Jun 17, 2010 8:43:56 AM

The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics is recommending removing squash from the list of emerging sports for women, citing a lack of sponsorship growth.

The number of institutions sponsoring squash as a varsity program has been at or near 28 for the last decade.

The CWA worked with stakeholders in the sport over the last three years and offered feedback on a 2008 action plan to grow, but no evidence emerged that progress was being made toward the goal of 40 varsity programs (the number necessary to sponsor a championship in the sport).

The committee, meeting May 24-25 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, noted that the applicable governance body in each of the three divisions would have to sponsor legislation for squash to be removed.

Squash was one of the nine original sports placed on the list of emerging sports for women 14 years ago. Rowing, ice hockey, water polo and bowling were also on the list and have produced NCAA-sponsored championships since then

NCAA regulations require that emerging sports for women gain championship status within 10 years or show steady progress toward that goal to remain on the list.

If squash is removed from the list, institutions can still sponsor the sport as varsity and include it in their gender-equity efforts.

Any sport can pursue renewal to emerging-sport status by following committee procedures, including submission of a proposal and 15 letters of institutional commitment.

In 2009, archery, badminton, synchronized swimming and team handball also were removed for lack of growth.

Also in 2009, though, Divisions I and II voted to add sand volleyball to list of emerging sports for women. Division II is scheduled to implement the sport in August, while Division I delayed the effective date until August 2011.

Legislative timetable amendment

The CWA also recommended removing the three-year "phase in" period for developing the parameters of a sport that has been approved as emerging for women.

CWA members believe that in recent years the delay in application of NCAA legislation has resulted in confusion in areas such as amateurism, recruiting and financial aid for institutions contemplating adding the sport once it is established on the list.

The committee believes this approach will provide greater transparency and information with regard to budgets and resource allocation.

Gender-equity education

The committee considered recent comments from the Office for Civil Rights about increased efforts to educate and enforce Title IX athletics compliance. Among other supported educational efforts, the committee is recommending that reclassifying and provisional members be required to send senior staff to the NCAA's annual Gender Equity and Issues Forum.

"All indications are the OCR is increasing its investigative efforts," said Karen Morrison, NCAA director of gender initiatives. "We are sending all campuses and conference offices a revised NCAA Gender Equity Manual and other resources to explain the recent OCR changes to participation-opportunity compliance efforts and provide strategies for sound and effective planning."

• In another item, the committee elected Stan Williamson, director of athletics at Campbell, chair. Tamica Smith Jones, director of athletics at Clark, was elected vice-chair.
• CWA also had the opportunity to meet 75 attendees of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy continuing education program, Dimension II. The program was a lead-in for a summer's academies and NCAA/NACWAA Institutes in Denver and Atlanta.