Sports Medicine Handbook - NCAA

84
Pregnancy in the
Student-Athlete
January 1986 • Revised June 2009
Pregnancy Policies
Pregnancy places unique challenges
on the student-athlete. Each
member institution should have a
policy clearly outlined to address
the rights and responsibilities of
the pregnant student-athlete. The
policy should address:
• Where the student-athlete can
receive confidential counseling;
• Where the student-athlete can
access timely medical and
obstetrical care;
• How the pregnancy may affect
the student-athlete’s team standing
and institutional grants-in-aid;
• That pregnancy should be
treated as any other temporary
health condition regarding receipt
of institutional grants-in-aid; and
• That NCAA rules permit a oneyear
extension of the five-year
period of eligibility for a female
student-athlete for reasons of
pregnancy.
Student-athletes should not be
forced to terminate a pregnancy
because of financial or
psychological pressure or fear of
losing their institutional grants-inaid.
See Bylaw 15.3.4.3, which
specifies that institutional financial
GUIDELINE 2q
The NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports acknowledges the
significant input of Dr. James Clapp, FACSM, in the revision of this guideline.
aid based in any degree on athletics
ability may not be reduced or
canceled during the period of its
award because of an injury, illness
or physical or mental medical
condition.
The team’s certified athletic trainer
or team physician is often
approached in confidence by the
student-athlete. The sports
medicine staff should be wellversed
in the athletics department’s
policies and be able to access the
identified resources. The sports
medicine staff should respect the
student-athlete’s requests for
confidentiality until such time
when there is medical reason to
withhold the student-athlete from
competition.
Exercise in Pregnancy
Assessing the risk of intense,
strenuous physical activity in
pregnancy is difficult. There is some
evidence that women who exercise
during pregnancy have improved
cardiovascular function, limited
weight gain and fat retention,
improved attitude and mental state,
easier and less complicated labor,
and enhanced postpartum recovery.
There is no evidence that increased
activity increases the risk of