To help accommodate the new Division III selection criteria for 2004, the Division III Women's Basketball Committee will recommend to the Division III Championships Committee that only six teams be ranked weekly instead of eight.

"Ranking six teams instead of eight would create a more even playing field for all of the teams involved, which is our ultimate goal," said committee Chair Becky Geyer, women's basketball coach at Trinity University (Texas).

During its annual meeting April 13-16 in Key West, Florida, the committee reviewed scenarios from this year's rankings and recognized that the No. 7 and No. 8 teams changed more regularly than the top six teams. Since the selection criteria require comparison of the record vs. regionally ranked teams, the rankings could vary significantly if the top teams fluctuate frequently.

Ranking only the top six minimizes the advantage of teams situated near multiple evaluation regions and that have the opportunity to play more ranked teams than institutions in other locations.

The committee was informed that bracket expansion would be effective for the 2006 championship. There will be one team selected to the championship for every 6.5 institutions that sponsor women's basketball as of 2004-05.

"We are thrilled to see bracket expansion," Geyer said. "This will afford more teams the opportunity to compete in the national tournament. I know all Division III coaches will be ecstatic."

The committee will recommend to the Division III Championships Committee in September to raise the fee for officials from $200 to $250 per game. A proposal will be forwarded to the championships committee to increase the official travel party from 18 to 20.

"The committee felt that a travel party of 18 was not sufficient," Geyer said. "Many of our programs are forced to have part-time coaches instead of one full-time coach. With the current policy, most teams take 15 athletes, one trainer, one assistant coach and one head coach. This does not allow for another assistant or an administrator. We feel that the current policy does not address the realistic needs of our competing institutions."

Before all single-round games, which include first-, second-, and sectional-round games, the playing court will be made available to the competing teams 60 minutes before game time. Previously, it was 30 minutes, but this change will help accommodate teams since the coaches must arrive two hours before the game for a mandatory coaches meeting.

To help with consistency at all rounds of the championship, the committee has established a standard timing sheet to be used at all tournament games.