REPORT OF THE

NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COMMITTEE

 

 

1.      ACTION ITEMS.

 

a.             2008 Women’s Basketball Automatic Qualification.

 

(1)     Recommendation.  That the following 31 conferences are eligible for automatic qualification for the 2008 championship: America East Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Atlantic Sun Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference, Big East Conference, Big Sky Conference, Big South Conference, Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Big West Conference, Colonial Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Horizon League, Ivy Group, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Mid-American Conference, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Missouri Valley Conference, Mountain West Conference, Northeast Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Pacific-10 Conference, Patriot League, Southeastern Conference, Southern Conference, Southland Conference, Southwestern Athletic Conference, The Summit League, Sunbelt Conference, West Coast Conference and Western Athletic Conference.

 

(2)     Rationale.  All 31 eligible conferences are being recommended to receive automatic qualification.

 

(3)     Estimated Budget Impact.  None.

 

(4)     Student-Athlete Impact.  None.

 

b.      Championship Format.

 

(1)     Recommendation.  To revise the current tournament format from eight sites-eight teams to 16 sites-four teams, effective with the 2009 championship.

 

(2)         Rationale.  The NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee is concerned about the overall attendance at its preliminary-round sites.  While attendance at first- and second-round sites was up almost 25,000 fans compared to 2006, the current attendance figures were less than the average attendance figures in 2003 and 2004.

 

A 16 pre-determined site format will strengthen the attendance by allowing the committee to select the sites that have a strong support base for women’s basketball and assign teams in closer geographic proximity.  Sixteen sites will showcase the women’s game across the country while enhancing the student-athlete experience.  The committee will administer 16 pre-determined sites with the approved budgets allocated for the 2009 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Women’s Basketball Championship.

 

(3)     Estimated Budget Impact.  None.  No additional funds will be requested.

 

(4)     Student-Athlete Impact.  The proposed format will enhance the student-athlete experience by providing them the opportunity to play in front of larger crowds, while creating more exposure for the women’s game.

 

c.             Grant-In-Aid Structure for Women’s Basketball.

 

(1)     Recommendation.  That the NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet refer the following issue to the Subcommittee on Financial Aid of the A/E/C Cabinet, along with any other appropriate NCAA committees, for further review and discussion: to reduce the annual institutional limit of the total number of counters in women’s basketball from 15 to 13 and to legislatively increase the scholarship limit in other women’s sport(s) who have requested additional scholarship opportunities as recommended by the subcommittee or governance structure.

 

(2)     Rationale.  In conjunction with the Division I Women’s Basketball Committee’s discussion regarding the growth of the game and student-athlete sociological concerns during both the regular-season and championship segment, the committee supports a review of the current grant-in-aid structure for women’s basketball.

 

In making such a recommendation, the committee has identified several components that are critical in the consideration process:  (1) the reduction in the scholarship limit must result in increasing the limit in other women’s program(s) requesting additional scholarship opportunities (e.g., field hockey, track and field); (2) the increase shall be provided to a sport with similar diversity representation as women’s basketball; (3) the issue of the appropriate use of male practice players should be considered in conjunction with this consideration; and (4) the sociological issues related to grant-in-aids for women’s basketball, as well as other sports, be reviewed and addressed.

 

Note:  The committee discussed a previously-conducted sociological study regarding female athletics participation.  The committee requests that the appropriate subcommittees review this information, or any updated information, as the committee believes the sociological impact should be considered when reviewing the women’s basketball limitations.

(3)     Estimated Budget Impact.  None.

 

(4)     Student-Athlete Impact.  Increase additional scholarship opportunities for women’s programs other than women’s basketball.

 

 

2.      INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

 

·              Bracketing Principles.  The committee will revise the bracketing principles to provide more flexibility to the committee in assigning teams to sites in closer geographical proximity.

 

 

 

Committee Chair:    Judy Southard, Louisiana State University

Staff Liaisons:          Jacqie Carpenter, Division I Women’s Basketball

                                 Sue Donohoe, Division I Women’s Basketball

                                 Rick Nixon, Division I Women’s Basketball

                                 Michelle Perry, Division I Women’s Basketball