Empire 8 sportsmanship tracking initiative extends reach

The NCAA recently announced plans to expand a conduct-foul tracking system developed by the Empire 8 to include the entire Division III membership.

Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano had his league track conduct fouls in a number of sports three years ago with the goal of reducing unsportsmanlike behavior by making coaches and athletics directors aware of the violators' offensive behavior. The project produced such impressive results that, with the help of an NCAA grant, it was expanded into a Division III-wide initiative.

With this most recent change, Mitrano will continue to coordinate the program. However, the NCAA will administer the tracking system that also has caught the eye of some conferences in the other divisions and generated interest from high schools and NAIA institutions.

"It certainly is picking up some momentum," Mitrano said. "I think it's good, in general, that people are thinking along the lines of sportsmanship education. That is a benefit to everybody."

The attention being drawn to the program, which tracks fouls in football as well as men's and women's soccer, basketball, ice hockey and lacrosse, is warranted. The Empire 8 has reduced yellow cards in men's and women's soccer by 20 percent and eliminated all red cards in both sports. Technical fouls in men's basketball fell by 35 percent in one year and 57 percent over a two-year stretch. In women's basketball, technical fouls were reduced by 50 percent in one year and 75 percent over the two-year span. All ejections in men's basketball have been eliminated. Beyond the numbers, the conference has experienced a more amiable playing atmosphere.

"We have used NCAA grants to track conduct fouls in Division III for two years. We have tracked them in our conference for more than three years at our own expense. There is no doubt that this program will have great influence if it has the correct support," Mitrano said.

Rutgers student-athletes stage education message

A group of student-athletes at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, has taken its message to the stage and screen. The student-athletes have videotaped skits examining sexual violence, stalking, bullying and dating violence in an athletics context.

Titled "The Locker Room and Beyond: Student-Athlete Leaders Challenging Sexual Violence," the video dramatizes a fictional situation that takes viewers from a locker room and dorm room to a college party as it explores the cultural, communication and interpersonal issues that can lead to sexual assault. The video also features comments from coaches at the school commenting on the public perceptions of violence among athletes. A 23-page facilitator's guide accompanies the video and assists in guiding discussion.

The video and guide, which were released last spring, were produced by the department of sexual assault services and crime victim assistance at Rutgers in cooperation with the athletics department.

The group, SCREAM Athletes, is composed of Rutgers student-athletes and has been staging performances for about a decade. SCREAM stands for "Students Challenging Realities and Educating Against Myths." The troupe performs for student-athletes on campus and, in addition, travels to local colleges, high schools and professional conferences.

When the volume of requests to travel became difficult to fulfill, the group came up with the idea for the video and accompanying guide.

"The athletics twist really talks about the pressure of being a student-athlete and the real difference in the schedules and additional pressure student-athletes face," said Ruth Anne Koenick, director of the sexual assault services and crime victim assistance department at Rutgers. "One thing I really like about the video and our approach is that it is not one of blaming, but one that says 'you are a student-athlete and you have a wonderful opportunity to take some leadership and be a role model.' "

This was SCREAM Athletes' first video offering. The group continues to travel and is available for in-person performances and discussions as well. The video and facilitator's guide are available for $150, plus $2.75 for shipping and handling. For more in-
formation, go to sexualassault.rutgers.edu, contact the Rutgers Department of Sexual Assault Services and Crime Victim Assis-
tance at 732/932-1181 or e-mail Koenick at koenick@rci.rutgers.edu.

-- Compiled by Leilana McKindra

Number crunching

Looking back

5 years ago

Here's what was making NCAA news in August 2000:

• The Division I Board of Directors appoints Syracuse University President Kenneth "Buzz" Shaw to chair a 32-member working group to study basketball issues, particularly those relating to the summer recruiting environment. The working group in fact is charged with developing an alternative for the current summer recruiting system as its primary goal.

• The NCAA introduces a new look to its primary mark as part of a brand management campaign. The revised logo comes after a two-year study to identify equity in the mark. The changes reflect a more vivid primary color and a more contemporary font.

• NCAA officials testify before a reconvened Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. NCAA President Cedric W. Dempsey touts the decade-long progress college sports has made since the Knight Commission issued its first report in 1991 that advocated more presidential authority over the enterprise. "There's a sense -- primarily in the media -- that the fact the Commission has reconvened somehow suggests the NCAA has failed to adequately address the issues the original group identified years ago, but I reject that notion," Dempsey says. "On the contrary, the Association's use of presidential control has been effective in improving academic and fiscal integrity and independent certification of intercollegiate athletics programs. I think the Commission realizes that, and I think the group's conclusion will bear that out. Having said that, the Association welcomes any suggestions the new Commission may have to address additional concerns. The NCAA shares those concerns. We know there are more challenges ahead."

• The Black Coaches Association develops a hiring "report card" that grades NCAA institutions on the way they search for and hire candidates in leadership positions.