ncaa w bb white paper

7/29/2019 Ncaa w Bb White Paper

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DIVISIONIWOMENSBASKETBALLWHITEPAPER

PREPAREDFORTHENCAA

BYVALACKERMAN

JUNE15,2013


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INTRODUCTION

ThisreportisasummaryofinformationIhavegatheredoverthepastsixmonthsconcerningthestateofNCAADivisionIwomensbasketball,togetherwithmy

recommendationsaboutstepsthatcouldbetakenbytheNCAA,conferences,institutionsandotherkeystakeholderstobetterpositionthesportforcontinuedgrowthinthefuture.Thereportwascompiledonthebasisof:historicaldata;interviewsIconductedwithpeopleknowledgeableaboutwomenscollegebasketball,womensbasketballorbasketballingeneral;observationsImadeinconnectionwithgamesandrelatedeventsIeitherattendedorwatchedontelevision;informationculledfrompressreports;feedbackIreceivedduringvariousmeetingsIattendedwithNCAAstaffand/orotherstakeholders;andmypriorexperienceswithwomensbasketball(includingtheWNBA,USABasketballandFIBA)andotherwomenssports.AlistofmyintervieweesasofthedateofthisreportisattachedasExhibit1.

Ihavedividedthisreportintotwosections.ThefirstprovidesanassessmentofthecurrentstateofNCAADivisionIwomensbasketball,includingasummaryofcommentsmadebymyinterviewees.ThissectionalsocontainsmyanalysisofthestrengthsandweaknessofDivisionIwomensbasketballand,inmyopinion,theareasthatshouldbeaddressedasthesportlookstobuildonitsexistingfoundationandembarkonanewgrowthphase.Thesecondsectionofthereportcontainspotentialactionsand/orchangesthatIbelievetheleadersinDivisionIwomensbasketballshouldconsideraspartofthemanagementofthesportoverthenext5-7years(i.e.,throughthe2019-20

academicyear).IhaveentitledthissectionofthereportVision2020.Manyofthepointscontainedinthisreportrelatetothecommercialchallengesandopportunitiesnowbeforewomenscollegebasketball.WhileIamawarethatthecreepofprofessionalisminintercollegiateathleticsiscauseforconcernforsome,IbelievethatabettercommercialpositionforwomensbasketballisnotonlycompatiblewiththeNCAAseducationalmission,butcanenhanceit,andthatamoreaggressiveapproachtorevenuegrowthandthebusinessofwomenscollegebasketballshouldbeundertakentothisend.PerdiscussionswithNCAAstaff,thisreportdoesnotcontainadetailedanalysisof

thefollowingsubjects:

DivisionIIorDivisionIIIwomensbasketball.DuetothevolumeofissuessurroundingDivisionIwomensbasketball,Ihavelimitedthescopeofmyreporttothatdivisiononly.GiventhelargenumberofDivisionIIandIIIprograms,however,theNCAAshouldconsiderundertakingafocusedstudyofthoseprogramsasaseparatePhase2exercise.


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Officiating.ItismyunderstandingthatotherswithintheNCAAgovernancestructure(specifically,theWCBOBoardofManagersanditsMechanicsCommittee)arecurrentlyinvolvedinreviewingandassessingthisarea.However,becauseasubstantialnumberofintervieweesidentifiedthequalityofofficiatingasanongoingpriorityforthesport,Ihaveincludedselected

observationsinmyanalysis.

Student-athletewelfareissues.AlthoughIreceivedsomecomments(principallyfromcoaches)concerningtheexperienceofwomensbasketballstudent-athletes,Ididnotundertakeanin-depthanalysisofkeytopicsinthisarea(e.g.,graduationrates,injurytrendsandtransferissues).ThesesubjectsmayalsolendthemselvestofurtherreviewortoaseparatestudytotheextentnotcurrentlyaddressedbyotherswithintheNCAAmembership.


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SECTION1


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ASSESSMENTOFDIVISIONIWOMENSBASKETBALL

I.PROGRESSIONOVERPAST30YEARS

WomenscollegebasketballhasmadetremendousstridessincethesportwasaddedtotheNCAAchampionshipprogramforthe1981-82schoolyear.In1982,9,000student-athletescompetedonwomensbasketballteamsattheintercollegiatelevel;in2013,morethan15,000womenparticipatedinthesportacrosstheNCAAsthreedivisions.Attendanceandmediainterestinwomenscollegebasketballisnowwellestablished,asDivisionIregularseasonandNCAAtournamentgamesattractmorefansandviewersthananyotherwomensintercollegiatesport.Thisyearalone,theWomensFinalFourchampionshipgamewasseenbymorethan2.3milliondomesticviewers,broadcastonover250radiostations,distributedtotelevisionoutletsinnearly200countries,and

coveredbymorethan600credentialedmediamembers.Despitetheseandotheraccomplishments,womenscollegebasketballsoverallgrowthasaspectatorsporthasslowedoverthelastdecade.Attendanceandratingfiguresrevealrespectablelevelsoffansupportcomparedwithmanyothersportsproperties,buttherehasbeenanabsenceofimprovement(andinsomecasesdeclines)inrecentyearsinimportantmeasuresofinterestduringboththeregularseasonandthetournament.Inaddition,whilethenumberofstudent-athletesplayingthegamehasincreasedsignificantlyoverthepast30years,thenumberofprogramsachievingcompetitivesuccessonanationalscaleremainsrelativelysmall.Since1982,only25ofthenow343DIschoolshave

madeoneormoreWFFappearances,and7schoolshave40combinedappearancesamongthem.Historicalstatisticaltrendsalsoshowlong-termdeclinesinshootingandscoring,whichmayhaveimplicationsforfuturespectatorappeal.Summariesofkeydataintheareasdescribedaboveappearbelow.

A.Regularseasonattendancefortop-drawingprogramssince1999-2000

Duringthe1999-2000NCAAseason,whichwasthefirstseasonforwhichthe

NCAAreportedcumulativeattendanceforwomensbasketballprograms,fourDivisionIschoolsaveragedmorethan10,000fanspergame(Tennesseeat15,341;TexasTechat12,741;Connecticutat11,632;andIowaStateat11,184).Twenty-sevenadditionalschoolsaveragedbetween3,000and10,000fanspergame,thebulkofthem(18)inthe3-5,000range.Betweenthe2000-01and2006-07seasons,womenscollegebasketballsawmodestbutclearfangrowth:fourorfiveDIschoolsperyearduringthatperiod


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averagedmorethan10,000fanspergame,androughly30-35additionalprogramsperyearhadattendanceaveragesbetween3,000and10,000.Between2007-08and2011-12,thetop-drawingprogramssawdeclines,asonlytwoschoolsperyearaveragedmorethan10,000pergameduringthattimeperiod.However,thenumberofschoolsaveragingbetween3,000and10,000

fanspergameremainedfairlyconstant,withahighof38schoolsinthisrangein2007-08.Duringthe2012-13NCAAseason,onlyoneDIschoolaveragedmorethan10,000fanspergame(Tennesseeat11,390).Thisfigurewasmorethan3,000fanspergamefewerthanTennesseesaveragetheyearbeforeandrepresentedthelowestaverageforthetop-drawingschoolsincetheNCAAsreportingbegan.Sixteenadditionalschoolsaveragedmorethan5,000fanspergame(twofewerthantheprecedingseason),andanother19schoolsaveragedmorethan3,000fans(onefewerthan2011-12),foratotalof35schoolsinthe3-10,000range.Giventhesetrends,thetaskofre-stimulatingattendancegrowthandincreasing

thepoolofprogramsatboththe10,000+and5,000+levelsisaclearpriorityforthesport.Attheotherendofthespectrum,205schoolsfinishedthe2012-13regularseasonwithanaverageoffewerthan1,000fanspergame,and90programsaveragedlessthan500.Accordingly,roomforgrowthappearstoexistatallprogramtiers.TheBig12conferencehasconsistentlyledtheNCAAinattendanceoverthepastseveralyears,averagingintheneighborhoodof5,000fanspergameperschool.TheBig10andSECschoolshavegenerallyaveragedintherangeof4,000fans

pergame,followedbytheoldBigEast(around3,000);theACC(around2,500);andtheMountainWestandPac-12(around2,000).Withrespecttoaudiencecomposition,theNCAAcommissionedTaylorResearchin2011toconductafanstudythatincludedanassessmentofthein-arenademographicsforwomenscollegebasketballgames.Basedonthesamplingused,thestudyestablishedthefollowingdemographicprofile:

Femalesoutnumbermales56%to44% 53%are50andolder(ofthisnumber,30%are60andolder) 71%areCaucasian 53%havecompletedcollegeorgraduateschool 70%earnlessthan$75,000/year

Summariesoftheyear-by-yearattendancefiguresforthepastfiveseasonsandotherdemographichighlightsfromtheTaylorstudyareattachedasExhibit2.


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B.NCAAtournamentattendancesince1982

Duringthe2013DIwomenstournament,anaverageof4,850fansattendedgamesinthefirstandsecondrounds.Althoughthisfigurerepresentedanincreaseof957fanspersessionoverthe2012tournament,itwasonlythe12th

highestfirstandsecondroundsessionaveragesincethetournamentbeganin1982.Thehighestdrawingyearsforthefirstandsecondroundswereasfollows:2004:6,6972002:6,6552001:6,5252003:6,3821999:6,2462000:6,244

2008:5,8512005:5,6501998:5,5441996:5,4151997:4,9522013:4,850

Duringthe2013tournamentregionalround,anaverageof7,100fansattendedeachoftheeightsessions.Althoughthisfigurerepresentedanincreaseof956fanspersessionoverthe2012tournament,itwasonlythe10thhighestregionalaveragesincethetournamentbegan.Thehighestdrawingyearsfortheregionalroundwereasfollows:2003:9,2241998:9,0072001:8,7702011:8,503

2004:8,494

1999:8,1441993:7,9862006:7,6951995:7,436

2013:7,100

Inaddition,twosecondroundgamesinthe2013tournamentdrewlessthan1,500fans(1,358inColumbusand1,114inQueens).Ingeneral,decliningattendanceatfirst/secondgamesandregionalgameshasbecomeaprimaryconcernforNCAAstakeholders.

The2013WomensFinalFouraveraged17,545fanspersession.Althoughtechnicallyasell-out,someseatsduringeachsessionwereunoccupied,andtheaveragerepresentedthesecond-lowestchampionshipsessionaveragesince

1999.However,becausetheWFFhasbeenplayedperiodicallyindomedstadiums,resultinginsessionattendanceaveragesinthe28-29,000rangeonthoseoccasions,itisdifficulttodrawcomparisonstoaveragesinyearsinwhichthechampionshipisplayedinanNBA-sizedarena,aswasthecasein2013.AlthoughtheWomensFinalFourisconsideredamarqueeevent,theeventdidnotselloutin2011inIndianapolis(whereaconventionalarenawasused),andtheneedforperiodicadjustmentswithrespecttopricing,thesizeofteamticket


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blocks,thesaleofsinglesessiontickets,theextentofcommunitygroupdistributionsandotherstrategiesisongoing.

Thetotalsessionaverageforallroundsofthe2013tournamentwas5,466,whichwasthe17thhighestoverallsessionaveragesincethetournamentbegan.

Thetournamentsrecordaveragesessionhighwas7,996in2003(theWFFthatyearwasplayedintheGeorgiaDome).

AsummaryofthetournamentsattendancehistoryisattachedasExhibit3.

C.GrowthinnumberoftelevisedgamesDuringthe2012-13NCAAregularseason,797womenscollegebasketballgameswerebroadcastovernationalcableoutlets(includingESPN,ESPN2,ESPNU,FoxSportsNetworkandCBSSportsNetwork);regionalsports

networks;conferencenetworks(includingBTNandPac-12Network);andweb-basednetworks(includingESPN3,horizonleague.comandbtn.com).ESPNsoverallregularseasoncoveragethisyearencompassedarecord-high130games,includinggamesonESPN(1game);ESPN2(35games,arecordhigh);andESPNU(26games).Inaddition,98gamesweremadeavailablethroughESPN3,triplingthenumberofgamesshownonthatmediumayearago.ESPNalsooffersprogrammingacrossitsnetworksforthewomensconferencetournaments(atotalof44gamesonESPN,ESPN2,ESPNUandESPN3)andtheNCAAtournamentselectionannouncement.Italsoprovidesfeatures,analysis

andothercontentonespnw.comthroughouttheseason.

