There has been a lot of discussion in the Division II membership over the last two years about the use of male practice players in women’s sports. Much of the debate has revolved around philosophical beliefs and whether male students should be used in that capacity.

Division II committees within the governance structure had similar discussions but were unable to proceed further because there was no data on institutional use of male practice players. In spring 2006, the Division II membership participated in a survey regarding the use of male practice players during the 2005-06 season. An overwhelming 91 percent of Division II institutions responded to the survey showing about 35 percent used male practice players in at least one practice during that year, with less than 10 institutions using them more than two times per week.
Additionally, the data showed an alarming trend of noncompliance with the current legislation. For example, about 75 percent of the institutions that used male practice players in 2005-06 did not include male practice players on the women’s team’s squad list, and about 45 percent of the institutions using male practice players did not require those students to go through an eligibility-certification process.

Based on the data, the Division II membership needs to be educated on the regulations and legislation (for example, certification of eligibility) on the use of male practice players.
Also, the current legislation should be amended to minimize some of the confusion regarding the certification of male students who 

practice with women’s teams. Proposal No. 5 at the 2008 NCAA Convention establishes an eligibility-certification requirement for male practice players and permits male student-athletes in any sport to participate on an institution’s women’s team as a male practice player. The proposal does not address philosophical issues or beliefs; rather, it attempts to reduce confusion in regard to compliance-related matters associated with the certification of male practice players.

A male student who practices with an institution’s women’s team should not deprive or take away opportunities for female student-athletes to learn, improve and participate fully in intercollegiate athletics. When male students step onto a court or field with female student-athletes to participate in practice activities, they should be meeting all of the same requirements for practice as their female counterparts.

Roberta Page is the athletics director at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and chair of the Division II Management Council.