NYT Prints Letter to the Editor From College Sports Council President Leo Kocher on Title IX and Roster Caps

Earlier today, the New York Times published a letter to the editor from College Sports Council President Leo Kocher. Kocher sent his letter in response to this week’s story about Title IX and roster management.

To the Sports Editor:

The N.C.A.A.’s own data reveals that female college students, rather than being discriminated against, are afforded an incredible number of opportunities to compete in intercollegiate athletics and win scholarships.

N.C.A.A. members sponsor 1,000 more teams for women than men. The nation’s top athletic conferences require colleges to offer more sports for women in order to qualify for membership. And in N.C.A.A. sports in which men and women compete, like soccer, more scholarships are available for female athletes.

The real story behind roster management is that Title IX’s strict quota system forces colleges to eliminate opportunities for blameless male athletes when women fail to participate in sufficient numbers. Reform that measures genuine equality of opportunity instead of equality of outcome would seem to be in order.

Leo Kocher
Crown Point, Ind.

The writer is president of the College Sports Council, a national coalition of coaches, athletes, parents and fans who aim to promote the student-athlete experience.

To read the other letters readers sent in on the topic, click here.