The Division I Women's Basketball Issues Committee conducted its first in-person meeting January 29 in Indianapolis and set three priorities, including marketing and promoting the sport, for future discussion.

The committee originated from the Division I Working Group to Study Basketball Issues that was created three years ago. The working group was developed to provide intensive study on recruiting-calendar issues, especially in men's basketball, but when that group's work ended last year, the Division I Management Council and Board of Directors approved standing men's and women's basketball issues committees to continue to provide counsel in ongoing matters.

The women's committee, chaired by University of Denver Athletics Director Dianne Murphy, used its first meeting to organize a path to enhance an already strong product. Committee members believe women's basketball, which has gained popularity and exposure incrementally over the last two decades, still has room to grow. The group cited three areas of concentration over the next 12 to 18 months: (1) marketing and promotions, (2) recruiting and (3) quality of the game.

The marketing/promotions area may be the top priority as far as the committee is concerned. Members believe there are ways to boost regular-season attendance at campuses across the country and increase the overall visibility of the sport. Toward that end, the committee plans to survey the Division I membership about women's basketball marketing budgets, staffing and ticket sales in order better understand current resources and to develop a best practices document that might assist schools that are wanting better results at the gate.

As for recruiting, the committee noted that while there are few immediate concerns, it would be prudent to consider more intermediate or long-range planning in that regard. Specifically, the group is looking at the summer evaluation period and examining the men's recruiting calendar to consider if there are rules that might be appropriate for the women's game. Committee members noted that the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) is surveying its members about a possible four-day dead period in mid-July. The WBCA also is asking about interest in extending the half-day dead period the day after the Final Four to a full day. Proponents say that would be a cleaner break and would help encourage coaches not to leave the Final Four early.

The committee's attention to the third priority area -- quality of the game -- involves studying student-athlete welfare issues, the style of play, quality of experience and image of the sport. Some of those issues include growing the sport while avoiding some of the trappings that come with a higher-profile exposure, such as increased pressure to develop successful programs, the increased possibility for rules infractions and recruiting violations, and the possibility for a rougher style of play. In other words, the committee wants to promote women's basketball without compromising the positive image of the sport.

The committee plans to begin that task by soliciting input from focus groups composed of coaches, administrators and student-athletes at this year's Final Four.

Also, the committee agreed to establish three subcommittees to align with the three priority areas. Those groups will conduct conference calls in April and be ready to report to the full committee at its summer meeting.

Division I Women's Basketball Issues Committee

Members of the Division I Women's Basketball Issues Committee:

Sandy Barbour, associate athletics director, University of Notre Dame

Gary Clark, atheltics director, Furman University

Sandy Hatfield Clubb, associate athletics director, Arizona State University

Carolyn Schlie Femovich, commissioner, Patriot League

Martha Gasser, associate athletics director, U.S. Air Force Academy

Marcy Girton, senior woman administrator, Texas Christian University

Alfreeda Goff, associate commissioner, Horizon League

Wendy Larry, head coach, Old Dominion University

Bernadette McGlade, associate commissioner, Atlantic Coast Conference

Dianne Murphy, athletics director, University of Denver (chair)

Deborah Polca, associate athletics director, Eastern Illinois University

Marsha Sharp, head coach, Texas Tech University

Crista Troester, associate athletics director, University of Tulsa

Patty Viverito, associate commissioner, Missouri Valley Conference

Courtney Hall, student-athlete, George Mason University

Nicole Powell, student-athlete, Stanford University

Karen Morrison, senior woman administrator, University of Colorado, Boulder (ex officio member from the Division I Women's Basketball Committee)