FortheNCAAtournament,ESPNhasairedall63gamesonESPN,ESPN2orESPN3forthepast10years.ESPN3offersfirstandsecondroundcoverageonly.Beginningwiththeregionalsemi-finals,alltournamentgameshavetelecastwindowsoneitherESPNorESPN2.ThecoveragetheESPNnetworksprovideforwomenscollegebasketballissignificantlymorethanthatofferedformostotherintercollegiatesports,mensorwomens.

Acompletesummaryofthecumulative2013-13regularseasontelevisionandwebcoverageofNCAAwomensbasketballisattachedasExhibit4,together

withfurtherdetailsofESPNscoverage.

D.ProgressionofregularseasonratingsonESPN/ESPN2

TheregularseasonratingsforwomenscollegebasketballonESPNhavebeeninconsistent.Onlyahandfulofgameshaveairedonthisnetwork


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overthepasttenyears,soconclusionsaredifficulttodraw.Theprogressionsince2003-04hasbeenasfollows:2003-04(2games):0.192004-05(2games):0.28

2005-06:Noregularseasongamesaired2006-07(2games):0.562007-08(2games):0.282008-09(3games):0.402009-10(1game):0.492010-11(1game):0.302011-12(4games):0.532012-13(1game):0.44

OnESPN2,theratingsnumbersaresteadierbuthavehitlowpointsthelasttwoseasons.Theprogressionsince2004-05hasbeenasfollows:

2004-05(22games):0.282005-06(25games):0.302006-07(24games):0.272007-08(27games):0.312008-09(30games):0.322009-10(30games):0.252010-11(28games):0.342011-12(25games):0.222012-13(29games):0.23

Forthepastfourseasons,maleviewershaverepresentedroughly62%oftheviewerbaseforgamesshownonESPN2.OnbothESPNandESPN2,thestrongestregularseasontelevisiondemographicgroupisconsistentlymen55yearsofageandolder.

E.NCAAtournamentratingssince2004

NCAAwomenstournamentviewershipaverageshavebeenrelativelyconsistentsince2004,withvariancesintheWomensFinalFournumbersdependingforthemostpartonthecompetingteams.ESPNsaverage

tournamentratingforallgames(includingthesemi-finalandchampionshipgames)hasrangedfromalowof1.04(for14gamesin2007)toahighof1.46(for17gamesin2004).ESPN2stournamentaveragehasrangedfromalowof0.40(for16gamesin2011)toahighof0.58(for16gamesin2008).Thenumbersforthe2013tournamentwere1.22forESPN(11games)and0.44forESPN2(16games).


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FortheWomensFinalFourchampionshipgame,whichisshownonESPN,theratingsprogressionsince2004hasbeenasfollows:2004(Connecticutvs.Tennessee): 4.282005(Baylorvs.MichiganState): 2.64

2006(Marylandvs.Duke): 3.052007(Tennesseevs.Rutgers): 2.302008(Tennesseevs.Stanford): 2.982009(Louisvillevs.Connecticut): 2.092010(Stanfordvs.Connecticut): 2.672011(NotreDamevs.TexasA&M): 2.802012(Baylorvs.NotreDame): 3.172013(Connecticutvs.Louisville): 2.36

Bywayofcomparison,theratingsforthe2012NCAAchampionshipgamesforwomenssoccerandwomensvolleyball,andforthedecidinggamein

womenssoftball,weresignificantlylower,asfollows:Softball: 0.65(ESPN)Volleyball: 0.54(ESPN2)Soccer: 0.04(ESPNU)SummariesofhistoricalregularseasonandtournamentratingsonESPNandESPN2areattachedasExhibit5.

F.Regularseasonshootingpercentages(2PT,3PTandFT)since1981-82

Althoughwomensbasketballisoftenlaudedforitsdisplayoffundamentallysoundskilllevels,shootingandscoringinNCAADivisionIwomensbasketballhave,infact,progressivelydeterioratedsincethesportcameundertheNCAAumbrellain1981-82.Theaveragefieldgoalpercentagewas43.4%in1981-82andreachedanall-timehighof44.2%in1985-86beforebeginningadownwardprogressionthroughthe90sand00s.Duringthe2012-13regularseason,theaveragefieldgoalpercentagehitanall-timelowof38.9%,afull4.5percentagepointslowerthanthe1981-82figure.Three-pointshootinghasalsodeterioratedsincetheinceptionofthe3-point

lineinwomenscollegebasketballin1987-88.DIprogramsshotanaverageof33.6%from3-pointrangethatseason;thispastseason,thatnumberhadfallento30.57%,anall-timelow.Scoringisalsodown,asthepointspergameaverageperteamfellto62.12in2012-13,nearlyeightpointsfewerthanin1981-82andanotherall-timelow.Foulshooting,incontrast,hasimprovedfromanaveragelowof64.7%in1981-82to68.98%thispastseason.Turnovershavealsodecreasedfrom18.86perteampergamein2001-02(thefirstseasonthisstatisticwascompiled)to16.92in2012-13.


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AsummaryofhistoricalbasketballstatisticaltrendsforDIwomensbasketballsince1981-82isattachedasExhibit6.

II. CURRENTGOVERNANCEANDMANAGEMENTSTRUCTUREVariousentitiesarecurrentlyinvolvedinthegovernanceandmanagementofwomenscollegebasketball.Insomecases,theresponsibilitiesoftheseentitiesarenotclearlydefinedorappeartooverlapwiththerolesofothergroups.Inaddition,theredoesnotappeartobeamechanismtoensurethatthevariousNCAAwomensbasketballcommitteescommunicatefullyorregularlywitheachother.Finally,certainsubjectsthatmaybeofincreasingimportancetothefutureofwomenscollegebasketball(suchasmarketingandrevenuegeneration)donotappeartobeaddressedinaconcertedwaybyanyentityorcommittee.

Thecurrentwomensbasketballgovernanceentitiesincludethefollowing:

A. DivisionIWomensBasketballCommittee

PerNCAAby-laws,thiscommitteehastheauthoritytoestablishchampionshipselectioncriteria.Comprisedof10members(sixFBSandfourFCSorDIsubdivision),eachservingfive-yearstaggeredterms.

B. DivisionIWomensBasketballIssuesCommittee

PerNCAAby-laws,thiscommitteeshallensureappropriateoversightofwomensbasketballismaintained,withemphasisonrecruitingactivities,enhancethedevelopmentandpublicperceptionofthesportandmakerecommendationsonpolicyissuesunrelatedtolegislativeandplayingruleschanges.Comprisedof16votingmembers(eightFBS;sixFCSorDIsubdivision;

andtwostudent-athletes,oneeachfromFBSandFCS/DI).OneFBSslotandoneFCS/DIslotmustgotocoaches.OneWomensBasketballCommitteememberservesexofficio.

C. WomensBasketballRulesCommittee

PerNCAAby-laws,subjecttothefinalauthorityofthePlayingRulesOversightpanel,thiscommitteeshallestablishandmaintainrulesof


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playinitssportconsistentwiththesoundtraditionsofthesportandofsuchcharacterastoensuregoodsportsmanshipandsafeparticipationbythecompetitors.TheserulesshallbecommonforalldivisionsoftheAssociation,anddifferencesamongthedivisionsshallnotbepermitted,exceptforthedivision-specificplayingregulationsdevelopedto

addresssignificantfinancialimpactandapprovedbythedivisionsandthePlayingRulesOversightPanel.Playingrulescommitteesshallhavetheauthoritytopermitrulesexperimentationinthenontraditional/nonchampionshipseasonwithPlayingRulesOversightPanelapproval.ExperimentationintheregularseasonshallbesubjecttoPlayingRulesOversightPanelreview.Comprisedof13members(sixDI;threeDII;threeDIII;andonenon-votingsecretary-ruleseditor).

D. WomensCollegeBasketballOfficiating,LLC(WCBO)BoardofManagersThiscommittee(whichhasacounterpartonthemensside)wasestablishedin2010aspartofacollaborativeeffortbetweentheCCAandNCAA.Thestatedpurposeistoimprovecollegebasketballofficiating,increasethelevelofaccountabilityandenhancethelevelofconsistencyduringtheregularseasonandpost-seasoncompetition.Comprisedof14votingmanagersandfourexofficiomanagers,eachservingfour-yearterms.

E. WCBOMechanicsCommittee

Thiscommitteewasestablishedin2010asasubcommitteeoftheWCBOBoardofManagers.Itsprimaryfunctionistoreviewandrevise,onanannualbasis,theofficiatingmechanics(e.g.,officialscoverageareas,officialspositioning,officiatingprocedures,etc.)andupdatethe[CCA]WomensBasketballOfficiatingManual.Comprisedof7members(fourDI,oneDII,oneDIIIandonenationalcoordinator).

F. WCBOCompetitionCommittee

ThiscommitteeisasecondsubcommitteeoftheWCBOBoardofManagers.ItsprimaryfunctionistoserveinanadvisoryroletotheNCAAWomensBasketballRulesCommittee.ItmayalsosubmitrecommendationstoothergroupsintheNCAAgovernancestructureandshallbeguidedbytheprincipleofincreasingthe


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relevancyofthegameanditsinteresttofans.Thecommitteeshallprovidediverseandstrategicperspectivesrelativetothegameofcollegiatewomensbasketball,includingcollaborativeeffortswithprofessionalandinternationalplayingrulesinitiatives.Thecommitteeshallengageinstrategicdiscussionsregardingthegame,whatthe

gameshalllooklikeintheshorttermandlongtermandhowtheplayingrulescaninfluencethestrategicvisionofthegame.Thesestrategicplayingrulesconceptsshallserveasasignificantgrowthcatalystforthegame.TheCompetitionCommitteehasestablishedthreeworkinggroupsofitsowntoaddressthefollowingareas:(1)flowofthegameandmanagingphysicality;(2)imageandrespectforthegame/marketingandbranding;and(3)youthdevelopment/keyfundamentals.Comprisedof12members(fourat-large,threeWCBOmanagers,and

fiveexofficiofromothercommittees).

G. CommitteeonWomensAthleticsPerNCAAby-laws,thiscommitteeprovidesleadershipandassistancetothemembershipoftheNCAAinitseffortstoprovideequitableopportunities,fairtreatmentandrespectforallwomeninallaspectsofintercollegiateathletics.Goalsofthecommitteeincludeincreas[ing]opportunitiesforfemalestudent-athletes,coachesandadministration;assist[ing]theAssociationinachievinggenderequityandcomplyingwithTitleIX;andincreas[ing]marketing,

licensing,andpromotions/publicrelationsandopportunitiesforwomen(sic).TheregularitywithwhichthisCommitteedealswithissuesspecifictowomensbasketballisunclear.Comprisedof18members(sixDI,sixDIIandsixDIII).

H. WomensBasketballCoachesAssociation(WBCA)

TheWBCAwasestablishedin1981.Peritswebsite,itsmissionistopromotewomensbasketballbyunifyingcoachesatalllevelstodevelopareputableidentityforthesportofwomensbasketballandto

fosterandpromotethedevelopmentofthegameofbasketballasasportforwomenandgirls.Tothisend,theWBCAprovideseducation,networkingopportunities,informationandnews,legislativeupdatesand[serves]asthevoiceofthemembershiptotheNCAA.


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Membershipextendstocollegiate,highschool,juniorhighschool,club,youth,national,internationalandOlympiccoaches,aswellasformerplayers,membersofthemedia,sportsinformationdirectors,officialsandfansofthesport.In2013,2,300registrantsattendedtheWBCAsannualconvention,whichisstagedattheWomensFinalFour.

TheWNBAisgovernedbya26-personBoardofDirectors(includingasix-personexecutivecommittee)andhascommitteestoaddressthefollowingareas:awardsselection;votingfortheTop25poll;assistantcoachconcerns;malecoachconcerns;andethics.

I. NCAAnationaloffice

TheNCAAsnationalstaffisresponsibleformanagingthelogisticaldetailsofthetournament,including:interfacingwiththelocal

organizingcommittee;assistingwithtournamentpromotionsexecutedbyNCAAcorporatepartners;credentialingandmanagingmediarepresentatives;andassigningrefereesforeachtournamentgame.Thenationalstaffalsoprovidesresearchservicesandassiststhevariouswomensbasketballcommitteesinthefulfillmentoftheirrespectiveresponsibilities.

