- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
-
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics 
Abbreviation NAIA Motto Character-driven intercollegiate athletics Formation 1940 Legal status Association Headquarters Kansas City, Missouri Region served United States of America, Canada Membership 290 President Jim Carr Main organ NAIA Council of Presidents Budget $3 Million [1] Website http://www.NAIA.org, www.PlayNAIA.org The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA as members. The NAIA has four members in Canada and at one point had one in the Bahamas, which made it the only international intercollegiate athletic association in North America until 2009. For the 2010-11 academic year, the NAIA has 290 member institutions.[2] Currently, the headquarters are located in Kansas City, Missouri.[3] The NAIA sponsors 23 national championships. The CBS College Sports Network, formerly called CSTV, serves as the national media for the NAIA.[4]
Contents
History
NAIA headquarters near the Power and Light District and Sprint Center in Downtown Kansas City.
In 1937, Dr. James Naismith and local leaders staged the first National College Basketball Tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The goal of the tournament was to establish a forum for small colleges and universities to determine a national basketball champion. The original eight-team tournament expanded to 32 teams in 1938. On March 10, 1940; the National Association for Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) was formed in Kansas City, Missouri.
In 1952, the NAIB was transformed into the NAIA, and with that came the sponsorship of additional sports such as men's golf, tennis and outdoor track and field.[5] Football in the NAIA was split into two divisions in 1970, based on enrollment (Div. I & Div. II); it was consolidated back into a single division in 1997.
African-American participation
In 1948, the NAIB became the first national organization to open their intercollegiate postseason to black student-athletes. That same year, Indiana State coach John Wooden brought the first African-American student athlete to play at the national tournament.
The association furthered its commitment to African-American athletes, when in 1953, it became the first collegiate association to invite historically black colleges and universities into its membership. In 1957, Tennessee State became the first historically black institution to win a collegiate basketball national championship.
Female participation
The NAIA began sponsoring intercollegiate championships for women in 1980, the first coed national athletics association to do so, offering collegiate athletics championships to women in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, indoor and outdoor track and field, softball, swimming and diving, tennis and volleyball.
In 1997, Liz Heaston became the first female college athlete to play and score in a college football game when she kicked two extra points.[6]
Championship sports
The NAIA sponsors 13 sports in which it conducts 23 annual championships (12 for men, 11 for women). The association conducts, or has conducted in the past, championship tournaments in the following sports (year established)[7]:
The NAIA basketball championship is the longest-running collegiate National Championship of any sport in the United States. The tournament is the brainchild of Dr. James Naismith, founder of the game of basketball; Emil Liston, athletic director at Baker University; and Frank Cramer, founder of Cramer Athletic Products. It began in 1937 with the inaugural tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, MO. The 2011 tournament is the 74th edition of what has been tabbed as College Basketball’s Toughest Tournament. Basketball is the only NAIA sport that competes in divisions.
- Baseball (1957)
- Bowling (discontinued)[citation needed] (1962–1978)
- Cross Country
- Football (1956)
- Golf
- Gymnastics (both discontinued)
- Men's[citation needed] (1964–1984)
- Women's (1981–1988)
- Ice Hockey (discontinued) (1968–1984)
- Indoor and Outdoor Track
- Men's Indoor (1966)
- Men's Outdoor (1952)
- Women's Indoor (1981)
- Women's Outdoor (1981)
- Volleyball
- Women's Volleyball (1980)
- Men's Volleyball (original run 1969-1980[citation needed]; a "recognized" sport since 1999[8])
- Water Polo (discontinued)[citation needed]
- Wrestling (1956)
Emerging sports
- Men's Lacrosse
- Women's Lacrosse
- Cheer and Dance
- Men's Volleyball
- Men's Bowling[9]
- Women's Bowling[9]
Conferences
The NAIA has 23 member conferences, including 11 that sponsor football, and an association of independent institutions.
Multi-sport conferences
- American Mideast Conference (AMC)
- American Midwest Conference (AMC)
- Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC)
- California Pacific Conference (CAL-PAC)
- Cascade Collegiate Conference
- Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC)
- Frontier Conference
- Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC)
- Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC)
- Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC)
- Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC)
- Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC)
- Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC)
- Mid-Central College Conference (MCC)
- Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference
- Mid-South Conference (MSC)
- Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC)
- Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC)
- Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC)
- Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC)
- TranSouth Athletic Conference (TSAC)
- The Sun Conference (TSC)
- Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC)
Football-only conferences
- Central States Football League (CSFL)
- Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC)
- Mid-States Football Association (MSFA)
Awards and honors
Al Ortolani Scholarship (ATA) The $500 undergraduate scholarship is awarded to an outstanding student trainer who is at least a junior and has maintained a GPA of 3.00.
Athletic Trainer of the Year Presented to the NAIA-ATA member Athletic Trainer who has provided substantial service to student-athletes, the association or the member institution.
Charles Morris Award The award was initiated in memory and honor of past Associate Executive Director Charles Morris. The award is presented annually to recognize Conference, Region and a National Administrator of the Year.
The recipient should exemplify the loyalty and enthusiasm Charles Morris had for the NAIA. Nominees must be active as an administrator at a member institution or in conference/regional committee organizations.
