NCAA Emerging Sports Timeline
When the NCAA adopted the recommendations of its Gender-Equity Task Force in 1994, one of the
recommendations
was
the
creation
of
the
list
of
emerging
sports
for
women.
Nine sports were on that first list. In the past 14 years, some have become championship sports, while others
have been added to the list. NCAA bylaws require that emerging sports must gain championship status
(minimum 40 varsity NCAA programs) within 10 years or show steady progress toward that goal to remain on
the list. Institutions are allowed to use emerging sports to help meet the NCAA minimum sports-sponsorship
requirements and minimum financial aid awards. Any sport, with proper, documented support, can self-identify
as an emerging sport.
In the years since the emerging-sports list was created, four have earned full-fledged championship status.
Women’s rowing, which became a National Collegiate championship in 1997 and split into championships for
each division in 2002, has seen the most growth — and had the longest time to see the impact of NCAA
recognition. Women’s ice hockey and women’s water polo, which both earned NCAA championship status in
the 2000-01 season, have experienced growth, too. Women’s bowling, a championship sport since 2003-04, is
expected to see sponsorship numbers rise even higher in the upcoming season. Each of those sports has
grown and succeeded uniquely.
The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics is responsible for monitoring emerging-sport sponsorship and
legislation.
1991: NCAA surveys its member institutions' expenditures for women's and men's athletics programs. Study results show
undergraduate enrollment is about even (50/50), but male students constitute about 70 percent of the participants in
intercollegiate athletics, their programs receive about 70 percent of athletics scholarship funds, 77 percent of operating budgets
and 83 percent of recruiting funds.
1992: In response to the 1991 survey results, the NCAA Gender-Equity Task Force is established.
1993: The final report of the Gender-Equity Task Force is published. The Task Force recommends institutional standards and
NCAA regulations to help achieve gender equity. Nine "emerging” sports (five team and four individual sports) are identified.
1994: The NCAA principle of gender equity is adopted at the NCAA Convention to create greater participation opportunities.
1994-95: Financial aid legislation and minimum contests and participants required for sports sponsorships applicable to
emerging sports programs become effective.
1995-96: Amateurism legislation, seasons of competition legislation and awards and benefits legislation applicable to emerging
sports programs become effective.
1996: A National Collegiate Championship for women's rowing is adopted at the NCAA Convention. Legislation to establish
championships in emerging sports may be proposed during the second year in which 40 or more institutions sponsor the sport
for two consecutive academic years. Financial aid legislation and minimum contest and participant requirements for some
women's sports are revised for some emerging sports.
1996-97: Coaching limits and playing and practice legislation for emerging sports become effective. Institutions that sponsor an
emerging sport must be in full compliance with all remaining NCAA legislation. [NOTE: Per NCAA Bylaw 14.01.6.2, the initial-,
continuing- and general-eligibility legislation is only effective for student-athletes first entering the collegiate institution on or after
August 1, 1996.]
1997: In April, the Council voted, effective August 1, 1997, to remove women's rowing from the list of emerging sports,
inasmuch as the Association sponsored a national collegiate championship in that sport.
1998: Divisions I, II and III adopted noncontroversial legislation to identify equestrian as an emerging sport for women.
However, the Division III Management Council decided to rescind equestrian as an emerging sport for women.
2000-01: Women’s ice hockey was removed from the list of emerging sports and the Association sponsored a national
collegiate championship in that sport.
2000-01: Women’s water polo was removed from the list of emerging sports and the Association sponsored a national
collegiate championship in that sport.
2001-02: Division III established women’s ice hockey as a divisional championship. Division I and II still participate in a national
collegiate championship.
2001-02: The women’s rowing national collegiate championship was reclassified and divisional championships were
established for Divisions I, II and III.
2002-03: Rugby is added as an emerging sport for women in all three divisions.
2004: Women’s bowling was removed from the list of emerging sports and the Association sponsored a national collegiate
championship in that sport.
2009: Women’s archery, badminton, synchronized swimming and team handball removed from the list of emerging sports in all
three NCAA divisions for lack of growth.
2010: Sand volleyball added to the list of emerging sports for women in Division I and II.
The following table includes the varsity sports for women that were offered by NCAA institutions during the
2007-08 academic year.
2007-08 NCAA Women's Varsity Sports
Sport
Division Division Division
I
II
III
Total
Compared
to 2006-07
Basketball*
328
294
435
1,057
+7
Bowling*
28
17
7
52
-3
Cross Country*
325
275
388
988
+11
Equestrian
18
6
21
45
-2
Fencing*
24
4
15
43
+4
Field Hockey*
78
25
155
258
+4
Golf*
234
130
152
516
+4
Gymnastics*
64
5
16
85
+1
Ice Hockey*
34
2
45
81
+2
Lacrosse*
84
42
175
301
+15
Rifle*
25
3
8
36
--
Rowing*
86
15
43
144
--
Rugby
1
1
3
5
--
Skiing*
14
8
20
42
-2
Soccer*
307
227
422
956
+15
Softball*
272
272
406
950
+8
Squash
9
0
19
28
+1
Swimming & Diving*
192
76
241
509
-5
Tennis*
Track & Field,
Indoor*
Track & Field,
Outdoor*
308
224
366
898
-3
292
127
226
645
+4
304
175
266
745
-13
Volleyball*
316
278
420
1,014
+7
Water Polo*
32
9
19
60
-1
Total
3,375
2,215
3,868
9,458
+190
*championship sport