Goestenkors against banning male practice players

Last month the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics issued a position statement calling for a ban on the use of male practice players in women’s intercollegiate athletics.

Since then it has been a hot topic of conversation, especially among women's basketball coaches.

It’s been a subject that the committee has been looking at for a couple of years. Currently, Division III has an actual proposal on the table to limit the use of male practice players, while Division I and II are simply looking into the issue.

Duke’s Gail Goestenkors has said she is against banning male practice players. ACC Nation recently had a chance to ask about her thoughts on the topic.

ACC Nation: What are the benefits of using male practice players?

Coach G: Practicing against male practice players allows us to improve in each and every practice. Going up against bigger, stronger and faster athletes in practice every day makes our practices more intense and makes us better. I want to make practice so hard that when they get out on the court during games they think it is easier.

ACC Nation: If male practice players are banned, what are the possible repercussions?

Coach G: We usually carry a roster of 12 players and if they were banned we would have to add more players to our roster which would result in players not getting playing time and end result would be more transfers. This would also take away some players for the mid-majors they would normally get.

ACC Nation: How does Duke use male practice players?

Coach G: We use male practice players for drills, scrimmages and running opposing teams offenses. The use of male practice players in no way takes time away from our 11 scholarship players.

ACC Nation: What about the argument that using male practice players eliminates opportunities for females?

Coach G: If they came out and watched our practice they would see that using male practice players does not eliminate opportunities for females. Everyone gets equal time in practice.

- Patrick Hite