ABSTRACT
Intercollegiate athletics is a $14 billion industry (US dollars) and relatively unique to the United States (Murphy, 2019). Colleges and universities offering athletics programs may choose, but are not required, to affiliate with a national governance organisation. There are five national voluntary membership organisations that provide championships opportunities and regulate intercollegiate athletics. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is the oldest organisation with the largest membership – over 1,110 colleges and universities and 100 athletics conferences. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is another governing body and is best known for its sponsorship of the longest-running national basketball tournament in the United States. The NAIA was also the first national intercollegiate athletics governing body to invite historically black institutions into membership (in 1953) and to sponsor both men’s and women’s national championships (in 1980). The NAIA is currently home to almost 300 colleges and universities and some 60,000 student-athletes competing in 13 sports. The National Junior College Athletic Association, established in 1938, promotes competition between institutions granting two-year or associate degrees. The National Christian College Athletic Association was incorporated in 1968 and emphasises a unique mission of promoting Christian outreach and ministry through sponsorship of national championships in 23 sports. The newest national governing body for intercollegiate athletics is the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, established in 2009, which provides national competitive experiences for small-enrollment schools offering four-year and associate degrees and nontraditional or trade programs.
