NCAA COMMITTEE ON WOMEN'S ATHLETICS (CWA)
1. ACTION
ITEMS.
Association-wide.
Ÿ Review
of Male Practice Players.
(1) Recommendation. Refer
the review of male practice players to the appropriate divisional and/or sport
committees for further analysis and to consider potential legislation to
eliminate or restrict (e.g., how many, how often, and under what conditions)
the use of male practice players.
(2) Rationale. After further review of input from
student-athletes, coaches groups, NCAA sport committees and divisional
Management Councils, the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics discussed
extensively the various viewpoints and continues to be concerned that the use
of male undergraduate students in practice activities with women’s teams is
in conflict with the mission of this committee to promote opportunities for
women and thus violates the spirit of gender equity and Title IX.
The committee acknowledges
that some coaches are using male practice players to augment the competitive
ability of women student-athletes.
Yet, the committee is concerned that some women student-athletes are
losing opportunities to develop their own skills because of male practice
players.
The use of male practice
players serves a variety of purposes in varying situations from
institution-to-institution and division-to-division. Recognizing the importance of
institutional autonomy, the committee recommends this issue be further addressed
at the institutional level, and by coaches associations and sport committees,
to examine specific practices and the subsequent impact upon all students and
student-athletes, regardless of gender.
The committee recommends that discussions focus on the “right
way” to utilize male practice players, in a manner that is healthy, safe
and in compliance, without depriving women student-athletes of opportunities to
learn, improve and participate.
(3) Budget
Impact. None.
2. INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS.
Association-wide.
a. CWA
Member Appointments. The committee expressed the
need to expand and strengthen recruitment efforts of a diverse pool of
administrators to replace departing members. The committee requests the opportunity
to review potential members prior to divisional Management Council
appointments.
b. 2006-07
and 2007-08 Biennial Budget Process.
The committees
noted their budget request priorities: the study of barriers for women in
athletics careers, NACWAA/HERS Level II, Title IX education and SWA Education.
c. Senior
Woman Administrator (SWA) Update. Staff updated the committee about the
efforts to educate the membership about the legislative changes, within each
division, to the senior woman administrator designation. It was noted that funding has been
requested through the NCAA biennial
d. Office
for Diversity and Inclusion Update.
Staff updated the committee
about the current process to fill two assistant director positions by March
1. The committee also was provided
with an overview of the recently organized Diversity Leadership Strategic Planning
Committee to be chaired by Charlotte Westerhaus and serving as vice chair is Andy
Geiger, former athletics director at
e. Women’s
National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). At its
previous meeting, the committee discussed the need to ensure the WNIT provide
equitable opportunity for women in the wake of the enhanced Men’s
National Invitation Tournament experience which is now under administration of
NCAA. The committee was informed
that a task force, chaired by President Myles Brand, has been created to review
ways of enhancing women’s
basketball initiatives. The CWA
chair is a member of the task force.
f. Evaluating
the Hiring of Women in Athletics. The
committee discussed the potential development of a hiring report card for women
in athletics, similar to those conducted by the Black Coaches Association and
Richard Lapchick, respectively. The
primary source on this topic now is the Acosta/Carpenter study, which may not
receive the same level of promotion and media attention that results in greater
attention by the membership. Staff
will provide an update at the June meeting.
g. NCAA
Woman of the Year. The committee appointed a subcommittee
to oversee changes to the 2006 Woman of the Year nomination and selection
processes. The NCAA will recognize
conference winners in each division, thereby replacing the state winner
awards. The committee also
expressed concern about its lack of involvement in the awards dinner decisions
of this program.
h. Emerging
Sports Update. The committee reviewed the current NCAA
sports sponsorship statistics and continued discussion about communicating with
respective national governing bodies about this process.
i. Hooters
Ads in NCAA Championship Broadcasts.
The committee applauded the
staff’s prohibition of Hooters restaurant advertisements from all
coverage of NCAA championships and their attention to eliminating the negative
images and/or messages
conveyed about women in association with the NCAA events. The committee will review other areas
related to athletics competition, such as attire of dance teams, where the images
of women are of concern.
j. NCAA
Gender Equity and Issues Forum (GEIF). Staff provided an update about the 2006 GEIF,
scheduled April 30 to May 2 in
k.
Committee
Chair: Darlene Bailey,
Staff
Liaisons: Rosie Stallman, education services; Matthew Stach, education
services; Kimberly Ford, office for diversity and inclusion.