The NCAA will provide financial backing for Ball State University junior Amber Williams and coach Randy Heisler's trip to Sacramento, Calif., the site of Wednesday's 2007 NCAA Track and Field Championships.
Due to its financial policy, the NCAA will pay for two of the four Ball State affiliates making the trip.
"For every athlete only one coach can go," Heisler said. "So they will reimburse [Williams] and one head coach."
Each year the NCAA regulates both indoor and outdoor championships. The organization reimburses athletes and coaches for one indoor or outdoor championship a year according to the one coach to one athlete ratio.
Had Williams qualified for both the indoor and outdoor championships, the NCAA would only assist her financially with one of the events. However, Heisler said the NCAA is in a transitional phase and if the Cardinals junior makes the cut in both events during her senior season things will be different.
"Next year the NCAA will reimburse all activities," Heisler said.
Assistant coach Steve Rajewsky and personal trainer Nobu Takashima will also be making the trip. While Heisler and Williams' travel plans are set up through the NCAA, the other coaches had to find another route to the Championships. Ball State will cover the expenses for Rajewsky and Takashima.
"Typically, most institutions have a championship fund," Rajewsky said. "[The fund is] For those teams and individuals who advance into the NCAA postseason meets and tournaments."
Heisler said both Rajewsky and Takashima are vital for Williams to succeed in the Championships.
"Steve trains with her specifically and has to go to nationals," Heiser said. "Nobu is essential as the team trainer. He puts Amber through stretches 45 minutes before she even warms up."
Due to NCAA forcing schools to use their travel agency, Ball State had to spend more money. NCAA regulations state Williams and her three coaches have to travel together. Heisler said the rules prevented him from buying inexpensive plane tickets online.
"The NCAA controls the flights," Heisler said. "They control the itinerary [too]."
In the past, the NCAA's rule on this matter has forced coaches and players to have much longer flights with numerous lay overs, Heisler said.
"I've been on trips that had three lay overs," Heisler said. "It lasted 12 hours were it should've taken two."
The trip to this week's championship will not suffer that fate. Heisler said they will leave Monday night and arrive in Sacramento around 11 p.m. after one lay over in Colorado.
"This trip will be quick," Heisler said. "From Indy, to Denver, and then on to Sacramento."
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