ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as the most internationally recognised intercollegiate governing body. Intercollegiate athletics became popular social events on campuses, and the visibility of athletic teams became associated with the identity of the institution. The athletics director bears ultimate responsibility for everything that goes on in the athletics program. The NCAA is often blamed generally for the failures of its members, while its members are the ones creating the rules. The core values of the NCAA have been a source of continual debate, revisions and subtle edits as the governance structure has evolved through the various iterations of student-led, faculty-led and administration led – both athletics and/or presidential – leadership. The NCAA is the holistic product of member institutions who make, bend, amend and break the rules while governing intercollegiate athletics. A shared interest brings unique institutions together to facilitate education, community experiences and institutional branding through athletics.
