NCAA COMMITTEE ON COMPETITIVE SAFEGUARDS

AND MEDICAL ASPECTS OF SPORTS

Summary of Recommendations

ACTION ITEMS – MANAGEMENT COUNCIL ONLY

1.	ISSUE:	Medical Consultant for Football Issues.
Committee Recommendation:
	Retain Bryan Smith as the NCAA CSMAS medical consultant to the Football Study Oversight Committee (FSOC) and NCAA Football Rules Committee for one year following his committee term completion. Effective September 1, 2002.
Management Council Action:
	Approved the recommendation to retain Bryan Smith for one-year extension as the CSMAS medical consultant.
2.	ISSUE:	CSMAS Composition (Bylaw 21.1.2.1).
Committee Recommendation:
	Increase the number of committee members by one to include a truly at-large position. Effective September 1, 2003.
Management Council Action:
	Agreed to adopt noncontroversial legislation to amend NCAA Bylaw 21.1.2.1 to add one truly at-large committee member effective September 1, 2003, if possible, or September 1, 2004, if necessary based on the biennial budget.
3.	ISSUE:	Sports Medicine Contact Person.
Committee Recommendation:
	Require each member institution to annually provide to the NCAA the name and contact information of director of sports medicine or equivalent title by July 15. Effective September 1, 2002.
Management Council Action:
	Approved the recommendation.

4.	ISSUE:	Bylaw 13.12.2.5.1 (Medical Examinations-During Campus Visit) Amendment.
Committee Recommendation:
	Adopt noncontroversial legislation to amend Bylaw 13.12.2.5.1 to add as an additional proviso at the end of the bylaw: "and that the results of the examination are not used by the institution to determine the admission of the prospect."
Management Council Action:
	Agreed to adopt noncontroversial legislation to amend Bylaw 13.12.2.5.1.
5.	ISSUE:	Banned Drug List for Football Recruits.
Committee Recommendation:
	Provide information about the NCAA banned drug list and the risks of nutritional supplement use to this summer’s football prospects that participate in an institutional summer conditioning program and as an enclosure with the National Letter of Intent. Effective immediately.
Management Council Action:
	Referred issue back to committee to consider more appropriate communication vehicles and budget impact, if any, for Division III.

ITEMS OF INFORMATION

1.	ISSUE:	Pole Vault Rules Modifications.
Committee Action:
	The CSMAS reviewed and approved safety recommendations from the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Committee regarding pole vault pit modifications and the elimination of “tapping”.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.

2.	ISSUE:	Out-of-Season Conditioning and Preseason Practice.
Committee Action:
	The CSMAS reviewed practice options proposed by the NCAA Division III Management Council. The following are general issues to be considered by all divisions regarding out-of-season conditioning and pre-season practice: (1) Preseason Practice Opportunities. The committee agreed that 20 preseason practice opportunities seemed appropriate for most sports as long as compression in the fall season was not extreme [Item No. 4 below] and the student-athletes came in with a base level of fitness. Football offered unique challenges and might warrant extra days due to the extra acclimatization demands of the sport as noted below. (2) Acclimatization. Scientific literature recommends seven to 14 days for acclimatization to the heat. Larger individuals, those in poor fitness and individuals wearing equipment (which decreases the body’s ability to cool) generally will take longer to acclimate. For sports with protective equipment, acclimatization should occur in phases, initially without equipment and then gradually adding equipment in stages. (3) Resources. The CSMAS continues to emphasize that every practice or contest has a “cost” in terms of medical resources prior to, during and after the activity. Any practice or game, including out-of-season conditioning, should incorporate the recommendations contained in NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook Guideline 1f regarding medical care and coverage. [Attachment B]. Increasing practice times or opportunities extends a medical staff that also is needed for other sport activities. (4) Recovery. Recovery from activity is important in minimizing health and safety concerns. Multiple double-session practices make it difficult for student-athletes to maintain appropriate hydration. Fatigue is also an issue as these sessions accumulate. Consideration of recovery in planning out-of-season or pre-season practice schedules in all sports is an essential component of student-athlete welfare. Fall sports are of particular concern because allowable pre-season practice opportunities often are compressed into fewer days (e.g., 29 practice opportunities into 20 days). Football, with its contact nature and protective equipment, is a primary example. Establishing hourly limitations on daily practice opportunities, modifying the interpretation that automatically counts days prior to the start of school as two practice opportunities, and limiting the number or type of activities occurring in double sessions should be considered.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information, noting that the issues also were addressed as part of the Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee report.