NCAA News Archive - 2004

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Women's rowing committees emphasize online reporting


Aug 16, 2004 2:05:46 PM


The NCAA News

The Divisions I, II and III Women's Rowing Committees have agreed to post all regular-season results online beginning with the 2004-05 season.

The groups reached their decision during their annual meetings conducted June 21-24 in New Orleans.

The move to posting results online will bring rowing in line with other sports such as basketball and soccer. A process for submitting the results will be communicated to the membership in time for the upcoming season.

The committees also clarified the substitution rule so that only student-athletes named on the entry/lineup form are allowed to replace a designated competitor who is injured or ill.

In addition, the groups discussed the possibility of having a video board at the championships to enhance the experience for spectators and participants. The committees noted that bids for the 2006-07 championships will be accepted this fall.

The three committees also met separately, and actions from each group follow.

Division I

The Division I Women's Rowing Committee decided to pursue moving the championship banquet, traditionally held on the Thursday evening before the championships begin, to a luncheon on Thursday afternoon. Division III will continue to hold the banquet on Thursday evening. A decision about when the Division II banquet will be held is still pending.

The Division I committee also discussed more efficient ways to announce championship selections. Currently, selections are posted online and participating schools are notified by phone. Beginning in 2005, a toll-free telephone number will be established for the membership to listen to the selections.

Division II

The Division II committee focused on fine-tuning selection criteria. Committee members agreed that one team from each region will be selected provided there are at least two team race results against regional competition. (The Division II Championships Committee has a waiver policy for schools that do not meet the minimum race requirement.) If these results are not provided, the regional slot will then be awarded to an at-large team.

In accordance with NCAA Bylaw 31.3 the following criteria will be used in selecting the teams and individual boats:

  • Seasonal regional head-to-head results.

  • Seasonal regional common opponents results.

  • Strength of schedule will be determined by the number of in-region competitions and when they occur during the season.

  • Eligibility and availability of student-athletes.

    Higher consideration will be given to late- season regional head-to-head results and lateseason results against regional common opponents.

    Selections for at-large team and individual boats also will consider the following:

  • Cross-regional competition results.

  • Results against Eights and teams already selected.

  • Performance within the team's region.

    Division III

    In anticipation of expanding the bracket to include two at-large Eight boats starting with the 2005 championship, the Division III Women's Rowing Committee recommended to the Division III Championships Committee a change in the progression of the national championships.

    The group submitted a format that would feature two heats of seven boats, with the winners of each heat advancing directly to the grand final. The second-through-fourth finishers in each of the two heats will advance to the grand qualifier, while the fifth-through-seventh finishers will advance to the petite qualifier. The first four finishers in the grand qualifier will join the two heat winners in the grand final. The fifth- and sixth-place boats in the grand qualifier, along with the first four finishers in the petite qualifier, will advance to the petite final. The fifth- and sixth-place finishers in the petite final will not advance. However, if the fifth- and sixth-place finishers in the petite final are team boats, they will receive points for 11th and 12th place, respectively.

    The committee decided to keep the seeding the same and seed only the top-two Eight boats, regardless of whether they were from a team or an at-large selection, placing one in each heat. One at-large boat must be placed in each heat to ensure a balance of 1Vs and 2Vs in each heat. The remaining 1Vs will be drawn at random in opposite heats. The 2Vs will be placed in heats opposite of the institution's 1V. The heat winners will be placed in the preferred lanes for the grand final.

    If bracket expansion is not approved, the committee recommended that the championships maintain the current format.

    In addition, the Division III committee recommended designating one hotel for all participating institutions as a way of enhancing the championships atmosphere.


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