I believe that female student athletes shouldn't be penalized or punished for being pregnant. I think that it???s just a part of life and growing up. As long as they can maintain themselves after the pregnancy and stay in shape for whatever sport they're involved in, then they shouldn't lose their scholarship. If anything, I think that would push the female to strive harder and work harder for their family. I just believe that would improve the play of the female student athlete.

The money they are being awarded is based entirely upon their ability to contribute athletically to the program. If they are unable to compete, then they should not rec'v the money.

Why don't they just redshirt then?

Doctor...in the workplace pregnancy is basically a protected state. You can't fire someone because they are pregnant. Also companies are required by law to provide paid maternity leave. But since student athletes are not "employees" they have no legal protections when it comes to pregnancy. You are arguing that the relationship between athlete and athletic department is quid pro quo...if an athlete cannot perform, they shouldn't be paid.

If the NCAA members do not protect the scholarships of pregnant females, the logical conclusion is that athletes should be treated as employees...and all the good and bad things that this would trigger.

I don't think the comparison between an athlete and an employee is valid. A person must work to provide for themselves and it's almost never a choice. However, participating athletically is a privilege. Accordingly, I think it's fair if the colleges revoke a scholarship if the athlete can't compete because they're pregnant. Redshirting is a good idea though. Why can't they do that?

College sports are a privilege, which can be taken away for valid reasons. Schools that may revoke scholarships for reasons such as pregnancy make it more like an employee-employer relationship.

Most people would not view pregnancy as a valid reason. Redshirting is a reasonable solution, but as it stands now that's at the discretion of the athletics department. Absent compassion, decency and an NCAA rule prohibiting, what motivation would a bottom-line AD have to redshirt a pregnant student athlete?

According to NCAA bylaw 14.2.1.3 in Division I and bylaw 14.2.2.2 in Divisions II and III ???a member institution may approve a one-year/two-semester or three-quarter extension of the five-year/10-semester period of eligibility for a female student-athlete for reasons of pregnancy.??? At the Division I level, once a student-athlete is enrolled, he or she has five years to complete four seasons of competition; in Divisions II and III a student-athlete has 10 full-time semesters to complete four seasons of competition. This legislation provides individual institutions with the opportunity to extend that 5-year/10-semester clock an extra year if a student-athlete becomes pregnant. That decision is solely up to the institution. Schools also have the autonomy to remove scholarships from pregnant student-athletes.