I have written this idea to Swimming World and USA Swimmer and now I want to share it with my Forum Friends to see if I can garner any support. I just read the report in the ASCA magazine on how the implementation of Title IX has hurt men's swimming. As a supporter of womens sports I think Title IX has done much more good than harm. As a fan of college swimming I think the NCAA has done more harm than good. I was searching for a solution that would get swimming out of being at the mercy of the NCAA.The solution seems to be to start a scholarship fund for swimmers to be administered by USA Swimming. Criteria would be set up,both athletic and academic,for deserving swimmers to earn college scholarships to the college of their choice. The swimmer would be free to swim for the college if they had a team if desired or for the appropriate club if they don't. If they earn a swimming scholarship from the college the extra funds could be recycled back into the program.In the interest of fairness the scholarships would go to an equal number of men and women. This program would not be a way to get around Title IX but to get around the NCAA. Yes,it would take a massive fund raising effort,but I think most swimmers,parents,Masters,and corporate sponsors would be interested in donating(I would.) It would give swimming great publicity and would be a great recruiting tool. What do Y'all think?
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Former Member
This is a horrible idea!!!! USA Swimming can give out scholarships as it wants. Any organization can. The way explained would cause so much bureaucracy to ensure that everything went right. Also, why should USA Swimming dictate to colleges how they run their programs? I am sure under this plan that theere would be a few great powerhoused n no time. Colleges must be given the independence to address their own needs.
What is the real horrible truth about athelitc scholarships is that in many private large schools, t he only mionority men in the campus are athelitic scholarship.
Men's rowing is not within the NCAA. They are clubs. It does seem to work to me.
The outline of Illinois colleges was incomplete. UI Chicago has swimming. That is where the state masters meet has been held. Overall, though, I told by a recruiter at a sate school that when all of th estate scholarships are added up, men's swimminig in Illinois does much better than wrestling, baseball and tennis and there aren't as many female swimming scholarships given in Illinois as there are women's. Right now, I think that two of the U of I's star swimmers are walk-ons.
This is a horrible idea!!!! USA Swimming can give out scholarships as it wants. Any organization can. The way explained would cause so much bureaucracy to ensure that everything went right. Also, why should USA Swimming dictate to colleges how they run their programs? I am sure under this plan that theere would be a few great powerhoused n no time. Colleges must be given the independence to address their own needs.
What is the real horrible truth about athelitc scholarships is that in many private large schools, t he only mionority men in the campus are athelitic scholarship.
Men's rowing is not within the NCAA. They are clubs. It does seem to work to me.
The outline of Illinois colleges was incomplete. UI Chicago has swimming. That is where the state masters meet has been held. Overall, though, I told by a recruiter at a sate school that when all of th estate scholarships are added up, men's swimminig in Illinois does much better than wrestling, baseball and tennis and there aren't as many female swimming scholarships given in Illinois as there are women's. Right now, I think that two of the U of I's star swimmers are walk-ons.
