Second only to economic considerations, Title IX is perhaps the most dominating factor in balancing men and women's programs at the collegiate level. The 1972 law was intended to increase opportunities for women with regard to sports and scholarships at the intercollegiate athletic level. The reality of college athletics today is that women's programs and men's programs have increased as a whole, but some particular programs have decreased in teams or are facing near elimination across the country. Budget cuts and Title IX clearly have made a very difficult balancing act of meeting the needs, interests and abilities of the students and communities served by NCAA member institutions.
Acrobatics and Tumbling (A&T) is a new women's sport that is marching towards emerging sport status with the NCAA. In a time where tendencies are to cut programs rather than expand, A&T could find it difficult to translate the popularity of the sport into growth at the collegiate level. Acrobatics and Tumbling is the evolution of competitive cheer which took a solid thump upside the head last summer in the Title IX lawsuit against Quinnipiac University. However, that thump was the sound of cheerleading hitting the floor. A&T utilizes the skill set in a structure and format that is completely reflective of other traditional Olympic and NCAA sports. The National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (www.thencata.org) is the governing body for the sport and has quietly gained momentum and support for A&T. Just one look at and A&T meet and one can see, this is not cheerleading. This is sport!
For athletic departments around the nation, this sport is a very attractive opportunity to continue to support and expand women's sports. The high participation or roster size offers more positions on a team. The cost efficient operating budget is certainly a positive characteristic. Acro teams recruit similar athletes and use shared facilities as men and women's gymnastics teams. The correlations between sports can be important in maintaining and adding programs that create financial and logistic efficiency.
As schools continue to navigate through the Title IX requirements, A&T is a sport that embodies the spirit and purpose of the law. Acro and Tumbling is not a female version of a male sport, its not a coed sport and it is not an already-existing opportunity. This is a brand new women's sport that creates original, genuine additional opportunities for female athletes. There are an estimated 3 million plus athletes in the US using the skill set of Acro. These athletes range from powerlifters, gymnast, competitive cheerleaders and even divers. The skill set is the 9th most popular girls high school sport. The need for a safe, controlled, regulated and definitive sport for these athletes has been asnwered by Acrobatics and Tumbling. This is the very essense of Title IX.
Amongst many things the NCAA requires to become a sport, one of the most important is that at least 10 universities sponsor varsity programs in the sport. Less than two years ago, there was only 1 varsity team. Now, there are 6 total and several more in the process that will move the NCATA past the required minimum. Recent news has pointed out the increasing number of institutions that need to support addtional opportunities for female athletes. Acro and Tumbling is sure to thrive regardless of the economy or legal factors. The growing demand and popularity of the sport, the organizational advantages and viability of the sport along with the important benefits and opportunities for female athletes are a W for the NCATA, women and the NCAA.
Visit www.thencata for more information about Acrobatics and Tumbling.
Acrobatics and Tumbling (A&T) is a new women's sport that is marching towards emerging sport status with the NCAA. In a time where tendencies are to cut programs rather than expand, A&T could find it difficult to translate the popularity of the sport into growth at the collegiate level. Acrobatics and Tumbling is the evolution of competitive cheer which took a solid thump upside the head last summer in the Title IX lawsuit against Quinnipiac University. However, that thump was the sound of cheerleading hitting the floor. A&T utilizes the skill set in a structure and format that is completely reflective of other traditional Olympic and NCAA sports. The National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (www.thencata.org) is the governing body for the sport and has quietly gained momentum and support for A&T. Just one look at and A&T meet and one can see, this is not cheerleading. This is sport!
For athletic departments around the nation, this sport is a very attractive opportunity to continue to support and expand women's sports. The high participation or roster size offers more positions on a team. The cost efficient operating budget is certainly a positive characteristic. Acro teams recruit similar athletes and use shared facilities as men and women's gymnastics teams. The correlations between sports can be important in maintaining and adding programs that create financial and logistic efficiency.
As schools continue to navigate through the Title IX requirements, A&T is a sport that embodies the spirit and purpose of the law. Acro and Tumbling is not a female version of a male sport, its not a coed sport and it is not an already-existing opportunity. This is a brand new women's sport that creates original, genuine additional opportunities for female athletes. There are an estimated 3 million plus athletes in the US using the skill set of Acro. These athletes range from powerlifters, gymnast, competitive cheerleaders and even divers. The skill set is the 9th most popular girls high school sport. The need for a safe, controlled, regulated and definitive sport for these athletes has been asnwered by Acrobatics and Tumbling. This is the very essense of Title IX.
Amongst many things the NCAA requires to become a sport, one of the most important is that at least 10 universities sponsor varsity programs in the sport. Less than two years ago, there was only 1 varsity team. Now, there are 6 total and several more in the process that will move the NCATA past the required minimum. Recent news has pointed out the increasing number of institutions that need to support addtional opportunities for female athletes. Acro and Tumbling is sure to thrive regardless of the economy or legal factors. The growing demand and popularity of the sport, the organizational advantages and viability of the sport along with the important benefits and opportunities for female athletes are a W for the NCATA, women and the NCAA.
Visit www.thencata for more information about Acrobatics and Tumbling.
