A record number of student-athletes were participating in NCAA sports during the last school year.

Officials at the governing body released a report Wednesday that showed 453,347 athletes competed in sports that were eligible for NCAA championships.

Male athletes account for 57 percent of all participants, compared to 43 percent women. The 14-percentage gap between male and female athletes has held relatively steady for the last decade. The primary reason for the discrepancy, the report says, is the 69,600 football players.

The 2011-12 participation report also shows there were a record 18,561 athletic teams in the NCAA's three divisions last season.

The report says schools have more men's and women's basketball teams than any other sport.