In recent months, the NCAA’s Committee on Women’s Athletics for Division III of the NCAA released its position on the reduction of men’s practice players for women’s practices.Division III membership voted on a legislative proposal at the NCAA convention earlier this month that would have limited their use.”The membership voted to refer the matter back to the Division III Management Council for further study,” said Jennifer Kearns, associate director of public media relations for the NCAA. Division II and I are also studying the matter, Kearns said.New York Times writer Bill Finley reported the committee would vote on whether to ban men’s practice players. This was wrong, according to the NCAA official website, and stated that the NCAA at Division III was only voting on whether to regulate the use of men’s practice players.In another instance, in an article for the Ann Arbor News, Jeff Arnold reported that Division III “is the only level to limit the use of male practice players.” This was also wrong because there is currently no ban on men’s practice players at any level in the NCAA.The confusion that goes along with this policy is understandable. The reporting has been spotty, and often inaccurate. “There are only subtle differences in the current rules between Division I, Division II and Division III, involving men’s practice players,” Kearns said.”You need to know there is no new policy on the use of practice players,” Kearns said, “male practice players can still be used per the current rule.”The committee feels role players on women’s collegiate teams do not get the same chance to progress as quickly as starters practicing against male practice players.”I am in favor of restricting (male players) from practicing,” said Terry Wanless, director of athletics at Sacramento State.”Denying backups restricts growth and development,” Wanless said. “Players should be allowed to develop at their own pace.”The other side of the argument is that male practice players are great for the progression of women’s athletics. Mainly in this case, basketball. “Coaches are free to make their own decisions, I have nothing against it,” Wanless said.”I understand why it’s done to improve, even though it’s not a very widespread tactic,” Wanless said. “The University of Tennessee would have to be the most prevalent program to use men’s practice players at the Division I level.””I still feel better served with it restricted to using only female athletes,” Wanless said.In Divisions II and III, one vote from each school would determine if new policy goes into effect.Division I is run differently, For this new policy to go into effect, considerable legislation must be passed.Representatives are selected to represent regions in a management council and decide accordingly.”If this policy passes at all three levels, things are going to get complicated,” Wanless said. “Divisions II and III follow a true democracy. Division 1 is more similar to Congress.” Galen Kusic can be reached at [email protected]