Change in NCAA Tournament Format

Championships Cabinet approves format change for women's soccer


Jun 18, 2010 7:28:45 AM

By Greg Johnson
The NCAA News

The NCAA Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet approved a recommendation to change the women’s soccer championship to a 1-1-2-2 format beginning in the fall of 2011.

The cabinet, which met Tuesday and Wednesday in Indianapolis, decided to adjust the format so that the first round will be conducted at 32 on-campus sites followed by the second round at 16 on-campus sites the next week.

The third round and quarterfinals of the championship would be contested on the same weekend at four non-predetermined campus-based sites.

Originally, the proposal called for these matches to be played at four predetermined sites, but cabinet members had concerns about attendance when the host institution is not participating in the event, as well as concerns about staffing the event over Thanksgiving weekend.

The Women’s College Cup semifinals and finals would continue to be played the following weekend at a predetermined site.

The Division I Women’s Soccer Committee believes this format change will enhance the student-athlete experience by allowing more teams to host first-round matches. Committee members also feel that more first-round sites will help mitigate travel challenges by keeping teams closer to their home campuses in the first round.

Previously, the Division I Women’s Soccer Championship had a 2-1-1-2 format, meaning that the first and second rounds occurred on the first weekend of the tournament. Sixteen on-campus sites had four-team pods for first- and second-round competition. Eight sites were used for the third round, and four on-campus sites hosted quarterfinals the following week.

Under the previous format, the women’s soccer committee also had concerns about the lack of time that teams – many of which are coming off conference tournaments the prior week – had to prepare before competing in two matches the next week.

Tournament Format.
a. Recommendation. That the current 2-1-1-2 format of the Division I Women’s Soccer Championship be changed to a 1-1-2-2 format beginning in 2011.
b. Rationale. The current format currently provides for the first and second rounds to be contested at the same site with 16 sites hosting the weekend immediately after selections. From those 16 sites, the advancing institutions move to play a single match the following weekend in the third round at eight sites. The quarterfinals are then contested in the third weekend with a single match at four sites. The quarterfinal winners advance to the semifinals and championship at a predetermined finals site. The proposed format would provide for a single first round match contested at 32 sites. From there, the second round would also include a single match at 16 sites. Those institutions advancing to the next round would play at one of four campus-based, predetermined sites for the third and quarterfinal round on the same weekend. The four remaining institutions would advance to play in the semifinals and championship at a predetermined finals’ site.
The new 1-1-2-2 format contributes to the growth of NCAA soccer and enhances the student-athlete experience by allowing many more institutions to host the first round. Additionally, with more sites in the first round, the women’s soccer committee can help to mitigate travel challenges by keeping institutions more proximate to their home campuses in the first round.
Moreover, in allowing for four predetermined third/quarterfinal round sites, the women’s soccer committee can strategically place matches in areas of the country that are either targeted for growth of soccer or currently embrace soccer and would provide a meaningful experience for the student-athletes. NCAA staff will also work with the hosts to ensure operational excellence and marketing efforts are strategic and impactful. Additionally, this model allows for the addition of television in the future, as well as potentially corporate champion and partner activation.
c. Estimated Budget Impact. In order to control costs, it is recommended an administrative stipend of $3,000 be provided to hosts of the first round, as well as the second round. In order to reward those sites that market and promote the preliminary round, it is also recommended the revenue share be changed to a 70/30 split with 70 percent to the NCAA. It is currently 75/25 percent split with 75 percent to the NCAA. The proposed change would net as budget neutral to the overall Division I women’s soccer operating budget.
With having more hosting sites, it is believed revenues will also increase by allowing for more local crowds and fans.
In evaluating this model, a true comparison and analysis is not possible since the bracketing process was not conducted with this model as the guide.
d. Student-Athlete Impact. The proposed change in tournament format allows for unprecedented enhancements for the student-athletes competing in women’s soccer. By having only one match in the first round weekend, as well as only one match in the second round weekend, student-athletes have a greater opportunity to play in front of larger crowds, miss less class time, travel potentially shorter distances and obtain more rest after a long season and competitive conference tournaments.

e. Championships Group Comments. The proposed tournament format would provide a greater experience for not only the student-athletes, but the fans who supported the team throughout the year by rewarding more institutions with the opportunity to play at home. Moreover, the environment for the match has the potential to be more indicative of an NCAA championship in its presentation and excitement.
While some additional expenses in the form of signage, site representatives and equipment may exist, the incremental revenue from the greater attendance will offset the increase in expense.
The national committee and new coordinator of officials will have to work hard to ensure adequate and qualified staffing of NCAA site representatives and officials, however, the infrastructure, desire and plans are in place to ensure these needs are met.
The proposed format also addresses requests from the membership to eliminate the first and second rounds on the first weekend of the tournament, which allows for greater rest, potentially less travel and missed class time and could reduce the number of flights in the preliminary rounds.

Committee Chair: Paul Bradshaw, Baylor University