Athletics Veritas is a weekly series aimed at helping higher education executives, faculty, and other stakeholders stay tuned in on trending national issues impacting college athletics, especially NCAA Division I. Athletics Veritas is created by senior DI athletic administrators around the nation.
Term-in-Ology: The Birth of Life Skills Programs
Life skills programs are garnering more attention these days in light of the advent of NIL opportunities for student-athletes— where understanding topics ranging from basic business skills and negotiation strategies to fundamentals in law, taxes, and branding, among many other variables, are key ingredients to a successful NIL experience.
NCAA rules, though, are simple and without specificity in terms of expectations for member schools and their life skills programs. NCAA rules state “an institution shall be required to conduct a life skills program on its campus.”
In 2000, the NCAA adopted a proposal which required member schools to conduct what was dubbed “NCAA Champs/Life Skills” programs (or an equivalent program) on its campus for student-athletes with a particular focus on basketball student-athletes. This proposal came from a working group studying basketball issues.
The proposal was among a package of proposals designed to enhance the educational and cultural opportunities for current Division I basketball student-athletes and to “…increase the likelihood of academic success and more fully prepare them to contribute to society as productive citizens.” This original proposal to establish mandatory Champs/Life Skills programs was intended to enhance opportunities for communication and the development of positive relationships between student-athletes and coaches necessary to contribute to the development of well-rounded student-athletes.
Mandating life skills programs was also intended to support important student development initiatives and enhance the quality of the student-athlete experience within the university setting. Life-skill programs, according to the original proposal, was intended to enhance the overall development of the basketball student-athlete by placing proper emphasis on academic commitment, personal development, career development and service.
Athletics Veritas is presented for information purposes only and should not be considered advice or counsel on NCAA compliance matters. For guidance on NCAA rules and processes, always consult your university’s athletics compliance office, conference office, and/or the NCAA.
