National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News Digest

September 14, 1998



Division I sports sponsorship changes

Four sports were sponsored by more than 90 percent of the Division I membership in 1997-98: men's basketball, women's basketball, women's volleyball and baseball.

Football, women's softball and men's and women's soccer all are sponsored by more than 60 percent of the institutions in the division.

The fastest growth has occurred in women's soccer, which is sponsored by 124 more institutions than in 1992-93. Women's rowing has grown at a similar rate, jumping from 42 institutions in 1992-93 to 104 institutions in 1997-98.

The most significant decreases in sponsorship have been in men's gymnastics, men's and women's fencing, wrestling, and men's swimming and diving.

AWARDS

State winners selected for Woman of the Year

NCAA Woman of the Year award winners representing each state and the District of Columbia have been selected.

More than 400 student-athletes were nominated for this year's award. Each NCAA member institution was encouraged to submit a nominee. The selection committee then reviewed the nominees' grade-point averages, athletics accomplishments and community service involvement.

The state winners include 26 student-athletes from Division I, 10 student-athletes from Division II and 15 student-athletes from Division III. These state honorees represent 15 of the 17 sports in which women compete for NCAA championships.

The winner will be announced at a dinner October 18 in Indianapolis.

Staff contact: Janet M. Justus.

MEMBERSHIP

Number of members reaches all-time high

Membership in the Association has grown to an all-time high of 1,251 active, provisional, conference, affiliated and corresponding members.

A total of 33 provisional members moved to active status effective September 1. Also, 49 new provisional members joined the Association at that time.

The increase represents a 3.5 percent growth in active-member colleges and universities. The total membership growth was 4.3 percent . There also were increases in the number of provisional members, conferences and affiliated organizations.

Staff contact: Jim Johnson.

ACE

Executive Committee endorses athletics participation resolution

The NCAA Executive Committee has voted unanimously to endorse a resolution adopted by the American Council on Education (ACE) board of directors entitled, "A Statement of Principles Regarding Student Participation in Intercollegiate Athletics."

The adoption of the resolution follows a commitment to voluntarily address issues related to sports-team discontinuation made by the ACE and NCAA to Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, and Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minnesota.

Staff contact: Doris Dixon.

GAMBLING

NCAA, other groups to conduct September 30 seminar in Chicago

The NCAA will join with the Chicago Crime Commission, DePaul University and the Illinois Attorney General's Office to host a one-day educational conference on campus sports gambling September 30 in Chicago.

The conference will bring together experts from law enforcement, gambling and intercollegiate athletics to discuss the impact of sports gambling in an attempt to better prepare appropriate individuals on college campuses.

Staff contact: William S. Saum.

RULES EDUCATION

National videoconference scheduled for September 16

A national videoconference for students, parents and high-school administrators focusing on various NCAA rules will be presented by the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations.

The program will take place from 7-9 p.m. Eastern time September 16.

Representatives of the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations will review the core-course review process, initial eligibility (and the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse), issues related to students with disabilities and basic recruiting rules.

The satellite coordinates are: C Band Galaxy 6 transponder 9. The program can be accessed only by a steerable or moveable satellite dish and not through DSS Primestar, USSB, Channel One, cable, DirecTV, Whittle Communications or other such services.

Those experiencing trouble accessing the program should call 816/753-0020 or 816/753-6217.

Staff contact: Carolayne E. Henry.