The National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Committee voted to use a shootout in its third-place game, while the Division III Women's Ice Hockey Committee voted to implement the two referee-one linesman officiating system, effective with the 2003 championship.

The two committees conducted their annual meetings June 4-7 in San Francisco.

After consulting with the Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules Committee, the National Collegiate committee received approval to use a shootout, if necessary, in the third-place game. The Division III committee also approved the change.

The action required the rules committee to vote in a change in the shootout rule. Previously, a shootout was allowed only in regular-season tournaments when advancement was necessary. The rules committee voted to extend the shootout option to postseason tournament consolation games.

The shootout is allowed only after a five-minute overtime following three 20-minute periods. With television commitments for the championship game in the Women's Frozen Four, the third-place game must be completed in a certain timeframe. However, after hearing feedback from coaches and players, the committee felt that it is important to designate a winner in the third-place game.

The committee reviewed the 2002 championship, which was held at the University of New Hampshire, and commended the school for an outstanding effort and event. The group noted that attendance topped 4,000 for the two days.

For future site selection, the committee put together a strategy to assist with the growth of the sport. The group plans to solicit bids for the 2005 and 2006 championships this summer and fall.

If sponsorship numbers continue to grow, the committee will recommend expansion to the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet. The group looked at potential brackets, but will not forward a recommendation until sponsorship numbers increase.

There are 29 Division I schools and one Division II school that sponsor women's ice hockey at the varsity level. Should the sport continue to grow, automatic qualifications could come into play, and the committee discussed that possibility.

The committee noted the calendar modification for the 2004 season. The date of selection for the championship will be Monday, March 29, and the championship will be on April 9 and 11, which is the same weekend as the Men's Frozen Four. The two events will be played on alternating days at separate sites.

Division III actions

The Division III committee voted to implement the two referee-one linesman officiating system in part because it is used by many Division III men's leagues, and more officials are available at that level.

The committee, which used a one-referee, two-assistant referee system in its first championship last year, decided the system better addresses fouls and infractions behind the play. The group also noted that the system is used widely at the Division III level.

Mirroring the National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Committee, the committee voted to use a shootout to determine the third-place game winner, if necessary.

In other actions, the group provided feedback to the rules committee regarding body contact in women's ice hockey.

The feedback assisted the rules committee in revising the body-checking rule in women's ice hockey.

In a review of the inaugural championship, which was held at Elmira College, the committee commended Elmira and noted the first championship was successful.

The group recommended automatic qualification spots for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association, the New England Small College Athletic Conference, and the Eastern College Athletic Conference East and West leagues.

In an administrative move, the committee forwarded a recommendation asking to name an all-tournament team for the championship.

The committee also established a policies manual and revised several administrative details to better fit the tournament.