The NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) recommended a variety of initiatives to protect the safety and health of student-athletes at its June 23-26 meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The CSMAS recommended that pre-participation evaluations be required for all athletes, rather than just football student-athletes as is currently done. The evaluation should include a comprehensive health history, immunization history and a relevant physical exam that emphasizes cardiovascular, neurological and nusculoskelatal review. Updated histories should be performed annually.

Committee members believe that requiring pre-participation evaluations for all student-athletes will create consistency with football and enhance student-athlete well-being across all sports. The committee recommends in fact that legislation be drafted to require the evaluations across all divisions.

Members also highly recommended the minimal standards outlined in the "Pre-participation Physical Examination" (PPE) monograph endorsed by several organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Sports Medicine. The PPE is in its third edition, and CSMAS members believe the document represents a minimal standard for all athletes to meet before participating in sports.

The CSMAS also supported a recommendation from the NCAA Wrestling Committee that would encourage healthy habits and maintain performance in that sport. Members supported the request to add one pound of weight only for multiple-day tournament competition for each subsequent day of the tournament. The recommendation takes into account energy expenditure, recovery of caloric intake and hydration during competition.

The committee also recommended that wrestlers' weights be monitored during championships to examine fluctuation. Research indicates that wrestlers can reach and maintain their weight throughout the tournament without difficulty. CSMAS members viewed the recommendation as an opportunity to enhance student-athlete recovery during championship competition.

Homophobia survey

The CSMAS will submit as its highest budget priority a request to fund a survey on homophobia. The survey, which CSMAS members want to conduct in fall 2006, will examine both the student-athlete experience and the status of athletics department policies. The Committee on Women's Athletics, the Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee and the three divisional Student-Athlete Advisory Committees support the survey as well.

CSMAS members said homophobia is an area of concern because of the increased health and safety risks for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered student-athletes in the areas of personal safety, alcohol and drug abuse, and mental health.

The committee also discussed new legislation effective August 1 that clarifies what circumstances may warrant consideration of a reduced penalty when a positive drug test is appealed. Information about that process is available at www.ncaa.org/health-safety.

Also effective August 1, student-athletes who commit a doping offense outside NCAA competition will not be allowed to participate in NCAA contests while they are suspended from other national or international competition. The student-athlete will be ineligible for NCAA championships and other competition if he or she is suspended for the drug offense from a national or international sport's governing body that has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency code.

Student-athletes who test positive for a drug for which the NCAA offers a medical-exception waiver are exempt. In such a case, a student-athlete would be permitted to request a review by the CSMAS medical panel.

The committee also clarified the intent of nutritional-supplement legislation as providing supplements that replace calories and fluids. The committee will survey student-athletes and review NCAA policies to ensure that student-athletes do receive adequate nutrition.

Also at the meeting, the CSMAS received preliminary data from the latest NCAA Study of Substance Use Habits of College Student-Athletes. The committee will examine data and trends from earlier studies while considering whether to recommend year-round drug-testing in Division III. Currently, Division III is not subject to year-round testing.

Preliminary results from this year's study indicated an increase in spit tobacco use among football players and continued high levels among baseball players. Committee members agreed to send a memo to athletics directors reiterating the no-tobacco-use policy on the playing and practice field.

Final results from the drug-use survey should be released by the end of the summer.