F/LA decision rejects binding arbitration process The International Amateur FILA can dictate who can de- sociation, was expressly stated opments the NCAA has ques- mittee chairman) and by Ed- Wrestling Federation (FILA) velop and administer USA do- to be binding on the parties. tioned whether $16 million des- ward G. Williams (another has struck down arbitration mestic and international sports Ruling reversed: Neverthe- ignated for the USOC should former Olympian and current procedures central to the reor- teams. The wrestling situation less, the USOC Executive Board be appropriated. chairman of the Athletes’ Ad- ganization of the United States is just an example. This is a -dominated in voting strength In the past few weeks, the visory Council of the USOC), Olympic Committee and in SO broader issue than a power by incumbent national govern- question has arisen whether would have required any in- doing has raised doubts about struggle between two organi- ing bodies - last December the principles of the Amateur cumbent national governing the NCAA’s continued involve- zations. It’s a matter of wheth- voted to reverse a prior ruling Sports Act of 1978 will be per- body that lost a “challenge” ment with the USOC and about er the USOC and the organiza- of the USOC Counselor and to mitted to work as intended by arbitration to be required to the commitment of tax dollars tions which control the USOC continue the Wrestling Di- the Congress, which bears di- resign its position from the in- to this nation’s Olympic orga- are responsible to the United vision of AAU as the national rectly upon the proposed ‘im- ternational sports federation nization when it is not account- States public and their institu- governing body until FILA plementing’ appropriation of from which it was a member. able to United States interests. tions.” acted on the issue. $16 million to the United States That would pave the way for FILA, which met in Madrid, In September 19’78, after a In April, Judge William Olympic Committee. recognition by the international Spain, the week of May 20, protracted arbitral proceeding, Stewart of the Superior Court Arbitration not final: The federation of the arbitral win- claimed that impartial arbitra- the United States Wrestling of the District of Columbia USOC House of Delegates re- ner as the national governing tors are “incompetent” to de- Federation was found by three ruled that the USWF should cently declined to approve con- body in the United States. cide sports matters. It also dis- independent arbitrators to have be the national governing body stitutional amendment designed In refusing to adopt the missed the jurisdiction of established its qualifications for the sport until FILA recog- to assure finality to an arbitral amendment, the delegates United States courts. under the USOC Constitution nized it formally. award regarding a challenge flaunted the advice of Sen. Ted NCAA International Rela- to act as the national governing However, FILA’s action for national governing body Stevens (R-Alaska), primary tions Committee chairman Dave body for amateur wrestling and which cited AAUWD’s “loy- status. The amendment, co-au- sponsor of the Amateur Sports Maggard said the FILA ruling to be entitled to replace the alty” over the last 30 years, thored by Professor Miguel de Act of 1978. Stevens had issued makes “almost a sham out of Wrestling Division of AAU in dismisses the findings of the Capriles of Hastings College of a statement at the April House the Amateur Sports Act. I don’t that capacity. The arbitration, AAA and failed to recognize the Law (a former Olympic ath- of Delegates meeting in Colo- think it was the intent (of the conducted under the auspices of decision of Judge Stewart. lete who served for many years rado Springs insisting on swift act) that an organization like the American Arbitration As- In response to these devel- as the USOC’s Legislation Com- Continued on page 4 Validity of HEW injury report questioned: Too old, misleading VOL. 16 l NO. 6 MAY 31, 1979 A Department of Health, Ed- 1970 to nine in 1978. ucation and Welfare report Severity of injuries: Another questioning the safety of ath- problem with the HEW report, letic programs in the United the committee said, was that States is seriously flawed and although more than one million is not current enough to be re- injuries were cited in the re- liable, according to a statement port, 66 percent of those were by the NCAA committee on classified as minor, and 23 per- Competitive Safeguards and cent occurred during physical Medical Aspects of Sports. education activities and could The NCAA statement noted not be classified as to their the data included in the survey severity. is four years old and does not “The ‘over one million’ figure take into account improvements is only an estimate,” Poppe made since 1975-76 in equip- said. “Approximately 90 per- ment, coaching techniques and cent of those injuries were awareness regarding athletic minor or the