The Division II Women’s Lacrosse Committee is exploring the idea of increasing the championship bracket size from six to eight teams and the travel party from 30 to 34 student-athletes.

Committee members during a recent conference call identified both as goals in its strategic plan.

The committee wants to take advantage of the women’s game’s increasing popularity by providing more women’s lacrosse championship opportunities for teams and to allow more student-athletes to participate in the event as a full member of the team. The committee plans to submit both ideas during the next championships budget cycle.

While current rules allow for 30 student-athletes in the travel party, committee members noted that some Division II squads are beginning to carry more student-athletes on their rosters.

At the 2009 championship, three of the four teams at the semifinals had more student-athletes than Division II rules permit on the bench, forcing the student-athletes to sit in the bleachers for the competition.

Additionally, committee members noted that Division III regulations allow for a larger travel party size. Because the Divisions II and III championships are conducted as a combined event, the Division II committee felt that increasing the travel party size would be more equitable.

In other business during the committee’s conference call, members recommended Lock Haven coach Kristen Selvage as the new chair of the group, effective September 1.