Protecting the rights of pregnant athletes in the NCAA

Posted August 8, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Kristin Bland

Section: Her Health, Her News, Special Features

NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics met last month in Charlotte N.C. to focus on how best to educate athletes on their rights and protections.  More specifically, the committee met to discuss rights pertaining to female athletes who become pregnant.  Discussion of the issue surfaced after athletes at Clemson and Memphis were asked to sign a contract which stated that, in the event of pregnancy, their scholarships would be lost; such a contract influenced one athlete to choose an abortion over violating her contract and losing her scholarship.

Janet Kittell, the outgoing chairwoman of the NCAA’s Committee on Women’s Athletics, described the meeting as a very amicable, productive, and positive discussion, centered around the objective question: “How can we help?”

The committee focused their discussions on Title IX, an important federal law which requires schools to treat pregnancy and childbirth equivalent to treatment given for a “temporary disability”.  Although title IX remains a groundbreaking and controversial piece of legislation in terms of athletics and women’s rights, it was seemingly absent in the distribution of rules to Clemson female track athletes.  The following line was Included in the rules distributed to the women:

“Pregnancy resulting in the inability to compete and positively contribute to the program’s success will result in the modification of your grant-in-aid money.  Please consult your coaching staff immediately to discuss.”

Though the rule’s author said it was not intended to promote abortion, but to aid in making safe and responsible choices regarding sexual activity, Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips labeled the rule as inappropriate, removed it from the handbook, and turned to the NCAA’s Committee on Women’s Athletics for recommendations.

Recommendations, as described by Kittell, which will aid in the education of female athlete’s rights.  A proposed “toolkit” depicting guidelines for the large array of private and public schools is a large undertaking which is expected to be completed in the fall.  The incorporation of counselor and guidance teams as a resource for academic, religious, and emotional help for pregnant athletes is also a goal.

Female athlete pregnancy and Title IX rights were assumed to have been understood by pertaining NCAA institutions; therefore, not much discussion was made on the matter in the past.  However, occurrences such as those at Clemson and Memphis obviate the ignorance of the issue.

“It was obviously something that needed some very careful thought.” Concluded Kittell, regarding the unfortunate way in which the subject was negatively brought to attention. “At least it’s on the table now and we can handle it in a positive manner.”

Resources: ”NCAA urged to educate on pregnancy issues.” USA TODAY .  August 3, 2007. ”Pregnant athletes rights in question.” Chronicle Online.  August 3, 2007.

Photo: ©istockphoto.com/Rosemarie Gearhart