April 2006 Management Council agenda

SUPPLEMENT NO. 3

DIII Mgmt Council 4/06

REPORT OF THE

NCAA OLYMPIC SPORTS LIAISON COMMITTEE

1. ACTION ITEMS.

Association-wide.

a. Review NCAA/U.S. Olympic Committee Task Force recommendation for adoption of the value statement.

(1) Recommendation. Endorse the value statement recommendation from the NCAA/U.S. Olympic Committee Task Force report.

(2) Rationale. The recommendation to build awareness and commitment to Olympic sport sponsorship requires the endorsement of the value statement supporting broad-based intercollegiate athletics programs.

(3) Budget Impact. Minimal.

(4) Student-Athlete Impact. Increased Olympic sport participation opportunities.

b. Review of NCAA Bylaw 16.8.1.3.

(1) Recommendation. Sponsor legislation to amend Bylaw 16.8.1.3-(b) to allow institutions to provide expenses for student-athletes to participate in one qualifying competition for each of the listed elite events per academic year.

(2) Rationale. Bylaw 16.8.1.3 indicates that an institution may provide expenses for a student-athlete to participate in a tryout for the national team under certain circumstances. Specifically, an institution may provide expenses to student-athletes to participate in tryouts for a national team, which will participate in a specific event (i.e., World Championships, World University Games, Pan American Games, World Cup or Olympic Games), and it is the only way that an athlete may be placed on the national team.

Historically, a "but for" analysis has been used when applying Bylaw 16.8.1.3, meaning that participation in the event is mandatory (not just suggested or recommended) in order to be selected to the team that will compete in one of the identified events. If an event meets the "but for" analysis, then an institution (within its discretion) may pay for its student-athletes to participate in the event. However, if it is an elite event but the participants still have other opportunities to be selected to the national team that will compete in one of the identified events, then it truly is not a qualifying competition. Or if it is simply one of a few or many possible tryouts, it clearly does not meet the letter or the spirit of the current legislation.

The committee’s recommendation would allow institutions to provide expenses for a student-athlete to attend one qualifying competition event for each of the listed elite events per academic year. It would no longer be required to apply the "but for" analysis to the provision of expenses for these qualifying competition events. Expenses could be provided to a student-athlete by an institution, even if there are multiple tryout events for the national team.

(3) Budget Impact. Minimal.

(4) Student-Athlete Impact. The legislation would increase opportunities for student-athletes to participate in national qualifying events and gain international experience.

Division I only.

c. Review of Bylaw 14.2.3.2.

(1) Recommendation. Sponsor legislation to establish an exception to Bylaws 14.2.3.2 and 14.2.3.2.1, which would exclude participation in elite events (i.e., Olympics, Pan American Games, World Championships, World Cup and World University Games) as triggers for the application of said bylaws.

(2) Rationale. In the sports of tennis and swimming and diving, Bylaw 14.2.3.2 indicates that a student-athlete who competes in a tennis or swimming and diving event more than one year after the expected graduation date of the student-athlete’s class, but prior to initial full-time enrollment, will use a season of competition for each calendar year of competition and must serve an academic year in residence on enrollment at an NCAA Division I institution. Further, in Bylaw 14.2.3.2.1, an enrolled or prospective student-athlete who participates in organized tennis events after their 20th birthday will have to serve an academic year in residence on enrolling at a Division I institution, unless the individual presents 24-semester hours of transferable-degree credits. Currently, neither bylaw includes exceptions for participation in elite athletics events. The

NCAA Division I Management Council Administrative Review Subcommittee granted a blanket waiver of Bylaw 14.2.3.2 which prevented participation in the 2004 Olympic Games from triggering the application of this bylaw. The committee reviewed this issue and believes that participation in elite events (i.e., Olympics, Pan American Games, World Championships, World Cup, World University Games) is such a unique and enriching experience for student-athletes that triggering the application of bylaws for participation in such events is inappropriate. Furthermore, the committee believes that this would be consistent with the treatment of elite events in other areas of NCAA legislation. The committee discussed whether this should be expanded to include training and competition in preparation for the elite event. The committee was concerned that including those competitions could potentially create a competitive advantage and thus recommended these situations be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the NCAA Division I Management Council Administrative Review Subcommittee. Specifically, in situations where the timing of the event (event occurs just after start of academic year) and a training event also is caught up in this, the committee recommends the waiver be granted. If it is a situation where the individual is training for an entire year, the committee recommends the waiver be denied.[w1]

(3) Budget Impact. None.

(4) Student-Athlete Impact. The legislation will provide flexibility for student-athletes to participate in Olympic-level competition and not penalize collegiate eligibility.

