Overview of Governance Structures in US College Sport

Chapter 08Summer 2008-OnlineSLS 4155Dr. Richard M. SouthallThe University of Memphis

Overview of College Sport

Paradoxical appeal since exciting in nature but wrought with problems

Despite many schools dropping programs, consumer attraction continues to grow

More than a thousand colleges and universities offer intercollegiate sport

A huge component of the sport industry of North America

History of Intercollegiate Athletics

Started as recreational activity organized by students

By mid-1890s, college administrators and faculty moved to take over control

1906: Organization of Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS) and Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union Central (CIAU-Central)

History of the NCAA 1910: IAAUS renamed National Collegiate Athletic

Association (NCAA) 1921: First NCAA Championship held in track and

field 1951: Walter Byers hired as first Executive Director 1973: Divisions created according to institutional

size Today: 38 national championships in 22 sports

U. S. History of Intercollegiate Women’s Sport

Little female participation during early years 1971: Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for

Women (AIAW) established 1980: First NCAA programs for women 1981-82: NCAA passed new governance plan

adding many new women’s championships 1982: AIAW-NCAA merger (some would say

“hostile takeover”) led to dissolution of AIAW

NCAA Mission Provide programming and deliver national

championships Goals are to promote college athletics, protect

athlete interests, prepare athlete for life, and provide funding (NCAA, 2002)

http://www.ncaa.org

NCAA Financials Nonprofit but multimillion dollar enterprise Revenues generated by television rights,

championships, royalties, investments, sales, and contributions

Expenses include special events, revenue sharing, programs, management, and NCAA Foundation (NCAA, 2002)

Assets in excess of $128 million

NCAA Membership More than 1260 institutions, conferences,

organizations, and individuals (NCAA, 2002) Member institutions belong to Division I, II, or

III Over 1000 institutional members divided fairly

evenly among each division

Differences Between D-I, D-II, & D-III

See UMDrive for articles Differences… Historical Outline

NCAA Governance Structure

Strategic Plan UMDrive See: StrategicPlan5

NCAA Division I Governance Structure

Issues in College Sport Commercial v. Educational “Institutional Logics”

Is college sport a business or is it educational in nature? Fulfilling mission statement

Implications: Tax-exempt status Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) Other issues

Anti-trust - See: White v. NCAA Workers’ Compensation

See: NCAA class action complaint Class action certification

See UMDrive: Method to March Madness…

NAIA Mission:

Promote education and development through intercollegiate athletics participation

Athletics as an integral part of education Financials:

Not-for-profit funded through membership fees, sponsorship, merchandise sales, and national championships

NAIA (cont.)

Membership: Over 300 members from mostly small U.S. and Canadian institutions in active and associate categories

Organizational structure: Council of Presidents Council of Athletics Administrators Council of Faculty Athletics Representatives Council of Affiliated Conferences and Independents

Individual College Athletic Departments

Involvement by University President Athletic Board Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) Athletic Director (AD) Coaches

Current Policy Area: Eligibility Key issues:

Initial eligibility Academic progress Transfer students

Current Policy Area: Amateurism

Key issues: The line between amateur and professional sport Rules to prohibit professionals from competition

Current Policy Area: Substance Abuse and Performance Enhancement

Key issues: Unequivocal opposition to doping in policy

statements throughout North America Student athlete consent forms as a component of

eligibility Education and enforcement Random testing

Current Policy Area: Financial Aid

Key issues: Restrictions on the value of awards Overpaying or withdrawing scholarships Student athletes and part-time jobs

Current Policy Area: Gender Equity

Key Issues: Title IX compliance on individual campuses Enforcing principles of equity and equality Inequities played out in many ways

Current Policy Area: Gambling Key issues:

Concerns re internet wagering Zero-tolerance policy and its rationale Enforcement of rules resulting from policy

Current Policy Area: Enforcement

Key issues: Reduce violations through education, discovery,

and disbursement of penalties NCAA formal inquiry process Self-reporting as means of policing infractions

(NAIA, CIS, and CCAA)

Current Policy Area: Funding Key issues:

Myths surrounding funding issues in intercollegiate athletics

Connection to problems of national economies in U.S. and Canada

Policies formulated by NCAA and CIS to curb spending