The NCAA Men's and Women's Rifle Committee has proposed a new format for qualifying to determine the championship field.

After soliciting information from the rifle coaching community, the committee, which met April 25-27 in San Diego, is recommending to the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet to designate the weekend of February 6-9, 2003, as the single predetermined qualifying weekend for the 2003 championships.

The committee also proposed the idea of the use of a single target and scoring gauges for the qualifying weekend and the championships. Upon approval by the cabinet, the committee will determine the standard approved target.

To maintain fairness and consistency throughout the qualifying process and the championships, the committee thought a predetermined weekend, target and gauge would provide equitable treatment of all student-athletes and would level the playing field.

All targets used to qualify for the championship must be mailed immediately after the competition to the statistical officer for the 2003 championships, who will spot-check the targets for accuracy.

The committee also is in the process of developing an instructional rules sheet for each institution. One of the highlights on the rules sheet is a reminder that current student-athletes and competitors are not allowed to score targets, according to the rules book.

Beginning in 2003 with individual championship selections, the committee will begin with selecting air rifle first in odd years and smallbore first in even years.

Although the group discussed the addition of another discipline, the committee decided to take no action at this time.

In other action, the committee updated the tournament manual and championship handbook. The group also created a standard bid application that will be placed on the NCAA Web site. The most significant rule change the committee made was the addition of the electronic target in the rules book language.

Also, Gerald DeBoy of Jacksonville State University was named the new chair, replacing Timothy Dillon of Canisius College, whose term expires in September.