The NCAA Board of Governors met Wednesday during the 2023 NCAA Convention in San Antonio, discussing updates related to student-athlete mental and physical health, safety and performance and emphasizing the need for congressional engagement.
NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports
The board approved revised strategic priorities for student-athlete mental and physical health, safety and performance to better align with responsibilities outlined in the new NCAA constitution. The priorities were developed by the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports and include broader and more flexible categories that more accurately reflect the priorities of the membership. The new priorities are:
- Mental and physical health.
- Sport-related illness and injury.
- Training and performance.
- Education and policy.
The board also approved the policies and procedures for the identification of evidence- and consensus-based guidance to support student-athlete mental and physical health, safety and performance. The policies and procedures build upon previous advisory group and Uniform Standards of Care processes to outline the threshold and method in which guidance will be identified and provided to members. The intent is to address changes in the new constitution and provide transparency to members on how health, safety and performance guidance will be maintained.
Lastly, the board approved a CSMAS recommendation to extend phase two of the NCAA transgender student-athlete participation policy through the 2023-24 academic year. Phase three will begin in the 2024-25 academic year. CSMAS recommended the change to allow additional time to address operational considerations in phase three of the policy.
The board also heard an update on the Cannabis in Collegiate Athletics Summit held last month to offer better understanding on the current literature, policy and research about cannabinoids as they relate to student-athlete health and performance. CSMAS will review the summit feedback and consider how it could inform education, policy and guidance on management at the school or conference level.
Subcommittee on Congressional Engagement and Action
The board discussed its continued efforts to update the membership on the need for urgency and collaboration on the issues surrounding college sports. Its Subcommittee on Congressional Engagement and Action recently released a webinar for members, emphasizing the need for action.
Convention attendees will hear more about future opportunities in this space during the State of College Sports session. The event begins at 4 p.m. Central time Thursday and will be livestreamed on YouTube. It will be hosted by Board of Governors Chair and Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, NCAA President Mark Emmert and incoming NCAA President Charlie Baker. It will be the membership's first chance to hear from Baker since last month's announcement that he would assume the president's role effective in March. Â
