The number of student-athletes competing in NCAA championship sports soared to a record high in 1998-99, climbing by six percent and surpassing the previous record in championship sports by about 20,000.

The participation total jumped to 353,424, an increase of 20,017 from the 1997-98 study. Participation for both men and women increased, with the growth in women's sports being greater. Women's participation increased by 9.34 percent (12,456), the second-largest jump since the study was initiated in 1981-82. Men's participation grew by 3.78 percent (7,561), the biggest increase since 1990-91.

The study included provisional members, as it has every year since 1995-96. The total number of member institutions increased by 10 (1,031 to 1,041) from 1997-98 to 1998-99.

Women's sports

Women's sports grew across the board in 1998-99 with 10 sports showing a gain of 20 or more sponsorsing institutions. They were:

* Soccer, 66.

* Softball, 53.

* Cross country, 48.

* Basketball, 45.

* Volleyball, 45.

* Golf, 35.

* Tennis, 25.

* Outdoor track, 22.

* Indoor track, 20.

Also, women's rifle technically increased by 33 institutions, but most of that increase related to counting coed rifle teams as both a men's and women's team instead of counting all coed rifle teams as men's teams. The change means that the study will treat rifle the same as other coeducational sports.

The explosive growth of women's soccer has been going on for a decade now and shows no signs of slowing. In the first participation study in 1981-82, only 10.2 percent of NCAA institutions sponsored women's soccer, and as recently as 10 years ago, only 33.7 percent of the membership sponsored women's soccer. But the most recent survey shows sponsorship of women's soccer by 75.9 percent of NCAA institutions, which translates into total participation of 17,520, behind only outdoor track and field among women's sports.

Basketball and volleyball continue to run first and second in women's sports in the percentage of sponsoring schools, with both being sponsored by more than 90 percent of the membership.

Men's sports

As for men's sports, sponsorship increased by 20 institutions or more for five sports from 1997-98 to 1998-99 They were:

* Basketball, 42.

* Cross country, 37.

* Soccer, 35.

* Baseball, 27.

* Golf, 20.

Football, which picked up six sponsoring institutions, continued to have the most athletes participating of all NCAA sports. A total of 56,528 student-athletes take part in NCAA football, the largest figure ever for the sport. An interesting footnote is that although participation is at an all-time high, the percentage of sponsoring institutions for football (58.1 percent) is the lowest it has been since the study began (but only 7.1 percent lower than the high point in 1982-83).

Women's basketball is sponsored by 96.2 percent of all NCAA institutions, the highest percentage of all sports.

Gymnastics was the only women's championship sport to show a drop in sponsorship, declining from 91 to 90.

Two men's championship sports -- gymnastics and wrestling -- were sponsored by fewer institutions than in 1997-98. Gymnastics dipped from 27 sponsoring institutions to 26 while wrestling fell from 246 to 242. Sponsorship for both sports has declined in each of the last four studies, with gymnastics declining from 39 sponsors to 26 and wrestling dropping from 277 to 242.

Division I continued to have more participants than any division with 142,409. Division III was next at 133,611 while Division II had 77,404. For the last year, sport sponsorship in championship sports increased the most in Division III (plus 334 teams), followed by Division II (plus 200 teams) and Division I (plus 138 teams).

Some important changes were implemented with this edition of the study. Of those, the most significant was a change in the treatment of emerging sports. In the past, not all women's emerging sports were included in the study. From now on, the study will include all women's sports that are designated by legislation as emerging sports. Also, information will be compiled on all nonchampionship men's sports that are the equivalents of women's championship or emerging sports (for example, rowing or bowling).

Also, the format of the study has been adjusted so that users can compare various categories -- such as the number of teams and average squad sizes -- from year to year.

The complete sports participation report can be ordered through NCAA publishing. The cost is $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers.