The NCAA News - News & Features

Facility requirements are revised for I softball regionals, final series

The committee determined that future pre-bid materials must include diagrams and photographs of all pertinent areas (such as seating, dugouts, interview areas, hospitality areas and the field).

Schools interested in hosting regional competition in 1997 will be required to have two comparable bullpens. In addition, the committee will recommend that regional sites have a sideline fence, with 25 to 30 feet between the foul line and the fence. The committee will require a backstop 25 to 30 feet from home plate.

Additional requirements for regional hosts include the selection of an all-tournament team at each site. The team will include 12 members plus a most valuable player.

At regional and finals competition, the home team will bat last and will occupy the third base dugout under all circumstances.

Some specifications that will be required at the Women's College World Series site include two bullpens comparable in composition and distance from each dugout. In addition, the facility must include a four-foot-high permanent outfield fence with padding on the top of the fence. Fence distances remain at 190 feet in left and right fields and 220 feet in center field.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Division I Women's Softball Committee
June 24-28/Jackson, Wyoming

* Voted to recommend the following dates for future championships:

1997 championship: Selections, May 10-11; regionals, May 16, 17, 18; Women's College World Series, May 22-26 in Oklahoma City.

1998 championship: Selections May 9-10; regionals, May 15, 16, 17; Women's College World Series, May 21-25 in Oklahoma City.

1999 championship: Selections May 15-16; regionals, May 21, 22, 23; Women's College World Series, May 27-31 at a site to be determined.

2000 championship: Selections May 13-14; regionals, May 19, 20, 21; Women's College World Series, May 25-29 at a site to be determined.

* Discussed a proposal from the Big Ten Conference to move the championship anywhere from one to two weeks later than it currently occurs. The committee agreed to gather information from the National Softball Coaches Association (NSCA) regarding this idea and will discuss it at its 1997 meeting.

* Established a subcommittee to compose a regional realignment survey and timetable.

* Determined that 10 conferences will be recommended for automatic qualification to the 1997 championship. In addition, 12 conferences will compete in play-in competition.

* Agreed to further expand criteria for umpire selection at the regionals and the Women's College World Series. A survey will be sent to coaches in late August requesting a rating of the top five umpires within their region.

* Set dates for the release of 1997 regional rankings: March 26, April 9, April 23 and May 7.

* Established dates for the mailing of pre-bid and proposed budget information. Pre-bid forms will be sent from the national office December 3 and are due back in the national office by January 15. Teams under consideration for hosting a regional will be sent proposed budget information April 9. The deadline for submitting proposed budgets will by April 30.

* Determined dates for mailings concerning automatic qualification. A mailing will be sent from the national office April 23 and the forms must be back in the national office by May 31.

* Heard a report from Sharon Drysdale, chair of the newly formed NCAA Women's Softball Rules Committee.

* Heard a report from representatives of the NSCA.

* Determined that Peggy Kellers, head softball coach at the University of Virginia, will replace departing committee member Hildred Deese and that Robyn Sharp, senior woman administrator at Oregon State University, will replace Judith M. Brame. Both terms will begin September 1, 1996.