the future?????

Within 20 (+/-) years, will Track in the US for 18 to 22 yr olds be:

Limited to the largest D I schools and Ivy's only?

With other so called "olympic sports", shifted to a Euro-style club team sport, non contested at the NCAA level?

One thing is certain. The status quo from prior to 2000 is no more.

[NormZylstra]

Re: the future?????

NCAA Division III should be going strong. No scholarships.

Re: the future?????

Aren't you over-reacting to the current Title IX climate? This too shall pass. Almost all colleges will continue to find ways to satisfy their students' needs, and yes, right now the storm clouds are building, but show a little hope. Upper education has muddled through much more than this (60's civil rights/war protests, affirmative action, etc. ) and come out fine. We'll find ways to keep track (and other) programs viable.

[luv2run]

Re: the future?????

Would getting track out of college be a bad thing? It would require a shift in how it works, but it would not mean the end of the sport.

Re: the future?????

For any other country that works, but for the USA, it would be disasterous. We excel because of sheer numbers who have access to good facilities and coaching. A club sytem would not appeal to many after high school. College athletics works because it's part of the appeal of the college experience. Few other countries can match what we have.

[Pego]

Re: the future?????

Why wouldn't the club participation be attractive? It is to the athletes elsewhere in the world. I am not knocking the college-based system, but the alternative is far from unacceptable.

Re: the future?????

Do you really see American 18+ year olds taking time out of their college day to go do a grueling track workout, if it were not part of the school experience? Yeah, they like to hit the gym for 20 minutes and socialize, but Americans really don't think like the rest of the world. The only reason we have so many college age kids into track is precisely because of college. And where there's large numbers, you are going to find some champions. Plus some athletes are late bloomers, and they won't have incentive to spend all that time at the club, just to see if they will turn out good. In college you can be average and still have lots of fun. Club track isn't so much fun if you are always an also-ran.

[Pego]

Re: the future?????

I think you assume a lot about what people would or wouldn't do. Either way, we are speculating over a hypothetical situation that has little chance to arrive. As a matter of fact, "concern" is probably painting the future way too black. Title IX has an easy, but probably politically unworkable solution. Simply remove football numbers from the equation and, hossana, the numbers are just fine.

Re: the future?????

true dat