The NCAA News - News and FeaturesJune 30, 1997
Expansion sought in National Collegiate lacrosse bracket
The NCAA Women's Lacrosse Committee, which will oversee the National Collegiate Women's Lacrosse Championship in the restructured Association, has recommended to the Division I Championships/
Competition Cabinet that the championship's bracket be expanded from eight to 12 teams.
The committee met June 10-13 in Key West, Florida, as did the Division III Women's Lacrosse Committee, which will oversee the Division III championship.
In addition to recommending the bracket increase, the committee overseeing the National Collegiate championship recommended a travel-party increase from 30 to 36.
The committee also:
Increased the bench limit from 30 to 42.
Established that hosts of preliminary-round tournament games will be responsible for securing table officials.
Agreed to seek input from the United States Women's Lacrosse Association (USWLA) regarding the quality of officials for preliminary rounds and championships.
Made plans to establish a partnership with the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) to oversee hospitality functions at the championships.
The committee also acknowledged the resignations of committee chair Amy Campbell of Princeton University and Carolan G. Norris of Brown University.
Division III
The Division III Women's Lacrosse Committee made the following recommendations to the Division III Championships Committee:
That the quarterfinals of the championship tournament be played on the first Sunday after Wednesday's first-round games. In the past, quarterfinals were contested on Saturday. If approved, the change to Sunday would permit an additional day of rest. The committee believes it would reduce missed class time and potentially make available officials who worked first-round games of the National Collegiate championship, which are played on Saturday.
That the number of regions be expanded from four to five and realigned as follows: West -- California, Colorado, Indiana, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania (10 schools); New England -- Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont (26 schools); New York State (24 schools); South Atlantic -- Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia (24 schools); and Metro -- New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania (24 schools). The rationale is that such groupings would provide a better chance for access to the championship for schools in the growth areas of California, Colorado, Indiana and Ohio. The alignment also could reduce regular-season travel and expenses. Under the current alignment, some conferences are split into separate regions. Under the recommended realignment, that situation would be rectified.
That teams continue to be selected for the tournament based upon a sliding-scale allocation, with teams paired according to geographical proximity. Under the recommendation, the allocation would be one to two teams from the West; two to five from New England; two to five from New York; two to five from the South Atlantic; and two to five from the Metro. Such a system would allow the committee flexibility to address shifting regional strengths for a sport that is growing continually. This system also would provide and encourage regional competition for four of the five developed regions, while keeping regular and postseason travel costs at a minimum.
The committee also agreed that it will seek input from the USWLA regarding the quality of officials being considered to work at the tournament; increased the number of bench personnel permitted from 30 to 42 persons; and established that hosts of preliminary-round tournament games are responsible for securing table officials.
Like the committee overseeing the National Collegiate championship, the Division III committee plans to team with the IWLCA in the presentation of hospitality events at the championships.
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