The women's subcommittee of the Division I Basketball Issues Committee met via teleconference October 3 and developed positions on various legislative proposals that are headed to the Management Council for review later this month. The group also discussed other pertinent matters, including officiating issues, revenue distribution and ways to increase parity in the game.

The subcommittee reviewed five legislative proposals pertaining to women's basketball, including No. 01-87, which would allow student-athletes to enter a professional draft and be drafted without jeopardizing eligibility. The subcommittee did not support the proposal, a stance that the men's subcommittee of the Basketball Issues Committee had taken just weeks earlier. The Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet, however, supports the proposal.

The women's subcommittee, in fact, opposed four of the five proposals. The lone proposal the subcommittee supported was No. 01-55-1, which would enhance the restricted coach position by allowing that coach to perform all responsibilities of full-time assistants. The men's subcommittee supports a similar proposal for men's basketball. The AEC Cabinet, however, opposes the proposal because it is concerned that such a change would lead to restricted coaches becoming in actuality full-time coaches.

The other three proposals the subcommittee did not support were No. 01-72, which would permit an institution to make an in-person on-campus contact with a prospect outside the permissible contact period; No. 01-74, which would permit institutional staff members who do not have basketball coaching responsibilities to participate in certified summer leagues; and No. 01-75, which would establish five-year terms for Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Committee members.

Philosophical issues

The group reviewed financial data for women's basketball teams, as well as various revenue-distribution models to determine the impact on conferences and institutions. While no decisions were reached, the subcommittee did discuss the basis for which rewards should be granted -- in other words, whether a revenue-distribution plan, if one is even necessary, should be based on schools' performance in the Division I Women's Basketball Championship or based more on a combination of athletics and academic pursuits, such as graduation rates. The group agreed to continue discussions at a future meeting.

Separate committees

In other matters, the subcommittee heard from Marcy Weston, the national coordinator of women's officiating, who reviewed points of emphasis -- rough post play and hand-checking -- that officials will be looking to improve on this year. It is the second straight year for those particular points of emphasis. Weston told the subcommittee that officials are making progress on the issue of hand-checking, but that rough post play (particularly displacement) remains a concern.

The group also reviewed a draft proposal to establish separate standing Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Issues Committees. The subcommittee noted that many of the issues discussed by the subcommittees are different but that there could be occasions where issues pertain to both men's and women's basketball. The group expressed preliminary support for the concept, provided:

Some overlap in membership on the committees is established or time to meet jointly is set aside;

The size of each is larger than 12 members to provide for more representation from coaches; and

The committees report to same entity, preferably the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet, to provide consistency with current legislative requirements.