REPORT OF THE
NCAA OLYMPIC
SPORTS LIAISON COMMITTEE
1.
LEGISLATIVE
ITEMS.
a. Action Items.
·
Review of NCAA Proposal No. 2007-82 (Awards,
Benefits and Expenses -- Benefits, Gifts and Services -- Coaching and Athletics
Administration Career Education Programs).
(a)
Recommendation. The NCAA Olympic Sports
Liaison Committee (OSLC) recommends the NCAA Division I
Championships/Competition Cabinet sponsor an amendment to Proposal 2007-82 to
modify the proposal's effective date to "immediate" (rather than
August 1, 2008) and to add "NCAA educational programs" as an example
of athletics administration career educational programs listed in the
legislation. [Note: The current proposal recommends that an
institution or conference be permitted to provide actual and necessary expenses
to a student-athlete who has completed his or her third year (sixth semester or
ninth quarter) of collegiate enrollment to attend a coaching and athletics
administration career educational program.]
(b)
Rationale. Modifying the effective
date will allow student-athletes who satisfy the eligibility requirements
[i.e., those who have completed his or her third year (sixth semester or ninth
quarter) of collegiate enrollment] to benefit from this opportunity during the
2007-08 academic year rather than waiting until the 2008-09 academic year. Including "NCAA educational
programs" as an example of permissible programs will clarify that NCAA
programs are included as part of this legislation and will help avoid possible confusion
in the future if such NCAA-sponsored programs become available.
(c)
Estimated Budget Impact. Minimal.
(d)
Student-Athlete Impact. Modifying the effective
date will allow eligible student-athletes to benefit from this opportunity
during the 2007-08 academic year rather than waiting until the 2008-09 academic
year.
2. INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS.
a.
Review of NCAA Bylaw 13.11.3.2 (tryout exceptions --
involvement of institutional coaching staff in contests involving
prospects). The committee discussed whether to continue its support of proposing a
legislative exception to Bylaw 13.11.3.2 (for certain events in the sport of
gymnastics) to allow college coaches to assist in the administration of such
events as long as the involvement was limited to "non-coaching roles"
(e.g., setting up equipment, keeping statistics). The committee noted that the NCAA Men's Gymnastics
Committee and the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Committee were generally supportive
of this concept (although some members of these committees expressed concern
that such an arrangement might create a recruiting advantage for the involved
coaches) and that the NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet
Subcommittee on Recruiting planned to review this issue at a future meeting. The committee agreed to keep this item
on its agenda for future discussion although it did not believe that legislation
was warranted at this time. As an
alternative, the committee agreed that if an institution hosting an NCAA gymnastics
championship wanted to use college coaches to assist in the administration of
the event, the institution should be encouraged to submit of waiver of Bylaw
13.11.3.2. Further, the institution
should be encouraged to note in the waiver that the OSLC and the men's and
women's gymnastics committees were in general support of this waiver.
b.
Update from NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics
(CWA) regarding emerging sports for women.
Faith Shearer, CWA committee member, provided the
committee with an update on issues reviewed recently by CWA. Ms. Shearer noted that the CWA had sent
letters to several sports (archery, badminton, synchronized swimming and team
handball) that were designated previously by CWA as emerging sports. Ms. Shearer noted that the letter
advised these sports that if they did not achieve the required minimum
sponsorship numbers by July 2008, the CWA would request that the sports be
removed from the emerging sports legislation. Ms. Shearer noted that the CWA also sent
letters to three other sports (equestrian, rugby and squash) requesting that
each submit plans for increasing the number of institutions that sponsor their
sport.
c.
Review of relevant 2007 legislative proposals. The committee
reviewed (but took no action on) Proposal Nos. 2007-23 (amateurism -- exceptions
to amateurism rule -- prize money prior to full-time collegiate enrollment -- tennis);
2007-24 (amateurism -- involvement with professional teams -- competition with professionals
-- tennis exception) and 2007-60 (eligibility -- criteria for determining season
of eligibility -- tennis -- time period prior to enrollment and residence requirement).
d.
Review of blanket waiver granted by the NCAA
Division I Management Council Administrative Review Subcommittee (ARS) for men's
and women's water polo. The committee noted that an ARS waiver had been granted for the 2007-08
academic year to permit water polo student-athletes to participate in the women's
Speedo Top 40 and in the men's Premier League events. The committee noted that the waiver was
not a long-term solution to the legislative issues resulting from the
participation of student-athletes in these
two events. The committee
agreed that the water polo community should be reminded of the need for other
alternatives to be identified for the 2008-09 academic year in order for
student-athletes to be allowed to participate in these events.
e.
Elite athletics events
– Bylaws 14.2.3.2 and 14.2.3.2.1.
The
committee noted that the cabinet referred back to the OSLC a recommendation
originally submitted by the OSLC relative to the participation of prospective
student-athletes in the sports of tennis and swimming and diving in elite athletics
events (i.e., Olympics, Pan Am, World Championships, World Cup and World
University Games). The OSLC
previously recommended an exception to these bylaws so that participation in these
elite athletics events would not trigger the application of these two
bylaws. The committee agreed that
due to the lack of support by the cabinet, the committee would not pursue this
matter further.
f.
