NCAA COMMITTEE ON COMPETITIVE SAFEGUARDS AND
MEDICAL ASPECTS OF SPORTS

Summary of Recommendations

ACTION ITEMS – MANAGEMENT COUNCIL ONLY

1. ISSUE:		Orthopedic Specialist Position on the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS).
Committee Recommendation:
	Adopt noncontroversial, effective immediately, to amend the committee composition to indicate that one of the three medicine positions be designated for an orthopedic specialist.
Management Council Action:
	Agreed to adopt noncontroversial legislation.
2. ISSUE:		Consultant (Interim Period) of Orthopedic Specialist.
Committee Recommendation:
	Appoint an orthopedic specialist as a consultant to the CSMAS on an interim basis until such time a position vacancy occurs and an appropriate candidate is identified, or an orthopedic specialist position is legislated on the CSMAS, effective September 2004. The next opening for a medical position is September 2005.
Management Council Action:
	No action necessary.
3. ISSUE:		Nutritional Supplement Legislation [NCAA Bylaw 16.5.2-(g)]
Committee Recommendation:
	Adopt noncontroversial legislation, effective immediately, to create consistent language in all divisions to define nutritional supplements as permissible benefits.
Management Council Action:
	Referred the recommendation to the Interpretations and Legislation Committee to ensure consistent application of the legislation for Division III.
4. ISSUE:		Fall Sport Preseason Model.
Committee Recommendation:
	Adopt an acclimatization and recovery model for all fall sports that includes a preseason beginning in 2004, using the recovery principles established for football.

Management Council Action:
	Referred the recommendation to the Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee, charging the subcommittee with gathering input and feedback from affected sports committees. The Council noted a desire for Division III-specific data, including football. The Council also noted a possible delayed effective date and expressed concerns with references related to "mandated" academic orientation and walk-through sessions, as they related to Division III.
5. ISSUE:		Educational Initiative Budget Request.
Committee Recommendation:
	Establish a health and safety educational materials fund for the CSMAS through Association-wide or divisional funding to support the development of health and safety materials for all divisions, effective September 2004.
Management Council Action:
	Approved the annual allocation of $15,000 from Association-wide funds, beginning with the 2004-05 biennial budget.

ITEMS OF INFORMATION

1. ISSUE:		Softball Bats.
Committee Action:
	The committee is concerned that the current standards for softball bats at the collegiate level may be inadequate and will begin reviewing the current standards to determine whether they are appropriate for and specific to the fast pitch softball game. In addition, the NCAA Sports Sciences Safety Subcommittee will review whether random testing of softball bats should be pursued.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information
2. ISSUE:		Medical Coverage For Sports During Summer Months.
Committee Action:
	The CSMAS encourages member institutions to initiate discussions among directors of athletics, coaches and medical personnel related to medical care coverage during summer months as soon as possible. The committee recommended the NCAA and its member institutions examine the increased sports medicine and athletics training staff time, the financial impact of the summer conditioning model for football, and that member institutions may need to examine supplementary staff needs due to the additional time commitments of current employees. The committee recommended that each member institution reference the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Appropriate Medical Coverage of Intercollegiate Athletics document to begin discussion of theses issues between the institution’s administration and the medical care providers of its student-athletes.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
3. ISSUE:		Helmets in Women's Lacrosse.
Committee Action:
	In its June meeting, the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet directed the committee to work with the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association to determine whether mandating the use of helmets is a more appropriate long-term solution for protecting against head and face injuries in the sport of women's lacrosse. The committee will conduct a search of the sports medicine literature and, in consultation with United States Lacrosse, the NCAA championships committees and women's lacrosse committees, will proceed with a review of this issue. The committee will review the findings to date and outline appropriate next steps at its January 15-16, 2004, meeting.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information, noting that the directive was forwarded from the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet.