Sports in Schools

Known as Title IX, this amendment to the Constitution passed in 1972 requires that: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal assistance."

Sports scholarships (as well as purely educational scholarships) must be apportioned fairly among the sexes pursuant to Title IX. Any young woman applying for an athletic scholarship at a college needs to find out the number and type of athletic scholarships that are available at the school, overall, to assure that she is treated fairly.

TIP: Any complaints or inquires should be addressed to the school's Title IX coordinator.

Athletic programs, which typically favored male sports, are required to support female sports equally, especially in funding.

Who can file a Title IX complaint?

The Title IX coordinator, the student (or any student), a faculty or staff member or any member of the community may file a complaint.

What happens if Title IX is violated?

The school can be fined, its athletic program or programs suspended, it may lose its federal funding or a combination of all three.