Ghost of Igloi wrote:
You are correct HRE, forgot about the roster size limitations. Those were not an issue when I was coaching. There is still an elitist attitude that governs many programs, however,
Roster size restrictions are not directly mandated by Title IX, which simply prohibits discrimination. That's obviously vague, so the government has issued "guidance." Schools demonstrate compliance by showing:
(1) the numbers of men and women participating in intercollegiate athletics are substantially proportionate to their overall enrollment; or
(2) where members of one sex are underrepresented in the athletics program, whether the institution can show a continuing practice of program expansion responsive to the developing interests and abilities of that sex; or
(3) the present program accommodates the interests and abilities of the underrepresented sex.
This is not the law. It's just how the Department of Education warns schools that it will exercise its enforcement discretion. It's true that some schools may be under consent decrees that are more specific if they settled a lawsuit in the past, but for the most part, these roster restrictions are imposed by the administration as a way of DEMONSTRATING compliance with Title IX. It's particularly galling in the case of XC because it's so easy to take everyone from either sex, which is obviously a way of "accommodating the interests and abilities of the underrepresented sex." But if they did that, then they wouldn't be able to tout greater numbers of women competing in XC as a way of counterbalancing football roster spots.