Fast Break - November 2007

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November 2007

Tragedy Revisited Unplanned Parenthood").

Then came word of a strikingly similar case at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky., leaving one to wonder how common such acts of desperation might truly become - and whether past episodes have gone undetected. The Associated Press reported that Katie McCoy, a sophomore member of the BU women's golf team, was charged Oct. 25 with the murder of her newborn daughter in a university residence hall. An hour after giving birth, McCoy, 19, allegedly placed the baby in a garbage bag and let it fall into a toilet, which she later told police caused the infant's death.

But like Rhodes, McCoy first attempted to cover up her situation. She did not discuss being pregnant amid the suspicions of family and friends, then denied giving birth, even after her roommate had discovered the baby in a trash room down the hall and called police. Eventually, McCoy divulged that she had hidden the infant in a gym bag. According to the AP report, "a state law that took effect in 2002 generally allows parents or people acting on their behalf to anonymously drop off newborns they cannot care for at selected 'safe' locations, including hospitals or with EMS personnel, police officers or firefighters, without fear of criminal prosecution. The goal of the law was to eliminate incidents of newborns being left in trash cans, public restrooms or other unsafe locations."

Likewise, the goal of Sorensen's work is to promote campus atmospheres that encourage openness among first-time mothers. "This is the last thing that any of us want to see happening - athletes feeling so desperate that they don't even know that they can safely abandon their children at a hospital," says Sorensen. "I hope we're not starting to see a pattern of coping with pregnancy in this way."

In October, the NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet proposed that pregnancy to be included on a list of medical conditions that preclude institutions from altering a student-athlete's financial aid. Current legislation only provides such protection for student-athletes who sustain an "injury." The NCAA Division I Management Council defeated a motion to consider the proposal as "emergency legislation," but requested that the Board of Directors sponsor the legislation.

Sorensen, who will serve as a panelist at the NCAA Convention in January, currently knows of 69 schools that have student-athlete pregnancy policies. (Bellarmine, which like Mercyhurst is a small Catholic university, does not, according to media relations director John Spugnardi.) "Unfortunately, even with all of our policy work, it may be another five years before beliefs and behaviors change at the athlete level," Sorensen says. "If there is any silver lining, it's to underscore the absolute urgency of making the environment more safe - not only for the athletes, but for their babies."

Noncompetitive Spirit A recent study of nearly 300 youth rec-leaguers suggests that winning games doesn't necessary lead to their sense of enjoyment or fulfillment through sports participation. Rather, the study found, an environment that promotes having fun, self-improvement and maximum participation and effort is more beneficial to young athletes' growth.

Two professors from the University of Washington researched the psychology of 268 predominately white and middle-class Seattle Parks and Recreation Department basketball program participants.

Researchers found that young people thrived in "mastery motivational climates," which stress effort over competition, compared to "ego climates," in which winning is supreme and personal success is measured by competition results.

"In terms of athletes' ratings of how much fun they had and how much they liked playing for their coach, our results showed that a mastery climate was about 10 times more influential than was the team's win-loss record," researcher Ronald Smith told the UW office of news and information, adding, "We also found that a win-at-all-costs ego climate was negatively related to enjoyment and liking the coach."

Researchers did find that athletes who played on teams with better win-loss records believe their coach to be more knowledgeable about the sport. However, they also found that athletes in a motivational mastery climate are more apt to play for the coach again and enjoy their team experience.

UW sports psychologist Frank Smoll summed up the findings for the university's news service. Said Smoll, "So much of what we do is based on the ideas of what adults think kids need without looking at the kids' perspectives."

Company News

• ACO Polymer Products announced the opening of a new 40,000-square-foot facility in Casa Grande, Ariz.
• The University of Dubuque has selected Mondo's Mondoturf Ecofill for its new football field.
• AQx Sports is supplying the Portland Trailblazers' Greg Oden with a custom pair of size 19 shoes for rehab sessions in the pool.
• Lady of America Franchise Corporation recently finalized an agreement to integrate Power Plate® pro5^TM vibration training machines into its health clubs nationwide.
• TigerTurf International reached an agreement with Vigalli Textile Company to serve as TigerTurf Latin America for customers in South America.

Want to see your name in lights? Send press releases and news to our Web Editor for consideration: athleticbusiness@athleticbusiness.com

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Two Days Left to Register for ABC and Save $105 It's not too late to join your colleagues at this year's Athletic Business Conference & Expo, Nov. 29-Dec. 1 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Register by Nov. 16 and you'll save $105, as the conference fee increases to $500 after Nov. 16.

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Email conference@athleticbusiness.com to request a brochure (please include your name, title, organization and address), or browse the digital brochure.

Williston (N.D.) Parks & Recreation is seeking an energetic, motivated recreation professional with strong organizational skills to assist in the coordination and supervision of the facilities, budgets, marketing and recreational programs related to the Raymond Family Community Center, the Eckert Youth Outdoor Pool, and the Williston Municipal Golf Course.

In response to last month's Quick Question, a majority of you said amateur track and field athletes should be subject to stricter testing for performance-enhancing drugs.

Complete Results: Is enough being done at all amateur levels of track and field to ward off illegal drug use?

• Yes. Performance-enhancing drugs are only an issue at the highest levels of the sport. 1%
• There should be stricter testing and clearer punitive procedures beginning, at least, in high school-age competition. 57%
• When dealing with amateur athletes, there should be more emphasis on education, less on testing and punishment. 25%
• Any illegal drug use is a criminal act and, as such, should not fall under the purview of school administrators. 17%