J. Conferenceoffices

EachDivisionIconferenceofficeisresponsibleforoverseeingregularseasonscheduling,theassignmentofreferees,andtheadministration

ofthepost-seasonconferencetournamentforthewomensbasketballprogramsofitsmemberschools.Conferenceofficesmayalsoassisttheirmemberschoolsinotherareas(suchasticketsalesandpromotionalstrategies)onacase-by-casebasis.

SummariesofthecompositionofthevariousmembershipcommitteesdescribedaboveareattachedasExhibit7.

III.PRIORNCAAWOMENSBASKETBALLSTUDIES

Duringmyinquiry,Iwasadvisedthatcirca2000,theWomensBasketballIssuesCommitteeatthattimehadundertakenacomprehensivestudyofissuespertainingtothegrowthofwomensbasketball.Unfortunately,despitethebesteffortsofNCAAstaff,acopyofthecommitteesreportcouldnotbelocated.


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Inanefforttostimulatethevisibilityofwomenscollegebasketballandimproveattendanceatgames,theNCAAnationalofficeconductedaseparatebrandingstudybetween2004and2006.Thestudysoughttomoreclearlydefinethesportsfanbaseanddeterminewhatmotivatesfanstocometogames.Followingthisexercise,amarketingand

promotionalcampaignwasdevelopedinconjunctionwiththe25thanniversaryoftheNCAAwomensbasketballtournamentin2006.Thecampaign,whichcoincidedwiththestartofthe2006-07season,wasshort-lived,butconsiderableworkwasdonetoidentifybrandattributesthatarespecifictowomenscollegebasketball,todeveloptoolsandresourcestoassistinstitutionswiththeirlocalmarketingandpromotionefforts,andtodevelopanationalmarketinginitiativeforusebytheNCAA,conferencesandschools(thetaglinechosenwasAllDay.EveryDay.OurGame.).Asreferencedearlierinthisreport,theNCAAcommissionedTaylor

Researchtoconductastudyin2011aspartofanadditionalefforttoincreasethefanbaseforD1womensbasketball.Thestudyexploredbarrierstofanavidityandsuggestedmethodstobothattractnewfanstothesportandrecapturelapsedfans.Copiesofmaterialsrelatingtoboththe2006and2011studiesareattachedtothisreportasExhibit8.

IV.SUMMARYOFFEEDBACKFROMINTERVIEWEES

Asignificantportionmyinquiryconsistedofinterviewswithindividualswhowork(orpreviouslyworked)inwomenscollegebasketballasacoachoradministrator,togetherwithotherindividualswhomIthoughtwouldbringarelevantand/orprovocativeperspectivetomyanalysis.TheintervieweesincludedNCAAstaff;commissionersfrombothBCSandmid-majorconferences;otherconferenceofficials(includingthosewithprincipalresponsibilityfortheirconferenceswomensbasketballprograms);athleticdirectorsandotherseniorathleticofficialsatNCAAinstitutions;televisionexecutivesandannouncers;representativesfromtheprintmedia;representativesfromotherbasketballorganizations;andrepresentativesfromotherorganizationsinthesportsindustry.

Ialsoparticipatedinthreein-personmeetingsoftheNCAADivisionIWomensBasketballCommittee;onein-personmeetingoftheWCBOBoardofManagers;fourconferencecallsoftheWCBOCompetitionCommittee,onwhichIhaveservedsince2010asanat-largemember;oneconferencecallandonein-personmeetingofACCwomensbasketballcoaches;anin-personmeetingoftheWBCABoardofDirectors;anin-personmeetingoftheWBCAconferencecaptains;aconferencecalloftheWomensBasketball


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IssueCommittee;aconferencecalloftheBig12womensbasketballtaskforce;andfourone-hour,regionalconferencecallsarrangedbyNCAAstaffandreachingatotalofapproximately240representativesofNCAAconferencesandinstitutionsacrosstheU.S.Ialsoparticipatedinaseriesofcallsand/ormeetingswithrepresentativesfromESPNW,aleadingoutlet

withrespecttocoverageofwomenssportsandonwhoseAdvisoryPanelIhaveservedsince2012.Myinterviewsroutinelytouchedonawiderangeofsubjects,andthefeedbackIreceivedwasuniversallythoughtful,passionateanddetailed.MyprincipalobservationfromtheinterviewsisthatthereisatremendousappetiteforchangeinthewayDivisionIwomensbasketballisplayed,marketedandmanaged.Inmanycases,thecommentsIreceivedweretingedwithfrustration,asitwasnotedthatsomeoftheideasnowbeingdiscussedhavebeenkickingaroundforyears,demonstratingthedifficultyofmakingchangewithintheNCAAsystem.NooneIspokewithadvocated

alaissez-fairorwaitandseeapproachtowomensbasketball;theoverridingsentimentwasthatchangesofsomekindwereclearlyinorderandthatthetimeforactionisnow.ThefeedbackIreceivedcanbegroupedintofiveprimarycategories:A. Adesireforaclearvisionandaconsensusaboutprioritiesas

womenscollegebasketballismanagedgoingforward;

B. Adesiretoreview,andpotentiallyreform,theoverallgovernanceandmanagementstructureofthesportsothattherolesofthe

stakeholdersareclarifiedandtheprocessofgeneratingideas,sharinginformation,gainingconsensusandmakingdecisionsisstreamlined;

C. Aconcernaboutthequalityofthewomenscollegegame,whichat

timessuffersfromexcessivephysicality,lowscoringandwidegapsinparity,aswellastheoverallimageofthesport,whichsomeperceiveasincreasinglynegative;

D. Adesireforincreasedgameattendanceandrevenuessothatthe

student-athleteexperienceisenhanced,theappearanceoftelevisedgamesisimproved,andabetterfinancialreturncanbeproducedat

thenationalandinstitutionallevels;and

E. Adesiretoensurethattheoverallexperienceofthestudent-athletesisoptimizedandthedemandsofthesportareinlinewithothereducationalpriorities.


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Thefollowingisasamplingofcommentsfromtheinterviews,whichprovideadditionalcontextforeachofthepointsabove:A.Clearvision

Needmoreenergyaroundthesport;sporthashitaplateau;sportis

flat,stuck,atastandstill,goingbackwards

Everyoneisdoingtheirownthingwithoutanoverallstrategy;needtodevelopasenseofsolidarity,asharedvision,anenvisionedfuture,aunityofpurpose

Wehavetogetawayfromdoingthingsjustbecausethemendothem;womensbasketballisadistinctsportthatneedsitsownidentityseparateandapartfromthemen

Whatsrightforthemenisntnecessarilywhatsrightforthewomen

Bestwaytobeequitableistotreatpeopledifferently

NoonewouldstaycommittedtothesportwithoutTitleIX

Sportneedstobeviewedasaproduct,notacause;needtomovefromanadministrativemindsettoagrowthdirectionmindset

Sportisamarqueesportbutprematurelymature;hasapenthouse

withoutagroundfloor

Piecemealapproachtothesportisdoingnogood

NeedtocomeupwithafewboldthingsaWoodstock;easiertomarketathunderstormthanadrizzle;workingatthemarginsnottheanswer;needchangesdesignedtogetpeopletalking

Needtoblowupandturnloose;clearthecanvas

Sportisataforkintheroadmoment;statusquoisnotanoption;needacalltoactionandbold,innovativeaction

Womensbasketballcommunityneedstostepupanddemonstrateinitiativeandlayoutwhattheyrepreparedtodoandnotjustaskwhatsgoingtobedoneforthem

Trajectoryjusthastobeup;anythingaboveflatwouldbegood


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Sportneedstolookatthelongerhorizon;todaywilltakecareofitself,sothinkinghastobeabouttomorrow

Howdoweevolvetothenextphase?

Noeasyanswers;nocutanddriedformulas,noguarantees

Sportneedstobecomefunagain

Bringusbacktowhywefellinlovewiththissport30yearsago

B.Governanceandmanagement

Whosincharge?

Sportneedsonevoice;benevolentdictatormighthelp

Somebodydecidesomethingandletsgowithit

Managementstructureneedstobesquaredawayfirstbeforeotherthingscanbeaddressed

Toomanypeopleareinvolvedinrunningthesport;toomuchdifficultymovinganideathroughthesystem;bythetimeanideagetsflushedthroughthesystem,itswatereddownandthemomenthaspassed

Sporthastoomanysilos,lotsofcommitteesthatoperateindependently

Needtode-bureaucratizethegovernancestructure

Nosenseofpushingorcoordinationwhenitcomestomakingchanges

Wevecreatedasubspeciesofcompliance,governanceandcommittees

thatparalyzesus;ourmembershipisafrightfultruthbutwewontletitgo

Needtoengagebroadermembership;top-downapproachwontwork

SWAsoftenplaythegenderequitycardinsteadofdoinghardworkneededtobuildthebase


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C.Qualityofthegame

Needtofocusontheproductifitsgood,peoplewillwanttowatch

NeedtomaketheproductmorecompellingsoitsabetterTVsport;marketingisonlylipstickonapigunlessthegameischanged

Gameistoophysical,toorough;playerscantfinishshots;needtocleanthegameup;excessivecontactishurtingthegame

Needtogetscoringup,openupthegame,speedupthegame,free

upthepointguards,protecttheshooters,allowguardstoshowtheirskills

Womensbasketballisbeautiful,fluid;gameatitsbestispure,featurescomradery,sportsmanship,passionforthegame,rolemodels;

needtobringbacktheemphasisonballhandling,passingandshooting

Focusonskilllevel,sincewhatwecantdodoesntde-valuewhatwecando

Strengthtrainingcoachisthemostimportantpersononthestaff

Embarrassinghowfewteamslegitimatelycompeteatahighlevel;needbroadercompetitiveness;physicalityisinhibitingparity

Malepracticeplayersmakewomensplayerstrytoplaylikeguys,so

theypracticephysicalbasketball,whichishurtingthegame

Consideradditionalplayingruleschangesevenifnotadoptedbythemen

Shortageofqualifiedcoaches;Whosdevelopingthecoaches?

Officiatinghasntkeptupwiththeplaying

Officiatingistooinconsistent

Officialscalltoomanygames,sobytheendoftheyeartheyreexhaustedandlettoomanythingsgo

Baggyshortsandtattoosturnfansoff

Uniformsneedtobefashionable,hip,cool


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Volleyballseenasagrowingthreatforyoungplayersandathleticdepartmentdollars;maybeprosperingbecausenotlaboringundercomparisonswithmen

Poorcoachingandtoomanygamesatgrassrootslevelmeansplayers

gethurtmoreoftenanddontdevelopfundamentals

Needtore-claimbasketballasfirstoptionforyounggirls;experienceisoverwhelmingattheyouthlevelbecausetheyplaytoomanygames

Needtoaddressbigthingsfirstandstartwithchangestothe

tournament

Improvementstotournamentwillhavetrickle-downeffectonrestofsport;WomensFinalFourneedstobesoldlikeabowlgame;tournamentisthebellcowwhichbuoyseverythingelse;makeit

morevaluableandeverythingelsewillfollow

D.Attendanceandrevenues

Athleticdirectorsareundersiegeandconcernedbecausesportisnotgeneratingenoughbangforthebuck;resourcebattlesaregettingworse,notbetter

Womensbasketballcommunitywoulddoaserviceifwecouldcarryourownweight

Coacheshavebecomeoverentitled;contractsarenotsupportedbytherevenues

Factthatsportdoesntgeneraterevenuerelegatesittolesserstatus

WomensbasketballisstillanafterthoughttomostpeopleinpositionsofauthorityintheNCAAanditshows

Coachesarecriticaltothesaleseffort;theyneedtospendtimeinthecommunitiesbuildingthefanbase;coacheshavetotakeresponsibility;itstheirresponsibilitytogetpeopleinthearenas

Backboneofenthusiasminlocalmarketsisfondnessforcoaches,sinceplayerscomeandgo

Coachesneedtobecheerleaders,notintroverts;vacuumwithPatSummittgone;newcoachesneedtocapturetheimaginationoffans


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Sellingwomensbasketballisagrassrootsdeal

Cantexpectanyshortcuts;needtocreateapartyaroundeverygame

Needmorespecialevents;shouldbringgamestootherplacesandoffthewallvenues(likeCarrierClassic);needsomehooks

Increaseintelevisiontakesawayfromattendance;theremaybetoomanygamesonTV;nowhaveproliferationofbadbasketballontoomanynetworks

Needtolookatdaysandtimesgamesareplayed

GamesonTVaretoohardtofindforthecasualfan

Littlethingsthatarepublic-facingneedtobeaddressedfirst;needtomakeiteasyforfanstosupportthesport

