SUPPLEMENT NO. 4

REPORT OF THE
NCAA COMMITTEE ON SPORTSMANSHIP AND ETHICAL CONDUCT

1. ACTION ITEM.

Division I only.

· Misconduct during the Playing and Practice Season (NCAA Bylaw 17, Playing and Practice Seasons).

a. Recommendation. That the Championships/Competition Cabinet approve and forward to the Management Council a proposal for new legislation (attached) that would establish a definition of and consequences for acts of misconduct by student-athletes or athletics department staff during regular-season and all postseason competition (e.g., Division I bowl games), as is currently the case in NCAA championships competition.

b. Rationale. The committee believes this legislation is needed to ensure that the Association’s broad commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and ethical conduct apply to the playing and practice season, as well as NCAA championships or other postseason competition. Most of the student-athletes’ or staff members’ opportunities to learn from and display good sportsmanship take place during the regular season. It is inconsistent with the membership’s role in promoting sportsmanship to have consistent standards and accountability measures for its championships but not regular season and all postseason opportunities. The committee believes that student-athletes, coaches and administrators should be held to the same standards during the regular season and all postseason competition (e.g., Division I-A bowl games), and that similar accountability should be administered through the conference or institution offices. It is believed that any individual found in violation of misconduct should be subject to loss of eligibility for subsequent competitions. The cabinet should note that the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee previously voted to support this legislation.

2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

Association-wide.

a. Organized Gambling Activities (Bylaw 10.3, Gambling Activities). The committee voted to amend the provisions of Bylaw 10.3, regarding the meaning of the term “organized gambling activities,” to state that participation in pools, fantasy leagues and auctions are contrary to the provisions of the bylaw. The staff liaison will contact the membership services staff to determine what process is available to amend the bylaws as suggested.

b. Sports Wagering. The committee received information and agreed to take action when noted as follows:

(1) That the final results of the NCAA National Study on Collegiate Sports Wagering and Associated Health Risks Behavior study on gambling will be completed by the spring of 2004.

(2) Agreed to prepare a list of “Dos and Don’ts” to educate student-athletes and athletics staff when an institution has elected to participate in regular-season events in metropolitan areas with open sports books. The list will be provided to the membership.

(3) Reviewed a study by ESPN on sports wagering by fans during the 2003 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. Trends indicated an increase in participation in pools and an overall decrease on wagering on the tournament.

(4) Received a report regarding several Division I NCAA member football institutions whose game-day radio announcers made promotional comments for Internet gambling services that the announcers had contractual obligations with. The institutions have interceded and discontinued the practice.

(5) A former member of organized crime will be the featured speaker at the American Football Coaches Convention and will discuss how organized crime involved student-athletes in point-shaving schemes.

(6) That sports wagering services have used the likeness of head football coaches to promote their service without the knowledge or consent of the coach or the institution.

(7) That ESPN’s new morning talk show, “Cold Pizza,” included segments with a live feed from a Las Vegas sports book. The committee disapproved of that type of programming from a broadcast partner and asked that the staff forward the committee’s concerns to the Executive Vice-President Tom Jernstedt.

c. MET-Rx/Playboy Update. The committee approved a draft of a letter that will be sent to the membership discouraging member institution’s from participating in events or programs that are sponsored or supported by organizations involved with performance enhancing drugs, sports wagering or the portrayal of women in a degrading and diminishing way.

d. Sportsmanship Initiatives. The committee noted issues related to positive sportsmanship initiatives and sportsmanship summits that were being held on member institution’s campuses nationwide, including several which were student-lead summits. The following is an example of several sportsmanship initiatives.

(1) National Association of Basketball Coaches Summit (NABC). The committee agreed to send a letter to the NABC praising the organization for emphasizing accountability of the head coach to improve ethics in that sport and for partnering with the NCAA in that endeavor.

(2) Sportsmanship Poster. The committee approved a new poster and motto, “Be a HERO; Little eyes are watching.”

(3) Strategies to Improve Sportsmanship. The committee adopted an action plan to implement its own recommendations to improve sportsmanship. The plan was a follow up to the issues discussed at its June meeting.

(4) Strategic Plan. The committee reviewed its strategic plan for the coming year and made recommendations. The committee requested $25,000 to update the sportsmanship tool kit; $25,000 to develop public service announcements in conjunction with the branding broadcasting and communications (BBP) staff on sportsmanship; and $10,000 for anticipated travel costs by staff and committee members.

Division I only.

e. Opposition to Proposal No. 2003-85. The committee reaffirmed its opposition to amend the sanctions of Bylaw 10.3.1 (gambling activities sanctions) and permit student-athletes who have violated this legislation for the first time to appeal the minimum reinstatement penalty, which is a one-year ban on regular season and post season competition.