Youth to College Athletes

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/sports/26titleix.html?pagewanted=all

In the readings from this past week, coaches and parents encouraged young players to cheat in rare situations. In the article above, collegiate athletic programs are padding the numbers of women's sports to comply with Title IX. For example, schools have counted one female runner as three female runners. The same athlete may run on cross country, Indoor Track and Field, and outdoor track and field teams, but is counted three separate times. Coaches have also been said to find females and bribe them with items such as running schools and priority class scheduling if they commit to being placed on a roster; no practice attendance required. Teams will also have men practice with the women's team and count them as female athletes. Participants are not required to step foot in a game or event to be considered on the team; and because of this, schools are getting away with this behavior, according to the article. Initially, when reading about children being asked to lie and cheat, I was appalled. After reading this article, it seems that this lying and cheating behavior follows these athletes into their adulthood. A trend which I believe, should be stopped.

Adams