Clarence "Ike" Pearson (SIDA) Given annually to a member of the NAIA-Sports Information Directors Association to honor outstanding contributions to the profession. The award is named for the former statistical crew chief of the NAIA men's basketball national tournament in Kansas City, Missouri.
Coach of Character Award The NAIA Coach of Character Award is an annual award given to a head coach of an NAIA institution. The nominee must be employed by the institution a minimum of 5 years and must be clearly outstanding in embracing the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character initiative, methods of teaching character through sport, and community leadership through volunteering, service or other means.
A.O. Duer Award Named in honor of the NAIA's former executive secretary for his 26 years of service to the Association. The A.O. Duer Award emphasizes our policy of scholarship in athletic programs. The award is presented annually to a junior men's and women's student-athlete in any sport who has excelled academically as well as athletically.
To be eligible, a student-athlete must have an overall grade point average of at least 3.75 (on a 4.00 scale) and be in her/his junior year academically.
Emil S. Liston Award The founder of the NAIB and the first executive secretary of the NAIA, Mr. Liston was a prime mover behind the men's basketball tournament. The award is annually presented to a junior men's and women's basketball player who has shown athletic and scholastic achievement.
To be eligible, a student-athlete must have an overall grade point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) and be in her/his junior year academically. Each award consists of a $1,000 scholarship presented to the recipient’s institution to be used for tuition and approved expenses and an appropriate award is presented to the honoree.
Hall Of Fame The NAIA Hall of Fame Award is the highest honor presented by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Nominees must be persons of outstanding quality, high moral character, fine leadership ability and must be held in high esteem by their colleagues, former coaches and former athletes.
Larry Lady Officiating Award The NAIA Larry Lady Officiating Award is presented annually to an official of any sport recognized by the NAIA. It is named in honor of Larry Lady, current NAIA Supervisor of Officials for basketball, football and baseball. Nominees must be persons of outstanding quality, high moral character, fine officiating ability and be held in high esteem by their colleagues, administrators and athletes.
The recipient will receive an award of $500 to be used by recipient, a member of the recipient’s family or family friend who attends an NAIA institution.
NAIA-CTSA "All That's Right in Sport" Award The Citizenship through Sports Alliance (CTSA) and the NAIA have partnered to annually honor one NAIA institution, team or individual for actions that have clear connections to sportsmanship, and bring with them outstanding stories that motivate and inspire. All Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Team Award Winners, as well as institutional nominations, are eligible for this special recognition. The recipient (up to 2 team/institutional representatives) will be provided round-trip transportation to the awards ceremony held in conjunction with the annual CTSA Awards Banquet.
Dr. Leroy Walker Character Award This award was created to honor Dr. LeRoy Walker a former president of the NAIA and President emeritus of the United States Olympic Committee.
The nominee must be a representative of an NAIA institution as a student-athlete. The nominee must be at least a junior academic status at the nominating institution at the time of nomination, and must be “outstanding” in academic achievement (3.0 G.P.A or higher), campus leadership, community leadership, embracing the five core character values of the NAIA Champions of Character initiative, athletic achievement and future ambition.
The recipient will receive a $1,000 cash award to the institution scholarship fund of recipient’s choice. The recipient also receives a specially engraved plaque/revere bowl as a permanent memento of the award.
Wally Schwartz Award The Faculty Athletic Representative Association has initiated this award to honor past Vice-President of Legislative Services, Wally Schwartz. The Award will annually recognize Conference, Independent and a National FAR of the Year. The recipient should exemplify the loyalty, enthusiasm, and honesty that Wally Schwartz had, and still has, shown on behalf of the NAIA.
Athletic Director of the Year Presented annually to the top athletic director who excels in the areas of budget development, facility development, promotion of student-athlete academic achievement, involvement in the Champions of Character initiative, athletic success, and service to the NAIA or community.
See also
- List of NAIA conferences
- List of NAIA institutions
- List of NAIA regions
- List of college athletic programs by U.S. state
- NACDA Directors' Cup
References
- ^ "National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics | Education & Training > Extra Curricular Activities from". AllBusiness.com. http://www.allbusiness.com/membership-organizations/membership-organizations/4043405-1.html. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Downtown Kansas City location opens for business July 2 Location Information
- ^ CBS College Sports Network agreement
- ^ NAIA History
- ^ "Woman Kicks Extra Points". New York Times. October 20, 1997. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/20/sports/woman-kicks-extra-points.html. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
- ^ NAIA History
- ^ NAIA Emerging Sports
- ^ a b http://www.post-trib.com/sports/2375788,sgorches-0610.article
External links
NAIA conferences Football conferences Non-football conferences American Mideast Conference • American Midwest Conference • Appalachian Athletic Conference • California Pacific Conference • Cascade Collegiate Conference • Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference • Golden State Athletic Conference • Gulf Coast Athletic Conference • Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference • Mid-Central College Conference • Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference • Midwest Collegiate Conference • Red River Athletic Conference • Sooner Athletic Conference • Southern States Athletic Conference • The Sun Conference • TranSouth Athletic Conference • Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference • NAIA independent schools
Categories:- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
- Sports governing bodies of the United States
- Organizations based in Kansas City, Missouri
- Organizations established in 1937
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