The Division III Women's Ice Hockey Committee established guidelines for its inaugural championship at the group's first meeting July 15-18 in Indianapolis.

The Division III Women's Ice Hockey Committee is composed of Frank O'Brien, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point (chair); Al Bean, University of Southern Maine; Sean Frazier, Manhattanville College; Jill Pohtilla, Augsburg College; and Donna Wright, Wesleyan University (Connecticut).

The group also established its selection criteria for the championship. Winning percentage, head-to-head results, results against common opponents, strength of schedule as determined by the opponent's winning percentage, and results against teams already in the tournament are the criterion.

As for championship site selection, the committee voted to hold the tournament on campus at one of the institutions selected for the tournament. Proposed budgets for the tournament will be mailed by January 24, 2002. The site will not be predetermined.

Automatic-qualification principals were also discussed in detail. The committee sent automatic-qualification declaration forms to all member conferences and requested that they be returned by August 20. The committee will forward its recommendation for Pools A and B to the Division III Championships Committee for its review in September. A field size should be determined after the cabinet's September meeting.

In other actions, the committee:

* Established the squad size at 21 and recommended to the Division III Championships Committee that the travel party be 28.

* Reviewed the process for establishing regional advisory committees and will finalize those on a future conference call.