Gender Inequality in Collegiate Coaching

Full Article: http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/03/what-gender-inequality-looks-like-in-collegiate-sports/387985/

In the May 27th class (module 10), gender and sport was discussed.  Among this discussion was the topic of female coaches after the implementation of Title IX.  Since the installment of Title IX, women as coaches, both at the high school level and the collegiate level, have decreased by about 50%.  As the module states, in college coaching

• Before Title IX (1972), 90% of coaches were women
• Today about 43% of coaches are women
• About 84% of new coaching positions go to men

The module also gives reason of why there is such an underrepresentation of women coaches;

• Many women do not see spaces for them in corporate cultures of sports programs
• Sport organizations are seldom sensitive to family responsibilities among coaches and administrators
• Women may anticipate sexual harassment and more demanding standards then those used to judge men

In the article above by Terrance Ross, he talks about this gender inequality that is present in collegiate sports today.  The article isn't just about women's underrepresentation in sports, but also the unequal salaries that are seen between male and female coaches.  In 1963, John Kennedy passed the Equal Pay Act which called for an end to sex discrimination in the workplace.  This Act was to provide equal pay to both men and women for the same line of work that required similar skills.  This Act has clearly not been upheld.  The article states that there is a significant difference in salaries between males and their female counterparts.  At the University of Kansas, the highest paid male coaching position is $1,258,997; its female counterpart in $180,953. The average pay of a male head coach at the University of Kansas is $251,799; the average pay of a female head coach is $20,106; the difference: $231,694.

The top five biggest head coach salary gaps for NCAA Division 1, Classification: A, AA, and AAA

This unequal pay is also applied to male head coaches of women's sports.  University of Connecticut's women's head basketball coach, Geno Auriemma, makes a little over $2 million. Auriemma has lead his team to 9 national titles.  To put this in perspective, look at Duke's men's head basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski who makes about $10 million a year and led the Blue Devils to only 5 national titles.  These salary gaps are due to differences in popularity and profit levels between male and female sports.

Another problem the article addresses is the declining number of women coaches.  Although Title IX allowed the number of female participants in sports to increase, it also allowed the number of male coaches to increase.  Before Title IX, 90% of female teams were coached by women.  Now the percentage is only roughly 43%. Statistics show the percentage of women coaches when the athletic director is a male compared to when the athletic director is female.

Percentage of Female Coaches when Athletic Director is Male:

Percentage of Female Coaches when Athletic Director is Female:

This difference, according to the article, is because women are more open to new ideas and experimenting with different people.  Men, on the other hand, hire who they know and don't venture out and explore other options that are available to them, like hiring a female coach. 

Not only is salary and underrepresentation an issue, but how much financial aid is given to men's sports compared to women's is also a problem.  The Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act of 1994 made it mandatory for all colleges who receive federal funds to make publicly available all gender-equality information about their athletic programs.  Below are the top ten institutions with the lowest percentage of recruiting expenses for women's teams.

Data from money-in-men-and-women-athletics-finance.silk.co

At the University of Minnesota Duluth, Shannon Miller, the women's hockey team head coach, was released due to financial constraints of the University.  Miller won 5 NCAA Division 1 titles and acquired 300 wins faster than any coach in Division 1 history.  If this coach were to be a male, the University would scramble around until it found enough funds to keep its' prized winning coach. Despite the Equal Pay Act and the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act, along with Title IX, these gender inequality issue are still present in coaching and administrative jobs involving athletics today.

References and Additional Reading:

Ross, T. (2015). What Gender Inequality Looks Like in Collegiate Sports. The Atlantic. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/03/what-gender-inequality-looks-like-in-collegiate-sports/387985/

Silk. (2014). Money In Men's and Women's Sports. Silk. Retrieved from http://money-in-men-and-women-athletics-finance.silk.co/

Sommer, C. (2010). Fair Pay Isn't Always Equal Pay. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/22/opinion/22Sommers.html?_r=0

U.S. Department of Education. (2009). Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act. U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/finaid/prof/resources/athletics/eada.html

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2015). Equal Pay Act of 1963. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Retrieved from http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/epa.cfm

Domestic Violence: An Increasing Problem With the NFL

Full Article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/25/nfl-ray-mcdonald-arrested_n_7437170.html?utm_hp_ref=sports&ir=Sports

In the May 21st class, (7th module), deviance in sports was discussed.  Being deviant is an act by a person that differs from the norm, especially behavior or attitudes that differ from acceptable social standards.  In the article above, Ray McDonald displays this deviant behavior that was covered in the module.  Now a former Chicago Bears defensive end,  he was recently arrested for charges on domestic violence. One of the ways people can be deviant in society includes violent crimes, which encompasses domestic violence.  Also covered in the material was the rate at which these violent crimes have increased since 1960; a 560% increase.  The domestic violence rate committed by NFL players constitutes more than half of the national average.

