NCAA Swimming and Diving Committee Report

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 21. THE NCAA men’s and women’s swimming and diving committees made some changes to last-chance meets during their recent annual meetings, while the Division III committee considered a potential combined men’s and women’s championships.

According to an NCAA report, Division I, which has experienced as many as 20-25 last-chance meets in recent years, voted to maintain the meets but to certify only five for each gender beginning in 2008. The five meets per gender will be staged in the zones currently established for diving and will be held on the last weekend of the respective qualifying periods (two-day maximum — Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday). Sites will be selected through an application process.

Additionally, the committee eliminated the four-team participation requirement for Division I meets but specified that Division I teams could qualify only at Division I meets (previously, Division I teams could qualify at Divisions II and III last-chance meets as well). However, Divisions II and III teams are welcome to participate in Division I meets.

Furthermore, certified officials are required at the meets and relay takeoff pads must be used for relay qualification. Only approved formats may be used. Teams also may compete at sites outside their zones.

Division III committee members also addressed last-chance meets and decided to remove the two-day restriction (though the meets still must follow the event-order and format requirements) and require four certified officials at the meets instead of two.

Meanwhile, the Division III committee plans to solicit administrators and coaches by October 16 about a possible combined championships in the future. Currently, the men’s and women’s championships are held at the same site but on back-to-back weeks.

Committee members not only want to know if the membership favors a combined championships, but also whether a three- or four-day format should be adopted if the concurrent meet occurs.

The 2007 championships are March 8-10 (women) and March 15-17 (men) at the University of Houston’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority will join the university in hosting the meets.

The committee agreed to solicit bids for the 2008 championships this fall.

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