The Divisions II and III Management Councils have endorsed a recommendation from the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports to require the use of protective eyewear by student-athletes competing in those divisions' women's lacrosse championships beginning in 2004.

The decisions will be forwarded to the respective Divisions II and III Presidents Councils for approval at their meetings August 7 in Indianapolis. The requirement also will be in effect for the Division I championship, as the result of an earlier action by the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet.

Both Councils also expressed a preference to require use of the eyewear during 2003 fall competition and 2004 regular-season competition, but because rules in the sport are administered by the United States Lacrosse Association, the NCAA has no authority to mandate use of the protective equipment outside of its championships.

As a result, the Councils are strongly urging NCAA women's lacrosse teams to use protective eyewear during 2003-04 competition.

US Lacrosse will require use of the equipment beginning in 2004-05, but it delayed making the equipment mandatory during the coming season because of concerns that manufacturers may not be able to provide enough equipment to meet all teams' needs. Since that decision, manufacturers of approved eyewear have indicated to the NCAA and other organizations sponsoring lacrosse competition that adequate supplies of equipment will be available to teams during 2003-04.

The NCAA's competitive-safeguards committee first recommended requiring use of protective eyewear in women's lacrosse in June 2000. The committee renewed its recommendation this year based on a 2002 pilot study of eyewear use by NCAA women lacrosse players, as well as concerns expressed by parents of players and manufacturers' reassurances that products meeting American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards will be available in sufficient quantity during the coming year.

At least five companies currently produce ASTM-approved protective eyewear for youth and collegiate competition.

Both division Councils also considered recommendations from the competitive-safeguards committee to make a one-time grant available to institutions that can demonstrate a financial hardship resulting from equipping a team for 2003-04 competition. The protective eyewear costs an average of $55 per piece.

However, both Councils declined to provide grants, citing a reluctance to establish the precedent of providing funds to institutions for the purpose of purchasing equipment that is required for every participant on a team.

The Division II Council is opting to provide no-interest loans for the purchase of eyewear. Details and terms of the loan program still must be determined.

The Division III Council declined to provide financial assistance, noting that institutions should handle the equipment requirements in accordance with their own risk-management programs and policies. The Council also noted that many Division III student-athletes already are required to purchase their own equipment for competition, and many student-athletes have access to institutional financial aid sources or other assistance that can provide funds for additional equipment expense.