Association, US Water Polo, USA Team Handball, USA Hockey, USA Shooting and USA Bowling. USA Gymnastics submitted a written proposal. The committee listened to issues presented and provided the NGBs with relevant information regarding the NCAA.

(1) USA Swimming. The committee met with Chuck Wielgus from USA Swimming. Mr. Wieglus provided an overview of the status and direction of USA Swimming including the organization’s goal to become a broad-based swimming organization and the various initiatives being developed to reach this goal. Mr. Wielgus indicated that the governing body recognizes the positive impact that the NCAA has on USA Swimming. Mr. Wielgus also discussed USA Swimming’s concerns regarding time limitation on countable athletically related activities. There was concern that NCAA legislation regarding these time limitations has a negative impact on athlete’s abilities to prepare for competition at the elite levels. Finally, Mr. Wieglus highlighted three issues that USA swimming was tracking related to the NCAA: (1) the impact of the decline in sponsorship of swimming programs at NCAA institution; (2) the participation of foreign athletes; and (3) the uniformity of drug testing and doping.

(2) USA Wrestling. The committee met with Rich Bender and Gary Abbott from USA Wrestling. Given that collegiate wrestling is a pipeline in many respects for USA wrestling, a considerable amount of time was spent discussing the decline in the number of NCAA institutions sponsoring wrestling. In addition, USA wrestling submitted recommendations regarding possible legislative changes and other recommendations for the NCAA membership to consider. The committee is gathering more information on the specifics of each and will forward any suggestions or recommendations to the appropriate committees within the NCAA structure.

(3) USA Field Hockey. The committee met with Sheila Walker from USA Field Hockey. Ms. Walker provided an overview of the status of field hockey.

(4) US Tennis Association. The committee met with David Brewer of US Tennis Association (USTA). Mr. Brewer provided an overview of the structure of the USTA. Mr. Brewer requested clarification regarding the amateurism and tryout legislation. Mr. Brewer will forward a list of questions to the liaisons to be reviewed by membership services. Additionally, a summary of the amateurism legislation will be forwarded to the USTA.

(5) USA Water Polo. The committee met with Mike Louis of USA Water Polo. Mr. Louis discussed the tremendous increase in sponsorship of women’s water polo at the intercollegiate level and provided an overview of the status of USA Water Polo.

(6) USA Hockey. The committee met with Jim Johannson and Doug Polisorri of USA Hockey. Mr. Johannson and Mr. Polisorri expressed concerns regarding the Division III proposal regarding the elimination of athletics scholarship for the institutions that sponsor a sport on a Division I or II level. They also request that a member of the NCAA serve as a board member of USA Hockey.

(7) USA Team Handball. The committee met with Michael Cavanaugh of USA Team Handball. Team Handball is currently not sponsored on a varsity level by any NCAA institutions. The national governing body is currently focusing on starting club programs at the intercollegiate level that could transition to varsity programs in the future.

(8) College Bowling USA. The committee met with Brian Graham of College Bowling USA. The organization is developing a new manner, SMART program, in which scholarships will be held and distributed to individuals. The structure of that SMART program will be reviewed by membership services staff for a determination of any issues that may arise in relation to the NCAA legislation. Additionally, he has requested that the NCAA discuss changing what constitutes acceptance of scholarship or prize money. Mr. Graham expressed concerns regarding the definition of acceptance centers around scholarships or prize money being held in escrow for an individual. This issue will be forwarded to the amateurism subcommittee in Division I for further review.

(9) USA Shooting. The committee met with David Johnson. Mr. Johnson provided a general overview of the status of shooting. The majority of the discussion focused on the appropriate avenues for the national governing body to gather information or have questions answered.

In addition to the unique questions and issues of the each national governing body, there were two common questions or issues that arose. The first issue related to the number of international student-athlete participating on intercollegiate teams. The second involved the time limitations imposed on countable athletically related activities.

Division I only.

f. Proposal No. 2003-71 Membership – Definition of a Division I-A Conference. The committee supports Proposal No. 2003-71, which allows a Division I-A conference to include in its required eight members an institution that counts as one of its six men’s sports and one of its eight women’s sports, a sport in which it participates through a Division I multi-or-single sport conference. The committee shared the same concerns as thesponsor of the legislation that the adoption of Proposal No. 2002-37 without inclusion of an exception as outlined in Proposal No. 2003-71 could have a negative impact on the sponsorship of various endangered Olympic sports. Based on numerous conversations with various NGBs regarding the current crisis in sports sponsorship at the NCAA level, the committee believes that it is essential to support legislation that will possibly assist in protecting endangered Olympic sport sponsorship at the NCAA level.

g. Proposal No. 2003-81 Awards and Benefits – Expenses Provided by the Institution for Practice and Competition – Other Competition. The committee does not support Proposal No. 2003-81, which permits an institution to provide actual and necessary expenses related to participation in Olympic, Pan American, World Championships, World Cup and World University Games competition during an academic year in which a student-athlete is eligible to represent the institution in athletics competition (or in the following summer). The committee agrees with the position of the AEC Cabinet. A potential recruiting advantage exists if an institution is permitted to provide actual and necessary expenses related to participation in the specified events. Further, current legislation allows actual and necessary expenses to be provided by the amateur sports organization the student-athlete is representing such as a national governing body. Finally there is concern that permitting institutions to provide actual and necessary expenses to attend such events will result in increased institutional spending.

Committee Chair: Kyle Kallander, Big South Conference

Staff Liaisons: Jennifer Strawley, student-athlete reinstatement, and Wendy Walters, membership services.