The Divisions I, II and III Women's Rowing Committees discussed potential format changes for each division during a June 23-26 meeting in Indianapolis. The groups also reviewed bids for the 2004 and 2005 championships.

In Division I, the committee recommended increasing the field size by two at-large boats in the Eights competition.

The Division I committee also voted to eliminate the substitution rule, allowing open substitution for Fours only, and agreed to award the overall top eight boats and top eight finishers, as well as the top three teams and top three finishers in I and II Eights and Fours.

The Division II committee proposed a new progression scoring format for the Division II Championships Committee's review in September. The rowing committee determined that changing the progression of the Fours races would create more excitement and stronger competition in the championship. The change also would provide more opportunities for the Fours participants to compete at the championship.

In that vein, the committee proposed that the Fours competition would be a three-day event with the champion determined by the points accumulated over the three days of racing. The point finishes would be: first place -- 20 points on day one, 22 on day two and 24 on day three; second place -- 12 points on day one, 13 on day two and 14 on day three; third place -- eight points on day one, nine on day two and 10 on day three; and fourth place -- four points on days one and two, and five on day three.

For the Eights races, first place would be worth 12 points, second place worth nine, third place worth six and fourth place worth three.

In Division III, the committee forwarded a recommendation to the Division III Championships Committee to expand the bracket by adding two at-large Eights boats. If approved, the format will be altered later.

The Division III committee also recommended a new point system for rankings and selections. During the regular season, the I Eights and II Eights compete separately, but during the championships, they race together. The committee's proposal is to rank five from the New England region, four from the New York region, three from the Pacific region and three from the Mid-Atlantic region. A three-point spread would be implemented for the Varsity Eights because not every region has five teams.