Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (1971)
"The Achievements of an Organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual"
~Vince Lombardi (football coach)
"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results"
~Andrew Carnegie
When first developed in 1971 for competitive college female athletes, the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics (AIAW) provided structure and leadership combined with education. The AIAW replaced the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women which had begun in 1967 by what is now called the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports. AIAW was a sub-unit of the National Association until it lost significant funding and membership to the NCAA in 1983.
I interviewed a current Varsity Softball player, Allison Meacham, at the State University of New York at Albany on the subject of participating in intercollegiate athletics:
How is playing college sports different than high school athletics?
Allison Meacham: For me it's all year long as opposed to high school where you just play and practice in season. There is a lot more commitment, travel, and stress. The competition level is raised a lot as well. Everyone is good in college, so your competing with a lot of top players.
Is it harder (in college) to handle the school work load and the training?
Allison: Yes, right after classes you are going to practice. Sometimes I'm at practice longer than I'm in class. When you are in season you are also traveling, so work has to be done on the bus and studying is done on the road. I've missed a lot of class this semester too. I have to reschedule tests and I have a lot of contact with teachers and TA's. It's hard to learn things you've missed because you are getting so much more information in one class compared to what you got in high school, so its hard to catch up.
How does participating in college athletics have an effect on your social life?
Allison: A majority of my friends are athletes, so if not for the team that I'm on I wouldn't have that many friends or have met so many people.