severity could not injuries. be determined.” “It is interesting to note that Although the report appeared HEW Secretary Joseph A. Cali- to focus on varsity reports, in fano Jr. concluded from the re- reality, 75 percent of those sur- port that if safer equipment veyed were involved in intra- would have been used, there mural and physical education would have been fewer in- classes. Further, the committee juries,” said Dennis Poppe, report said, club sports were NCAA assistant director of classified as varsity sports for events. “Yet the report supplied the study. no data concerning the rela- Therefore, the actual number tionship between injuries and of varsity sports participants protective equipment.” in the study was less than 25 percent, but when all categories Rules changes: Besides im- of participants were put to- provements made in the safety gether, the varsity programs Diving winner of football helmets the NCAA were considered equal to other committee also claimed that Michigan’s Matthew Chelich heads toward the water in the world-famous Cleveland State Unlverslty pool participants. significant rules changes by the enroute to his three-meter diving championship. In the background IS CSU’s imposing record board. NCAA Football Rules Com- The committee also question- California, winner of seven individual events, claimed the team title. See story, page 7. Photo by Morse mittee have helped minimize ed the report on the following Photography the number of fatalities and grounds : (;lt;~hirnphic injuries in the l The design of the study sport. In 1976, for example, the was such that the material was Council issues dormitory interpretations Rules Committee initiated submitted by participating in- During the 1979 NCAA Con- amendment adopted by the athlete may not be permitted many changes in the rules that stitutions at the end of the year vention, the Association’s mem- membership is intended to pro- to utilize the housing which in- redefined the act of “spearing” and there was no way for the bership adopted an amendment hibit material benefits in stu- cludes the material benefits. and implemented a rule that investigative team to check and to the provisions of NCAA Con- dent-athletes’ housing if such Standard adopted: In addi- made it illegal for a player to determine if the data was valid. stitution 3-1-(g) - (5) related to benefits are not available on the tion, a standard has been adopt- intentionally strike a runner The investigative team could student-athletes’ housing, and same basis to the student body ed to assist member institu- with the crown or top of his not determine whether an ac- two interpretations of this in general. Cited in the regula- tions in determining whether helmet. curate accounting of the num- amendment recently have been tion as examples of material such material benefits are avail- As a result of rules changes, ber of injuries had been main- approved by the NCAA Coun- benefits are individual televi- able on the same basis in other improved coaching techniques tained or if estimates had been cil. sion sets and stereo equipment, institutional housing facilities. and a safety standard developed used. The official interpretations specialized recreational facili- In order to meet this standard, by the National Operating The quality of the data was are listed in the interpretations ties and room furnishings and the institution must assure that Committee on Standards for also questioned because of nu- column of this edition of the appointments of extra quality the material benefits in ques- Athletic Equipment, the Annual merous errors editors detected NCAA NEWS. Both interpreta- and quantity. tion are available in housing Football Fatality Survey (spon- when they reviewed the forms tions are intended to clarify the The Council has reviewed provided to at least one-half of sored by the American Football that had been submitted. The manner in which the provisions this legislation and concluded other members of the student Coaches Association, the NCAA report indicated some forms of Constitution 3-1-(g) - (5) ap- that if a member institution body who utilize institutional and the National Federation of listed women being injured in ply to material benefits con- maintains a housing facility housing facilities. State High School Associa- intercollegiate football in other nected with on-campus student- which includes material bene- For example, if a dormitory tions) shows the number of forms, entire sections were athletes’ housing. fits not available on the same utilized by student-athletes in- football related deaths has de- omitted. In considering this matter, basis in other institutional cludes a material housing bene- creased from as many as 29 in Continued on page 3 the Council noted that the housing facilities, a student- Continued on page 5 The Editor’s View NBC receives “0-“grade Reprinted below is an ercerpt from the writing of a news columnist commenting pertinently about intercollegiate athletics.