Needmorehighcalibersportsbusinesspeopleinvolved

Sponsorswontspendincrementallyonwomensbasketball;needtoengagethemwithoutaskingthemtospendmore

Needtoeducatestudentsaboutthebigpicturesotheyunderstandtheirroleinthesaleseffort

WFFschedulingmeansNCAAsponsorsbypasstheeventaltogetherin

favorofthemenstournament;needtofigureouthowtogetthemtoactivatearoundthetournament

Needorganized,institutionalfund-raisingprogramsforwomensbasketballandallwomenssports;needformerwomensbasketballplayerstogivebacktotheirprograms

Needmorenationalmediacoverage:themorethenationalmediatalksaboutasportingeneral,thebetteritisforalltheschools

Havetopromotepersonalitiesandstories

NCAAwebsiteisawful

Inordertoattractfans,programsneedtowin,win,winorbeanunderdogpeoplecantresist


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Morestudentsneedtobefans;needtoreachouttoschoolsincommunitiestoattractfans

NotenoughcollaborationbetweencollegeprogramsandWNBAteamsinthesamecities

E.Student-athleteexperience

Student-athletesshowinggenerationaldifferences;wantitall;wantlesspracticetime,moretimeawayfromcoachesandbasketball;wanttoberegularstudents

Highlevelsofdepressionbecauseofstress

Concernsaboutinjuries(includingstressfracturesandACLtears)duetonon-stopplaying

Topplayersneedmoremediaandspeakingtrainingsotheycanbetterhandlethespotlight

Inresponsetomyrequestforinputwiththisstudy,theDivisionIWomensBasketballCommitteepreparedamemorandumdetailingsuggestedpriorities,performancemetricsandpotentialsolutionsrelatingtotheongoingmanagementofthesport.ManyofthepointsincludedintheCommitteesreportwereinlinewiththecommentslistedabove.AcopyoftheCommitteesmemoisattachedasExhibit9.

V.PRINCIPALSTRENGTHSANDOPPORTUNITIES

A. Overallpositionofthesport

Basketballis,bynearlyallmeasures,themostwellpositionedteamsportforgirlsandwomenintheUnitedStates.Noothersportmatchesbasketballintermsofgrassrootsparticipation,thenumberofprogramsandparticipantsatthehighschoollevel,thescopeandvisibilityofthesportattheintercollegiatelevel,thesuccessofthesportattheprofessionalandnationalteamlevels,andtheextenttowhichthesportisembracedbygirlsandwomenaroundtheglobe.Becauseoftheoverallreachofthesport,theremaybeuntappedopportunitiesforcollaborationandcross-promotionwithotherwomensbasketballorganizationsthatcouldbenefittheNCAAandthewomensgameasawhole.


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Attheyouthlevel,nearly7.1milliongirlsbetweentheagesof8and17playedthesportofbasketballin2011-12,whichrankedthesportaheadofsoccer(7.026MM),volleyball(6.541MM),andsoftball(5.772MM).Atthehighschoollevel,girlsbasketballisthetop-rankedsportforgirls,

with17,768registeredhighschoolprogramsrepresenting435,885participantsduringthe2011-12schoolyear.Basketballwasfollowedbyoutdoortrackandfield(16,143programs),volleyball(15,569),softball(14,142),crosscountry(13,970)andsoccer(11,127).Theyouthandhighschooloutletsassurealargeandcontinuingpipelineofplayerstoalldivisionsatthecollegelevel.

Asummaryoftheparticipationlevelsforallgirlshighschoolsportsforthe2011-12schoolyear(includingastate-by-statebreakdown)isattachedasExhibit10.

WomensbasketballistheonlyteamsportintheU.S.withanestablishedprofessionaloutletfortheeliteplayers.TheWNBA,whichwaslaunchedin1996,willplayits17thseasoninthesummerof2013.Becausethebestwomenscollegeplayershaveaproleaguetoaspireto,theyhaveanincentivetohonetheirskillsandcanbringasenseofprofessionalpurposetotheirintercollegiateplayingcareers.Inaddition,becausetheWNBAscollectivebargainingagreementwiththeWomensNationalBasketballPlayersAssociationdoesnotallowforearlyentryintotheWNBA(theagreementcontainsaminimumagerequirementof22),womenscollegeprogramsareeffectivelyabletoretaintheirstudent-athletesforfouryears,whichallowsforprogramcontinuity,abetter

educationalexperienceforthestudent-athletesandgreatervisibilityforthecollegestars.

TheUSABasketballwomensnationalteamprogramisthebestintheworld.TheU.S.iscurrentlythedefendingworldchampionateverymajorlevelofinternationalcompetition,includingtheOlympics,WorldChampionships,U/19WorldChampionships,U/17WorldChampionships,WorldUniversityGames,andFIBAsnewlycreated3x3WorldChampionships.TheopportunityforthetopcollegeplayerstorepresenttheU.S.ininternationalcompetitionsallowsthemtofurtherdeveloptheirgamesandacquireimportantlifeskills,whichenhancestheirabilitytocompeteatahighlevelintheNCAA.

Post-collegiateprofessionalopportunitiesremainplentifulforAmericanwomensplayersinothercountries,withestablishedleaguesinEurope,AustraliaandAsia.Theseopportunitiescreateadditionalincentivesforthebestplayersandreinforcetheattractivenessofwomensbasketballasaparticipatorysport.


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B. Positiveperceptionsaboutthewomensgame

Manyfanscontinuetothinkofwomensbasketballasapurerformofthegamewhichshowcasesthesportthewayitssupposedtobeplayed,

i.e.,withanemphasisonshooting,ballhandling,defense,hustle,teamworkandsportsmanship.SomefansalsoseewomensbasketballasamoredesirablealternativetothemorephysicalstyleofplayseenintheNBAandmenscollegebasketball.

Womenscollegebasketballplayersandcoachescontinuetobenefitfromtheperceptionthattheyarefan-friendly,accessibleandwillingtoparticipateincommunityevents,whichisanassetinsellingthesportandattractingfans.

C. Overallpopularityofthesportofbasketball

Asamaturesportattheintercollegiatelevel,basketballprogramsareknowncommoditiesandremaineasytoorganize,particularlywhencomparedtosportswithlargerrosters(likesoccerandlacrosse)ormoreextensiveequipmentandfacilityrequirements(likeicehockey).

ThepopularityofbasketballasaspectatorsportintheU.S.provides

womensbasketballwithcommercialpotentialandadvantagesoversportswithlessestablishedfanfollowings.Amongwomenscollegesports,womensbasketballremainsthebiggestrevenueproducer,with

thelargestcrowdsandthemostwidespreadmediaexposure.Nootherwomenscollegesportisbetterpositionedintheneartermtogeneraterevenuesor,potentially,profits.

D. Strengthofhistoricalfoundation

AsoneofthefirstsportstobenefitfromtheparticipatoryopportunitiesaffordedbyTitleIX,womensbasketballenjoysalonghistory,andsignificantequityexistsinitstopprogramsanditsmostsuccessfulcoachesandplayers.ThisequityhasallowedwomenscollegebasketballtoestablishaclearidentityandastrongnichewithintheoverallU.S.sportsandculturallandscape.Byanymeasure,womensbasketballisregardedastheunqualifiedleaderinthewomenscollegesportsspace,onewhichothersportsseeasamodelandtrytoemulate.


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TheWomensFinalFourhasevolvedintooneofthetopannualwomenssportseventsintheU.S.,ifnottheworld.Theeventsvisibilityisanassetthatcanbecapitalizeduponand,withsomenewthinking,mightsupportbrandextensionsandadditionalon-siteactivities.

Womenscollegebasketballprogramshavethebenefitofassociationwiththewell-knownandpowerfulbrandnamesofNCAAmemberinstitutions,offeringbuilt-infanbasesnationally(wherealumniaredispersed)andinschoolmarkets.

E. TelevisionopportunitiesandrelationshipwithESPN

Womenscollegebasketballremainsanappealingtelevisionproperty,andthecontinuedexpansionofbroadcastoutlets(includingnationalsportscable,conferenceandweb-basednetworks)andthe

correspondingdesireforsportsprogrammingensuresthatahighleveloftelevisionexposureforthesportcanbemaintained.

AstheNCAAswomensbasketballbroadcastpartnerthrough2024,ESPNplays(andwillcontinuetoplay)anessentialroleincreatingexposurefor,andshapingtheimageof,thewomenscollegegame.ESPNappearscommittedtohelpingwomenscollegebasketballcontinuetogrow,andtheremayberoomforexpandedcollaborationwithrespecttotelecasts,coverageonespnw.comandotherinitiatives.

BecauseESPNisalsotherightsholderfortheWNBAthrough2022,furtheropportunitiesmayexisttocross-promotethetwoproperties.

VI.PRINCIPALWEAKNESSESANDCHALLENGES

A. Comparisonswithmensbasketball

AlthoughwomenscollegebasketballbenefitsfromtheoverallpopularitythesportenjoysintheU.S.,thewomensgamesuffersfromperceptionsthatthebelowtherimstyleofplayisnotasexcitingastheplayinmensbasketball.Thisperceptionmaybecontributingtochallengesinattractingcasualfans.


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B. Effectsofschedulingconflicts

Thehead-to-headnatureoftheschedulesformensandwomenscollegebasketball,togetherwithcompetitionfromcollegeandprofootball(inNovember,DecemberandJanuary)andtheNBA(throughoutthe

season),createsaddeddifficultiesforwomensbasketballinattractingfanandmediainterest.

WhiletheNCAAwomenstournamenthasbenefitedinmanywaysfrominclusionundertheMarchMadnessumbrella,somearguethatschedulingthemensandwomenstournamentsatthesametimehassiphonedfans,mediaandsponsorsawayfromthewomenssideandhaspreventedthewomenstournamentfrombecomingamorevisible,robustandcommerciallysuccessfulevent.

C. Absenceofbroadcompetitiveparity

Asdiscussedearlierinthisreport,althoughthenumberofplayersinwomenscollegebasketballhasincreaseddramaticallyoverthepast30years,thenumberofprogramsthathavealegitimatechanceofwinningthenationalchampionshipinanygivenyearremainslimited(someputthefigureat5or6teams).Thegapinparityhascontributedtolopsidedgamesduringtheregularseasonandthetournament,whichhashurtthesportsoverallfanappeal.

Thefactorscontributingtoanabsenceofparityarethoughttoinclude:

morescholarshipsavailabletowomensbasketballthanareneededtofieldcompetitiveteams,whichkeepsthetopplayersconcentratedinasmallernumberofprograms;lackofdepthinthequalityofcoaches;toomuchphysicalityinthesport,whichfavorsprogramswithbiggerplayers;andanoveralldeclineintheskilllevelofincomingcollegeplayers,whichsomeattributetothelackofadequatedevelopmentatthepre-collegiatelevel.

D. Escalatingcoststructures

TherisingcostsofDivisionIwomenscollegeprogramsareasubjectofincreasingconcernamongconferenceandinstitutionalofficials.Muchoftheescalationisattributabletocoachescompensation(whichroutinelyincludesbasesalariesandperformancebonuses)andincreasedcostsassociatedwithtravelandrecruiting.Inaddition,therevenuebaseinwomenscollegebasketballisgenerallylimitedtoticketsales,whicharetypicallypricedatlowlevels,furtherweakeningthebottomline.


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AccordingtoastorypublishedbyBloombergNewsin2011,womensbasketballprogramsat53publicschoolsinthesixlargestconferencespostedanaverageoperatingdeficitin2010of$2.07milliononaverageoperatingrevenueofslightlymorethan$800,000.OneinstitutionalrepresentativeIspokewith,whosewomensbasketballprogramsnet

operatinglosswasonparwiththeBloombergfigure,describedtheeconomicsofwomenscollegebasketballasunsustainableinthelongterm.AcopyoftheBloombergarticleisattachedasExhibit11.

Manyoftheintervieweesreportedthatconcernsaboutcomplyingwithgenderequitymandateshavecontributedtoanescalationofcostsinwomensbasketballprograms,eventhoughtheirrevenuesrepresentonlyafractionofthosegeneratedonthemensside.

TheincreaseincoachingcompensationattheDIlevelisofparticular

concernforadministrators.OneinstitutionalrepresentativeIspoke

withreportedthatwomensbasketballcoachingcompensationaccountsfor60%ofthesportsrevenueatthatschool,thatwomensbasketballassistantcoachestheremakemorethantheheadcoachesinmostothersports,andthatwomensbasketballislosingmoremoneythananyoftheschoolsotherathleticprograms.

