The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- October 26, 1998

Association-wide

Drug-testing crew chiefs to receive honorariums as speakers

As part of a new effort to promote dissemination of drug-education information, the NCAA will provide honorariums for drug-testing crew chiefs to speak at member institutions.

Drug-testing crew chiefs are trained professionals -- often retired doctors or nurses -- who volunteer to perform drug testing and who supervise a drug-testing crew at a specific location.

Selected crew chiefs will be available to make these presentations and address issues surrounding the NCAA drug-testing program and other drug-education matters.

The one-hour presentations also will cover information related to the history and background of drug use in athletics; effects of drug abuse on athletics performance; short- and long-term effects of drug use; a review of the NCAA banned-drug list; and nutritional supplementation.

The original NCAA sports sciences speakers program is still offered as well. With this program, the Association offers funds to assist member institutions in bringing speakers to campus to address issues related to wellness and drug education.

With both programs, funding is available only to active NCAA member institutions or conferences, and grant funds are to be used for an honorarium of $250 per academic year per program. The institution or conference requesting the program is responsible for all other crew chief expenses (mileage, hotel and meals, for example).

Applications should be sent at least 15 days before the event. Also, the grant applicant must complete and return an evaluation form to the NCAA. Upon receipt of the evaluation form, the Association will mail the honorarium directly to the crew chief.

To request an NCAA drug-testing crew chief speakers grant application and speaker listing, or to ask for an application for the original grant program, contact Elizabeth N. Binkley, NCAA sports sciences program coordinator, at 913/339-1906 or ebinkley@ncaa.org.