KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics (CWA) reviewed budget proposals and discussed the use of male practice players, emerging sports and changes to the senior woman administrator designation at its October 11-12 meeting.

The committee reviewed budget proposals for fiscal years 2006-08, both as a single committee and jointly with the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee. CWA members asked for more information about a variety of proposals before they prioritize their requests.

The group also examined requests from the Women's Summit program, which several members felt lacked accountability. Originally begun as a program that produced annual national summits for groups of women in athletics -- both coaching and administration -- the summit dollars have more recently been spent on grants to groups that promote opportunities for women. CWA members were assured that accountability was built into the program for future disbursements.

The CWA also talked about a possible funding increase for the annual Woman of the Year event. The weekend affair, which had been produced by NCAA staff, is now put together by an outside company, and costs associated with the event have increased. Committee members were asked to approve an additional $50,000 to contract with a consistent facility for the event and to bring the gifts for honorees up to a level at which they had been funded in the past.

The committee also discussed proposed changes to the senior woman administrator (SWA) definitions. Because of recent legal concerns, the Association is moving toward crafting one single definition for use by all divisions. In the discussions about the changes, officials noted that at institutions with female athletics directors, the senior woman administrator was by definition that person. Committee members indicated, though, that this could possibly eliminate opportunities for women. Judy Sweet, NCAA senior vice president for championships and education services, told the group that the changes were meant to ensure that the understanding of the SWA and its role are strengthened, not diluted.

CWA members expressed their desire to encourage institutions to continue to provide opportunities for women and also supported the Executive Committee's promotion of an education campaign to make sure opportunities for women are not lost. Sweet indicated that individual campuses still would be free to designate a second woman -- not the female athletics director -- as the SWA for institutional purposes.

Emerging sports

The committee asked staff members to enforce current legislation regarding emerging sports. According to NCAA bylaws, emerging sports are limited to a 10-year time period on the list unless "steady growth" has occurred in the sports. Committee members believe there is no evidence of such growth in team handball, rugby, synchronized swimming, archery, badminton and squash -- all of which were identified as emerging sports more than 10 years ago.

The committee believes schools that field teams in those sports do so not because of that sport's status as an NCAA emerging sport, which means that removing those sports from the list would likely not impact opportunities for women. The committee did agree, though, that equestrian should remain as an emerging sport because of its sponsorship progress over time.

The CWA noted that officials from the national governing bodies or institutions that sponsor sports that are removed from the list may reapply for emerging-sport status at any time.

Committee members also said the action could rejuvenate efforts by officials in the removed sports to fight for championship status. The committee made the decision only after determining that no institution was using an emerging sport to meet NCAA minimum sport-sponsorship requirements or financial aid awards.

Male practice players

The CWA also decided to pursue input from other organizations regarding the use of male undergraduate students on practice squads for women's teams. The committee will send a letter to coaches associations in all women's sports, as well as to the Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues that asks a number of questions the CWA has confronted about the issue.

Among the committee's concerns are:

• Male practice players compromising practice opportunities for women;

• The appropriateness of roster caps for men's sports when men are certified to practice in women's sports;

• Health and wellness issues for women who practice with men; and

• Scholarship issues.

The letter also seeks input on possible regulation of the future use of male practice players.

Some CWA members indicated that in talking with other women in the membership, many coaches and administrators did not realize that the practice of male practice players could deprive some women of opportunities to practice or play.

CWA Chair Darlene Bailey, associate athletics director at Missouri State University, said the group wants a broader perspective of the use of male practice players and will take a comprehensive look at the issue in upcoming meetings.

Life-work balance

Another key topic of discussion for the group was life-work balance. Initially prompted by a dialogue with NCAA President Myles Brand at the Women's Leadership Symposium earlier this year, the issue of life-work balance began as the struggle working mothers face. Subsequent discussions, though, evolved into balance issues for all people -- men and women -- in intercollegiate athletics, especially since careers in college sports have moved from a seasonal to year-round commitment.

A working group will begin highlighting best practices at individual institutions, and the NCAA education services staff will sponsor an educational session at the 2006 Convention to seek role models in this area and find out from individual delegates what is happening on campuses nationwide.

Bailey said it had been difficult to find best practices and role models. She pointed out that over holiday break on many institutions, most campus departments are dark, but the athletics department lights are on and the parking lot is full because athletics administrators are still working.

"Athletics is a different type of enterprise on our campuses," she said.

Other highlights

Committee on Women's Athletics
October 11-12/Kansas City, Missouri

• Reviewed a budget request to duplicate and expand a 1988-89 study on the barriers preventing women from pursuing or remaining in intercollegiate athletics careers. The original study included only women and did not request race information. Members want to expand the survey to include men and questions about race.

• Heard an update on the NCAA Centennial celebration that begins with the 2006 NCAA Convention in Indianapolis. Members were asked to comment about specific sessions related to the 25th anniversary of women's championships -- also celebrated in 2006 -- and the top feats of women and minorities over the last 100 years.

• Will seek input from conference offices on a possible change to the Woman of the Year selection process. The change could move the celebration away from honoring state winners and toward the selection of conference honorees. Independent institutions also would have an opportunity to have their female student-athletes honored. The shift could create a celebration at which the top 10 finalists from each of the three divisions are honored at the annual Woman of the Year dinner. The committee asked conferences to provide feedback on whether they could participate in the selection process.

• Heard an update on the 2006 Gender Equity and Issues forum, scheduled for April 30-May 2 in Cleveland. Leading up to the 2007 Women's Final Four in the city, Cleveland officials are embarking on a one-year promotion of women and Title IX, called "Women Rock."