The NCAA Men's and Women's Fencing Committee developed several recommendations during its recent annual meeting that promote fair play, maximize participation, ensure a strong championship field and maintain the importance of the regular season.

One of the proposals the group is forwarding to the Division I Championships/
Competition Cabinet is a rules modification for when black cards are issued in the sport. Previously, there was no rule in place during the regular season and regional qualifiers. Under the committee's proposal, black cards will be issued at level 1 or level 2. At level 1, a student-athlete is excluded from the match even if the bout is concluded. No substitutions are permitted and no other results are affected. The bout, even if won by the student-athlete who received the black card, is recorded as a 5-0 defeat instead.

A level 2 black card means the fencer will be excluded from the remaining scheduled dual meets at the event. The Playing Rules Oversight Panel will consider this change later in August.

The committee also amended its regional qualification criteria to require participants to:

• Compete in a minimum of 50 percent of the institution's scheduled dual meets against varsity teams of four-year, degree-granting institutions. The maximum number of meets counted toward the 50 percent is 18; thus a fencer would need to fence a minimum of nine dual meets to qualify.

• Compete in a minimum of 15 bouts.

• Achieve a 20 percent win-loss record in scheduled dual meets.

The fencing committee also is recommending that separate awards be given to the top women's and men's teams without splitting the overall championship. The rationale is to provide single-gender programs the opportunity to win a championship but still recognize the overall national collegiate team winner.

In other action, the committee discussed potential 2006 regional sites. Members recommended that the cabinet approve Cleveland State University (Midwest), Duke University (Mid-Atlantic South), Harvard Uni- versity (Northeast) and the U.S. Air Force Academy (West) as hosts.

Rice University and the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority have submitted a bid to host the championships for a second consecutive year.