The Division III Women's Lacrosse Committee has forwarded a recommendation to the Division III Championships Committee to establish guidelines and penalties to use when institutions fail to report their scores weekly.

Under the recommendation, formed during the committee's annual meeting June 22-25 in San Francisco, if an institution fails to submit its weekly ranking form to the regional representative by noon the Monday after weekend play, the chair of the lacrosse committee will send a letter to the institution's coach, athletics director and conference commissioner informing them of the violation. The coach can call the regional advisory committee representative to explain the reason for missing the deadline after receiving the letter.

Thereafter, if the institution misses a week or misses another deadline, the institution would be fined $50 for each occurrence. Fines for violations during the last four weeks of the season would increase to $100. Repeated occurrences during such time may result in the institution not being considered for championship play.

The committee's rationale in recommending the policy is that having consistent, accurate weekly reporting of all scores is necessary to accurately rank teams. Moreover, to accurately compute the new strength of schedule, it is vital to have complete information on all opponents' results in addition to those from a specific team that is under consideration for selection.

In another action that must be approved by the Division III Championships Committee, the lacrosse committee voted to discontinue the championship selection show due to the high cost of production. The committee prefers the money be used toward other aspects of the championship. If approved, notification of qualification would be communicated to institutions by having each regional representative contact the teams and officials after selections. To facilitate this process, national office staff would ensure that each regional representative and official receives an official letter containing all necessary information regarding travel, host site contacts, regional representative contacts, names of all officials who will be at a regional site, game times, game participants and a copy of the championship bracket.

Other highlights

Division III Women's Lacrosse Committee
June 22-25/San Francisco

Discussed the Divisions I and II Women's Lacrosse Committees' recommendations to their governing bodies that a rules committee be formed and an officiating improvement program be started.

Recommended that the champions of the following be approved for automatic qualification to championship play for 2004: Centennial Conference, Commonwealth Coast Conference, Empire 8, Little East Conference, Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation, New England Small College Athletic Conference, New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference, New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance, North Coast Athletic Conference, Old Dominion Athletic Conference, Pennsylvania Athletic Conference, SUNY Athletic Conference and Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association.

Voted that coaching be permitted during television timeouts during championship play.

Supported the US Lacrosse statement and timeline to mandate eyewear in 2005.

Recommended that Laura Moan of State University College at Oneonta serve as chair when the term of current chair Melissa Falen of College of Notre Dame (Maryland), expires September 1.