Strategic Plan.
The committee reviewed its strategic plan and
identified three key priorities:
improving the National Governing Body (NGB) handbook; increasing the
effectiveness of the NCAA's relationship with NGBs, coaches associations and
the United States Olympic Committee (USOC); and developing
recommendations and incentives to help protect and expand Olympic sports.
g.
National Governing Body Handbook. The committee
reviewed the plans for a new, online version of the NGB handbook. The goal is to publish the handbook in spring
2008.
h. Update from the
United States Olympic Committee. The USOC was represented by
i.
Provision of
expenses by institutions for outside competition. The committee reviewed a request from
USA Wrestling asking the OSLC to review a list of qualifying events in the
sport of wrestling to determine if the events satisfied Bylaw 16.8.1.3. Rather than determine if the events
satisfied applicable NCAA legislation, the committee directed the NCAA staff to
continue to develop guidelines to assist member institutions in determining if
the qualifying events satisfy Bylaws 16.8.1.3 and 14.7.3.1-(d).
j.
Meeting with
National Governing Bodies. The committee
met with representatives from USA Diving, United States Collegiate Ski and
Snowboard Association (USCSA), USA Volleyball, USA Gymnastics, United States Fencing
Association, United States Synchronized Swimming, United States Tennis
Association (USTA) and USA Wrestling.
(1)
USA Diving.
The committee met with Debbie Hesse, president of USA Diving. The discussion focused primarily on the
USA Diving's request that the committee consider proposing legislation to
require institutions that sponsor diving to designate a second coach to serve
as assistant coach for that sport. Ms. Hesse noted that most institutions
assign only one assistant coach to work with the divers and that the other
coaches work with the swimmers. Ms.
Hesse added that a second coach is needed.
The committee noted that current legislation allows for institutions to
have three coaches for the sports of men's swimming and diving and three
coaches for the sports of women's swimming and diving. The committee noted it did not believe that
legislation (requiring an additional coach be added to the staff) would resolve
the issue. The committee agreed to
work with USA Diving to determine how extensive of a problem this issue is in
the sports of swimming and diving.
However, the committee reiterated that it did not believe this issue was
one that the committee could resolve for the NGB.
Ms. Hesse noted that prize money, although not a
major issue in the sport of diving, was an area where a deregulation of the
current rules would benefit prospects and student-athletes in this sport.
(2)
United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard
Association. The committee met with Dick Coe, USCSA
executive vice president. The
discussion focused on three key issues:
inconsistency between the international rules and NCAA skiing competition
rules; NCAA legislation that precludes current student-athletes from competing
in events in which high school students and post graduates compete; and the
administration of the USCSA college education program.
Regarding the
rules issue, the committee advised Mr. Coe that although the committee was not
involved in approving or changing the competition rules for any sport, the
committee would forward to the appropriate committee the expressed concern.
With respect to NCAA
legislation, the NCAA staff agreed to try to help USCSA investigate whether a
potential waiver (or some other legislative solution) might be a possibility
for its "team sports" due to the nature of these specific
events. The NCAA staff also agreed
to forward to Mr. Coe the April 2007 rule interpretation clarifying the rule
relative to dual events that involve prospective student-athletes and enrolled
student-athletes competing against each other.
Finally, Mr. Coe
provided an overview of team ski-cross and team snowboard-cross. USCSA is working to have these two
events included in the world championships and eventually in the Olympic
Games.
(3)
USA Volleyball. The committee met with Doug Beal, USA
Volleyball chief executive officer.
The discussion focused primarily on the difference in international
playing rules and college playing rules (specifically the substitution
rule). Mr. Beal noted that he has
discussed this issue with the NCAA Women's Volleyball Rules Committee and that
he would continue to do so in hopes of improving this situation.
Mr. Beal advised
the committee that for the past 20 years, USA Volleyball had sponsored a
program that provided funding to help institutions start men's volleyball
programs. He added that USA
Volleyball planned to continue funding the program and that it hoped to
identify additional sources of revenue to increase the available funding.
(4)
USA Gymnastics. The committee met with Steve Penny, president
of USA Gymnastics. The discussion
focused on the following six key topics (two for women's gymnastics and four
for men's gymnastics):
Women's gymnastics: (1) continue to evaluate the possibility
of USA Gymnastics providing additional stipends to assist with training
expenses for elite female gymnasts prior to college enrollment; and (2)
consider a legislative change to allow elite female gymnasts the opportunity to
accept endorsement money to help decrease the number of gymnasts who forgo a
collegiate career to capitalize on the short window of time during which these
athletes can earn significant endorsement money.
Men's gymnastics: (1) assisting USA Gymnastics in its efforts
to halt the decline in the number of institutions that sponsor the sport; (2)
addressing the inconsistency between international rules and NCAA gymnastics
competition rules, which leaves elite athletes under-prepared for international
competition; (3) exploring flexibility with regard to the number of missed
class days for student-athletes to train for or participate on national teams
and in world championships; and (4) helping USA Gymnastics explore ways to connect
collegiate club programs with member institutions that do not currently sponsor
men's gymnastics.
