The highly successful Women Coaches Academy has been elevated from pilot-program status to an educational program that will come under the auspices of the NCAA and housed within the national office's education outreach department.

At its July 13-15 meeting in Bonita Springs, Florida, the Committee on Women's Athletics discussed the importance of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy program in providing training for women coaches with various levels of experience.

"This will give the Women Coaches Academy a strong, credible base on which to grow and develop," said Lynda Calkins, chair of the committee and director of athletics at Hollins University. "It will allow the program to go forward and grow, similar at NACWAA/HERS."

The program, which has always had the financial support of the Association, follows the week-long NACWAA/HERS Institute. In the first year of the program, one academy was held. The program was expanded to two sites this year.

The purpose of the academies is to give women coaches the opportunity to learn about the fundamentals of coaching, management issues, principles or marketing, networking and media skills and other issues surrounding women's athletics, such as Title IX and the legal issues of coaching.

Before this program, there were few professional training programs specifically for women coaches. While coaches may learn the skills and strategies needed to win at their specific sport, they seldom have this professional-growth opportunity regarding the other aspects of coaching.

Also, the number of women choosing coaching as a profession is declining. The academies help with the recruitment and retention of women coaches by giving them experienced role models and a strong support system.

Other committee action

In addition to action regarding the Women Coaches Academy, the Committee on Women's Athletics decided to require a $200 refundable registration fee for the 2005 Title IX Seminar (attendees receive the refund when they register on site). Committee members believe the fee paid in advance will cut down on the number of no-shows at the seminar and reduce costs. In the past, people would sign up but not attend. However, seminar organizers still purchased food and materials based on the number of people who committed to attend.

The CWA also supported a proposal to study women in coaching and athletics administration. The project is intended to identify factors related to the entry, retention and promotion of women coaches.

"Most studies have been done with the focus on male administrators," said Calkins. "We are seeing women leave the work force -- we have ideas why, but no research to support it. Research is one of the first steps to address the issues."

The committee also expressed its appreciation to NCAA President Myles Brand for his review of proposed funding changes for the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) and the Youth Education through Sports (YES) clinics. The committee said these are important feeder programs to women in athletics and should continue to receive Association support.

In other committee news, Tanya Rush, assistant vice-president for student affairs at Morgan State University, and Kyle Kallander, commissioner of the Big South Conference, were named to the Woman of the Year selection committee.

Also, Janet Kittell, associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator at Syracuse University, was named as vice-chair of the CWA beginning in September. At that time, Calkins steps down as chair and Darlene Bailey, associate director of athletics at Southwest Missouri State University, takes the helm of the committee.