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National Collegiate Athletic AssociationThe National Collegiate Athletic Association is the organization through which the nation's colleges and universities speak and act on athletics matters at the national level. It is a voluntary association of more than 1,200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals devoted to the sound administration of intercollegiate athletics. Through the NCAA, member colleges consider any athletics problem that has crossed regional or conference lines and has become national in character. The Association strives to maintain intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the educational program and the athlete as an integral part of the student body. The NCAA also stands for good conduct in intercollegiate athletics and serves as the colleges' national athletics accrediting agency. It was the flying wedge, football's major offense in 1905, that spurred the formation of the NCAA. The game's rugged nature resulted in numerous injuries and deaths and prompted many institutions to discontinue the sport. Others urged that football be reformed or abolished from intercollegiate athletics. President Theodore Roosevelt summoned college athletics leaders to two White House conferences to encourage such reforms. In early December 1905, 13 institutions met to initiate changes in football playing rules. At a subsequent meeting December 28 in New York City, the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS) was founded by 62 members. The IAAUS officially was constituted March 31, 1906, and took its present name (NCAA) in 1910. For several years, the NCAA was a discussion group and rules-making body; but in 1921, the first NCAA national championship was held: the National Collegiate Track and Field Championships. Gradually, more rules committees were formed and more championships were held. The complexity and scope of these problems and the growth in membership and championships demonstrated the increasing need for full-time professional leadership. In 1951, Walter Byers was named executive director, and in 1952 a national headquarters was established in Kansas City, Missouri. The Association's membership was divided into three legislative and competitive divisions in 1973 at the first special Convention ever held. Five years later, Division I members voted to create subdivisions I-A and I-AA in the sport of football. Women joined the NCAA's activities in 1980 when Divisions II and III established 10 championships for 1981&endash;82. A year later, the historic 75th Convention adopted an extensive governance plan to include women's athletics programs, services and representation. The delegates expanded the women's championships program with the addition of 19 events. The NCAA has grown dramatically in the past 40 years, with more than 600 new members since 1950. The NCAA strives to maintain the highest standards of competition and sportsmanship for student-athletes and for member institutions. |