2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

Association-wide.

a. Update regarding NCAA/U.S. Olympic Committee Task Force. Jack Swarbrick, chair of the NCAA/U.S. Olympic Committee Task Force, provided the committee with a review of the NCAA/U.S. Olympic Committee Task Force activities and its September 1, 2005, report. Several of the specific recommendations of the report were discussed during this presentation. Additionally, the committee agreed to recommend endorsement of the value statement of the report.

b. Update from the U.S. Olympic Committee. The U.S. Olympic Committee was represented by Steve Roush, director of elite performance in the sport partnerships division, who reported on finances, organizational structure and addressed concerns of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Mr. Roush recommended communication between the sport-partnership liaisons and the committee.[w2] The committee discussed the recommendations and indicated that many of the concerns will be discussed within the committee’s consideration of legislative proposals as a result of the work of the task force.

c. Update regarding NCAA Amateurism Clearinghouse. The committee received an update regarding the change in the effective date of the legislation related to the creation of the amateurism clearinghouse.

d. Recognition of Olympic athletes participating in NCAA championships. The committee discussed a mechanism by which the NCAA could recognize student-athletes who participate in the Olympics. It was suggested that such athletes should be recognized at the NCAA championship events. Currently, information about student-athlete participation in the Olympics is not compiled by the NCAA. A mechanism needs to be developed by which such information is gathered in a timely manner. In an effort to begin this process and ensure that complete information has been gathered about student-athletes competing in the Olympic Games, the committee will contact each NCAA institution’s sports information director and athletics director to request the names of student-athletes who participated in the Olympic Games. Further, the committee will continue to determine the appropriate manner in which to recognize these athletes at the NCAA championship.

e. Review of athletics-activities waivers. The committee reviewed the athletics-activity waiver process and guidelines employed by the student-athlete reinstatement staff. Prior to the 2004 Olympic Games, concerns were raised regarding the number of athletics-activities waivers. The committee has been tracking the issue. Large numbers of waivers are not filed, and there does not appear to be any notable abuses within the requests. The committee will continue to monitor the issue.

f. Strategic plan. The committee's strategic plan is a working document and there will be an ongoing effort to update the status and progress.

g. Education Outreach Goal. The committee goals were updated. The committee discussed ways in which to improve its education efforts. The committee reviewed and approved the "Student-Athlete Frequently Asked Questions for Olympic and National Governing Bodies Participation and Competition." This frequently asked questions document will be posted on the committee's Web site and forwarded to the NCAA Divisions II and III Student Athlete-Advisory Committees (SAACs) for suggestions on distribution strategies. The committee will be considering restructuring and changes in the delivery method of the handbook that is provided to each of the national governing bodies.

h. Olympic Sports Liaison Committee history and future direction. The committee was formed in the early 1990s to serve as a liaison between the U.S. Olympic Committee and the NCAA and to provide a platform to discuss differences in organizational missions (U.S. Olympic Committee-gold medals and NCAA-educational opportunity). Historically, the committee catered to communicating legislative changes but is currently focusing on educational initiatives to support endangered sports. The committee discussed the three fronts needed to address the future of intercollegiate athletics: (1) national governing bodies; (2) SAACs; and (3) U.S. Olympic Committee. The committee recommended communicating with the NCAA championships staff regarding the inclusion of national governing bodies in sport committees. The committee suggested the SAACs will be invited to committee meetings.

[w3]

i. Equestrian as an emerging sport in NCAA Division III. The committee reviewed a request from the U.S. Equestrian Federation to consider sponsoring legislation to add equestrian as an emerging sport for women in Division III. Since the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA) oversees the establishment of emerging sports for women, the issue was forwarded to the CWA. Further, it also was recommended that the U.S. Equestrian Federation engage the Division III membership in the discussion of the addition of the sport.

j. Meeting with National Governing Bodies. The committee met with representatives from USA Shooting, U.S. Bowling Congress, USA Field Hockey, USA Archery, USA Volleyball, USA Basketball, USA Team Handball, USA Wrestling and USA Water Polo. The committee listened to issues presented and provided the national governing bodies with relevant information regarding the NCAA.

(1) USA Shooting. USA Shooting recognizes the NCAA rifle program as a strong feeder system to their program, as there are 27 NCAA institutions sponsoring the sport of shooting and 90 percent of the student-athletes are also involved in Olympic development program. USA shooting raised two concerns with the committee. First, the international target standards are not consistent with the collegiate targets. The Olympic level uses electronic targets which recently have been used for NCAA championships. USA Shooting requested that the NCAA purchase the electronic target system. The committee recognized that it did not have all information on this issue and asked for additional information regarding recent budget requests that had been submitted to the council. Second, USA Shooting requested legislative changes to allow increased participation by student-athletes with the national team and increased attendance to national team try-out events. USA Shooting suggested an NCAA exception for participation in any USA Shooting certified event. The committee considered this recommendation as part of its broader discussion regarding the provision of expenses for national team tryouts.

