NCAA COMMITTEE ON SPORTSMANSHIP AND ETHICAL CONDUCT

 

Summary of Recommendations

 

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

 

1. ISSUE:

Organized Gambling Activities (Bylaw 10.3, Gambling Activities)

Committee Action:

 

Discussed proposed changes to Bylaw 10.3, regarding the meaning of the term ?organized gambling activities,? to state that participation in pools, fantasy leagues and auctions are contrary to the provisions of the bylaw. Staff will contact the membership services staff to determine the appropriate legislative process.

 

Management Council Action:

 

Accepted the information, noting its support for the proposed changed.

 

2. ISSUE:

Sports Wagering.

Committee Action:

 

Received information and agreed to take action where noted:

 

(1) The final results of the NCAA National Study on Collegiate Sports Wagering and Associated Health Risks Behavior study on gambling will be completed by the spring of 2004.

 

(2) Agreed to prepare a list of ?Dos and Don?ts? to educate student-athletes and athletics staff when an institution has elected to participate in regular-season events in metropolitan areas with open sports books. The list will be provided to the membership.

 

(3) Reviewed a study by ESPN on sports wagering by fans during the 2003 NCAA Division I Men?s Basketball Championship. Trends indicated an increase in participation in pools and an overall decrease on wagering on the tournament.

 

(4) Received a report regarding several Division I football playing institutions whose game-day radio announcers made promotional comments for Internet gambling services that the announcers had contractual obligations with. The institutions have interceded and discontinued the practice.

 

(5) A former member of organized crime will be the featured speaker at the American Football Coaches Convention and will discuss how organized crime involved student-athletes in point-shaving schemes.

 

(6) Sports wagering services have used the likeness of head football coaches to promote their service without the knowledge or consent of the coach or the institution.

 

(7) ESPN?s new morning talk show, ?Cold Pizza,? included segments with a live feed from a Las Vegas sports book. The committee disapproved of that type of programming from a broadcast partner and asked that the staff forward the committee?s concerns to the NCAA executive vice-president.

 

Management Council Action:

 

Accepted the information.

 

3. ISSUE:

MET-Rx/Playboy Update.

Committee Action:

 

Approved a draft letter that will be sent to the membership discouraging member institution?s from participating in events or programs that are sponsored or supported by organizations involved with performance enhancing drugs, sports wagering or the portrayal of women in a degrading and diminishing way.

 

Management Council Action:

 

Accepted the information.

 

4. ISSUE:

Sportsmanship Initiatives.

Committee Action:

 

Noted issues related to positive sportsmanship initiatives and sportsmanship summits that were being held on member institution?s campuses nationwide, including several student-lead summits.

 

Management Council Action:

 

Accepted the information and requested the specific timetable for distribution of the sportsmanship tool kit.

 

 


5. ISSUE:

Misconduct Legislation for Regular-Season Competition and All Postseason Events.

Committee Action:

 

Forwarded a recommendation to adopt legislation to Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet will establish a definition of and consequences for acts of misconduct during regular-season and all postseason competition, as is currently the case in NCAA championships competition. The committee agreed to submit this proposed legislation to the Divisions II and III Management Councils for their April meeting.

 

Management Council Action:

 

Accepted the information.