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Sidelined by Pregnancy
Thursday, May 25, at 2 p.m., U.S. Eastern time
As the number of women who play college sports continues to rise, the chances increase that an athlete will become pregnant. Yet many universities do not have written policies for dealing with pregnant athletes. The students' uncertainty about whether they will lose their scholarships and whether they will be able to play after they have a baby can lead them to drop out of college or have abortions. Universities without clear polices also expose themselves to lawsuits.
Should athletes be required to notify their athletics department if they get pregnant? Should they be allowed to play while pregnant? Should the NCAA change its bylaws to treat pregnancy as a protected medical condition for which a scholarship should not be revoked? What programs should colleges establish to help athletes who become pregnant? To help athletes who have had their babies?
» A Pregnant Cause (5/26/2006)
» What Athletes Can Expect When They're Expecting (5/26/2006)
Elizabeth Sorensen is a professor of nursing and a faculty athletics representative at Wright State University. She created the university's pregnant-athlete policy and has encouraged the NCAA to change its bylaws to do more to protect pregnant players.
Brad Wolverton (Moderator):
The Chronicle would like to welcome Elizabeth Sorensen, a professor of nursing and a faculty athletics representative at Wright State University. She established the university's pregnant-athlete policy to help protect players' scholarships and provide neutral counseling to athletes who become pregnant. And welcome to all participants. We will now take questions for Ms. Sorensen.
Question from Evan, The Chronicle of Higher Education:
Do you have a sense of how prevalent an occurence pregnancy is with college athletes? If so, how do the numbers compare to non-athletes?
Elizabeth Sorensen:
Thanks, Evan, for the great question. How big is this problem? The magnitude of the problem would let us know how urgently it needs to be corrected, right? It's almost impossible to know the actual frequency, or even make a reasonable estimate, for pregnancy in student-athletes because revealing a pregnancy almost always carries negative consequences for an athlete. There are no research studies on pregnant intercollegiate athletes, although if you search the internet you'll find lots of anecdotal stories. I think the problem is larger than anyone would imagine. Under the previous "rules" athletes were more motivated to conceal their pregnancies or quietly go seek an abortion than to ask for help. One of the reasons we need policies is to create an environment where student-athletes can safely seek the same level of help that is available to all students.
Question from Evan, The Chronicle of Higher Education:
Why do you think so few schools and collegiate athletic governing bodies have explictly drafted policies covering pregnant athletes?
Elizabeth Sorensen:
Thanks, Evan. From a most optimistic view the scarceness of policies might be from simple ignorance, and that's easily correctable through knowledge. I share information and copies of our policy for free to anyone who asks. From the most pessimistic view institutions might be purposively keeping their heads in the sand hoping they won't have to deal with the issue if they pretend it doesn't exist. We are quickly coming to a time where both lack of knowledge AND denial in athletics administration are not very defensible (as evidenced by availability of information and offers of support, and of some highly visible lawsuits in the news).
Question from Jennifer K. Ruark, The Chronicle:
Could the college be liable if a pregnant athlete who is allowed to keep playing suffers complications in her pregnancy?
Elizabeth Sorensen:
Wow, great question, Jennifer. When I did a recent update (April 2006) to the original research (2004) I was struck by the trend in institutions (who do allow athletes to compete while pregnant) requiring pregnant athletes to sign medical-release waivers. I am not a legal expert, so I can't professionally address whether or not these waivers will actually protect an institution if a pregnant athlete suffers complications. I think it is essential that a medical professional monitor a participating pregnant athlete, so complications can be detected and prevented before they occur. I think the courts have recently ruled that institution does have a special relationship with an athlete. Any legal experts out there? I'd like to know the answer to this question myself.
Question from Jennifer K. Ruark, The Chronicle:
While it's healthy to continue certain kinds of exercise while pregnant, a pregnant player may not be as fast, nimble, or resilient as she was when she was recruited. Is it fair to the team to have her continue playing?
Elizabeth Sorensen:
Great question, thanks Jennifer! "Fairness" is a pretty complex idea. Undoubtedly the team needs every player's optimal contribution, but doesn't the player also need the team's understanding and support when times get tough? Are there other times, like a bad performance streak, when athlete might not contribute to the team's success although she's not pregnant? What happens when an athlete gets sick? What does the team do then? They help the individual through the tough time, and make a plan for the individual's contribution can be returned to the way it was when she was recruited. An athlete can return to full competitive contribution after pregnancy. Secondly, athletic contribution can continue for some time during pregnancy, depending on the sport and the athlete's health during pregnancy. bottom line: most women's sports teams rally around their members during difficulties.