On the issue of
stipends, the committee noted that it would continue discussing this
issue. The receipt of endorsement
money topic was not discussed at any length. The committee noted that it would
continue to be open to ideas for identifying ways to reduce the continued
decline in the number of institutions sponsoring men's gymnastics. Regarding the competition rules issue,
the committee advised Mr. Penny that although the committee was not involved in
approving or changing competition rules for any sport, the committee would forward
to the appropriate rules committee the expressed concerns. The topics of missed class days and
linking club programs were not actively discussed by the committee.
Mr. Penny also
reiterated the USA Gymnastics' commitment to and support of protecting the
eligibility of the young elite gymnasts since many of these athletes plan to
attend and compete at the college level.
He added that adjustments to NCAA rules as noted above would help USA Gymnastics
continue in its efforts to support these athletes in this regard. [Note: As a part of this discussion, the
committee also reviewed an October 19, 2007, e-mail from Dick Aronson, executive
director of the College Gymnastics Association, requesting that the committee
continue to discuss the decline in the number of schools sponsoring men's
gymnastics and that the committee identify ways to stop this decline.]
(5)
United States Fencing Association. The committee met with Michael Massik,
executive director of the United States Fencing Association. The discussion focused on five key areas: how to move club programs to the varsity
level, the increasing number of fencing programs being dropped (despite the
fact that many have adequate funding), the ability to provide stipends to elite
athletes, the inconsistency between international and NCAA competition rules,
and recent NCAA legislation that precludes current student-athletes from
competing in events with prospective student-athletes.
Regarding club
programs, Mr. Massik requested assistance in understanding the process by which
club teams become varsity teams. Stemming
the flow of programs being dropped was not actively discussed. On the issue of stipends, the committee
noted that it would continue discussing this issue. Regarding the competition rules issue,
the committee advised Mr. Massik that although the committee was not involved
in approving or changing competition rules for any sport, the committee would
forward to the appropriate committee the expressed concerns.
Mr. Massik
shared a handout prepared by Laurence Schiller from Northwestern University
regarding Bylaw 16.8.1.3. Mr.
Massik noted that in the sport of fencing, qualifying for world championships
and the Olympics requires participation in multiple qualifying events. He added that it was his understanding
that a recent NCAA rule interpretation limited the opportunities for fencing student-athletes
to qualify for the elite athletics events.
The committee encouraged Mr. Massik to discuss this issue further with
the Big Ten Conference and with Northwestern adding that an April 2007 rule
interpretation issued by the NCAA staff helped clarify this issue.
(6)
United States Synchronized Swimming. The committee met with Terry Harper,
executive director of United States Synchronized Swimming, and Nancy Wightman. The discussion focused on two key
issues: preserving its status as an
emerging sport and renewing the NGB's efforts to increase the number of
institutions sponsoring synchronized swimming.
Ms. Wightman
shared an overview of a number of initiatives United States Synchronized
Swimming implemented recently to help preserve the sport's status as an
emerging sport. Regarding program
growth, Ms. Wightman provided details on its specific action plans with various
member institutions that have been identified as potential prospects for adding
a synchronized swimming program. Ms.
Wightman asked for candid feedback from the committee regarding why
synchronized swimming is "such a tough sell" to member institutions
and received several suggestions from the committee. Ms. Wightman also discussed the issue of
athletes accepting prize money (to help pay for expenses), the intent of the
rule that prohibits participation on the same team by current and prospective
student-athletes, and the 20 hour per week practice rule.
(7)
United States Tennis Association. The committee met with Lee Hamilton,
executive director of the USTA. The
discussion focused on the current Ivy League proposal to allow for prospective
student-athletes and enrolled student-athletes to accept prize money. Mr. Hamilton indicated the USTA believed
these proposals, if approved, will provide the flexibility college tennis needs
to continue to attract potential future elite athletes.
(8)
USA Wrestling.
The committee met with Rich Bender, executive director of USA Wrestling. Several topics were discussed including
a request for the NCAA staff to clarify which qualifying rounds satisfied Bylaws
16.8.1.3 and 14.7.3. The staff
agreed to continue to work with USA Wrestling in this regard and to help
further educate the NCAA membership on how to correctly apply the NCAA
legislation. Mr. Bender also
expressed concern about the difference between international and NCAA
competition rules. The committee
advised Mr. Bender that it would share USA Wrestling's request with the appropriate
NCAA rules committee. Mr. Bender
expressed concern that NCAA member institutions continue to drop the sport of
wrestling even though in some cases adequate funding exists to continue with
the program. Mr. Bender also
expressed concern that NCAA rules were too strict relative to allowing former
wrestling student-athletes to continue practicing with currently enrolled
wrestling student-athletes.
Committee Chair: Christine Hoyles, Pacific-10 Conference
Staff
Liaisons: Dan Calandro,
Heidi
Clarke, Corporate and Broadcast Alliances
Jennifer
Henderson,
Cynthia
Rail, Membership Services