Though the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics continues to philosophically oppose the use of male practice players, members meeting June 12-13 in Indianapolis suggested a list of guidelines for consideration by the membership if males are allowed to continue practicing with female teams.

Committee members, who say debate on the issue has been healthy and not confined to one sport, acknowledge that many coaches believe the use of male practice players enhances competition for female student-athletes. But many committee members believe that male practice players reduce opportunities for women in collegiate athletics.

Many coaches and administrators feel that using male practice players is most common among women’s basketball teams, but the system is also used in a variety of other sports, including women’s volleyball, women’s soccer, women’s ice hockey, softball and rowing.

In addition to suggesting guidelines, the committee also is interested in feedback from the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports about the effect that use of male practice players has on the health of all student-athletes — both the women and the practice players.

The suggested guidelines are intended to protect both the practice players and the opportunities of female student-athletes. The suggestions include:

Committee chair Darlene Bailey, associate athletics director at Missouri State University, said the suggestions will be circulated informally to the Division I Championships/
Competition Cabinet, which has been asked to review the issue. The guidelines also will be distributed to each division’s Management Council.

"We still believe the use of male practice players is in conflict with our mission, but if they continue to be allowed, the guidelines should be considered," Bailey said. "As much as some of us don’t want to put something out there because we’re afraid that it will become the law, nothing is going to happen if we don’t have a discussion point."

The committee also discussed planning for an October 30 "think tank" to discuss lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) issues within intercollegiate athletics. Bailey said coaches and administrators need to be educated on the issues, which include student-athletes on the same team dating one another and how to handle accommodations when teams travel.

Katie Street, a women’s athletics committee member and golf student-athlete at Boise State University, said the issue is an important one for the committee to consider because of the stereotypes involved and the prevalence of LGBT student-athletes.

"Student-athletes who are LGBT as well as those with teammates who are, those who play a sport that is stereotyped as an ‘LGBT’ sport, or student-athletes with coaches who are (LGBT) need to have the proper information, opportunities for discussions and chances to understand the issues," Street said.

"Increased educational opportunities are key in the forward movement of CWA and the NCAA. I believe that targeting the stereotyped ‘LGBT’ sports with increased awareness for the public is crucial for the well-being of all student-athletes, regardless of sexual orientation."

Street suggested coaches should be armed with training opportunities, resources and support systems to determine the best course of action for individual teams. She also hopes that education efforts will extend beyond the athletics department to the student body as a whole.

"In the end, we are all there to get an education and help ourselves become better on the field and off. Nothing else really matters," she said.

Other highlights

• Heard an update on the Women Coaches Academy, and also discussed Dimension II, a continuing-education program for female coaches who already have attended the academy. Several members had the opportunity to attend the graduation ceremony for Dimension II, which is entering its second year. Both programs have long waiting lists, and committee members expressed interested in the application process.
• Discussed the success of the Web cast "Title IX: What’s on your Campus? What’s on your Mind?" that was broadcast January 18. Members agreed the question-and-answer session was very informative and helpful. The committee suggested conducting Web casts on recruitment, retention and professional development for female coaches and best practices for athletics administrators seeking women and ethnic minority candidates during the hiring process. The committee also reviewed a March 14 Web cast about the senior woman administrator (SWA) designation.
• Expressed concern about the ethnic diversity of nominees appointed to CWA. In an effort to facilitate awareness, CWA members are requesting the opportunity to review nominations before each division’s Management Council approves an appointment.
• Heard a presentation from NCAA research staff about combining the membership sport-sponsorship demographic report with the race and gender demographics report. The former report is mandatory, so combining the two would increase participation in the race and gender demographics report and allow for quicker report production. CWA chair Darlene Bailey said streamlining the process would be helpful. "We endorsed what (the research staff is) trying to do; it makes more sense for the membership," she said. "Anything that more succinctly and accurately reflects the demographics of our institutions is important to CWA."