Wellesley College Athletics - Transgender Participation Student-Athlete Policy for Varsity and Club Sports

Wellesley College Athletics Student-Athlete Handbook

Wellesley College sponsors women’s varsity and club sports, consistent with College policy. The College is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all students, including supporting the eligibility of student athletes of all gender identities on our women’s varsity and club teams consistent with NCAA, conference, and governing sport rules, and state and federal law.

Wellesley’s Transgender Participation Student-Athlete Policy for Varsity and Club Sports (the Policy) incorporates the NCAA’s requirements that apply to transgender student-athlete participation on women’s sport teams. The College has drafted this Policy to align with the NCAA’s eligibility standards in order to protect the ongoing eligibility of our sport teams and our transgender student athletes. Students with questions about this Policy or the NCAA standards are encouraged to contact the Athletic Director, an Associate Athletic Director, and/or the Director of Recreation. Those students that wish to participate consistent with this policy will be asked to share information on a need-to-know basis only. Those students directly impacted by this Policy may choose to consult a confidential resource on campus such as Health Services provided by Newton Wellesley Medical Group or the Stone Center Counseling Services.

This Policy is effective immediately subject to implementation standards to be phased in over three years as required by the NCAA Transgender Student-Athlete Participation Policy. The College will consider each student’s individual situation on a case-by-case basis, depending on the sport and all available options.

Sport Standards

Wellesley sponsors women’s varsity and club sports and supports the eligibility of student-athletes of all gender identities on our teams consistent with NCAA, conference, and governing sport rules, and state and federal law. The NCAA policy requires member schools to honor the participation policies for transgender athletes specific to each sport as determined by the national governing body (NGB) of that sport. Where there is no NGB policy in place, the NCAA rules provide that eligibility shall be determined by the sport’s international federation and in the absence of an international federation policy, by the policy criteria (PDF) previously established by the International Olympic Committee. The NCAA rules incorporates the sport-specific policies in place as updated and subject to ongoing review and recommendation by the CSMAS to the NCAA’s Board of Governors. The following is a list of the relevant NGBs for varsity and club sports.

Varsity Sports (National Governing Body): 

  • Basketball (USA Basketball)
  • Crew (USRowing)
  • Cross Country (USA Track & Field)
  • Fencing (USA Fencing)
  • Field Hockey (USA Field Hockey)
  • Golf (United States Golf Association)
  • Lacrosse (USA Lacrosse)
  • Soccer (US Soccer Federation)
  • Softball (USA Softball)
  • Swimming & Diving (USA Swimming)
  • Tennis (United States Tennis Association)
  • Track & Field (USA Track & Field)
  • Volleyball (USA Volleyball)

Club Sports (National Governing Body):

  • Archery (USA Archery)
  • Equestrian (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association)
  • Nordic Ski Team (United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association)
  • Rugby (USA Rugby)
  • Sailing (Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association)
  • Squash (College Squash Association)
  • Ultimate Frisbee (USA Ultimate)
  • Water Polo (Collegiate Water Polo Association) 

Participation on Club Teams Classified as Co-Ed or Mixed Gender

Those students that wish to participate on one of Wellesley’s co-ed/mixed gender club sport teams without submitting the NCAA documentation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Where an individual’s failure to provide the NCAA documentation will not negatively impact the team’s standing (e.g., sailing) or the team’s eligibility to compete in national, regional, or conference play, permission generally will be granted.

Participation on Babson and Olin College Club Sport Teams

Babson and Olin Colleges also offer club sport opportunities for all Wellesley students. All student-athletes that wish to participate on any of Babson or Olin’s women’s club sport teams should contact Wellesley’s Director of Recreation. Per agreement with the schools, participation on sport programs is subject to approval by Wellesley’s Director of Recreation and the official responsible for club sports at Babson and Olin consistent with each school’s policies and procedures.

Locker Rooms and Bathrooms

Every Wellesley student has access to male and female locker rooms. Each locker room is equipped with private showers and toilets. In addition, students may access the all-gender changing/shower space adjacent to the locker rooms on the first floor and single occupancy restrooms on the lower level of the Keohane Sports Center.

Travel & Uniforms 

Athletics and Recreation staff will work to reasonably accommodate student-athlete uniform needs, changing spaces, and hotel room assignments. Attention to the privacy and dignity of all students is an ongoing priority for our staff.

Wellesley College Resources

As referenced above, student-athletes who have questions related to this policy can consult the Athletic Director, an Associate Athletic Director, or the Director of Recreation to discuss their question and review any specific needs to ensure appropriate support for the student-athlete. Those students directly impacted by this Policy may choose to consult a confidential resource. 

Confidential Resources

Last updated July 2022