Question from Jennifer K. Ruark, The Chronicle of Higher Education:
If pregnant athletes are allowed to play, what steps should coaches and other administrators take to make sure the players don't hurt themselves?
Elizabeth Sorensen:
Thanks, Jennifer, good question. First, coaches and administrators need to create an environment where athletes will feel safe in revealing their need for help, which means a policy that protects her scholarship and guides their responses. Coaches and administrators need to form a decision-making team immediately. The team includes a qualified medical professional who can closely monitor the athlete's and baby's health, and give prenatal care to optimize health. The administrators and coaches can provide essential information about the level of contact and physical risk of the specific sport. For example, swimming has lower physical contact than rugby. If coaches and administrators know an athlete has a special physical condition which needs close monitoring, then they can be optimally careful she doesn't get hurt.
Question from Amanda, higher ed association:
The article did not mention anything about getting the pregnant athlete the best possible prenatal care. In fact, what seems to be happening based on the piece is that athletes are doing everything they can to avoid dealing with their pregnancies. What steps are being taken at institutions to ensure the health of the athlete from a more holistic view - her mental, physical, emotional health as well as the health of her fetus and guidance - beyond adoption or abortion - on resources to stay in school as a single mother?
As an aside, seems to me that many male student athletes have children and that gets celebrated in the media when star players are interviewed with their babies on their laps.
Elizabeth Sorensen:
Super questions, Amanda! You have touched on a lot of issues that Wright State University has addressed, and I'll be so happy to send them to you if you e-mail me. Prenatal care: if we create an environment where athletes seek help rather than conceal pregnancy, we can make effective referrals for professional prenatal care. And yes, that's a major support point for writing a policy, to get the athlete and her baby excellent prenatal care. Holistic care: at Wright State we argue that pregnancy is a psychological crisis as well as physical challenge, so we provide "neutral counsel" - a health care professional outside the athletics department - to support all her needs, not just physical performance ones.
Question from David Merrell, Abilene Christian University:
How should a school go about establishing a policy? What issues must be determined? Where do we begin? Will the models already available guide us to the major issues?
Elizabeth Sorensen:
Oh ho! Easy questions to answer! Thanks, David! I will happily provide you with everything we have done, for free. Just e-mail me. I'll give you any help you want. Every time I interact with new institutions including yours the policy and arguments get further refined by your needs. Faith-based institutions can adapt the policy we have to be congruent with your own values.
Brad Wolverton (Moderator):
Ms. Sorensen's e-mail address is elizabeth.sorensen@wright.edu
Question from wilson smith, UMass:
In developing WSU's pregancy policy, describe degree of support you receive from WSU and Mr. Cusick.
Elizabeth Sorensen:
Thanks, Wilson. No policy affecting athletics gets off the ground without support from the Director of Athletics. I'm privileged to have a great working relationship with Dr. Cusack, who said "it doesn't matter how many athletes who might potentially benefit from this policy - if we can support even one individual who is in a difficult situation, it's worth it". He originally had the idea and asked me for an opinion on it, although neither one of us anticipated the mangitude of response to this issue.
Question from David Merrell, Abilene Christian University:
How may we receive a copy of your policy?
Elizabeth Sorensen:
E-mail me at elizabeth.sorensen@wright.edu, sending me your land address and phone #. I'll get it out to you within a few days, my pleasure.
Question from Caren, University of Michigan:
A comment actually--as practicing Ob/Gyn with an interest in female athletes, first let me commmend you on your work! Cannot comment on the legalities, but from a medical perspective: pregnancy is a normal physiologic process and in general women can remain active, fit, and in some cases competitive while pregnant...up to a point. I also would like to contend that the provision of comprehensive GYN services to female athletes is as important as sophisticated weight rooms and trainers, and that sexual health information be provided to all athletes--male or female. Again, many thanks for your work!
Elizabeth Sorensen:
Wow! Thanks so much; we all thrive on supportive comments. It's quite my pleasure and privilege to do this work.
Brad Wolverton (Moderator):
Dr. Sorensen just got a flurry of questions to answer, so she is getting to them as fast as she can. Anyone else with questions, feel free to submit them, as we still have about 20 minutes for this session.
Question from Jackie Tippett, WSU-CONH, Student nurse:
If some colleges were afraid of the penalties of a pregnant athlete if she continued playing while pregnant, couldn't they just suspend her scholarship till after her pregnancy (assuming that she still wanted to play after having a baby)? This would ensure that she would still have her scholarship and the University would not be penalized if she had an injury.
Elizabeth Sorensen:
Super question, Jackie! Thanks so much. The answer would be complex, though. The University's top priority is for a student-athlete to make academic progress whether or not she can contribute athletically. Many athletes can only go to college if they get scholarship support. That's why we (and the NCAA) protects athletes' scholarships if they get injured in some way. But the NCAA doesn't protect pregnant athletes' scholarships.
