The NCAA Division III staff has created this bi-weekly communication for the Division III membership to provide up-to-date communications on recent Division III governance meeting discussions and outcomes. Please share this communication with your campus and conference colleagues.
Recent Governance Meetings - Key Discussions and Outcomes.
Athletic Trainer Working Group, Aug. 12 Recommendations. The working group finalized its recommendations and will distribute to the membership in Sept. The working group also discussed possible recommendations, such as expanding current programs and grants for athletic trainers and providing financial assistance for those pursuing a career in athletic training.
Championships Committee, Aug. 20 Bracketing principles. The committee approved the following bracketing principles that will allow flexibility for sport committees to protect top seeded teams in NCAA championships brackets.
Brackets above 32 teams will protect eight (8) teams. Brackets with 32 teams or fewer willprotect four (4) teams.
In brackets greater than 32 teams, teams will be protected based on the seed lines of No. 1sand No. 2s (based on NPI ranking at the time of selection). In brackets of 32 teams or fewerthe top four (4) teams in the NPI will be protected.
Brackets will then be built outward based on protecting the quarterfinal matchups that willprotect No. 1s and No. 2s while maintaining geographic proximity.
Hosts will be selected based on meeting the minimum hosting requirements and maintaininggeographic proximity. Seeding may be a consideration when selecting hosts but is not determinative.
RAC responsibilities. The committee updated its RAC guidelines that will better characterize the role as the division shifts to the NPI as its at-large selection metric.
Men’s and women’s basketball. The committee supported a request to add video replay as a preliminary round hosting requirement. The committee also approved, in concept, a women’s basketball joint championship to occur in 2028 in Indianapolis.
Men’s and women’s soccer. The committee reviewed the committees’ recommendation, and accompanying membership survey feedback, to move the men’s and women’s soccer championship one week later effective with the 2026 championships. The committee will continue to review the recommendation at a future meeting.
Membership Committee, Aug. 22 Waiver requests. The committee approved one sports sponsorship waiver request and three regional rules seminar attendance waiver requests
Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Discussions.
NADIIIAA and DIIICA Executive Leadership, Aug. 27 Agenda. The executive leadership groups will meet with NCAA staff, including President Baker, to discuss topics of interest and strategize on ways to best serve the membership. Key topics include budget updates, inclusive of the recent third-party reviews by Deloitte and Lewis Rice, playing rules, championships enhancements and the 2025 convention proposals.
Administrative Committee, Aug. 28 2025 convention legislation. The committee will review and be asked to approve in final legislative format the four proposals sponsored by Presidents and Management Councils and will receive an update on the five membership sponsored proposals.
Noncontroversial proposals. The committee will review and be asked to approve, in final format, two noncontroversial proposals that Management Council approved in concept during its July meeting. Since the proposals, related to ice hockey and Nordic skiing, impact the 2024-25 competition seasons, the committee’s action would make the proposals effective immediately.
Championships Committee, Aug. 29 Future championships sites. The committee will review recommendations for future Division III championships sites.
Resources.
Annual List of Required Forms. Click here for a chart that details the Division III annual required forms and actions for institutions, and click here for a resource for conference offices that details the 2024-25 annual list of required forms.
Playing Rules. Click here for a document that details playing rules with a financial impact.
NPI. The fall, winter and spring sports committees have set their dials. Click here for an updated FAQ. Sport-specific webinars for spring sports will be held on the following dates:
Men’s Volleyball – Tues., August 27, 1 p.m. EST Register now Men’s Lacrosse –Wed., August 28, 2 p.m. EST Join now Softball – Wed., September 11, noon EST Join now
Women’s Lacrosse – Wed., September 25, 11:30 a.m. EST Register now
With every communication, we also anticipate additional questions. Please send all questions to DIIIGovernance@ncaa.org. Thank you for your continued collaboration and leadership.
This email was sent to NCAA Division III Presidents Council, Management Council, commissioners, directors of athletics and the NADIIIAA executive board based on contact information in the NCAA Directory.
