NCAA OLYMPIC SPORTS LIAISON COMMITTEE

Summary of Recommendations

ACTION ITEM – MANAGEMENT COUNCIL ONLY

1.	ISSUE:	Student-Athlete on a U.S. National Team Competing in Prize Money Events.
Committee Recommendation:
	Adopt noncontroversial legislation to permit NCAA student-athletes on the U.S. Olympic team and/or National team to compete in tournaments or events in which prize money is awarded, provided the NCAA student-athlete does not accept any portion of the prize money or assign his or her portion to a third party. The OSLC also recommends that the Divisions I, II and III Management Councils' Administrative Review Subcommittees grant any waivers of those student-athletes affected by the restrictions while the recommendations work through the governance and legislative processes.
Management Council Action:
	Agreed to adopt noncontroverisal legislation. [Note that Supplement No. 18, Proposal No. 1, will be amended accordingly.]

ITEMS OF INFORMATION

1.	ISSUE:	Emerging sports/gender equity update.
Committee Action:
	The committee received a report from staff related to the latest developments for emerging sports. Women's rugby was recently approved by the Division I membership and legislation is pending in Divisions II and III. Bowling, which was approved as an emerging sport in 1999, is close to achieving the goal of having the 40 programs necessary for an NCAA Championship.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information, noting that Division III has endorsed women's rugby as an emerging sport and is sponsoring legislation for the 2003 Convention to establish collegiate bowling as a national collegiate championship.

2.	ISSUE:	Foreign Student-Athlete Participation Rates.
Committee Action:
	Staff provided the committee with an update related to the participation rates for student-athletes in NCAA sports. The OSLC discussed its role with respect to foreign Olympic student-athletes and decided to revisit its role and duties outlined in Bylaw 21.1.6.2 at its November meeting.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
3.	ISSUE:	Discussion of NCAA Sports Sponsorship -- Olympic Sports Program.
Committee Action:
	The OSLC continued its discussion of the revenue-distribution plan, as well as other initiatives that address the elimination of Olympic sport programs. The committee plans to forward its recommendation to the Management Council next spring. OSLC members also agreed to participate in roundtable discussions at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the Title IX seminar at the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
4.	ISSUE:	Meeting with National Governing Bodies.
Committee Action:
	(1) USA Equestrian. The OSLC met with representatives from USA Equestrian to discuss equestrian's progress as an emerging sport. USA Equestrian requested that legislation be proposed to provide an exception to the outside competition rules for equestrian student-athletes. The OSLC suggested that NCAA institutions currently offering equestrian sponsor such legislation. USA Equestrian is working to encourage member institutions to offer equestrian so that the sponsorship requirements for a national championship can be satisfied. (2) USA Soccer. The OSLC met with a representative from USA Soccer to discuss the problems that arose with USA Soccer's development program. The OSLC directed USA Soccer to submit any revised versions of that program to the NCAA membership services staff for review, and to contact the OSLC if USA Soccer determines a long-term legislative solution is needed. (3) USA Gymnastics. The OSLC met with a representative of USA Gymnastics to discuss the elimination of men's and women's gymnastics programs by NCAA institutions. It was noted that in the past few weeks, the University of Vermont, the University of California at Santa Barbara, the University of Massachusetts and the University of Minnesota have eliminated their men's and/or women's gymnastics programs. USA Gymnastics urged the NCAA to look at the participation at the club level rather than the high-school level when evaluating the vitality of those two sports. Currently, only 18 Division I institutions continue to sponsor men's gymnastics. USA Gymnastics expressed the frustration it and other national governing bodies are experiencing in fighting the elimination of Olympic sport programs, while coaches and facilities in revenue sports continue to increase. USA Gymnastics sought guidance from the OSLC as to how the NCAA can assist national governing bodies in addressing this issue. The OSLC shared the current OSLC initiatives aimed at addressing the elimination of Olympic sport programs. (4) USA Tennis. The OSLC met with a representative of USA Tennis. During that meeting, a memo was distributed outlining USA Tennis’ suggested changes to current NCAA bylaws. NCAA staff agreed to provide additional information responsive to USA Tennis' question regarding the application of the local sports-club exception. (5) USA Track and Field. The OSLC met with representatives from USA Track and Field. Those individuals provided the OSLC with a memorandum outlining current issues involving or affecting NCAA track and field student-athletes and coaches. The OSLC considered and discussed each issue and, ultimately, decided to refer USA Track and Field's concern regarding the decrease in the number of women NCAA track and field coaches to the Committee on Women's Athletics for review. To address USA Track and Field's question regarding the acceptance of prize money and training grants, the NCAA staff agreed to provide USA Track and Field with an update related to the recent changes in the three divisions' amateurism regulations. Finally, the OSLC agreed to discuss the possibility of creating an exception to the current restriction on nongraduates practicing with a member institution's current student-athletes and coaches at its November meeting.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.

5.	ISSUE:	USA Wrestling/Women's Freestyle Wrestling/Emerging Sport.
Committee Action:
	The OSLC forwarded to the CWA a recommendation requesting sponsorship of legislation designating women's freestyle wrestling as an emergency sport. Women's freestyle wrestling recently was added as an Olympic sport and is one of the fastest growing sports for young female athletes. The committee also referred to the CWA USA Wrestling's recommendation that the NCAA issue a formal statement as to the increased number of member institutions eliminating men's Olympic sport programs due to Title IX.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.