NCAA News Archive - 2006

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Letter to the editor - Practice player issue is a local decision


Jun 19, 2006 3:55:52 PM



I’m writing in reference to the article in the May 8 issue of The NCAA News entitled "Male practice or malpractice?"

My answer to the issue of whether male student-athletes should practice with female student-athletes is simply to let the team and coach decide. It seems that those parties don’t have a say anymore.

If a coach and a team have problems with the option, then don’t use the guys. Not everything in women’s basketball needs an in-depth study to decide if it’s good for the game.

We’ve asked our own players and they are in total agreement with using the male practice players.

The executive director of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association said her membership was uniformly behind the use of male practice players. Isn’t that a good enough "study" of the situation? There are rules in place now that are just fine.

Dan Durkin

Head Women’s Basketball Coach

Duquesne University


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