From: 97994779@wsuvm1.csc.wsu.edu
Subject: Re: NCCA - Let's Fix It
Organization: SYSTEMS & COMPUTING
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 93 14:32:57 PST

In article <1jp2mqINNlp8@tamsun.tamu.edu>
ks@stat.tamu.edu (Kurt F. Sauer) writes:
 
>
>Instead, I think we need to come up with some alternative structure for
>collegiate cycling that accomplishes these goals:
>
>1.  There must be some kind of standard basic eligibility to ensure that
>    the special needs of older students (read as: "me") are kept in mind
>    while providing some protection against students-turned-pro-while-still-
>    in-college.  The NCAA eligibility and academic rules, a copy of which I
>    have here, provide a basic framework which is far more comprehensive
>    than NCCA's; I suggest that they might be the basis for a beginning.
 
I agree 100% ! Gone are the days when you can kinda make up the rules as you
go!
 
>2.  We need some help from USCF and NCCA in terms of advertising the sport
>    to college students.  Some slick leaflets printed for NCCA with a
>    space for a stamp of the local club might be enough.
 
I think this is a great idea. Who do I call? (yoo hoo mike?) :)
 
>3.  We need access to more schools.  I know that NCCA joined the National
>    Intramural and Recreation Sports Association (NIRSA) in the past couple
>    of years.  We should exploit that membership.  Indeed, I am helping our
>    conference director prepare a mailing to all of the NIRSA member schools
>    in our conference geographic boundaries.
 
How would the Intramural sports department be helpful to us? At WSU they
tell us at new student orientation, "WSU has the largest Intramural Sports
program west of the missippi." However, how would they get involved with
intermurals? Is there a national federation for Club Sports? That would be
the group to contact.
 
>    Once a program starts at a school, we need to provide a lifeline to the
>    student leadership.  Students are often ill-equipped or poorly advised
>    as to how to run a cycling organization.  NCCA should work much harder
>    to make the program more "turn-key," especially with respect to finance
>    issues, organizational charters, training aids and in organizing races.
 
My experience here at WSU is that the school really hates club sports from
a liability standpoint so they make you jump you through huge hoops just to
exist, and then to spend money that the Assoc Students gives you takes 3 weeks
minimum! They already want to know what we plan to spend for NEXT season ('94)
 
 
>4.  Most importantly, in my opinion, we need more exposure to cycling at
>    the High School level.  There was an excellent program at the House of
>    Delegates meeting in 1992 about getting racing introduced in secondary
>    schools.  High School is about the latest phase in education when a
>    student is usually willing to accept a new sport seriously.  This takes
>    some wresting of control from state boards of education.  But the issue
>    is real, and I think that our best source of collegiate riders could
>    come from a real effort at the secondary level.
 
I agree 100%. I know they have some successful programs in North New Jersey.
I think on of the problems is the idea of having everyone able to do it.
Surely the schools coudn't provide bikes, and some students may not
be able to afford them. I think we need a larger cooperation between
business and education if we (This country) want to have these kinds of
--
Patrick David Walters                     President WSU Cycling Club
97994779@wsuvm1.csc.wsu.edu                Race Dircetor WSU Stage Race
Undergrad Soc Minor in Fren and Bus         Send Mail for more info on
Washington State University   Pullman, WA   either !
enriching oppurtunities available to our students.
 
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.racing