The Divisions I, II and III Field Hockey Committees recommended several rules modifications for the 2005 season during their January 24-25 meetings in Indianapolis.

The rules modifications are subject to the approval of each division's respective championships cabinet or committee.

Three of the modifications focus on uniforms. Effective with the 2005 season, game shirts worn by designated home teams must be predominately light or white, and game shirts worn by designated away teams must be predominately dark. In addition, hats worn by team members must be identical in color.

The committees also recommended that the color of the socks and/or shin guards be consistent with team uniform colors and of a contrasting color of the opposing team. The home team will be responsible for wearing socks and/or shin guards in clear contrast to those worn by the visiting team. In the event that the colors do not contrast, the home team will be required to change.

Also as part of the rules modifications, effective in 2005, visible game clocks will be required.

In other actions, the committees finalized the job description of the umpire manager. The position is slated to be hired for the 2005 season and may be in place by mid-April. The groups also will recommend an increase in officials' fees in all divisions. Although the exact amount of the raise has not been established, the committees recommended the increases be in place within the 2006-08 biennium budget cycle.

The committees met with a representative of the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports and reviewed Injury Surveillance System data regarding the use of eyewear for field hockey. Eyewear has recently been approved in women's lacrosse. Although the groups acknowledged that the International Hockey Federation is considering the use of eyewear, the committees believe that more research is necessary on eye-specific injuries in the sport as well as the use of eyewear in field hockey.

Division-specific actions

In addition to conducting a joint meeting, the three division committees also met separately.

The Division I committee recommended six automatic qualifiers as well as the play-in conferences for the 2005 championship. Pending approval by the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet, the Big Ten Conference, the Colonial Athletic Association, the Big East Conference, the Patriot League, the Northern Pacific Field Hockey Conference and the Ivy Group will be granted automatic qualification. In the play-in, the Atlantic 10 Conference will host the Northeast Conference and the America East Conference will host the Mid-American Conference.

The committee also forwarded to the cabinet site recommendations for the 2005 championship.

In Division II, the group reviewed feedback from the 2004 championship, the first using an expanded six-team bracket. The committee plans to review all site evaluations and will provide feedback.

Beginning with the 2005 championship, the committee agreed that the institution selected to host will be required to submit procedures to implement in case of inclement weather. Also, starting with the 2005 season, institutions failing to report scores will be fined $50 per incident up to a maximum of $300 per season.

The Division II committee also expressed concern over the continued displays of unsportsmanlike behavior during championship play. The group agreed to emphasize the importance of fair play at the prechampionship coaches meeting.

The Division III committee established pool sizes based on expected 2005-06 sponsorship numbers. Pool A will be 13 teams, Pool B will be four teams and Pool C will be seven teams.

The group also approved the following 13 conferences for automatic qualification in 2005 (subject to the approval of the Division III Championship Committee): the Centennial, Commonwealth, Commonwealth Coast, Freedom, Little East, New England Small College Athletic, New England Women's and Men's Athletic, New Jersey Athletic, North Atlantic, North Coast Athletic, Old Dominion Athletic and the Pennsylvania Athletic Conferences, and the Liberty League.

In other action, the committee agreed to strongly encourage institutions with grass fields that are submitting bids for second- and third-round sites to have an alternative artificial-turf site available in case of inclement weather. The policy grew out of past experience with inclement weather at grass-field sites.

The group also recommended changes in the allowable size of the bench party to 22 student-athletes in uniform and a total of 30 institutional personnel. Committee members also recommended that two medical credentials be available for institutional medical personnel. The NCAA squad size, however, will remain at 27. The recommendation to add more medical personnel, which originated from the competitive-safeguards committee and is being suggested for all Division III sports, has been forwarded to the Division III Management Council by the Division III Championships Committee for review in April.