LEXINGTON, KY (June 24, 2022) — The NCAA committee charged with evaluating the fairness of a preseason training reduction for 58 Division I women’s volleyball programs has refused to grant a waiver restoring practice opportunities. The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) had sought remediation on behalf of these teams, noting that administrators who passed the legislation thought they were solving a problem rather than cutting women’s volleyball training opportunities. The waiver would have granted relief from the cuts for this fall until a more equitable solution could be found.
“This is a shocking injustice!” said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. “At schools starting fall classes before August 22, the volleyball team practice time is significantly reduced, and that impacts 17% of DI teams and almost 1,000 female student-athletes.”
Schools facing cuts to preseason training opportunities are encouraged to file individual relief waivers and engage their conference offices for support. The loss of practices is most evident in conferences located in the southeast with the SEC (6), Sun Belt (5), SWAC (7), and ASUN (5) having a combined 23 teams losing two-a-day options due to their fall calendars. Other conferences with multiple schools impacted are the MEAC (4), Southland (4), Mountain West (4), Big South (3), OVC (3), ACC (2), Conference USA (2), WAC (2) and Pac 12 (2).
The cuts to preseason come while a proposal granting summer access to coaching for women’s volleyball student-athletes remains tabled. Football players receive eight weeks of funded training, but that option is not extended to volleyball players. This creates a violation of the Title IX requirement for equitable access to coaching, practice time and educational benefits for men’s and women’s teams.
“Codifying Title IX violations in NCAA rules is simply another form of gender discrimination,” said DeBoer. “On the 50th anniversary of Title IX, a year in which we are all attempting to celebrate progress, the failure to address these fundamental issues is disappointing and, not surprisingly, inciting student-athlete activism.”
Join Sadie is the name of a group of female volleyball players who are organizing to protest these inequities. Student-athletes interested in more information and connecting with the organizer should send their name and email to members@avca.org.
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About the American Volleyball Coaches Association: The AVCA, an educationally based nonprofit headquartered in Lexington, KY, is the largest and most diverse volleyball coaches association in the world. With a broad mandate to develop the sport, the AVCA provides leadership, recognition, advocacy and professional development opportunities to over 8,000 volleyball coaches. Members include college, high school, club and youth coaches, and well as a wide variety of product and service providers. Further information is available at www.avca.org.