Large Women's College Rosters

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Several posts in the past year have asked why some college teams have large rosters. Some teams roster more than 30 players. Maybe this is part of the explanation?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/sp...x.html?_r=1&hp

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I thought it was because most college coaches play a physical, direct game, so bigger women are favored. ;)

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I thought it was because most college coaches play a physical, direct game, so bigger women are favored. ;)

True. Large women and lots and lots of them.

Any programs have male practice players of their squads?

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I recall UVA had a short midfielder starting on their men's team that had been discovered as a women's team practice player a few years back.

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Fraud and deception. Women's college sports lose money all across the board.

[Unregistered]

Great article, and the answer to the initial question is: Yes, one of the reasons that teams have larger rosters is to expand the female numbers and offset the number of male athletes to bring the perception of compliance with Title IX. It may not be the only reason, but it is something that many coaches are encouraged to consider. BTW, don't be surprised to see someone post here that they are a coach and they know nothing about this practice. The post may be true - but as the article shows the practice is common and is utilized by many schools in all segments of the D1 world (Ivy to Sunbelt!!)

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Just another example of what a joke the NCAA is. Certainly ultimate enforcement of Title IX is left with the Justice Dept., but when it is clear that member schools look for any possible loophole to avoid strict compliance with the spirit (if not the letter) of the rules - and there is rarely any legitimate consequence to anything but egregious violations - then why complain. It is just business as usual in college sports.

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At some schools, there are competitive cheer teams ...

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True. Large women and lots and lots of them.

Any programs have male practice players of their squads?

Providence College uses male practice players

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So, as we know, colleges have to comply with Title 9 and colleges force coaches of women's team to carry big rosters in order to comply with needed head counts. And this is wrong how? Would it make you feel better if they created another womens only team in another sport? Like bowling? I don't see what the issue is. Would it stink to be the 28th or 29th player on the roster? Yes. But I think you know going in that you are that low on the depth chart and its your choice to go to that school. Not much different than being the 20th player on an ECNL team's roster is it? No its not any different.

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The issue, in general, when it comes to soccer (let's be specific) is when a college actively RECRUITS all of those players and gets to a roster of 27-30 players. If players are at a school and decide to "try out" for a team, and the coach takes them on to add practice players or because one of them turns out to be an overlooked diamond in the rough, that is a completely different thing.

Recruiting that many players is criticized because many times there is a serious lack of honesty on the coach's part during the process. There is no way, no way at all, that any team will use on a (regular basis) more than 20 players, and that is a very generous amount.

Also, many of the programs that are guilty of recruiting and "promising" spots to this high number of players are DIII. Where DI coaches face the issue of having to recruit earlier and earlier to keep up with the trends, DIII coaches many times recruit just to keep players away from conference rivals, whether they really fit in their needs for that year or not. Think the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry - we may not need that player, but there is no way we can afford for him to go to the Yankees. With DIII it doesn't cost anything to bring in as many as you can get, especially since you can have a "travel" squad so your don't increase cost, so if you don't have an Athletic Director overlooking your recruiting practices you find programs with big rosters, disgruntled players, and many kids transferring out or quitting the sport.

In terms of male practice players, many basketball programs use them to help train their players against bigger and stronger opponents during practice. There are NCAA restrictions on when they can be used, how they are used (can't be in place of a rostered player who suddenly gets no reps in practice), etc. The restriction that really needs to be set to cut down on this dishonesty with Title IX is on reporting them as female athletes.

BTW, I am a DIII coach and I also am responsible for compliance, so I do speak from some experience.

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Women's college sports lose money all across the board.

As do almost all men's college sports teams.

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As do almost all men's college sports teams.

But the men's football men's basketball, and men's hockey, even considered singularly, usually bring in more than all women's sports combined

my child benefits from Title 9, but it is a friggin joke....more Oprah-type wussification of America

[Unregistered]

The issue, in general, when it comes to soccer (let's be specific) is when a college actively RECRUITS all of those players and gets to a roster of 27-30 players. If players are at a school and decide to "try out" for a team, and the coach takes them on to add practice players or because one of them turns out to be an overlooked diamond in the rough, that is a completely different thing.

Recruiting that many players is criticized because many times there is a serious lack of honesty on the coach's part during the process. There is no way, no way at all, that any team will use on a (regular basis) more than 20 players, and that is a very generous amount.

Also, many of the programs that are guilty of recruiting and "promising" spots to this high number of players are DIII. Where DI coaches face the issue of having to recruit earlier and earlier to keep up with the trends, DIII coaches many times recruit just to keep players away from conference rivals, whether they really fit in their needs for that year or not. Think the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry - we may not need that player, but there is no way we can afford for him to go to the Yankees. With DIII it doesn't cost anything to bring in as many as you can get, especially since you can have a "travel" squad so your don't increase cost, so if you don't have an Athletic Director overlooking your recruiting practices you find programs with big rosters, disgruntled players, and many kids transferring out or quitting the sport.

In terms of male practice players, many basketball programs use them to help train their players against bigger and stronger opponents during practice. There are NCAA restrictions on when they can be used, how they are used (can't be in place of a rostered player who suddenly gets no reps in practice), etc. The restriction that really needs to be set to cut down on this dishonesty with Title IX is on reporting them as female athletes.

BTW, I am a DIII coach and I also am responsible for compliance, so I do speak from some experience.

Thanks for your post- wish there were more informed and experienced posters on here like you.

[Unregistered]

But the men's football men's basketball, and men's hockey, even considered singularly, usually bring in more than all women's sports combined

my child benefits from Title 9, but it is a friggin joke....more Oprah-type wussification of America

How is ensuring opportunities to female student-athletes a wussification of America? If there were more Athletic Directors and college Presidents that did the right thing without having being told to, there would not be a need for the legislation.

And how does what money is brought in have anything to do with whether opportunity should be provided?

Wait, what's that sound I hear...kinda' sounds like knuckles dragging on the ground...