Accordingtosomeofficials,womensbasketballmaybeapproachingaCatch22crossroads,whereadditionalspendingbyathleticdepartments(e.g.,onstaffingandmarketing)maybeneededtogenerateincrementalrevenues(e.g.,throughincreasedticketsalesandexpandedcorporatepartnerships),butmayberesistedwithoutevidenceofamore

immediateprospectofreturn.

E. Broadeningthefandemographics

Thefansthatattendwomenscollegebasketballgamesincludeasignificantnumberofseniorcitizens,aswellasfamilies.Thelikelihoodthatseniorcitizensarelivingonfixedincomesiscitedasapotentialobstacletoincreasedticketpricesforwomenscollegegames,whichinturnlimitsthepotentialrevenuestreamsforthesport.

Thequestionofhowtodiversifythefanbaseforwomenscollegebasketball,includinghowtoattractmorestudentsandcasualfanstogames,isanongoingconcern.

ThetelevisionaudiencesforwomenscollegebasketballgamesonESPNandESPN2areprincipallymale(thepercentageofmaleviewersoverthepastfiveseasonshasrangedfromapproximately60-67%).This


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suggeststheneedforaseparatemarketingstrategyapartfromtheapproachneededtoattractfanstoarenas.

F. Establishingthenextgenerationofrivalriesandcelebritycoaches

TherivalrybetweenConnecticutandTennesseehasbeeninstrumentalincreatingmainstreaminterestinwomenscollegebasketball,anditremainsunclearwhether(1)thatrivalrywillcontinue;and(2)whichfuturerivalrieswillemergeandbecompellingenoughtoboostthesportsvisibilityinameaningfulway.

WiththeretirementofPatSummitt,manywonderwhowillfollowherandGenoAuriemmaandbecomepartof(andlead)thenextgenerationofwomenscollegebasketballcoachingicons.

G. Creatingabusinessmindsetwithinthesport

Historically,womensbasketballadministratorshavefocusedmoreon

competitivesuccessthanonbusinessstrategiesdesignedtoboostawarenessofwomensbasketball,attractfansandgeneratemeaningfulrevenuestreams.Manyintervieweescitedaneedforgreaterprofessionalismandaheightenedunderstandingofcommercialrealitiesasprioritiesforthepeopleinvolvedinthemanagementofthesport.

Theroleofcoachesinthemarketingoftheirprogramsandincultivatingfansupportintheircommunitieswasuniversallydescribedasanecessity.

H. Increasinggameattendance

Increasingthenumberoffanswhoattendwomenscollegegamesisuniversallydescribedasapriority,withsparsecrowdsintheearlyandregionalroundsoftheNCAAtournamentcitedasaparticularconcern.Manyintervieweespointedoutthatattendancedependsonmanyfactors(includingwinning),thatprogramsarenotcreatedequalwhenitcomestoresources,andthatsuccessrateswillalwaysvaryfromschooltoschoolandconferencetoconference.Accordingly,whiletheprospectsofdevisinganationalapproachtoticketsalesmaybeworthexploring,somebelievethatschoolsmightbebetterservedbyfocusingonstrategiesspecifictotheirparticularmarketsandcircumstances.


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Theeffectsofpotentialchangestothedatesofboththeregularseasonandthetournamentmaybeimportantvariableswithrespecttobothattendanceandratings.

I. Streamliningthegovernancestructure

ThefragmentedgovernancestructureofDivisionIwomensbasketballis

oftencitedasanobstacletogrowingthesport;makingchangeswithrespecttoplayingandadministrativerules;sharinginformation;ensuringthatthebroadermembershipisengagedwithrespecttokeyissues;andintroducinginnovativeactions.

Notwithstandingtheabove,therecenthistoryofadversereactionbyNCAAmembershiptoproposedchangesinotherareasofNCAAadministrationsuggeststhatenactingsubstantialgovernancereforminevenasinglesportmaybeatallorder.

J. Needforbetterskillsinstructionforpre-collegiategirls

Manycoachesareconcernedaboutthelackoforganizationandstandardssurroundinggirlsbasketballandseeaneedforaunifiedandbetter-managedapproachtopre-collegiateskillsinstruction,sothatthequalityoffundamentalsattheintercollegiatelevelcaninturnberaised.

TheintegrationofihoopsintoUSABasketballisconsideredagoodstart,

butquestionsremainaboutthepaceatwhichmeaningfulchangecanor

willhappenonthegirlsside.

K. Televisionissues

Althoughthewideavailabilityofwomenscollegebasketballgamesontelevisionduringtheregularseasonandthetournamenthasbeeninstrumentalinelevatingthevisibilityofthesport,thereisconcernthatmanygamesreflectbadlyonthewomenscollegebasketballbrandduetoeitherlopsidedresults,overlyphysicalplayorascarcityoffansinthestands.

Thetonnageofwomensgamesontelevision(e.g.,asmanyas15onanygivenregularseasonweekenddate),togetherwithhead-to-headschedulingagainstNBAandmenscollegegames,oftenmeansthatthewomensgamesarelostintheshuffleandthemostappealingmatch-upsareoverlookedbyfans.(Ina2010researchstudycommissionedbytheNCAAandconductedbyPerformanceResearch,nearlyathirdofthefans


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surveyeddescribedtheavailabilityofinformationaboutwomensbasketballtelevisionbroadcastschedulesasfairorpoor).Theoversaturationofgamesmayalsoaccountforstagnancyintheratings.

Becausewomenscollegegamesaresowidelytelevised,fansmaybelessinclinedtocometogamesinperson,whichmakesthejobofincreasingattendanceevenmoredifficult.

L. Marketingandsponsorshipissues

Theredoesnotappeartobeaunified,nationalstrategicapproachtothemarketingofwomenscollegebasketball.TheNCAAdoesnotsellstand-alonenationalsponsorshipstowomensbasketball,andexistingNCAAcorporatesponsorsappeartobefocusedprimarilyonactivationaroundthemensbasketballtournament.Attheconferenceandinstitutional

levels,sponsorsalsogenerallysignall-sportsdealsleveragedofffootballandmensbasketball,leadingtoanabsenceofactivationaroundmostothersports,includingwomensbasketball.

Someofthemarketersinterviewedcharacterizedwomenscollegebasketballsponsorshipasaveryhardsell,notingthatthesportisaninefficientwaytoreachwomenbecauseoftheheavymaletelevisionviewingaudience.Themaleviewingbase,inturn,isnotasattractivetotraditionalsportsmarketingcompaniesastheaudiencesfortheNBA,menscollegebasketballorothermenssports.Evenfootwearcompanies,whoadmitastrongdesiretoreachfemaleconsumersand

investheavilyintheoutfittingofwomenscollegeteams(Nikealonehasrelationshipswith285schools),donotspendincrementallytopromotethetournamentorthetopprograms.

WhilethePlay4KaybreastcancerawarenessprogrampromotedbytheWBCAandotherstakeholdersisuniversallylauded,somehavesuggestedcreatinganadditionalcausemarketingcampaignwithamoreupbeatthemetohelpreachayoungerdemographic.Examplesofpotentialthemesincludeempowerment/leadership,fitness/obesityandaMomscampaign(mirroringtheadvertisingcampaignProctorandGambleconductedduringthe2012LondonOlympics).SomeintervieweesalsosuggestedthatabroaderNCAAcausemarketingcampaignbecreatedinconjunctionwithotherwomenscollegesports.


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SECTION2


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RECOMMENDATIONSANDACTIONPLAN(VISION2020)

TheplanofactionIrecommendfortheNCAAcontainsfivestrategiccomponents:(1)vision,valuesandpriorities;(2)governanceand

management;(3)thegame;(4)thetournament;and(5)thebusinessofwomensbasketball.Thesummarybelowincludesanoverallgoalforeachcomponent,togetherwithsuggestedtacticsinsupportofeach.Timeframesforimplementationofthetacticsandassociatedcostswillbedevelopedinconsultationwiththeappropriatestakeholdersand/orNCAAstaff.

A.VISION,VALUESANDPRIORITIES

GOAL:Toestablishacommonvisionfortheshort-andlong-termfuture

ofwomenscollegebasketballthatcanbeclearlyandeffectivelycommunicatedtokeystakeholdersandcanserveasaframeworkforfuturedecision-makingaboutthemanagementandgrowthofthesport.Thisvision,whileinspiredbycommercialandimageconcerns,isintendedtobefullyconsistentwiththeNCAAseducationalmissionanditsbroaderobjectiveofpreparingwomensbasketballstudent-athletesfortheirpost-collegiatepursuits.

Irecommendthatthere-positioningofwomenscollegebasketballproceedontwoparalleltracksbetweennowand2016(i.e.,throughthenextthreeWomensFinalFours,whichhavebeenawardedtoNashville,

TampaandIndianapolis,respectively).Thefirsttrack(theHeritageTrack)willlooktoestablishwomenscollegebasketballasanimprovedversionofwhatitisnow,sothatitcanbetterwithstandcomparisonstothebrandofbasketballplayedinmenscollegebasketballandtheNBA.Aspartofthistrack,effortswillbemadetoimprovethequalityofplayandtoenhance(orrestore)theperceptionthatwomensbasketball,whilebelowtherim,iswell-playedandfundamentallysound.Inaddition,thistrackwillemphasizethefan-friendlinessofwomensbasketballplayersandcoachesandtheleadershippositionofwomensbasketballwithinintercollegiateathletics.

TheHeritageTrackwillpickupontheNCAAbrandinginitiativedevelopedin2006andreferencedearlierinthisreport,whichidentifiedfiveattributesspecifictowomenscollegebasketball:fundamentals;highqualityofplay;rolemodels;family-oriented;andsportsmanship.Asanupdatedversionofthiseffort,theNCAAshouldconsiderpromotingthesportusingcorevaluesexpressedbythefollowingthreeverbs:


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EXCELinshootingandballhandlingENGAGEwithfansLEADwomenscollegesports

Thesekeywords(Excel,Engage,Lead)wouldbecraftedintoamissionstatementandusedbytheNCAA,theconferencesandtheinstitutionswheneverpossibletodescribethevaluesofwomenscollegebasketball,sothatstudent-athletes,coaches,administrators,businesspartners,themediaandfanshaveacommonunderstandingofthesportsidentity.Inaddition,thesportshouldbegintomoveonasecondtrack(theInnovationTrack),whichwillfocusondistinguishingwomensbasketballfromthemensgameinwaysthatwillbeexcitingtocoaches,players,sponsors,themediaandfansandsignalthatthesportisonthe

move.Thesepointsofdistinctioncouldencompassplayingrules,uniforms,gamepresentation,scheduling,timingandformatofthetournament,broadcastlook,currentandformerstudent-athleteactivities,andoff-courteventsandprograms,amongotherareas.Theprocessofexploringplayingrulesinnovations,inparticular,wouldbedonethroughabrainstormingandon-courtexperimentationprocessthatwouldbeopentoallstakeholders,aswellasothersinthelargerbasketballcommunity.TheoverarchinggoaloftheInnovationTrackistoreinvigoratewomenscollegebasketballandjump-startanewperiodofgrowthinattendance,

ratings,digitalmeasuresoffaninterest,andrevenues.Attheheartofthetrackwillbeaslateofchangesthatwouldtakeeffectoveraperiodofyears,withafocusonrolloutduringthe2017-2020timeperiod.

Inadditiontore-establishingthepositioningandbrandidentityof

womenscollegebasketball,theNCAAswomensbasketballdecision-makersshouldagreeon,andcommunicate,thetopthreeprioritiesforthesportbeginningwiththe2013-14seasonanddevisecorrespondingmetrics.Irecommendthefollowingaspriorities:

(1)Approveandinitiateapackageofinnovativeandprogressive

changesinvariousaspectsofthesportinanefforttocapture(orre-capture)theimaginationoffans,sponsorsandthemedia;

(2)Increaseattendanceduringtheregularseasonandatfirst/second

andregionalroundNCAAtournamentgames;and

(3)ReduceoperatinglossesfortheNCAAtournament.


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Metricsinsupportoftheabovearedescribedattheendofthissection.