(2) U.S. Bowling Congress. U.S. Bowling Congress presented information related to the SMART program. This is a scholarship management program that is overseen by the U.S. Bowling Congress. Events that wish to participate in this program will have their competition and scholarship award reviewed, approved and managed by the U.S. Bowling Congress. In June 2005, U.S. Bowling Congress became the national governing body for bowling and acquired oversight of the SMART program. The U.S. Bowling Congress raised specific questions about prospective student-athletes who receive scholarships through the SMART program before it became part of the U.S. Bowling Congress. Technically, scholarships received prior to June 2005 would not be considered permissible financial aid per Bylaw 15 and could not be used by the athletes for their collegiate education. The U.S. Bowling Congress inquired whether there is a way that such scholarships could be “grandfathered” in so that they could be used as a permissible source of financial aid. The committee asked the staff to investigate the appropriate avenue for such a request (e.g., interpretative, waiver or legislative change).

(3) USA Field Hockey. USA Field Hockey presented an update on the status of the Elite Performance Training Center Program. The purpose of this program is to provide a high-level training program for athletes not prepared for the residence program due to age and/or athletics skill. The program consists of six regional training centers across various campuses which can support up to 50 participants. In addition, USA Field Hockey asked the committee to consider a legislative change that would allow international student-athletes to participate in the program to elevate the level of play and to improve domestic athletes. The international student-athletes would serve as elite-training squads but would not participate on the national team. The committee discussed this issue but, at this time, is not forwarding a legislative recommendation. The committee noted the intent of allowing participation in these activities is to provide the opportunity for participation on the national team and since these athletes are not eligible for the national team, the committee does not believe that a legislative change is warranted.

(4) USA Archery. USA Archery has experienced significant growth in elementary and high school physical education programs as 40 states have adopted youth archery programs. The increased participation and exposure at the grassroots level is anticipated to increase the demand for archery at the collegiate level. USA Archery is concerned with the recent decline in archery programs at the collegiate level and requested information on how to increase participation opportunities. USA Archery suggested increasing the scholarship limits from five to ten to allow institutions to support both archery disciplines of re-curve and compound. USA Archery also requested increased promotion of the sport through NCAA media outlets. USA Archery noted the sport is a great opportunity for women. The committee noted that these concepts are being considered as part of discussions regarding the decline of Olympic sports.

(5) USA Volleyball. Both the men and women brought several issues for consideration by the committee including the distinction in scholarships between men and women, expansion of the men’s championship bracket, the differences between international and NCAA playing rules, as well as the desire for expansion of the provision of expenses to student-athletes for participation in international events. The committee will consider the participation in international events as part of its broader discussion of the provision of expenses and will refer issues involving championships and playing rules to the NCAA Division I Volleyball Committee.

(6) USA Basketball. USA Basketball has struggled to solicit elite athlete participation and believes the following concerns contribute to the lack of participation: broken-time payments, Operation Gold allocations and academic requirements for NCAA eligibility. A student-athlete may receive broken-time payments administered by the U.S. Olympic Committee or the national governing body during a period when the student-athlete is not enrolled (full or part time) in a regular term to cover financial loss as a result of absence from employment as a direct result of practicing and competing on a national team. Such broken-time payments are limited to $300 per week. USA Basketball would like to increase the broken-time payment to better equate to increases in minimum wage and cost of living. Operation Gold allows the committee to reward elite-level performance under the U.S. Olympic Committee’s discretion. USA Basketball would like to award athletes with the Operation Gold equivalent when the U.S. Olympic Committee chooses not to award Operation Gold. Finally, USA Basketball inquired about the progress-toward-degree standards that often require student-athletes to attend summer school, thus unable to participate on the national team. The committee requested that USA Basketball put their specific requests in writing and add more specificity to their requests. The committee was not inclined to support changes to progress-toward-degree requirements but was interested in more information regarding broken-time payments and Operation Gold.

(7) USA Team Handball. USA Team Handball provided an update in the development of the national team and grassroots programs. The national team development includes a residency program with State University College at Cortland and the development of the Northeast Team Handball Conference. USA Team Handball has been working through intercollegiate club programs and is currently seeking institutional support for status as a varsity sport.

(8) USA Wrestling. USA Wrestling discussed current NCAA legislative restrictions on elite-level participation. In addition, USA Wrestling inquired about moving legislation forward to allow former student-athletes to participate in institutional practice sessions with current student-athletes. Finally, USA Wrestling inquired about emerging sport status for women’s wrestling and the need for NCAA recognition to assist in the elevation of the sport to varsity status. The committee noted that several of the issues were being considered as part of the broader discussion of participation in elite events. In addition, the committee reminded USA Wrestling of the emerging sports for women requirements.

(9) USA Water Polo. USA Water Polo expressed a desire to increase sport sponsorship for men and women, increase playing and practice opportunities, and adjusting the competitive schedule to coincide with the international championships. USA Water Polo has selected elite student-athletes to participate in the “Premiere League” which is the recognized national governing body development program after the competitive season. USA Water Polo has concerns regarding the limitations imposed under Bylaw 17.29.9.1.2.2 and would like to expand participation opportunities to all water polo student-athletes outside of the Premiere League to allow sport expansion to other regions of the country. NCAA women’s polo competitive season is conducive to international championship structure whereas the men’s competitive season is not. USA Water Polo also

SUPPLEMENT NO. 3

DIII Mgmt Council 4/06

Committee Chair: Kyle Kallander, Big South Conference