National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
Abbreviation	NAIA
Formation	1937 (National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball) 1952 (NAIA)
Legal status	Association
Headquarters	Kansas City, Missouri
Region served	United States of America
Membership	307
President	Jim Carr
Main organ	National Coordinating Committee
Budget	$3 Million (2007-08 Budget)[1]
Website	http://naia.cstv.com/

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 five 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 2007-08 academic year, the NAIA has 291 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]

History

NAIA headquarters near the Power and Light District and Sprint Center in Downtown Kansas City.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) was formed in 1937, when Dr. James Naismith and local leaders formed the National College Basketball Tournament staged 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.

Champions of Character

Launched in 2000 by the NAIA, the Champions of Character program addresses character issues more comprehensively than any other national program for youth and serves as a demonstration of the NAIA slogan "NAIA: All that's Right In Sports". The program currently reaches hundreds of thousands of students on nearly 300 college and university campuses in North America and extends into their surrounding communities.

The NAIA Champions of Character program is an educational outreach initiative which emphasizes the tenets of character and integrity, not only for NAIA college students, but for younger students, coaches and parents in our communities. The programs has the following five core tenents: respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership, and sportsmanship that are exhibited and promoted by member athletic departments to local communities.

Coaches, parents, administrators and community partners all have a role in developing students of character. The NAIA Champions of Character program brings them training, guidelines and behavior models to create positive environments that promote personal growth, academic enrichment and fun through sports.

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)^[6]:

• Basketball
  • Men's
    • Division I (1937)
    • Division II (1992)
  • Women's
    • Division I (1981)
    • Division II (1992)

Longest-running collegiate National Championship of any sport in the country. 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 2010 tournament was the 73rd edition of what has been tabbed as College Basketball’s Toughest Tournament. Basketball is the only NAIA sport that competes in divisions.

Emerging Sports

• Cheer and Dance
• Men's Volleyball
• Men's Bowling^[8]
• Women's Bowling^[9]

Conferences

The NAIA has 28 member conferences, and 9 football conferences. The membership is also divided into regions which may vary based on sport.^[10].

Awards and Honors

Al Ortolani Scholarship (ATA) The $500 undergraduate scholarship is awarded to an outstanding student trainer who is atleast 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 substancial service to student-athletes, the association or the member institution.

Charles Morris Award Initiated in memory and honor of past Associate Executive Director Charles Morris. The award annually recognize Conference and National Administrator of the Year.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 US State
• NACDA Director's Cup
• NAIA Basketball Tournament Most Valuable Player

References

External links

• Official site of the NAIA
• History of the NAIA
• College Fanz Sports Network Announcements, statistics, and links to audio and video coverage of NAIA sports