TheNCAAshouldalsoestablishmechanismstoachieveandmaintainbuy-inofthevision,prioritiesandmetricsamongkeystakeholders.Thefollowingshouldbeconsidered:(1)presentationsatupcomingand

futuremeetingsofconferencecommissionersandotherkeyadministrators;(2)presentationsatanewlyconstitutedannualconventionforkeystakeholders(ideally,thisconventionshouldbeconductedaspartoftheWomensFinalFour);and(3)web-basedWBBTalksforstudent-athletes,coachesandadministrators,tobeimplementedontheNCAAwebsiteorinconjunctionwithESPNWoranotheron-linepartner,beginningwiththestartofthe2013-14season.

B. GOVERNANCEANDMANAGEMENT

GOAL:Tocreatearevisedgovernanceandmanagementstructurethatallowsforbroad-basedparticipationbykeyDivisionIwomensbasketballstakeholdersinstrategic,operational,academicandmarketingmatterswhilepermittingamoreefficientandstreamlineddecision-makingprocess.

Asdiscussedearlierinthisreport,themanagementofwomenscollege

basketballhasbecomehighlyfragmented,andtherolesofthesportsmanyentitiesandcommitteesdonotalwaysappeartobeclearlydefinedorsynchronized.Inaddition,strategydevelopmentincertainareascriticaltothefuturegrowthofthesport(suchasrevenue

generation)doesnotappeartobeownedbyanyoftheentitiesinvolved.Toimprovecommunicationandensurequalityofexpertiseandfocus,IproposethattheWomensBasketballIssuesCommitteebere-namedthePlanningCommittee(orPC)andbere-constitutedasfollows:(1)ThePCwouldbeexpandedtoinclude20-25individuals(versusthe

current16).Thecompositionwouldincludeatleastthreecurrentorformercoaches,aswellasthechairsoftheBasketballCommittee,theRulesCommitteeandtheWCBOBoardofManagers(ortheir

successorcommittees,asproposedbelow).

(2)ThePCsareasoffocuswouldbebroadenedtoinclude(a)legislativematters;(b)financesandlong-termplanning;(c)marketingandcommunications;and(d)executivedevelopment(withanemphasisonbringingindividualswithbusinessbackgroundsintothemanagementofthesport).


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(3)TofacilitatetheeffectivenessofthePC,subcommitteeswouldalsobeformedtoaddressspecificsineachofthethreeareasdescribedabove.Eachsubcommitteewouldconsistofnomorethantenindividuals,ofwhichnofewerthanthreeshallalsoserveasmembersofthePC.Thechairofeachsubcommitteewouldalsobea

memberofthePC.Atleasttwocoachesmustserveonthemarketingandcommunicationssubcommittee.

(4)ThePCwouldmeetatleastquarterly.

Iproposethefollowingtwoadditionalchangestotheexistingcommitteestructure:(1) RenametheBasketballCommitteetheTournamentCommittee.

(2) ConsolidatetheWCBOBoardofManagers,theWCBOCompetitionCommittee,theMechanicsCommitteeandtheRulesCommitteesothattheytogethercompriseare-constitutedCompetitionCommitteethathasoversightoverallbasketballmatters,includingplayingrules,officiating,youthbasketballdevelopmentandothersport-relatedmatters.Thiscommitteewouldincludecoachesandrepresentativesfromtheofficiatingcommunityandhavesubcommitteestobetteraddresstheareasdescribedintheprecedingsentence.

Inadditiontothecommitteemodificationsdescribedabove,createaseparateadvisorypanelmadeupofindividualsoutsidetheNCAAgovernancestructure(includingrepresentativesfromESPN/ESPNW,NCAAcorporatepartnersandformerstudent-athletes)toprovideadditionalideasaboutthefuturegrowthofwomenscollegebasketball.

CreateabusinessservicesunitattheNCAAnationalofficeto:(1)collectandmanagebusiness-orienteddatarelatingtowomensbasketball(includingticketsales,televisionandfinancialinformation);(2)collectbestpracticesrelatingtothepromotionofthesportandregularlyprovidewomensbasketballmarketingideasandstrategiestotheconferences/schools;and(3)assistthePCsfinance/long-termplanningandmarketing/communicationssubcommitteesinthefulfillmentoftheirroles.

Conductamonthlycall,tobehostedjointlybytheChairofthePCandtheNCAAVPforWomensBasketball,toupdaterepresentativesfromeachofthecountrysfourregionsoncurrentmattersrelatingtothesport.


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InconjunctionwithWBCAleadership,deviseamulti-yearstrategicplanfortheWBCAthatsetsoutclearprioritiesandpotentialareasofcollaborationwiththeNCAA.ExamplesofthelattercouldbeafutureexpansionoftheCenterforCoachingExcellenceprogramandan

enhancedinitiativetoattractmorefemalecoachestothegame.

AssesscurrentscheduleofmeetingsofkeyNCAAadministratorgroups(includingCCA,NACDA,NACMA,NACWAAandCoSIDA)anddeterminehowupdatesaboutwomensbasketballcanbemoreeffectivelysharedinthesesettings.

Createanannualcollegebasketballforumtofacilitatedialoguebetweenmensandwomenscollegebasketballrepresentativesoncompetitionandplayingrulesissuesandotherareasofcommonconcern.

Createannualwomen-specificforumstoaddressconcernswhichpertainto:(1)womensbasketballspecifically(e.g.,throughanannualorbi-annualwomensbasketballsummitwiththeNFHS,WNBA,USABandFIBA);and(2)otherwomenscollegesports.

C.THEGAME

GOAL:Toenhancetheentertainmentvalueofwomenscollegebasketballthroughchangesand/orimprovementsinthestyleofplay,competitive

parity,coachingphilosophy,playerskill,uniformfitand/ordesign,in-gameentertainment,andscheduling,allwithaneyetoincreasingfanandmediainterest.

1.Onthecourt

Overthenextthreeyears,aspartoftheHeritageTrack,makeadditional

modificationstotheplayingrulesthathavetheeffectofspeedingupthewomensgame,reducingphysicalityandmakingiteasierforteamstoscore.Examplesincludethefollowing:(a)adoptionofa24-secondshotclock(nowusedinWNBAandFIBA);(b)adoptionofa16lane(nowusedinWNBAandFIBA);(c)adoptionoffour10-minutequartersinplaceoftwo20-minutehalves(nowusedinWNBAandFIBA);(d)adoptionofalargerrestrictedareaunderneaththebasket(nowusedinWNBAandFIBA);(e)allowingteamstoadvancetheballtothe28hashmarkinthelasttwominutesofthegame(wouldallowformoreexcitingplaysattheendofgames);and(f)modifyinghand-checkingrulestoincreaserestrictionsoncontactwiththedribbler.


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AspartoftheInnovationTrack,establisharuleslaboratorytopermittestingofmoreradicalplayingrulessuggestions.Examplesincludethefollowing:(a)useoflowerrimheight(suchas96or98);(b)adoptionofanewscoringsystemthatwouldaddpointsforteamswhichwinthehalforquarter(previouslyattemptedinmensminorleague

basketball);and(c)adoptionofnewillegaldefenseguidelineswhichwouldbandefenseoutsidethe3-pointlineatselectedtimesduringthegame.ThelaboratorysettingcouldincludesummerplayortrialsinDivisionsIIorIIIorinselectedconferences.

Inanefforttoenhanceshootingaccuracy,partnerwiththeWBCAtocreateanannualnationalawardtorewardthecoachorprogramwhichachievesthehighestteamshootingpercentageoverthecourseoftheregularseason(couldincludeseparatecategoriesfor2PT,3PTandFTshooting).

PartnerwiththeNaismithBasketballHallofFametocreateanannualnationalplayerawardrecognizingtheDivisionIwomensplayerwhohasachievedthebestregularseasonshootingpercentageoverthecourseoftheregularseason.(TheHallcurrentlypresentsanannualaward,knownastheBobCousyAward,tothenationstopmalecollegiatepointguard).

Toaddresstheabsenceofbroadcompetitiveparitywithinthewomens

game,reducethenumberofwomensbasketballscholarshipsfrom15to13perinstitution,sothatthebestplayersaredistributedamongawiderrangeofschools(subjecttowhateveradjustmentsmayberequiredto

complywithgenderequitymandates).

Deviseprocedurestobefollowedbytheappropriateinstitutionalpersonnel(e.g.,coaches,trainersorotherathleticdepartmentofficials)toensurethatplayeruniformsarecorrectlysizedandfitproperly.Ifnecessary,enactfitguidelinesandcreateamonitoringsystemattheconferencelevel.

Inconjunctionwithuniformmanufacturers(e.g.,Nike,Adidasand/or

UnderArmour),hostafashionforumpriortothestartofthe2013-14seasontoexploreoptionswithrespecttoanewuniformstyle.

ManyofthepeopleIspokewithvoicedconcernsabouttheproliferationoftattoosinwomenscollegebasketball,whichtheydescribedasapotentialturn-offforfans.Becauseanincreasingnumberofstudent-athletesappeartoentercollegewithpre-existingtattoos,somesuggestthatcoachesconsideradoptinganonewtattoosoranonewvisibletattoospolicyonceplayersjointheirprograms.


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2.Regularseasonandconferencetournaments Shortentheregularseasonbyatleasttwogamestominimizethewear

andtearonthestudent-athletesandallowthemtohaveamorebalancededucationalexperience.Shouldthischangebeimplemented,thiscould

inturnfacilitatealaterstarttotheregularseason,e.g.,duringthelullperiodbetweentheendofcollegefootballsregularseasonandthestartofbowlgames,whichwouldallowwomenscollegebasketballtoopenwithabiggerbang.

Thepost-seasonwomensconferencetournamentstendtodrawsmallcrowdsandaregenerallyrunatlosses,whichhascausedmanyofficialstoquestiontheirvalueandtoadvocatetheirelimination.However,someofficials,particularlythoseatthemid-majorlevel,believethetournamentsrepresentanimportantexperienceforstudent-athletes,especiallythoseatschoolsthathavelittlehopeofmakingittotheNCAA

tournament,andfavormaintainingthem.Inaddition,afewtournamentshavesuccessfullyestablishedequityintheirhostcities(mostnotably,theACCwomenstournamentinGreensboroandtheoldBigEasttournamentinHartford),resultinginoverallbenefitsforthoseconferences.

Onbalance,Irecommendthattheconferenceseithereliminatetheir

tournamentsor,asamiddleground,shrinkthembyconductingthemonlyforthetopfouroreightregularseasonfinishers.

SeveralindividualsIspokewithadvocatedconductingwomensbasketballasaone-semestersport.Inmostcases,themoreprecisesuggestionwastoshiftthebulkoftheseasontothespringsemester(i.e.,beginpracticesinlateNovemberandconducttheregularseasonandplayoffsbetweenDecemberandApril).ThestatedrationalefortheshiftwouldbetolessencompetitionwithfootballandmensbasketballintheNovember/DecembertimeframeandtoallowtheNCAAwomenstournamenttobeconductedduringitsownwindowlaterinthespring,soasnottobeovershadowedbythemenstournament.Thisoption(theSpringOption)couldalsobecoupledwithashorteningoftheregularseason,asdescribedabove.

Analternativeoptionmentionedbysomestakeholders(theFallOption)wastomoveupthewomensbasketballcalendarsothattheregularseasonwouldbeplayedprincipallyduringthemonthsofOctoberthroughJanuary(withpracticesstartinginlateAugustorearlySeptember)andthepost-seasonwouldbeplayedduringthemonthofFebruary.BecauseFebruaryisaquietermonth,particularlyaftertheSuperBowlandtheNBAandNHLAll-StarGamesareconcluded,ashift


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ofthisnaturewouldallowthewomenstournamenttoavoidcompetingwiththemenspost-seasoninitsentiretyandmightenablewomenscollegebasketballtoendwithabiggerbang.Infact,noNCAAchampionshipsofanykindareconductedineitherJanuaryorFebruary,creatinganopportunityforasporttoownthistimeframe.

However,theback-endbenefitsoftheFallOptioncouldbenegatedbythemoredirectconflictscreatedatthefrontendoftheseasonwithfootballand,toalesserdegree,withfallwomenscollegesports,includingsoccerandvolleyball(schedulingagainstvolleyball,inparticular,couldresultinfacilityconflictsatcertainschoolsandpotentialcompetitionforfansupport).Onbalance,IfavortheSpringOptionshouldaseasonalshiftbepursued.

