National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

August 4, 1997

Tennis committee seeks 64-team championship format

The road to the Division I men's and women's team championships may take on a different look in 1999 -- at least for teams ranked among the nation's best.

At its annual meeting July 7-10 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Division I men's and women's subcommittees of the NCAA Men's and Women's Tennis Committee reconfirmed recommended changes in how teams advance to the championships final site.

Changes in championships format are subject to approval by the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet.

The subcommittees recommended changes effective with the 1999 championships that would provide for 64-team championship fields and provide for automatic qualification for conferences.

Under the proposed format changes, a Division I team championship would consist of 16 four-team regional tournaments. The regional champion at each site would advance to the championship finals site. Teams would not be granted automatic berths to the finals site.

Conferences would be allotted automatic berths in the regional tournaments based upon predetermined criteria developed by the respective subcommittees.

Currently, the Division I men's championship final includes the nation's top eight teams as selected by men's subcommittee and the champions from eight regional tournaments. Each regional tournament includes a minimum of six teams and a maximum of eight teams, depending on strength of region.

The Division I women's championship final includes the nation's top 10 teams as selected by women's subcommittee and the champions from six regional tournaments.

Other Division I actions

The Division I subcommittees of the Men's and Women's Tennis Committee also took the following actions:

  • Recommended to the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet that the men's and women's championships be permitted to retain their respective team scoring formats, noting that both the men's and women's coaches associations favor the current formats.

  • Recommended to the Championships/Competition Cabinet changes in officials' fees for championships competition, to become effective in 1999.

    Other highlights<

    Men's and Women's Tennis Committee
    July 7-10/Jackson Hole, Wyoming

    The Division I men's subcommittee took the following actions:

  • Recommended to the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet that the University of Georgia serve as host institution for the 1999 and 2000 championships. Georgia already is scheduled to host the 1998 championships.

  • Revised the timeline for submission of championship lineups, requiring all teams to submit their lineups before the start of regional competition (including the eight teams automatically advancing to the finals site).

  • Realigned Utah State University from Region VIII to Region VII, effective with the 1998 championships.

  • Took no action on the no-let rule recently adopted by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). By taking no action, the rule shall be implemented effective with the 1998 championships.

    The Division I women's subcommittee took the following actions:

  • Developed a computer program/formula to help determine strength of schedule for championships selection purposes.

    The Division II men's and women's subcommittees took the following actions:

  • Recommended to the Division II Championships Committee that Southwest Baptist University serve as host institution for the 1998 Division II Men's and Women's Tennis Championships. The championships will be in Springfield, Missouri.

  • Recommended to the Division II Championships Committee that the championships adopt a Friday-Monday format effective with the 1998 championships. Currently, the championships use a Thursday-Sunday format.

  • Recommended to the Division II Championships Committee that the following allocation of championship berths be implemented for the 1998 championships:

    Men -- East region: Four berths, including two automatics. Two regional tournaments of four teams each. South region: Seven berths, including three automatics. Four regional tournaments of four teams each. Midwest region: Four berths, including one automatic. Three regional tournaments of four teams each. West region: One berth. One regional tournaments of four teams.

    Women -- East region: Four berths, including two automatics. Two regional tournaments of four teams each. South region: Five berths, including two automatics. Three regional tournaments of four teams each. Midwest region: Four berths, including one automatic. Three regional tournaments of four teams each. West region: Three berths, including one automatic. Two regional tournaments of four teams each.

    The subcommittees also voted that, as a guideline, it will review the allocations every three years for possible changes, depending on sponsorship numbers by region and success of regional representatives at the finals site.

  • Recommended to the Division II Championships Committee changes in officials' fees for championships competition effective in 1998. The subcommittees noted that the changes would not result in a cost increase.

  • Determined that in spring 1998, the subcommittees will recommend to the Division II Championships Committee that the championships squad size be increased to nine individuals (eight athletes and one nonathlete) effective with the 1999 championships.

    The Division III men's subcommittee took the following actions:

  • Recommended to the Division III Championships Committee changes in officials' fees for championships competition effective in 1999.

    The Division III women's subcommittee took the following actions:

  • Recommended to the Division III Championships Committee changes in officials' fees for championships competition effective in 1999.

  • Voted to survey coaches on possible changes in the scoring format for championships doubles competition.