Title IX, also known as the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act became law on June 23, 1972.

It states (in part):that "no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

For a dad of a daughter, who played volleyball, basketball and softball in her athletic career, Title IX gave her that right 10 years before she was born.

While most people assume Title IX provides for women  in  collegiate   athletics, it also has an impact on high school athletics.

Female athletes are to be provided the equal number of opportunties provided any male athlete.

Title IX requires equal treatment in the provision of equipment, uniforms and supplies as well as locker rooms and competitive facilities.

But when you go by most high school and college athletic venues, the men’s baseball stadiums are larger than the neighboring softball fields.

There is the argument that baseball draws more fans, so they need more bleachers.

But some softball fields barely have enough stands for their fans.

When I went to Clinton, Miss. to cover the LSU Eunice Lady Bemgals in the NJCAA Divsion II World Series, I noticed the fields were in great shape, but there were very limited bleachers for any one to sit in.

Then when I went to Enid, Okla. for LSUE’s run to their fourth title, it's venue was the impressive David Allen Memorial Park with plenty of seats for more than 3,000 fans.

I am not telling the NJCAA to move away from the Clinton area, but they need to require the park to at least rent extra seating for the World Series.

And after the St. Landry Parish School Board finishes trying to figure how to fix their budget problems, they need to make sure the girls’ facilities are equal to the boys’ fields and locker rooms.

According to the LHSAA, there are more than 40,000 female athletes in Louisiana.

While every school’s athletic budget can’t be split equally because each sport varies in cost, the female sports should not and cannot be regulated to second-best.

Title IX is a work in progress and every athletic director and principal in the state, college and high school needs to make sure the female athletics continue to make positive strides and each school provides an equal opportunity.