The Division III Softball Committee is moving forward with plans to have predetermined first-round sites for the 2007 championship.

In the first phase of the initiative, four of the eight first-round sites will be predetermined through a bidding process that will open in November. Bids must be submitted by January 22, 2007.

The committee wants all eight first-round sites to be predetermined by the 2008 championship. The Division III Championships Committee already has approved the initiative.

"This will help with the promotion of the regionals," said Division III Softball Committee Chair Denny Griffin, softball coach at Alma College. "It will help in the securing of hotels, also. Usually in Division III, you are going to a small-town setting, and securing hotels can be difficult."

In 2006, the tournament field expanded to 59 teams, which increased the size of the regionals.

"We had seven-team and eight-team sites," Griffin said. "Hopefully, this makes it a whole lot easier to secure hotels."

Previously, institutions would be told they could host a regional on the Monday before the competition begins on Thursday.

"There is little time to promote the first round in that scenario," Griffin said. "It gives the site time to really promote the event. It will give everyone time to prepare."

Committee members also commended the city of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Peace College, for hosting the 2005 and 2006 finals. The committee noted in particular that host sites typically handle the responsibility better the second year.

"The whole overall management of the tournament improved," Griffin said. "Everything seems to run smoother. There are fewer headaches that can come about when you are hosting it in the first year."

The committee also agreed on discussion topics for a session during the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Convention December 6-9 in Tucson, Arizona. The committee will address the selection process in hopes of eliminating some of the mystery coaches perceive about the process.

Committee members were pleased with NCAA Softball Umpire Improvement Program, the vehicle used to select all of the officials in the tournament. Previously, committee members made the umpire assignments themselves.

"We had quality umpires for the entire championship," Griffin said.

The committee also announced it will solicit bids for the 2009 and 2010 finals this fall. Bids must be submitted by May 1, 2007.