During the first meeting of the Women's Ice Hockey Committee, the group discussed dates and other issues relating to its inaugural championship. The meeting, which took place July 18-21 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, covered a variety of topics and allowed committee members to become familiar with NCAA policies and procedures.

The committee forwarded a recommendation to hold the championship on the fourth weekend of March for the next two years. This year, the four-team tournament will be held March 23 (semifinals) and 25 (championship and third-place game). Team selections will be made March 18.

The committee also discussed potential sites for this year's and subsequent-year championships. Potential hosts have until August 25 to contact Troy Arthur, NCAA assistant director of championships, at the national office. The committee will review bids during an upcoming conference call.

The bulk of the group's discussions centered on how teams will be selected for championship play. Because the first championship will be a National Collegiate Championship, all divisions are eligible.

The committee decided that it would select a top seed from the East and a top seed from the West, using approved selection criteria. The other two teams will be selected regardless of region.

The committee developed the following selection criteria (not in priority order) that is subject to the approval of the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet:

1. Eligibility and availability of student-athletes.

2. Won-lost record [including, where applicable, such factors as head-to-head competition, results against common opponents, results in last 16 games, results against teams under consideration and a rating-percentage index (RPI)].

3. Strength of schedule.

During the selection and seeding process, the criteria in No. 2 will carry one point, except head-to-head competition. That criteria will carry the number of points equal to the net difference in the results of these games (for example, if Team A defeats Team B in three of four games, Team A would receive two points in the selection process). Those point totals will be an additional factor in the committee's evaluation process.

The rating-percentage index is based on the following formula: won-lost record (35 percent), opponents' winning percentage (50 percent) and opponents' opponents' winning percentage (15 percent).

The committee also will evaluate each team based on the relative strength of its respective conference, using the overall conference rating-percentage index and conference comparisons, and each team's conference regular-season and/or conference tournament finish.

In addition, the committee will take into consideration recommendations from the regional advisory committees.

The group noted that a critical challenge in the selection process was to ensure that the best teams are selected to compete for the championship while recognizing the importance of regional representation in the growth of women's ice hockey.

In addition to its discussion of the selection process, the committee also discussed sponsorship numbers for the 2000-01 season. Of the 53 schools currently sponsoring the sport, 25 are in Division I, two are in Division II and 26 are Division III members. There are 35 teams in the East region and 18 in the West (the committee uses the same regional breakdown that is used for men's ice hockey).

The group agreed that all teams should be eligible for championship consideration. The committee thought it would be premature to award automatic qualification, but agreed to consider that possibility in the future.

Other highlights

Women's Ice Hockey Committee
July 18-21/Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Made recommendations for squad size and travel parties. The group's recommendation of 21 student-athletes and a travel party of 31 individuals will be forwarded to the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet.

Heard a report on officiating from Frank Cole, national coordinator of officials. The committee decided to use a one-referee, two-assistant-referee system. The group noted that it would prefer officials who have worked women's ice hockey during the regular season. The committee also voted to have the best available officials, regardless of region or conference affiliation, work the championship.

Expressed concern about the limited number of women's ice hockey representatives currently on the Ice Hockey Rules Committee.

Requested that a rules committee liaison or staff member attend the women's championship to act as a liaison to the officials and assist with rules issues. The committee also named Karen Kay, University of New Hampshire head coach, and Shannon Miller, University of Minnesota, Duluth, head coach, as liaisons to the rules committee.