Within the Intercollegiate Tennis Association “ITA” we believe that college tennis, and all collegiate athletics, benefit from an inclusive membership body that welcomes all to compete regardless of race, gender, or orientation.
Through the launch of our diversity, equity, and inclusion page earlier this year, we hope to continue to offer resources and opportunities for our coaches and student-athletes to learn about all of the diverse individuals which make up college tennis.
This is why, in celebration of Pride Month, we have compiled important resources from around the collegiate sports community that will educate and inform our member base on the LGBTQ+ community.
These resources as well as links to read more can be found below:
Five Ways to have an LGBTQ-Inclusive Athletics Department (More Info)
This resource serves as a guide to ensure athletics departments are providing an environment that is inclusive of all student-athletes, especially those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or questioning. Included in this resource are samples of policies and codes of conduct; additional resources for coaches, players, and staff; and LGBTQ inclusion training best practices.
NCAA Division III LGBTQ of the Year Recognition Award (More Info)
LGBTQ Student-Athlete of the Year Award
- The NCAA Division III LGBTQ Student-Athlete of the Year Award honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, and service/leadership of LGBTQ student-athletes in Division III.
LGBTQ Administrator/Coach/Staff of the Year Award
- The NCAA Division III LGBTQ Athletics Administrator/Coach/Staff of the Year Award honors the service, leadership, and promotion of LGBTQ inclusion by an LGBTQ athletics administrator, coach, or staff member in Division III.
Athletic Department/Conference of the Year Award
- The NCAA Division III Athletics Department/Conference of the Year Award recognizes and honors a Division III athletics department or conference office that has demonstrated proactive efforts to create and sustain an LGBTQ-inclusive culture.
NCAA Division III LGBTQ OneTeam Program (More Info)
The Division III LGBTQ Working Group, in consultation with Nevin Caple, co-founder and managing director of LGBT SportSafe, and Dr. Pat Griffin, professor emerita at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, have developed the Division III LGBTQ OneTeam Program.
Champions of Respect – Inclusion of LGBTQ Student-Athletes and Staff in NCAA Programs (More Info)
The subcommittee’s charge is to provide leadership and advocacy, raising awareness of and providing resources to address issues related to equitable opportunities, fair treatment, and respect for LGBTQ student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and all others associated with intercollegiate athletics.
Campus Pride Sports Index (More Info)
The Campus Pride Sports Index provides a critical foundation of understanding as well as a vital tool for assisting colleges and universities in ongoing efforts to improve intercollegiate athletics and collegiate recreation for LGBTQ players, coaches, participants, staff, and fans.
Out In Sports Study: Out LGBTQ athletes report deep, widespread acceptance from teammates (More Info)
More than 95% of the athletes surveyed said their teammates’ responses to them coming out were overall “neutral” to “perfect.” The study was conducted by Outsports, the University of Winchester, and the Sports Equality Foundation.
