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At Calhoun Community Collegemm—733m'™«£2TO pvlt;v ‘ i\”': ‘ 4 UW- ■ 5T Tv '•. / I i : *- iv-'V^' 'v '.C s.'*'''Y; ^ \s»f;' ■■ 7./.--*,,. - •. ;■ .:?;.. .**• •; *. .v\„ • ;.».;j- : -. • % iiM sr.fy-. ;■- ,-.r ~7.^. 7; •;•»••*; ^ v . 7.; V- , •«. - #\P7Y;Women s Athletic Program Makes Most Of SituationBy MARY WIMBERLEYWomen college athletes may be beginning to find their place in the sun, but they are still in the shade compared to their brothers who, at many institutions, are wined, dined and catered to for their entireur*year termsExtra-muralforprograms women at four-year colleges have enough difficulties, but the problems are enhanced at 1 year institutions, says Mary McCoy, physical educationinstructor and a women’s coach at Calhoun Community College, where 50 girls participate in extra-mural program.The basic problems,facilities andDuring basketball season, the women’s team and coach must wait until the men are through with the gymnasium forpractice.Another problem facing thebasketball team is the lack of* • ■ *women officials certified to referee colege basketball.Calhoun is combating the problem in this area by offering a certification course for women basketball officials.“So far six have signed up for e course,’’ said Mrs. McCoy Despite the problems, asatheltes Drove theirwomenabilities on the tracks, opportunitiesprovecourtsandbetter.In 1972 for example, the women’s extra-mural program at Calhoun was alloted $1,000 from the athletic funds from which operating expenses were squeezed for basketball, track and field, tennis and softball. From the amount came expenses for travel, lodging, food and uniforms.By garnering many of the trophies in her office, the teams, said Mrs. McCoy, “did well enough to justify getting $2,000 this year.Added to the program, however, was volleyball.“Before last year,” said Mrs.f yMcCoy with a shudder, “the girls had to pay their own expenses,’’ an occurance almost unknown in men’s athletic programs.Nothing comes cheap for an athletic department, and it takes close money management to obtain the necessary equipment for the department.“Even tennis balls aren’t cheap,” she said, motioning to the dozens of cans of tennis balls used by her tennis team which won four matches and lost two in its first seasonlast year.The score books record the substantial winnings that won the extra consideration for theprogram.Last year the Calhoun women outplayed teams from Auburn University, the University of Alabama and Troy State University to place second in the state softball tournament. Threeteam members captured placedon the state All-Star softball team.The basketball team won honors in the state tournament by placing third.Changes in the approach to women’s athletic programs are alos coming from other directions.Proposed legislation would help the women’s situation byadequate all revolvescholarships, equipment, and coaching staff, around one central theme: a lack of money. 7 Sitting in her office amid red and yellow hula hoops, trophies, and dozens of cans of tennisballs,shetheexplained problems plaguing not just Calhoun, but all colleges which attempt to compete with men’sathletes for their fair share ofmoney, facilities and time.* ‘Calhoun can’t recruit the best girl athletes because they don’t give scholarships,” said Mrs. McCoy who indicated that the situation could possibly force the college to quit participating in extra-mural competition.Mrs. McCoy said women’s athletic programs in Alabama are generally behind those in other states.“The University of Alabama women’s basketball team didother♦fairly well playing Alabama teams, but when they went out of state they were beat 70 points by a rather low-ranked Georgia team,” she said.The Georgia College had a ready supply of Georgia high school basketball stars to draw from. An extra-muralhasketballprogram for womeifm A1 secondary schools has banned for more than 20 years.It is against teams like the University of Alabama and Abuurn University that Calhoun must compete, a situation which Mrs. McCoy doesn’t exactly look on favorably, but which she can’t control. It is either play them, or not compete.Calhoun is the only two-year college in the two-year-old Women’s Intra-College Sports Association.The problem here again lies with financing. Women physical education instructors at other Alabama junior colleges have one by one dropped thier extramural sports programs primarily because the are not compensated for their extra time.“Women coaches really can’t financially afford extramurals,’’ says Mrs. McCoy, “but the kids are being shortchangedWfu,Wide Range Of Sports-IRepresenting four of the extra-mural sports at Calhoun Community College are from left, Janice Andler, volleyball; Giner Willard, basketball; Teresa Loftin, track; and Maritza Carrera, tennis. *NOW OPEN .Hutch's Flowerland350-2828'J3 »h A;fD-C.Uijr A 1.1eliminating all barriers,The guidelines, as written by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, would ban discriminationwomen in collegeagainstathleticprograms.Some readers of the guidelines interpret them to mean equality in offering scholarships, salaries for coaches and facilities.The gudclines are interpreted from Title 9 in 1972 amendments to the Higher Education Act.It is generally believed that Title 9 would also ban discrimination against women who want to try out for college swimming, tennis or golf teams.Why do women so often elect to develop athletic skills?“They love competition,” said Mrs. McCoy.“Girls don’t have Little League of midget programs to achieve recognition for their athletic abilities,”' she said, adding it is a situation she wouldSee WOMEN’S On Page D2BRIDESMake Your China, Crystal, Stainless Cookware SelectionsSAM FRANK 816 Bank St.353-1741CONDITIONEDAIRCORP.SERVICEAt Regular Intervals Save Money On Yourft*AIRCONDtnONMCAND Htilting SystemsPHONE 353-4*82201 Fifth St., S.E., Decatur“IIIIIIIIILI II t IIII III II I■ P
Newspaper Details
Decatur Daily
Decatur, Alabama, US
Sun, Mar 24, 1974
Page 35
Full Page
Clipped by
Peggy T.
NA, 01 Sep 2022
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