AgrowingnumberofDivisionIprogramsplaynationalschedulesduringtheregularseason,whichinturnhasresultedinanoverallincreaseinairtravel,overnightaccommodationsandrelatedcosts.Withrecentdevelopmentsinconferencere-alignmentandtheexpandinggeographicdistanceamongteamsinthesameconference,thesecostsarelikelytoescalateforcertainschoolsinthefuture.Becausetravelcostsmakeupasizableportionofwomenscollegebasketballbudgets,theNCAAnationalofficeshouldconductareviewofthesecostsanddeterminewhetheranyguidancemaybeappropriate,particularlywithrespecttotheschedulingofnon-conferencegamesandthepaymentofguaranteestovisitingteams.

3.Girlsbasketballandyouthskillsdevelopment

CreateataskforceofwomenscollegecoachestoidentifyissuesrelatingtobasketballdevelopmentforgirlsandtoassistUSABasketballinplottingoutanoverallgirlsbasketballdevelopmentstrategy.

Hostanationalsummit(potentiallyattheWomensFinalFour)tovet

issuesrelatingspecificallytonon-scholastic,pre-collegiatebasketballforgirls(tomyknowledge,nogatheringofthiskindhaseverbeenconducted).Proposedattendeeswouldincludeyouthcoaches,representativesfromAAUandothernon-scholasticyouthbasketballorganizations,parents,formerplayers,representativesfromNFHSandUSAB,officialsfromtophighschoolbasketballprogramsandrepresentativesfromsneakercompanies.


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Continueworkalreadyinprogressbysomestakeholderstoestablishanationalcoachingcertificationmechanismforgirlsbasketballcoachesattheyouthlevel.

4.Officiating

IntensifyWCBOeffortstodeveloplong-termplantoimproveofficiatingduringregularseasonandtournament.

Createregular,nationalforumsforcoachesandrefereestodiscussrulesandrulesinterpretations.

ReviewmannerinwhichrefereesarerecruitedintotheNCAApipelineandestablishbetterandmorevisiblestrategiestoeducateformerplayersabouttheattractivenessofanofficiatingcareer.

CreateacentralizednationaltrainingprogramforallNCAAwomens

basketballrefereesandconsiderestablishinganongoingmentorshipprogramforjuniorofficials,usingveteranstaffasmentors.

Assessprocessbywhichrefereesareassigned,promotedandpaidtodeterminewhetherchangesmaybewarranted.

Collaboratewithotherwomenscollegeteamsportstoidentifycommonofficiatingconcernsandexploreefficienciesregardingrecruitmentandtraining.

EnsurethatmembersoftheofficiatingcommunityhaveappropriaterepresentationonNCAAcommittees.

D.NCAATOURNAMENT

Duringmyinterviews,asignificantamountofdiscussionwasdevotedtotheNCAAtournamentandtotheprosandconsofmakingpotentialchanges.Severalnotedthattheperceptionofthetournamentwasa

bellwetherforthehealthofwomenscollegebasketballasawhole,andthattotheextentthemetricsofthetournament(includingattendance,ratingsandqualityofthecompetitiveperformances)couldbeimprovedinameaningfulway,otheraspectsofwomenscollegebasketballwouldbenefitinturn.NearlyeveryoneIspokewithbelievedthatsomelevelofchangetothetournamentwasdesirable(orevennecessary),eithertoachievebetterfinancialresults,enhancetheexperienceofthestudent-athletes,orimprovetheoverallperceptionofthesport.


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1. Abaselinequestionrelatingtothetournamentiswhetheritshouldremaininitscurrenttimeframeandcontinuetobeconductedside-by-sidewiththemenstournament,orwhetheritshouldshifttoavoidcompetingwiththemenandacquiremoreofastand-aloneidentity.BecausetheWomensFinalFourhasalreadybeenawarded(withfixed

dates)forthenextthreeyears(i.e.,through2016),itappearsthatanydateshift,ifapprovedbythemembership,wouldhavetotakeeffectbeginningin2017attheearliest.Evenwithoutadateshift,Irecommendthatthefollowingchangesbemadetothe2014,2015and2016tournaments: Beginningin2014,switchthedayformatoftheWomensFinalFour

fromSunday/TuesdaytoFriday/Sunday.WhiletheTuesdaynightchampionshipwindowmayhaveadvantagesfortelevision,manyintervieweesnotedthattheSunday/Tuesdayformatcreatesaless

desirableon-siteeventbecauseitencompassestwoweekdaysratherthantwoweekenddays,andthatashiftwouldcreateabetterchampionshipfeel(aspointoffact,evenmostcoachesroutinelyleavetheWFFafterthesemi-finalgamesonSunday).

Forthe2014tournament,eliminatepre-determinedsitesinthe1stand2ndroundsandallowthetop16seedstohostthesegames.Evencoaches,whohaveresistedthischangeinrecentyearsforcompetitivereasons,seemtohavecomearoundtotheviewthatthetop16teamshaveearnedtherighttoplayathome,andthattheprospectofimprovedattendanceinthetournamentsearlyroundsduetothe

establishedfansupportforthetopprogramsrepresentsagreatergoodforthesportthatoutweighstheperceivedfairnessofplayingonneutralcourts.

Forthe2015tournament,experimentwiththefirstandsecondroundformatbyplayingall1stand2ndroundgamesonthehomecourtofthehigherseed.Womenscollegesoccerusesthisformatforitspost-seasontournament,anditmayoffersignificantbenefitstowomensbasketballintermsofcrowdsupportandtravelcostsavings(e.g.,ifimplemented,thisapproachwouldreducethenumberofteamstravelinginthefirstroundfrom48to32,or30%).Ifthisapproachispursued,amoreinformeddecisioncanbemadeabouttheappropriatefirstandsecondroundformatfor2016andbeyond.

Beginningwiththe2014tournament,consolidatetheregionalsfromfoursitesoffourteamseachtotwosuper-regionalsitesofeightteamseach.Thiswouldallowforanenhancedchampionshipsettinginthosetwomarketsandcouldresultinbothimprovedattendanceand


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reducedcosts.Toallowforcontinuityandefficienciesatthelocalorganizinglevel,considerawardingthesametwocitieshostingrightsforallthreeyears.

For2016,explorethefeasibilityofconductingtheDIIandDIIIwomenschampionshipgamesattheDIWFFsite(mirroringthedecisionmadetocombinethechampionshipgamesforallthreedivisionsonthemenssidethispastyearinAtlanta).Because2016willalsobeanOlympicyear,activitiesand/oragameinvolvingtheUSAnationalteammightalsobeincorporatedintotheeventformat.ThiswouldenabletheWFFweekendtotakeonthefeelofabiggerwomensbasketballfestivalandperhapsleadtochampionshipefficienciesandcostsavingsfortheNCAA.

Toreducetheoperatingdeficitforthewomenstournament,the

followingcost-cuttingproposalsshouldbeconsidered:(a)reducethe

sizeofteamtravelingpartiesand/orrestrictthetypesofinstitutionalpersonnelallowedtoflyontheteamcharter;(b)scalebackoreliminatetheNCAAsocialreceptionsconductedbeforeandafterthesemi-finalandchampionshipsessions;(c)scalebacktheSaluteDinnersothattheeventisshortenedtonomorethan90minutesandfoodisnotserved;and(d)reviewotheron-siteprotocolsthroughoutthetournamentandeliminateifbenefitscannotbesubstantiated(e.g.,pipeanddrapeset-ups,etc.).Inaddition,whileIrecommendthatsomeversionofTourneyTownbecontinuedduetothepositivefanenvironmentitcreates,otherformatsshouldbeexploredinanefforttoeitherlowercosts(e.g.,throughdown-sizing)orcreaterevenue

(e.g.,thoughamodestentryfee).

WorkwiththeWBCAtore-assessthecontentoftheconvention,withaneyetoconvertingtheeventintoanexpandedbusinessconferenceinvolvingallkeystakeholdersinDIwomenscollegebasketball,beginningin2014.

2. Duringmyinquiry,someindividualsadvocatedareductioninthe

numberofNCAAtournamentteams(to48or52),citingthegapinprogramqualitybetweenthetopandbottomhalvesofthechampionshipbracketandtheprevalenceoflopsidedgamesintheearlyrounds.(AccordingtooneresearcherIcommunicatedwith,thechancethata#16seedwilladvanceinthewomenstournamentiscurrentlylessthan1in10,000;basedonhistoricalresults,theoddsofthe#10-15seedsadvancingarealsooverwhelminglow).Duetothehighnumberofautomaticqualifiers(31)andtheexpectedstrongdemandbythoseconferencesforcontinuedaccess,itwouldappearthatthecutsinteams


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wouldhavetocomefromtheat-largepool,whichwouldinturnmeanfewerschoolsmakingthetournamentfromthepowerconferences.BecausetheseprogramsaregenerallystrongerthanmostoftheAQs,areductionintheoverallnumberofteamscouldhavetheunintendedeffectofdiminishingthequalityofthetournamentinsteadofimproving

it.Accordingly,Idonotrecommendthatthisideabepursued.

3. Analternativetoreducingthenumberofteamsinthetournamentcouldbearevisedcompetitiveformat.Oneideawouldbetohavethelowerseededteamsplayagainsteachotherintheearlyroundssothattheyearntherighttoplaythehigherseedslateron,ratherthansimplybeingoverpoweredbythehigherseedsintheopeningtworounds.Forexample,thebottom32teamscouldplayfirst,withthe16winnersthenplayingthe#17-32seedsinthesecondround(gamesintheseroundswouldbeplayedatthehomecourtsofthehigherseeds).Theremaining16teamswouldthenplaythetop16seeds(whowouldhavetwoearly

roundbyes)inafinal32format.Theprimarybenefitwouldbemorecompetitivegamesintheearlystagesofthetournamentandabetterexperienceforthestudent-athletesfromtheweakerprograms.

Theprimarydisadvantageofthisformatisthatitwouldexpandthe

tournamentfromfourroundstofive,whichmaypresenttheNCAAwithschedulingchallenges.Inaddition,theprospectsforattendanceduringtheearlyroundsmaybeuncertain,asmanyofthelowerseededprogramsdonottypicallyattractlargecrowdstotheirgames.Accordingly,Idonotrecommendthatthisideabepursuedatthepresenttime.However,Ibelievethatfurtherstudyalongtheselinesshouldbe

undertakensothatthequalityofcompetitionforallroundsofthetournamentcanbeatthehighestlevelpossible.

4. Forthewomenstournamentsbeginningin2017,Irecommendaplanof

experimentationbeadoptedwithrespecttotheeventsvenueandtimingaspartofanoverallefforttoenhancerevenueprospectsandfanappeal.Thefollowingareproposalstothisend:

Assumingthewomenstournamentremainsinthesametimeframe,combinethemensandwomenstournamentsintheearliestpossibleyearintoasingleeventalongthelinesofatennisGrandSlam.The

rationalebehindthisideaistocreateanunparalleledcollegebasketballshowcasethatwouldbringtogetherthebestplayersandcoachesinbothsportsand,importantly,allowthewomenstournamenttoavailitselfofthepresenceofsponsors,mediarepresentativesandimportantguestswhotypicallybypasstheWFFaltogetherandattendtheMFFinstead.Underthisconfiguration,themensandwomensgamescouldremainondifferentdays(IproposeFriday/Sundayforthewomenand


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Saturday/Mondayforthemen)orbereconfiguredinsomeotherwaydependingontelevisionandotherpromotionalconsiderations.Twoprincipalobstaclesbehindthisideaare:(a)logisticalconsiderations,whichincludeidentifyingasitewiththerequisitehotel

andfacilitycapabilitiestoaccommodatetheon-siteeventsassociatedwithbothsportsandtheheightenedvolumeofattendeesfortheweekend;and(b)thepossibilitythat,despitethebestofintentions,theWFFultimatelymightbeovershadowed.However,IbelievetheideaoffersextraordinarypromotionalopportunitiesfortheNCAAbasketballbrandandshouldbepursued,atleastasaone-off.Thiswouldallowtheprosandconstobeassessedwithouttheneedforalong-termcommitment.

Assuminginsufficientsupportexistsfortheideaabove,establishamulti-yearsitefortheWomensFinalFourbeginningin2017,usingthe

successoftheCollegeBaseballWorldSeriesinOmahaasaprecedent.TherationalebehindthisideaistoallowtheWFFtobenefitbyreturningeveryyeartoasinglemarketwithanestablishedinfrastructureandprovencommunitysupportthatcouldbeeasilyre-ignitedonarecurringbasis.AnRFPprocessshouldbeundertakentoidentifyinterestedmarketsandsecurethebestpossiblearrangement.