To read more on domestic violence in the NFL follow this link: http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/the-rate-of-domestic-violence-arrests-among-nfl-players/

Connected to the module was an article about the National Football League (NFL) increasing its stance on domestic violence.  The NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, in 2014, after the domestic violence case involving Ray Rice, put forth new policies and disciplinary actions that would result if any NFL employee, player or personnel, was charged with domestic violence.  The policies state that a first offense would result in a six game suspension for the following crimes:

• Assault 
• Battery
• Domestic violence 
• Sexual assault that involves physical force

There would be more severe penalties for crimes that involve:

• Violence with a weapon
• Choking
• Repeated striking
• An act committed against a pregnant woman or committed in the presence of a child

Ray McDonald is accused of assaulting a women who was holding a baby.  McDonald has already been released by the Chicago Bears.  In December of 2014, McDonald was also released from the San Fransisco 49ers after sexual assault charges were brought against him.

In another article about the latest incident, the author Nancy Armour believes that not only McDonald should be punished, but the Bears should be punished as well.  Armour's argument is that the Bears, knowing his history, should have never signed McDonald in the first place.  According to Armour, if the NFL really wants to toughen their stance on the matter, they should punish those that enabled it to happen again.

The chances of McDonald being signed with another team in the league is unknown.   However, Ray Rice, who's charges of domestic violence were recently dismissed, has had no offers from any teams in the NFL.  Since this incident happened only yesterday (Monday, May 25), the investigation is still on going and no word has been received from the NFL commissioner.

References and Additional Reading:

Armour, N. (2015). Punish Bears for Ray McDonald's latest arrest. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2015/05/25/ray-mcdonald-arrest-chicago-bears-domestic-abuse/27923539/

Bender, K., Seligman, A. (2015). NFL's Ray McDonald Arrested for Domestic Violence. Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/25/nfl-ray-mcdonald-arrested_n_7437170.html?utm_hp_ref=sports&ir=Sports

Cash, R. (2015). NFL can't give Ray McDonald another chance to abuse women and play. Sporting News. Retrieved from http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2015-05-25/ray-mcdonald-arrested-domestic-violence-nfl-discipline-out-of-chances-suspension-bears-49ers

McCalmont, L. (2015). Ray Rice's Domestic Violence Charges Have Been Dismissed. Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/21/ray-rice-charges-dropped-dismissed_n_7354942.html

Morris, B. (2014). The Rate of Domestic Violence Arrests Among NFL Players. Five Thirty Eight. Retrieved from http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/the-rate-of-domestic-violence-arrests-among-nfl-players/

Pelissero, T. (2014). NFL toughens its stance on domestic violence. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2014/08/28/nfl-toughens-its-stance-on-domestic-violence/14746187/

Rugby: A Hope for International Relationships

Full Article: http://www.theplayerstribune.com/dan-carter-new-zealand-all-blacks-rugby/ 

In the May 20th class (6th module), sports and its influence on politics was discussed.  Also covered in the material were the ways that international sports could promote international relationships among countries from around the world.  Some of the underlying ideals of international sports that are displayed in the powerpoint are:

• Highlighting shared interests among people in different cultures and nations
• Demonstrate that international friendships are possible
• Create a model for international relationships
• Foster cultural understanding and eliminate national stereotypes
• Open communication lines between people and leaders from many nations

Fans making their way to Rugby World Cup

In the article by New Zealand National Rugby player, Dan Carter, he expresses how rugby is not just a "blood and guts" game but a "gentleman's" game.  Most people see rugby, the second largest sport in the world, as the sport that is least likely to promote international relations; they could not be more wrong.  Rugby is a game that all of its fans are passionate about.  Over 110 countries, both rich and poor, have their own national rugby league team.  This widespread shared interest and love for the game is already bringing people from different nations together, demonstrating that international friendships are possible.  In the article, Carter says how everything that happens out on the field, ultimately stays on the field.  Once the final whistle blows ending the game, they have nothing but the greatest respect for their opponents from the other team, some of which are Carter's greatest friends.  In the game of rugby, it is tradition for the home team to visit their opponents in their locker room or get together after the game and drink and socialize.  Even in the rugby code of conduct for ages 7 to 18 for Plano Sports Authority in Texas, it states that after the match, players will join with the opponent for fun and camaraderie.  The respect these players have for each other not only on the field, but off the field is truly an inspiration as well as a model for international relationships.

