The Division II Men's and Women's Soccer Committees focused on a plan to continue the joint Division II soccer championships during their annual meetings February 3-6 in Key West, Florida.

The committees decided to keep the eight-team joint championship format for 2004, 2005 and 2006. Bidding packets will be distributed in the next few weeks. Interested parties should contact Troy Arthur or D'Ann Keller at the NCAA national office.

During the 2003 championship, a new format will be implemented to avoid four games being played in one day. The women will play Thursday and Saturday while the men will play Friday and Sunday. Game times will be determined.

Regional realignment was another agenda item for both groups. The committees based changes on geographic proximity of schools within each region and trying to provide equal access to the championship by having an equitable number of institutions in each region.

After review of the last year's championships, the committees recommended minor changes and modifications to the Virginia Beach Sportsplex, which also will host the 2003 championship. Longwood University and the city of Virginia Beach again will serve as hosts.

The committees also evaluated fees and payment structure for officials for both the men's and women's championships.

In a separate action, the women's committee proposed the following changes to the selection criteria, not in priority order:

Overall Division II won-lost record based on percentage;

Overall Division II strength of schedule (based on Division II opponents' Division II records);

In-region Division II won-lost record (based on percentage);

In-region Division II strength of schedule (based on 10 best Division II in-region opponents' in-region records);

In-region Division II head-to-head competition;

In-region Division II record against teams under consideration; and

Eligibility and availability of student-athletes for the championship.

When teams under consideration are tied on all criteria, the committee selects teams by evaluating the following criteria in rank priority order:

1. Division II head-to-head competition;

2. Division II in-region strength of schedule;

3. Division II in-region results against common opponents;

4. Division II results against teams within the region but not in the same conference; and

5. Division II results against teams already selected for the championship.

In other matters, due to the women's bracket expansion to 32 teams, instead of using 16 sites during the first round, the championship will begin with eight first-round sites, with all four teams at each site being from within that region.