Long-time Conneaut resident Olmstead enjoys officiating basketball
These days high school female athletes, for the most part, have little understanding of how their opportunities have improved in the past 54 years. Until 1972, when Title IX was enacted, females had limited opportunities to play sports, particularly sports that were endorsed and offered by their schools. But Title IX prohibited sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government.
That meant that girls had to be treated equally with boys in those programs. The purpose of Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 was to update Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned several forms of discrimination in employment but did not address or mention discrimination in education. While Title IX is best known for its impact on high school and collegiate athletics, the original statute (Title VII) made no explicit mention of sports.
Title IX was, thankfully, interpreted to cover them. But it took a few years to accomplish. Consequently, it wasn’t until 1976 that Ohio high schools had their first girls basketball tournament.
Conneaut’s Becky Olmstead, who will be inducted into the Ashtabula County Basketball Foundation Hall of Fame April 12 as an official, graduated in 1974, but didn’t have the opportunity to play basketball for her school. “At that time, Title IX wasn’t implemented so there weren’t as many opportunities to play women’s sports as there are today,” Olmstead said. “What was offered to the female athletes were basketball, softball, and cheerleading.
“I played basketball as a shooting guard. My freshman year I was coached by Paul Freeman, who was also my history teacher. “The 3-point line wasn’t introduced [at the time], which could have changed our game back in the 70s.
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