The NCAA Divisions I, II and III Field Hockey Committees met jointly and by division February 12-15 to discuss issues regarding selection criteria, site determination and other championship matters.

During the joint meeting, the committees decided on rules modifications for the 2001 championship. The Penn Motto Elite Turf was selected as the official ball for the championships. Also, to aid in securing officials for all three championships, the committees decided to simultaneously send out requests for availability to officials.

In division meetings, the most action came from Division III where the committee will recommend to the Division III Championships Committee that selection, and therefore the championship, be moved back one week. The proposal is intended to allow for conference championships to be conducted and to reduce student-athlete hardship and missed class time by reducing the number of three-game weeks.

The Division III committee also discussed bid specifications for predetermined sites that the Championships Committee had approved for 2001-02. Bid information will be sent to all Division III field hockey schools by mid-March to be returned by April 16. The committee will meet via conference call April 30 and make a recommendation to the Championships Committee.

Also, at each second-and third-round championship site, the committee decided the highest seed would play in the first game.

In other actions, the Division III committee revised the score sheet to reflect the home and visitor teams, minutes played by each goalie, goals against average, what period and time cards are given, and each team's pre-game record. It also granted the Atlantic Women's College Conference automatic qualification, increasing the total number of automatic qualifiers from 10 to 11.

Divisions I and II

In Division I, the committee will recommend seven conferences for automatic qualification to the 2001 championship, as well as one play-in game. The committee is requesting that the play-in game be finished by 4 p.m. Eastern time so everyone will be able to participate in the Internet selection show scheduled for 8 p.m. the same day.

In Division II, the committee discussed alternating the championship site between the North and South regions and proposed that the site be predetermined.