The Divisions I, II and III Women's Lacrosse Committees discussed officiating, rules and safety in a joint meeting and championship format issues, automatic qualification and sport sponsorship in separate meetings June 3 in Indianapolis.

In the joint meeting, the committees requested that the USLacrosse rules committee discuss checking and clarify the rules about the wrap check. The groups also discussed other experimental rules such as hard boundary lines and the number of players allowed in the center circle during center draws.

The committees also revisited protective eyewear issues. It heard from a Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports representative who said that no such eyewear is presently available that is practical for the sport, although some teams and camps have volunteered to test a prototype this summer and fall.

In addition, the three committees discussed the duties of the table official during championship play and the possibility of allowing the table official to issue red cards to eject sideline personnel for unsporting conduct.

In separate meetings, the groups acted on several items, which follow by division.

Division I

Voted to publish national rankings three times during the regular season. No such rankings were published this past year.

Voted to allow NCAA first-round and quarterfinal games to be played at night if all involved parties, including both coaches, the officials and the NCAA representative, agree to such a schedule.

Requested that the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association at its annual meeting in January further discuss a request from coaches to move the championship to Memorial Day weekend.

Noted that the America East Conference champion will receive automatic qualification to championship competition next season, bringing the total of AQ conferences to eight. Given that the American Lacrosse Conference will be eligible for AQ in 2004, the committee held preliminary discussions on how it would conduct the tournament with a play-in game that season.

Division II

Recommended to the Division II Championships Committee that starting in 2005, the format of its championship weekend be changed from Saturday/Sunday to Friday/Sunday.

* Discussed realignment of regions but decided to delay any action until more Division II schools added the sport.

Voted to have regional advisory committee chairs serve two-year terms to establish a staggered rotation and give historical carryover, which was lacking under the previous one-year term format.

Voted Carla Hesler, coach at St. Michael's College, as chair, replacing Barbara Cleghorn of West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Division III

Recommended to the Division III Championships Committee that the three flights permitted for officials for the semifinals and final be available for all rounds of championship play. The rationale is that such a change would expand the pool of available officials for the championship to all regions, thus providing more officials with the opportunity to officiate such games.

Developed a participant manual to be used for championship finals.

Voted Melissa Falen, coach, assistant professor and chair of the physical education department at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, as chair of the committee, replacing Dana Harmon of Wellesley College.