The Division I Field Hockey Committee has decided it will not publish weekly regional rankings for the 2003 season in order to avoid confusion about the selection process.

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association will continue to publish its national poll, however.

"We were hearing from the coaches that having two polls caused confusion," said Nance Reed, committee chair and senior associate athletics director at Towson University. "The weekly coaches' poll will continue to provide publicity for our teams, and the committee will continue its work to prepare for selecting teams for the championship without publishing the information."

The action means that the Division I Women's Volleyball Committee is the only women's sports committee continuing to publish polls.

The field hockey committee, which met by conference call several times this spring after its annual meeting was canceled because of weather in February, voted to play the 2003 season with two experimental rules that were also adopted by the Divisions II and III Field Hockey Committees as an effort to stay consistent with the FIH playing rules.

The first experimental rule eliminates the requirement to stop the ball on a penalty corner, essentially allowing an attack player to swing for the goal without first controlling the ball.

"We look forward to using the two experimental rules," Reed said. "We hope that each will have a positive influence on college field hockey."

The other experimental rule allows a defender to raise her stick above her shoulders to stop a shot on goal, previously a violation.

In other action, the committee decided to ask the Championships/Competition Cabinet for funding for a supervisor to assign officials for the three championships. If the cabinet approves, the earliest this would be in effect would be 2005-06.

"Assigning officials for the Divisions I, II and III championships has been a juggling act for a long time," Reed said. "The United States Field Hockey Association Officiating Subcommittee has assisted each of the NCAA committees, but a neutral supervisor hired for this express purpose would be helpful to get the best possible officials to each championship, especially since the championship dates overlap."

The 2003 Division I finals will be played at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, November 21 and 23. Bids for the 2004 and 2005 finals sites will be solicited in August. For more information on bid information, contact Kristin Fasbender at the national office.