The Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee agreed that the concept of having undergraduate male players practice on a regular basis against varsity women's athletics teams should be allowed to continue, although there should be some time limitations in place.

SAAC members engaged in their first discussion of the issue during their July 14-17 meeting in Garden Grove, California.

The idea of men practicing with women's teams has been debated over the past few months, and the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics encouraged discontinuation of the practice at its most recent meeting (see story, page 9). The CWA, which believes the practice violates the spirit of gender equity and Title IX, also asked for input from other groups, including the national SAACs.

Division I SAAC Chair Ian Gray from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, said his group understood both sides of the issue but preferred modifying the current practice over eliminating it altogether.

"We feel there should be greater limitations than those currently in place," he said. "We talked about the amount of time the men can participate. Let's say if it is a two- or three-hour practice, they get one hour of practice time with the team. We talked about maybe basing the number of male practice players on injuries, too. For example, say you have two women who are redshirting because of injuries. Then you're allowed two male practice players, because those women are taken out of the equation of practicing with the team."

But Gray acknowledged that the SAAC is aware of the philosophical aspects of the argument.

"The concern was that male practice players were taking opportunity, even in practice, away from some people who might be practice squad-type players," Gray said. "Because of that, they are missing their athletics opportunity. That is a big concern."

In other developments at the Division I SAAC meeting, NCAA Vice-President for Membership Services Kevin Lennon updated the group on the newly established NCAA Presidential Task Force of the Future of Division I Intercollegiate Athletics.

Lennon asked SAAC members to contribute their thoughts and opinions to the task force's subcommittee on student-athlete well-being, one of four subgroups the task force has created to complete its work.

SAAC members welcomed the invitation.

"We've got to weigh in on the one-time transfer," Gray said. "We also talked a little about financial aid, and about tolerance on campus within athletics. That ranges from a religious tolerance to sexual preference in how student-athletes are dealing with each other. The task force subcommittee will be a great group to work with."

The Division I SAAC also received an update on the new Academic Progress Rate that will be used to hold institutions accountable for student-athletes' academic success.

SAAC members anticipate reviewing proposals introduced for the 2005-06 Division I legislative cycle during their next meeting in November.