In an article in the New Zealand Herald, in a match between the New Zealand All Blacks and their biggest rival South Africa, sportsmanship is seen at its peak.  After breaking an arm, All Black's Ma'a Nonu left his playing jersey in the South African locker room for their captain, Jean de Villiers, as a congratulatory keepsake for his 100th test match.  De Villiers even mentions in the article the amount of respect the two rivals have for each other as soon as they walk off the field.

In 2011, an article was written on how Rugby was New Zealand's key to increase international relations with the United States.  A handful of former U.S. presidents such as George W. Bush, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton, have (or had) a love for the game of rugby and played the sport.  Because of this common interest, in 2008 the United States Rugby Union signed a Memorandum of Understanding allowing the New Zealand Rugby Union to have a more active role in promoting rugby in the U.S.  

Rugby, though rough and rugged, is a sport played by gentlemen.  In his article, Carter says that the friendships he developed with his opponents are ones that will last forever.  He says they are people he can connect with on a deeper level and after the game is over, the memories and friendships that they share is all that will be left.  

References & Additional Reading:

All Blacks. (2008). NZRU partners with USA Rugby. All Blacks. Retrieved from http://www.allblacks.com/News/7432/nzru-partners-with-usa-rugby

Carter, D. (2015). The Gentleman's Game. The Players' Tribune. Retrieved from http://www.theplayerstribune.com/dan-carter-new-zealand-all-blacks-rugby/

iSport. (2015). Explaining Rugby Culture. iSport. Retrieved from http://rugby.isport.com/rugby-guides/explaining-rugby-culture

Kaufman, D. (1986). Blue-collar Hooligans have real love affair with rugby. The Pittsburgh Press. 102(315), S35. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RPgjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0GIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6989%2C5691023 

PSA Plano. (2009). Rugby Code of Conduct. PSA Plano. Retrieved from http://www.psaplano.org/testsite/Home/Sports/Rugby/CodeofConduct.aspx

Richardson, D. (2014). Rugby: Brutal opponents but mates after the game. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11324575

Watkins, T. (2011). Rugby 'key to international relations'-study. Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved from http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4683809/Rugby-key-to-international-relations-study

Club Swimming: A Sport or A Lifestyle?

Full Article: http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-race-between-high-school-and-club-swimming-1432053345?tesla=y

In the May 15th class (3rd module), we discussed the problems that involve elite sport training programs for the youth. These issues include:

• Emphasis on the potential for children to gain material rewards through sports
• Children often "working" long hours and become like "laborers", but these elite programs are not governed by child labor laws
• Raise ethical issues about adult-child relationships which can result in: injuries, eating disorders, pressure, and emotional mistreatment

Although these issues are not directly addressed in the article above by Frederick Dreier, they can be easily identified through the content of Dreier's article.

The first of these elite training program problems that was mentioned above is portrayed in Dreier's article about California State high school swimmers not wanting to compete in the first ever statewide swim meet.  Some of the fastest swimmers in the state such as Abbey Weitzeil and Aiden Burns, are sitting out of the state meet because it interferes with summertime club swimming meets, like the Junior National Championships in July and other international meets across the world.  These prestige high school swimmers are more focused on their Olympic time trials for next June rather than just becoming a California State swimming champion.  They are not only high school swimmers, they are aspiring Olympians.


Many of these exceptional high school swimmers like Weitzeil and Burns, are part of swim clubs across the state, such as the Santa Clara Swim Club and the Mission Viejo Nadadores; which brings us to the second problem of elite training programs.  These swim clubs train and compete in an Olympic size, 50 meter pool, compared to high schools, who swim in 25 yard pools.  Both the Santa Clara Swim Club and the Mission Viejo Nadadores have high intensity workouts for all levels of competition.  At the Mission Viejo Nadadores, in the 8 and under division, these young swimmers have practice Monday through Saturday.  At each advancing age group, practice grows increasingly longer and harder.  When these swimmers reach high school, they are introduced to an hour and a half morning practices starting at 5 followed by another practice in the afternoon that is close to 3 hours long.

• Mission Viejo Nadadores practice schedule can be viewed HERE.
• Santa Clara Swim Club practice schedule can be viewed HERE.

These long practices, in addition to attending school and doing school work, leaves little time for recreational activities.  Amanda Beard and Janet Evans, who both are Olympic champions, participated not only in club swimming but also high school swimming.  Both Beard and Evans are glad that they competed in high school because they had greater social opportunities than they did with their swim clubs.  Beard even reminisces about socializing with regular kids in high school swimming who weren't training for the Olympics.

