John Edwards <[log in to unmask]> writes:
> On Fri, 1 May 1998, Bill Fenwick wrote:
>
> > On May 1, 13:43, Richard Hungerford wrote:
> > >Add that all up and you have the 40 varsity teams we need for an NC$$
> > >National Title!
> >
> > Ah, but some of the 40 are Div. I and some are Div. III, right? Which
>means
> > there aren't enough in either division to meet the NCAA criteria for a
> > championship tournament.
>
> But some sports (Men's Volleyball is the one that comes to mind) don't
> separate by divisions. They simply have one "National Collegiate"
> tournament, and one "National Collegiate" champion.
>
> I wonder if the same could be done with Women's Hockey.
The 1997-98 NCAA Manual says (Rule 18.2) that a National Collegiate
Championship may be established if 50 or more institutions sponsor the
sport (as of 8/1/94). But for women's sports, a championship may be
established during the 1994-95 through 1998-99 years if at least 40
institutions sponsor the sport.
However, the rules also state that the minimum sponsorship number must
exist for two consecutive years in order for a championship to be
established, and that legislation may be proposed during the second year in
which the number exists. I also gather that it has to be voted on at the
annual NCAA convention in January. 10 current National Collegiate
Championships are listed, with women's rowing as the 10th established on
1/9/96 by vote. Others: men's gymnastics, men's volleyball, men's water
polo, women's golf (DII & III only), women's gymnastics, women's lacrosse
(DI & DIII only), men's and women's fencing, men's and women's rifle, and
men's and women's skiing.
The number of institutions sponsoring a sport is based on the NCAA's
records as of September 30 each year.
What this means is that if 40 teams exist this coming year and next, then
it could be proposed at the January 2000 convention to begin in the
2000-2001 season. But the 40 team minimum expires with this coming year.
Unless it is extended, there would seem to have to be 50 teams in 1999-2000
in order to make the proposal. If so and if there are not 50 teams, then
it appears that there would have to be 50 teams in two consecutive years
after that, thereby prolonging the time even further before a championship
could be proposed.
BUT...18.2.10.3 adopted effective 8/1/97 says that Olympic sports are
exempt from the minimums stated above. That seems to allow women's hockey
to bypass the restriction -- meaning perhaps a championship could be
proposed now (January 1999). Yet, 18.2.10.3 falls under 18.2.10, which
specifically concerns dropping championships for *failure* to meet the
minimums. It is unclear whether 18.2.10.3 is intended to also allow
Olympic sports to bypass the minimums for purposes of *establishing* a
championship, or if it is only intended to allow Olympic sports that
already *have* a championship to continue even if they no longer meet the
minimums.
Either way, it appears that since a championship was not passed at the
January 1998 convention, there cannot be one next season (other than the
AWCHA championship which is not recognized by the NCAA). It might be
possible, now that women's hockey has made its debut as an Olympic sport,
to try to pass legislation establishing a championship in January 1999 for
the 1999-2000 season, based on 18.2.10.3, but I don't know how the NCAA
would rule on the intention of the current regulations. I would think that
the powers behind women's hockey should at least put forth the legislation
at the next convention and see what happens.
Confused yet? :-)
--- ---
Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] *HMM* 11/13/93
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