Asanalternativetostagingtheregionalandchampionshiproundsindifferentcities,afewindividualsIspokewithproposedthatthefinal16teamsplayinasinglesiteinaweek-long(ormore)supertournament.Duetothenumberofgamesinvolvedandthelengthoftimerequiredto

playoutthisformat,thisoptionseemstopresentmorelogisticalobstaclesthantheotherproposals(includinghotelminimumnightrequirements,whetherfanswouldhavetheappetitetoremainon-siteforthedurationoftheround,andtheextentofmissedclasstimeforthestudent-athletes).However,theideamaypresentsomeuniquepromotionalopportunities,andIrecommendthatanalysisbeundertakentoexploreitfurther.

Giventheglobalpopularityofwomensbasketball,theNCAAmightalso

considerconductingafutureWFFinaninternationalmarket.Thisapproachwouldrequirecarefulplanningwithrespecttoscheduling,astheEuroleagueWomensFinalFour,whichcrownsachampionfromamongthetopEuropeanwomensprofessionalclubteams,isgenerallyheldaroundthesametime.ToavoidthepossibilityofaconflictwiththeEuroleague,ChinaorQatarmightalsobeconsideredaspotentialvenues.Whilemanyunknownsaccompanythisidea,includingtheprospectsforfansupportinthehostcity,Ibelieveitmayoffercompellingglobal


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promotionalpossibilitiesfortheNCAAbrandandwarrantsfurtheranalysis.

ShouldtherebesupportforshiftingthedateoftheWFFtoanothertimeframe,Irecommendthatatestmovebemadetotheweekend

immediatelyfollowingtheMensFinalFour.AlthoughtheMastershaslargelyco-optedtheweekend,thateventisconductedduringtheday,leavingavailabletelevisionwindowsintheeveningbeginningat6PMET(Thursday/Friday/Saturday)and7PMET(Sunday).BecausetheNCAAFrozenFour(Thursday/Saturday)isalsoconductedthatweekend,IbelievethebestdaysfortheWFFgameswouldbeFridaynight(semis)andSundaynight(final),withThursdayandSaturdaysetasideforbusinessmeetingsandpromotionalevents.Thiswouldallowthechampionshipgametobethelead-outfortheMastersonSundaynight.Alternatively,theWFFcouldbeconductedeitherasaback-to-backonSundaynight(withsemisstartingat7PM)andMondaynight

(championship)oronSaturday/Monday,dependingonthewillingnessoftheNCAAandESPNtoadjustthetimingoftheFrozenFourchampionshipgame.

Alternatively,theweekendimmediatelyfollowingtheMastersmight

alsobeconsideredfortheWFF.ThecompetitivesportsprogrammingontheairthatweekendisprimarilyearlyseasonbaseballandfirstroundNBAplayoffaction,whichmayprovelessdauntingthancompetitionfromtheMasters.However,onbalance,Ifavorendingthewomensseasonatatimemoreinlinewiththecurrentcollegebasketballwindow,andhencesupporttheearlierweekendasbetween

thetwo. InsteadofmovingtheWFFback,theNCAAcouldelecttomovetheevent

upandplayitearlierthantheMFF.Aswiththemove-backoption,thiswouldallowtheeventtoavoidcompetingwiththemenstournament,haveitsownspotlightandpotentiallyattractmediaandsponsorswhonowpassitby.Ibelievethebestoptionunderthisscenariowouldbetoconcludethewomenstournamentbeforethemenstournamentbegins(e.g.,inlateFebruaryorearlyMarch).However,thiswouldrequireasignificantshiftintheoverallwomensbasketballcalendarandforcethesporttobeconductedprimarilyinthefall,creatingchallenges

referencedearlierinthisreport. Onbalance,Ibelievethemove-upoptionismoredisruptiveandless

favorablethaneithercombiningthemensandwomenstournamentsorconcludingthewomenstournamentontheweekendfollowingthemens.


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E. BUSINESSOFWOMENSBASKETBALLGOAL:Toestablishamoresophisticatedapproachtomarketing,promotion,communications,fandevelopmentandrevenuegeneration(includingfund-

raising)forD1womensbasketballprogramsandeventsatthenational,conferenceandinstitutionallevels,withaneyetoimprovingthesportsvisibilityandcreatingapathwaytobetternetfinancialresultsforthesport.

1. Financialanalysis

Aspartofthemissionstatementexercisedescribedearlierinthisreport,usethekeywordLEADasanimpetustoconvincewomenscollegebasketballdecision-makerstomigratefromacausemindsetandtowardtheadoptionofmoreaggressivemarketingpracticesinthemanagementoftheirprograms.

Workingthroughthenationaloffice,establishadatabasecoveringthe

top100publicDIwomensbasketballprogramsthattracksannualrevenuesandexpense,sothatthecoststructuresacrossschoolscanbemorepreciselymonitoredandcorrespondingguidancecanbedeveloped.

ConsiderestablishingavaluationforthenationalTVrightsforthewomenstournamentsothatabaselineexistsforfuturetelevisionnegotiations.

2. Membershipbusinesssupport

InadditiontocreatingthededicatedNCAAbusinessservicesfunctiondescribedearlierinthisreport,createatemplateunderwhichstudentsfromsportsmanagementprogramsaroundthecountrycanbedeployedasmarketingandsalesstaff(forwomensbasketballorotherwomenssports,asneeded)byathleticdepartmentsatthesameinstitution,andinturnreceiveacademiccredittowardtheirsportsmanagementdegrees.

Conductannualbusinessmeetingofconferenceand/orinstitutionalwomensbasketballsalesandmarketingstafftodiscusssalesstrategiesandbestpracticesintheareasofticketsales,sponsorsalesandactivation,andpromotions.Thismeetingshouldbeacomponentoftheannualstakeholdersconventionreferencedearlierinthisreport.


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3. Ticketsales

ExpandNCAAsexistingmarketingdivisiontoincludeastrongerticketsalessupportfunction,sothatinstitutionscanbebettersupportedintheireffortstomeetattendanceobjectives.Theservicesprovided

wouldinclude:(a)maintainingacentralinventoryofsuccessfulticketsalesstrategiesforusebyinstitutionsintheirlocalsaleseffort;and(b)helpingprogramscreatereasonablesalesmetricsgiventheirresourcesandmarketsizes.

Issueschoolsa10%challengethatwouldincentivizethemtoimprovetheirregularseasonattendance.Inconjunctionwiththischallenge,createnationalrecognitionevents(includingmodestsubsidies)torewardtheprogramsthatshowthegreatestattendanceimprovementonanannualbasis.

Assistschoolsinevaluatingpricingstructurestoensurethatgameticketsarepricedatfullmarketvalueandarenotbeingsoldatartificiallylowlevels.

FacilitateticketsalescollaborationsbetweenWNBAteamsandcollegeprogramsinthesamemarketsandconsiderconductingajointmeetingwithWNBApersonneltoshareseasonticketlistsandsalesstrategies.

Encourageinstitutionstostructuretheirfuturewomensbasketballcoachingcontractssothataportionofcompensationisearnedforreachingattendancebenchmarks.

4. Corporatesponsors

Deviseaseparatesponsorsalesapproachatthenationalleveltoenticeincrementalspendingonwomensbasketball(eitheraloneorinconjunctionwithotherwomenscollegesports)byexistingNCAApartnersornew/stand-alonepartners.

ReassessthetermsandconditionsofthepresentingsponsorshipfortheNCAAwomenstournamentandbegintheprocessofidentifyingpotentialtargetcompanies.

5. Televisionstrategies

Inconjunctionwithconferencerepresentatives,assessthevolumeofwomensbasketballgamesontheairduringthecourseoftheregular


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seasonanddeterminewhetherareductioninavailabilityisdesirableand/orfeasible.

Deviseastrategytobetterpromotethekeytelevisionmatch-upsduringtheregularseason,sothatthesegamesareeasierforviewerstofind.

Specifically,expandESPNsBigMondaystrategytobuildequityinadayoftheweekduringtheregularseasoninwhichhighprofilematch-upswillbefeaturedandaggressivelypromoted.

6. Digitalplatforms

Re-vamptheNCAAwomensbasketballwebsitetomakeitmoreuser-friendlyandtoprovidecomprehensiveinformationaboutrankings,keyregularseasonmatch-ups,televisionbroadcastschedulesandotherinformationofinteresttostakeholdersandfans.Alternatively,explore

thefeasibilityofdevelopinganewwebsitethatofferscomprehensiveinformationaboutalllevelsofgirlsandwomensbasketball.

Assisthigh-profilecoachesandplayerswithtwitterstrategies.

CollaboratemorecloselywithESPNandESPNWontheintegrationofgametelecastsshownonESPNnetworkswithcoverageprovidedonespnw.com.

7. Fundraisingstrategies

Developabasictemplatethatcanbeusedbyinstitutionaldevelopmentdepartmentstostimulatephilanthropybyformerstudent-athletestotheirindividualinstitutions.

Createamemberassociationorsororitytoengagewomensbasketballalumnaenationallysothataformalbaseofsupportwithinthisconstituencycanbestrengthened(e.g.,throughapassword-protectedsocialmediasiteestablishedexclusivelyforformerstudent-athletes).

Identifyanddisseminatebestpracticesfortheengagementofwomensbasketballcoachesintheirschoolsfundraisingefforts.

8. Communicationsstrategies

InstituteaNationalMediaDaypriortothestartofeachregularseasonwheretopcoaches,student-athletes,keyNCAAstaffmembersand


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selectedconferenceofficialsaremadeavailabletothenationalmediaforpurposesofpreviewingkeystorylinesfortheseason;arrangenationaltelevisioncoverageoftheeventonESPNU.

Identifythetenhighestprofileplayersatthestarteveryseasonandprovidethemwithcomprehensivemediatraining.

9. Specialeventsstrategies

Assessregularseasontournamentsconductedinmajormarkets(e.g.,N.Y.,Boston,Chicago,S.F.,Dallas,D.C.)anddevelopaplantomoreeffectivelypromotethem,sothatbenefitsofplayinginlargemediacenterscanbemaximized(e.g.,MaggieDixonClassicinNYC).

PartnerwiththeNaismithBasketballHallofFameorWomensBasketballHallofFametoconductaFourintheFall(orothername)openingseasontournamentinvolvingtheprioryearsWFFteams.Alternatively,explorethepossibilityofplayingsuchaneventinaninternationallocation(suchasEurope,China,BraziloraGulfState).

Facilitatethestagingof3-5regularseasongameseveryseasoninunusualoriconicvenuestostimulateinterestamongcasualfans.

WorkinginconjunctionwithUSABasketballandmenscollegebasketballrepresentatives,exploreamodestroll-outof3x3basketballeventsatselectedschools/conferencesorduringtheNCAAtournament

(NOTE:FIBAhasdevelopedacomprehensive3x3grassrootsandcompetitioninitiative,whichincludesfemaleparticipation,andanticipatestheinclusionof3x3asanOlympicdisciplineforbothmenandwomenbeginningwiththe2016RioGames).

10.Promotionalstrategies

Reviewthedatesofallmajorwomenscollegeteamchampionshipevents(i.e.,soccer,volleyball,basketball,softball,fieldhockey,icehockey,lacrosse)anddeterminewhetherpromotional/commercialsynergiescouldbecreatedbypromotingthemunderasinglebanner.

ConsideradditionalenhancementstothePlay4Kaycampaignandexplorethefeasibilityofinitiatinganadditional,non-medicalcausemarketingcampaignthatappealstoayoungerdemographicandcomplementsthebrandingstrategydescribedearlierinthisreport.


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2013-2020BASEMETRICSA. On-courtperformance:reverseannualdeclinesinaveragedivision-wide

two-pointandthree-pointshootingpercentagesandscoring;achieverecordhighsinallthreecategorieswithinthenextsevenseasons.

B. Attendance

Achieve5%annualgrowthinregularseasonattendanceamongthetop40highest-drawingschoolsovereachofthenextsevenyears.

Increasethenumberofprogramshittingattendancebenchmarksover

thenextsevenseasons,asfollows:

1) 10,000fanspergame:atleastfiveschoolsperyearfinishingatthis

level,beginningwiththe2015-16season;

2) Under10,000butmorethan5,000fanspergame:atleast25schoolsperyearatthislevel;

3) Under5,000butmorethan3,000fanspergame:atleast25schools

peryearatthislevel;

ncaa w bb white paper

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