The NCAA News - News & Features

II softball makes changes to inclement-weather plan for regional competition

The committee will recommend to the NCAA Executive Committee that on day one of regional competition, seed No. 2 will play seed No. 3 in the first game. The second game will match seed No. 1 vs. the loser of the first game. Seed No. 1 then will play the winner of the first game in game No. 3. Games on the second day will remain the same as last year.

If inclement weather limits play, teams will advance to the finals according to the following formula: if no game or one game is played, the highest seed will advance; if two games are played, the highest seed remaining without a loss will advance; if three games are completed, the undefeated team will advance or in the case of a three-way tie, the highest remaining seed will move on; and if four games are played and two teams remain with one loss each, the highest remaining seed will advance to the championship finals.

In other action, the committee clarified the ranking and selection criteria it uses to determine the field for the Division II championship, in order to achieve consistency with the division's regionalization philosophy.

The committee outlined components of the basic selection criteria. The won-lost record component includes a team's overall won-lost record, a team's record against Division II opponents and the team's won-lost record within its region.

The strength-of-schedule component includes a team's record vs. the top three ranked teams within its region, results against common opponents, head-to-head competition, significant wins and losses within its region, and a team's power rating.

As a secondary factor, the committee will consider the season-ending performance of a team. The committee will look at approximately the last 14 games a team plays at the end of the season.

In addition, the committee will ask the NCAA Division II Championships Committee to provide an appropriate way in which to consider games played against ranked teams from other regions.

The committee noted that a team's power rating will be based on regional rankings and not the national top-20 poll.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Division II Women's Softball Committee
June 24-27/Jackson, Wyoming

* Reviewed the eight-team finals format and agreed to retain that format for the 1997 championship. The committee intends to review the format again following the 1997 tournament.

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