Research from an annual report that tracks female participation in athletics shows a record number of women’s teams at the college level and a record number of participants on those teams.

According to the 31^st edition of a longitudinal study by Brooklyn College professors emeritae Linda Carpenter and Vivian Acosta, NCAA institutions sponsor a record 9,101 women’s teams (8.65 per school), compared with 8,702 in 2006.

While participation on those squads is at an all-time high, only about 43 percent of women’s teams are coached by women.

The report does show the highest representation of female athletics directors in 30 years. More than 21 percent of athletics directors are women, a significant increase from about 18 percent in 2006. Division III schools have the highest percentage of female athletics directors at 33.7 percent.

Other notable findings in the 2008 Carpenter/Acosta report are:

•         The five most frequently offered sports for women are, in order: basketball (98.8 percent of schools have a team); volleyball (95.7 percent); soccer (92 percent); cross country (90.8 percent); and softball (89.2 percent).

•         Of the 11,058 paid assistant coaches of women’s teams (an all-time high), 6,308 (57.1 percent) are female.

•         More females (14,742) are employed in intercollegiate athletics than ever before.

•         The percentage of female coaches of women’s teams is second lowest in history. Fewer than half of women’s teams are coached by a female. In 1972, more than 90 percent of women’s teams had a female coach.

•         The percentage of female athletics directors is the highest since the mid-1970s. There are 224 female athletics directors; there are 830 male athletics directors. Division I has the fewest female athletics directors at 29. While Division III has the most female athletics directors at 142.

•         Only about 12 percent of athletics programs have no female anywhere in the administration. However, 670 more administrative jobs are held by females than two years ago.

For the entire report, see http://webpages.charter.net/womeninsport.