The World Of Intercollegiate Athletics

Football sport's major offense in 1905, aptly called the "flying wedge,"spurred the formation of the NCAA.

Though reportedly conceptualized with good intentions, the NCAA's nature of conceptualization is known to be "rugged" and resulted in several injuries. This initially prompted certain institutions to suspend organizers from running football. Still others urged for the reformation of football and for the abolishment of the sport from athletics in the intercollegiate level.

It was President Theodore Roosevelt who called upon leaders in college athletics to conferences that tackled and encouraged the clamored football reforms. In December 1905, New York University Chancellor Henry McCracken summoned a convention of thirteen institutions to commence alterations deemed necessary in the rules of playing football. Subsequently, another meeting in New York City was held in December 28 of the same year. That summit paved the way for the formation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States. Sixty-two members of the conference founded the IAAUS.

It was in March 1906 that the IAAUS was officially constituted. The following year, the association adopted the name "NCAA," which was carried on several years later, until the present. During the first years, the NCAA served mainly as a rule-making body and discussion group. In 1921, the National Collegiate Track and Field Championship was held, the first of its kind for NCAA. In the long run, the association formed more committees that impelled more sports championships.

Just like any growing institution, certain complex challenges bombarded the NCAA. The scope of the challenges and with the unprecedented growth of its membership as well as sports events, championships heightened the need for proficient leadership. In the year 1951, former NCAA part-time assistant Walter Byers became the executive director. From then on, a more formalized NCAA gradually came into being. The NCAA national headquarters was established at Kansas City in Missouri in 1952. There was also a program approved to control the televising of football games. Moreover, authority of enforcement was delegated to the NCAA's council. For the purpose of governing post-season bowl games, legislation was soon adopted.

The NCAA started the administering of programs relating to athletics for women in 1980. Certain divisions for NCAA established ten championships for the years 1981 and 1982. One year later, NCAA's 75th Convention, a historic event in the association, adopted a plan of governance that included programs, representations and services dedicated to women's athletics. The convention also paved the way for the expansion of women's championship through adding nineteen events to the program.

Furthermore, the NCAA underwent certain changes in its governance structure. Essentially, greater autonomy was provided for membership divisions. Presidents and officers of member universities and colleges were given much better and more control. This was a major revolutionized effort undertaken in August of 1997.

Though stricken with challenges, the NCAA today continues to grow as a stable association. With its various events and championships hosted throughout the years, the NCAA has served as an outlet for collegiate students to display their skills in football, among other various sporting activitie