The Role of Governing Bodies Chapter 12

Who Governs Sport Amateur sport is regulated and controlled by a broad spectrum of organizations that include the following Associations Committees Voluntary, government sponsored, and legislatively authorized national governing bodies Groups advocating the advancement of a particular sport Groups associated with regulating participation in sport for particular institutions such as schools, colleges, and international competitive sport recreational facilities These organizations range form the local little league to the mammoth NCAA who has a $521 million dollar budget

The governing Bodies and their authority The NCAA and the National Federation of State High school Associations are in control of a majority of the amateur and would be athletes in the United States Some others include the NAIA, National Little College Athletic Association, and the National Junior College Association. Most colleges and high school conferences and leagues are superimposed across the national structure of the various governing bodies that embrace and regulate competition among high schools and colleges

How the Governing Bodies Affect Practitioners Legally speaking these conferences and leagues are voluntary associations that academic institutions may choose to affiliate with for any number of reasons. Some of these may include Prestige of being with that association Membership privileges that may include special officiating staff The predictability of scheduling other opponents the ability to impose greater control over the conditions of competition this form of control is usually in the form of requirements for eligibility, playing rule modification, and financial requirements

Limits of Power Even though each conference and league has its own form of governing body that regulates the athletes, it can create no rules that are stricter than the national organization they fall under Otherwise member institutions would be in violation of the by- laws or regulations of the national bodies to which they belong to

Rights and Responsibilities of Practitioners This means that the most restrictive rule of any organization that the institution belongs to will apply It is very important for the athletes and coaches to be aware of the regulations and the procedures by which they are enforced Many times in the enforcement or a rule the school will find itself in trouble for violating the proper procedure or policy Under the constitution organizations that are state actors must afford due process, equal protection s

Major Governing Bodies National Federation of State High School Associations Interscholastic sports in North America are governed by a 65 member association It has grown to an organization that serves 17,000 high schools It creates rules and training vehicles for 17 sports as well as speech, debate, music, programs dealing with drug abuse, and school spirit workshops Historically these associations have been termed voluntary association because they are for the most part private, not public entities The decision to join them is dependant on the individual school board

Major Governing bodies National Collegiate Athletic Association The NCAA has over 1250 members Sets a comprehensive set or rules, regulations, and standards including the often litigated eligibility and recruitment regulations, playing rules, restrictions as to number of participants and coaches The NCAA manual is almost 500 pages in length and includes the operating bylaws and administrative bylaws It deals with ethical conduct Conduct and employment personnel Amateurism Recruiting Eligibility: academic and general requirements Enforcement Financial aid Awards, benefits, and expenses for en-rolled students Playing and practice seasons

Major Governing bodies Because the rules and so complex it sets up plenty of room for litigation and the NCAA has been sued numerous times It has faced charges for federal antitrust laws because of their monopoly over the television networks It has been sued for many of the ineligible cases that happen The NCA is a non profit organization that colleges may or may not join, therefore in most cases it is viewed as a non-state actor, but at times the NCAA may be viewed as a state actor and face strict scrutiny

United States Olympic Committee and National Bodies In a national and international sense the United States Olympic Committee is the ultimate governing body in amateur sport In 1978 the amateur sports act gave legal recognition to the concept of international amateur athletic competition This act went on to recognize the national governing bodies as they are designed by the USOC According to this law each national governing bodie is charged with 9 specific duties

United States Olympic Committee and National Bodies These duties are 1. Develop interest and participation throughout the United States and be responsible to the person and amateur sports organizations it represents 2. Coordinate with other organizations to minimize scheduling conflicts 3. Take into account the opinions of amateur athletes in rendering policy decisions and keep the athletes informed of those policy decisions 4. Promptly review requests of amateur sports organizations or other persons for sanctions to hold or sponsor competitions, within or outside the US 5. Allow athletes to compete in international amateur athletic competition conducted by the governing body 6. Provide equitable support and encouragement for participation by women where separate programs for male and female athletes are conducted on a national basis 7. Encourage and support amateur sports for individuals with disabilities and to expand opportunities for those individuals to participate in all athletic competitions 8. Render technical information on physical training, equipment design, coaching, and performance analysis 9. Encourage and support research, development, and dissemination of information in the areas of sports medicine and saftey