The NJCAA Honors Lea Plarski on National Girls and Women in Sports Day
In the footprints of history, many trailblazers have taken brave steps to cultivate greater opportunities for women in sports. The institution of Title IX in 1972 was a giant leap towards women's equality in athletics, as it opened the door for one pioneer to lead the way in collegiate sports for female athletes. While exhibiting strong leadership at the helm, Lea Plarski greatly influenced the integration of women' s athletics in the National Junior College Athletic Association, the first of any intercollegiate athletic organization. Her influence on the association has been nothing short of remarkable.
Sports have always been a part of Plarski's life. From an early age, she played basketball in her hometown of East St. Louis, Illinois and fell in love with sports. Wanting to bring it to the next level and participate on an organized team, Plarski was met with dead ends as there were no organized athletics for girls and women where she was from. She would not be reunited with the playing field until she moved to St. Louis. It was there she began to coach basketball and fully develop her love and admiration for athletics.
Plarski's career has been both long and fruitful. Her place in the NJCAA started as she took on the role as a representative for Region 14. Her immediate impact in that position was strong as her efforts did not go unnoticed, earning her the role of Vice President of the NJCAA in 1975. During her very first year as Vice President, the NJCAA launched the first women's division. Her initial impact laid the groundwork for the climate of women's sports today.
After serving as Vice President for 15 years Plarski was elected as the 13th president of the NJCAA in 1990, becoming the first woman to take on the role. Throughout her time as President, she established many important protocols and procedures that are active and important today. Plarski put student-athletes first, aiming to do all she could for the betterment of their experience in collegiate athletics. She revolutionized the championships process of the NJCAA while furthering the notion of limits on practice, games and length of seasons for the safety and well-being of the athletes.
Due to her contributions to the association and to the student-athletes of the NJCAA, an award was founded in her honor. In 1995, the Lea Plarski Award was created. It is an award that is given annually to a student-athlete in the NJCAA who exemplifies sportsmanship, leadership, community service, academic excellence and athletic ability. This renowned award is a great honor to receive as it is given to an athlete that exemplifies the characteristics that Plarski graciously holds. The award will continue to celebrate the legacy that Plarski has left on the organization for years to come.
Her long list of achievements does not end with the NJCAA. To highlight a handful of her past achievements, Plarski was elected as Vice President of USA Basketball as well as the Chair of the Games Committee. She became very active with FIBA, the International Basketball Federation where she was appointed as the Chair of the Women's Commission. She has also served at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Additionally, Plarski is a past member of the U.S. Olympic Committee's Board of Directors and House of Delegates.
After a remarkable and impactful career, Plarski is now retired in the state of Florida. Her mark on the NJCAA is now 50 years in the making and will continue to be prominent forever. Plarski's influence on the entire scope of athletics is immeasurable as she is a true pioneer of women's sports who has paved the way for countless people to come.