Question from Jada Warren, Application 2 Admission:
I was an athlete in college and when one of my peers became pregnant she lost her scholarship even though she chose to terminate the pregnancy. What measures do you suggest so decisions like this do not affect the athlete?
Elizabeth Sorensen:
Thanks, Jada. I wish I could correct past wrongs, and I can't second-guess your friend's circumstances. I'd need to know on what basis her scholarship was revoked. One sad truth is that if she walked in to her coach and voluntarily withdrew from her sport, the NCAA rules say she's just given the institution the right to withdraw her scholarship. Three measures are needed: 1. the institution needs a clear policy to guide their response uniformly, 2. the institution needs to act in the athlete's best interest in creating a safe environment for her to ask for help, 3. the athletes all need to know to NOT voluntarily withdraw from their sport if they get in a tough situation. At WSU we plan for the athlete's return to sport and continued academic progress.
Question from Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Florida Coastal School of Law:
All athletic scholarships are vulnerable, particularly since athletes have no official voice or vote within the NCAA, unlike the Olympic Committee. Ideally, what sorts of policies would you like institutions and/or the NCAA to adopt? Have model guildlines been proposed? Research suggests that sports participation would decrease the risk of becoming pregnant as compared with non-athletic peers since athletes are more likely to delay having sex, and athletes are more likely to use protection. See collected research, "Her Life Depends on It" at: http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/binary-data/WSF_ARTICLE/pdf_file/990.pdf
Elizabeth Sorensen:
Super contribution, Nancy. Athletes are vulnerable young adults and they need us "more seasoned" professionals to advocate for them on this issue. The change I requested of the NCAA was very simple: add "pregnancy" to the list of medical conditions under which an athlete's scholarship may not be revoked by an institution (Bylaw 15.3.2.2, 15.3.4.3). I have some model guidelines for the policy itself, and the NCAA has some model guidelines for athletics participation by pregnant athletes. Thanks for your questions.
Question from Brad Wolverton:
Do you expect to see more lawsuits like the one mentioned in The Chronicle article, where a pregnant athlete sues over how she was treated?
Elizabeth Sorensen:
Thanks, Brad. I am not a legal professional, but I always hate to see issues escalate to the point they are only solvable through lawsuits. I think if an institution is guided by a well-established policy protecting the student's scholarship, and addresses the risks of young adults becoming pregnant (realizing there is is a reasonable chance it will occur if it has not already), AND sincerely wants to do the right thing then lawsuits might not increase. Or maybe change will only occur when there are many successful lawsuits. Either way it's time for a change.
Brad Wolverton (Moderator):
Dr. Sorensen has time for a couple of final questions. Last call...
Question from Brad Wolverton:
Many colleges with pregnant-athlete policies require female athletes to notify athletics officials if they get pregnant. Why doesn't Wright State?
Elizabeth Sorensen:
Great question, Brad. We don't require but encourage students to reveal if they get pregnant. I can't address how successful other institutions feel they will be getting young adults to follow this directive. The NCAA does allow a scholarship to be withdrawn if an athlete "fraudently represents any information" (Bylaw 15.3.4), so maybe that's on their mind. It is really important that the athlete reveal any medical condition, undoubtedly, but if you don't create a safe environment then athletes won't seek your help.
Question from Kiana Blake, WSU student nurse:
I actually have a friend who runs track, and ran all the way up until she was four months pregnant, then of course she stopped. Now she is under the pressure of running the same time that she did before she left so that she can keep her scholarship. She had the baby in April and she didn't plan on having a C-section. Now it is taking her longer to heal and get back on the track to meet her deadline. She would like to know what steps should she take? This really hits home to a lot and she really appreciates it.
Elizabeth Sorensen:
Thanks, Kiana. It all starts with the institution having a well-written policy, which includes a plan for the individual's return to her sport after pregnancy if she desires. At Wright State her scholarship would have been protected. We would want to help her through this difficult situation; we would help set up a reasonable recovery training schedule so she stayed healthy. I'd be glad to help any way I can.
Question from Brad Wolverton:
One final question for Dr. Sorensen: Where can colleges turn to learn how to establish a pregnant-athlete policy? Do you know of any good conferences people can attend, or any Web sites or other resources?
Elizabeth Sorensen:
E-mail me. Maybe it's time we set up a conference on this!
Brad Wolverton (Moderator):
That wraps up our discussion about pregnant athletes for today. Thanks to everyone for participating, and to Dr. Sorensen for providing such thoughtful feedback.