I
had the privilege of participating in an event which will
transform college athletics forever by taking initial steps
to eradicate a prevalent, damaging, and discriminatory
practice.
The
National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and the
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
co-hosted an inaugural Think Tank on Homophobia in Sport,
the first event of its kind, of national experts and
policymakers to address “negative recruiting,” the practice
of playing on irrational stereotypes to deter recruits from
going to rival schools based on allegations that a rival
coach or team members are lesbian or gay.
The Think
Tank took place this fall in Indianapolis, Indiana at NCAA
headquarters. Top sports leaders from across the country,
including NCAA staff, athletic directors, coaches and
athletes, conference commissioners, researchers, and
coaching organization representatives, came together with a
shared vision of eliminating negative recruiting. This group
of key leaders explored solutions and developed concrete
action steps to establish a positive environment for LGBT
student-athletes and their teammates, as well as coaches and
athletic directors, which will profoundly change the climate
for all involved in collegiate sports.
As a former
NCAA Athletic Director and National Championship Basketball
Coach, I know firsthand the importance of addressing
discrimination in college athletics. Putting an end to
negative recruiting is critical not only to protect lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender players and coaches, but also
to attract and retain the best, most qualified coaches. As
long as any athlete or coach can be harmed by being tagged
with the “lesbian” or “gay” label, the goal of achieving
true equality in sports will remain out of reach.
In 2007,
NCLR will continue to work closely with the NCAA to develop
effective strategies to overcome discriminatory behavior.
The event couldn’t have been more perfectly timed. Early
next year, the NCAA will conduct its first-ever national
campus climate survey—the beginning of a process of change
that will transform the environment of intercollegiate
athletics. Other initial steps include:
A
subcommittee consisting of the NCAA, NCLR, and other
participants will develop a “Best Recruiting Practices”
paper initiating policy change and discouraging
unethical practices based on negative recruiting.
Student
athletes will report the outcome of the Think Tank to
their national NCAA Student Advisory Committees.
The
NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics will suggest an
examination of NCAA legislation to identify any needed
revisions to (omit-bylaws and) regulations to address
discrimination issues.
The
NCAA Coaching Academies and the National Association for
Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators will include
discussion of negative recruiting in their course
curricula.
These and
the many other sport conference meetings, NCAA committee
management council actions, and college presidents
involvement will go a long way toward changing the climate
in sports to be more affirming and inclusive.
I
had the privilege of participating in an event which will
transform college athletics forever by taking initial steps
to eradicate a prevalent, damaging, and discriminatory
practice.
A
subcommittee consisting of the NCAA, NCLR, and other
participants will develop a “Best Recruiting Practices”
paper initiating policy change and discouraging
unethical practices based on negative recruiting.