Amanda Beard (age 14) after winning in 1996 Olympics in Atlanta

Finally, the last issue with these elite training programs are the pressures they bring upon youth through adult-child relationships.  If these relationships are negative, the end result could be injuries, eating disorders, and emotional mistreatment.  According to the National Eating Disorders Association, some risk factors for athletes include sports that emphasize appearance or muscularity, like swimming.  Another risk factor are sports that focus on an individual rather than a team.  Even though a swimmer is part of a team, they are individually competing to record good times and win their specialty events.  Swimming, being an endurance sport, also is a risk factor for eating disorders.  Training for a sport since childhood, or even being an elite athlete can increase the risk of eating disorders in athletes.  Usually injuries that occur in swimming are minor, but they most often occur  in the ligaments in the shoulder due to overuse. Beard, who was an Olympian at only 14 years old, said she was glad to be a part of her high school swim team because it was a break from the pressures of competing at national and international events.  She says that a balance is needed so these kids don't get burned out by the pressures to make the Olympics.

References:

Athletes and Eating Disorders. National Eating Disorders Association. Retrieved from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/athletes-and-eating-disorders

Dreier, F. (2015). Does High School Swimming Matter? The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-race-between-high-school-and-club-swimming-1432053345?tesla=y 

Mission Viejo Nadadores. (2015). Mission Viejo Nadadores. Retrieved from http://www.mvnswim.org/Home.jsp?_tabid_=0&team=scmvn

Santa Clara Swim Club. (2015). Santa Clara Swim Club. Retrieved from http://www.teamunify.com/SubTabGeneric.jsp?team=pcscsc&_stabid_=48931

Solomon, D. (2010) Swimming Injuries. Stop Sports Injuries. Retrieved from http://www.stopsportsinjuries.org/swimming-injury-prevention.aspx

A Role Model for 90 Years and Counting

Full Article here:  http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/123743936/fans-can-back-medal-of-freedom-for-yogi

In the May 14th class (2nd module) we discussed why athletes are seen as role models and what characteristics constitute a role model.  Provided to us in the power point was a role model checklist containing characteristics which included: 

• Honesty
• Commitment
• Good sportsmanship
• A sense of humor
• Fairness
• Determination
• Good self-image
• High moral values  

In the article above about a petition to grant Yogi Berra the Medal of Freedom, not only does the author, Marty Noble, state the reasons why Berra should be rewarded with such an honor, but also why he is a role model to many people in America.  Noble mentions several of these characteristics in his article including

• Commitment
• Good sportsmanship
• Fairness
• Determination
• Good self-image
• High moral values

Besides Berra having an intense passion for the game of baseball, he displayed constant determination and commitment to succeed in the game and in life.  After the St. Louis Cardinals general manager, Branch Ricky, told Berra he wouldn't make it to Major League Baseball (MLB), he had the determination to prove them wrong.  Once he signed with the New York Yankees, he persevered to be the best catcher he could possibly be.

Berra has also displayed good self-image, another characteristic of a good role model.  He not only left the sport he loved to join the Navy and fight in the Normandy Invasion, but he aided in breaking the color bar in Major League Baseball.  He befriended some of the first black, and Latino baseball players in the MLB like Jackie Robinson, Elston Howard, and Minnie Miñoso.  Although Noble did not mention Berra's sense of humor in his article, many of Berra's family and friends can attest to the 90 year old's whit; his famous sayings were eventually coined as Yogisms.  

http://nypost.com/2015/05/12/mlbs-gracious-gift-to-now-90-year-old-yogi-berra/ 

Yogi Berra has many high moral values which is mentioned not only in the main article at the top of the page by Marty Noble, but also in the article right above by Kevin Kernan.  Yogi has a strong value for education due to the fact that he never really had one.  He also greatly values teamwork, leadership, respect, and justice.  Today he displays those values and provides programs to children in the community through his museum, the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center.  Berra also currently represents Athlete Ally which promotes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights in sports.  Yogi Berra has all the qualities, and more, that are listed in the second module making him an inspiration to both the young and the old across America.

References

Berra, Y. (2005). Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved from Academy of Achievement Web site: http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/ber0int-5

Footer, A. (2014). Yogi and Athlete Ally Team up for LGBT Equality. MLB.com. Retrieved             from http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/84511654/yogi-berra-and-athlete-ally-team-up-for-lgbt-equality

Kernan, K. (2015). MLB righting a wrong for Yogi Berra's 90th birthday. New York Post. Retrieved from http://nypost.com/2015/05/12/mlbs-gracious-gift-to-now-90-year-old-yogi-berra/

Noble, M. (2015). Fans can back Medal of Freedom for Yogi. MLB.com. Retrieved from http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/123743936/fans-can-back-medal-of-freedom-for-yogi

Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center. (2015) Retrieved from http://yogiberramuseum.org/