High-school sports participation

Most participants (boys)

1. -- Football -- 983,625

2. -- Basketball -- 549,499

3. -- Track (outdoor) -- 477,960

4. -- Baseball -- 455,305

5. -- Soccer -- 321,416

6. -- Wrestling -- 235,973

7. -- Cross country -- 181,915

8. -- Golf -- 167,781

9. -- Tennis -- 142,953

10. -- Swimming -- 83,411

Most participants (girls)

1. -- Basketball -- 456,873

2. -- Track (outdoor) -- 405,163

3. -- Volleyball -- 380,994

4. -- Softball -- 340,480

5. -- Soccer -- 257,586

6. -- Tennis -- 156,505

7. -- Cross country -- 155,529

8. -- Swimming -- 133,235

9. -- Comp. spirit squads -- 74,462

10. -- Field hockey -- 57,980

The number of students participating in high-school sports reached an all-time high of 6,504,298 in 1998-99. The figure exceeds the previous record of 6,450,482 set in 1977-78. This was the 10th consecutive year in which high-school athletes participation figures have increased. In 1977-78, 32.3 percent of the participants were female. In 1998-99, 40.1 percent of participants were female.

The top 10 sports also stayed the same for both genders. Gains were reported in the number of participants for each of those sports, except for boys' swimming, which dropped from 83,781 for 1997-98 to 83,411 in 1998-99.

Participation figures are compiled annually by the National Federation of State High School Associations. The complete report is available on-line at www.nfhs.org.

GOVERNANCE

Fall meetings scheduled for Atlanta and Chicago

The fall meetings of the Divisions I, II and III Management Councils will be conducted October 18-19 in Atlanta, while the Division I Board of Directors and the Divisions II and III Presidents Councils will meet October 28 in Chicago. The NCAA Executive Committee will meet October 29, also in Chicago.

For more information, see pages 8 (Division I), 11 (Division II) and 15 (Division III).

Staff contact: David Berst (Division I), Mike L. Racy (Division II) and Daniel T. Dutcher (Division III).

BASEBALL BATS

Executive Committee action closes longstanding issue

The NCAA Executive Committee has approved a batted-ball exit speed standard of less than 97 miles per hour for bats used in all intercollegiate baseball competitions among NCAA member institutions.

The committee's decision supports a recommendation from the NCAA Baseball Research Panel that solid northern ash wooden bat performance should become the standard for setting limits on all baseball bat performance. In addition, the Executive Committee approved the panel's recommendation of January 1, 2000, as the implementation date for the standard. It also declared a three-year moratorium on changes.

In a related matter, the Executive Committee also announced that Easton Sports, Inc., has indicated that it will drop a lawsuit filed by the company against the Association in August 1998.

Staff contacts: Elsa Kircher Cole.

EADA

Reporting forms must be available by October 15

The deadline for completing Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) forms is rapidly approaching.

Federal law requires that all coeducational postsecondary institutions with athletics programs must make a copy of their EADA forms available to the public by October 15, 1999.

NCAA legislation also requires member institutions to provide the NCAA by October 15 with a copy of a package of tables and worksheets developed by the NCAA to satisfy both the federal EADA reporting requirements and the NCAA's own gender-equity reporting. A computerized version of the form is available from NCAA Online at www.ncaa.org/databases.

Staff contacts: Doris Dixon and Maria DeJulio.

FARA

Fall forum registration material due by October 15

Faculty athletics representatives and other interested individuals are reminded that meeting registration and hotel reservation forms for the annual FARA Fall Forum are due by October 15.

Those planning to attend the forum, which will be held November 18-20 in New Orleans, can either mail them to Karen Cooper at the national office or fax them to Cooper at 317/917-6336.

Meeting materials were mailed to all NCAA faculty athletics representatives last month. Those who did not receive the information but still need it should contact Cooper at 317/917-6307.

Staff contacts: Karen Cooper.

STAFF

Noonan selectd to head women's basketball staff

Donna J. Noonan, NCAA director of championships for nine years, has been named vice-president for the Division I Women's Basketball Championship. Noonan assumed her new duties October 1.

VOLLEYBALL