Division III News

2020 NCAA Woman of the Year conference-level nominees named

From a program-record pool of 605 school nominees, 161 college athletes have been named conference-level nominees for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.

New designees set to champion diversity and inclusion

Athletics departments and conference offices now have a primary point of contact to receive and distribute information around diversity and inclusion topics.

DIII Presidents Council takes action on name, image and likeness proposals

The Division III Presidents Council on Wednesday voted to sponsor two legislative concepts on student-athletes’ use of their name, image and likeness.

Robert Gates appointed to Board of Governors

Former U.S. Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Robert Gates has been appointed to serve as one of five independent members on the NCAA Board of Governors.

Division III Presidents Council cancels fall championships

NCAA Division III championships in fall sports for 2020-21 are canceled. With the health and safety of the division’s student-athletes as its priority, the Division III Presidents Council made the decision Wednesday to cancel the championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related administrative and financial challenges.

Board directs each division to safeguard student-athlete well-being, scholarships and eligibility

The NCAA Board of Governors has directed schools and conferences to meet specific requirements if they are to conduct NCAA fall sports during the preseason, regular season and postseason. Further, each division is directed to determine its...

PROP expands opportunities for social justice statements on uniforms

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved rules to allow student-athletes in all sports to wear patches on their uniforms for commemorative and memorial purposes, as well as to support social justice issues.

President Emmert’s statement on fall championships discussion

“Today the Board of Governors and I agreed that we must continue to thoughtfully and aggressively monitor health conditions around the country and the implementation of the COVID-19 guidelines we issued last week. The health and well-being...

Pitching proposal seeks to clarify windup, set position in baseball

The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee recommended rules to clarify when pitchers are pitching out of a windup or stretch position.

PROP approves change to ice hockey overtime format

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved changes to the overtime format in men’s and women’s ice hockey, starting with the 2020-21 academic year. Under the new rule, all teams tied at the end of regulation will play a five-minute, 3-on-3 sudden-victory overtime period to decide a winner.

Concussion evaluation rule approved in softball

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved a new rule in softball allowing any player who is removed for a concussion evaluation to return to the game if cleared by medical personnel. This rule is effective for the 2020-21 academic year.

Changes to faceoffs approved in men’s lacrosse

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Wednesday approved eliminating the motorcycle grip during faceoffs in men’s lacrosse.

DIII Management Council approves flexibility to define playing season by days

The Division III Management Council approved a proposal to allow schools and conferences to have flexibility in conducting and/or continuing fall sports practices and competition into the spring. The action is effective immediately, pending a request for expedited ratification by the Presidents Council.

DIII working group supports two name, image and likeness concepts

The NCAA Division III Name, Image and Likeness Oversight Working Group recommended two legislative concepts to be considered by the Management and Presidents Councils at their upcoming summer meetings. The first concept would allow student...

NCAA schools announce nominees for 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year

NCAA member schools have nominated a record 605 female college athletes for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.

DIII Administrative Committee approves blanket waivers for participation

Division III student-athletes will not be charged with participation for the 2020-21 season if their team can complete only 50% or less of the sport’s maximum contests/dates of competition due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Division III Membership Committee statement on return to sports

The Division III Membership Committee strongly encourages institutions to make the best decisions for their campus community and the happiness, health and safety of their student-athletes.

DIII surveys membership on potential name, image and likeness legislative concepts

Division III presidents and chancellors, athletics directors, conference commissioners and national Student-Athlete Advisory Committee members shared their opinions through an online survey on potential legislative concepts surrounding name, image and likeness.

Concussion evaluation rule proposed in softball

The NCAA Softball Rules Committee recommended that any player who is removed for a concussion evaluation be allowed to return to the game if cleared by medical personnel. This proposal would be effective for the 2020-21 academic year.

Statement from Mark Emmert regarding Mississippi flag

“We are pleased the Mississippi legislature has acted swiftly to remove the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag, and we look forward to Governor Reeves signing this bill. It has too long served as a symbol of oppression, racism...

Appeals committee upholds Mary Hardin-Baylor vacation of records penalty

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor must vacate wins in which a student-athlete competed while ineligible.

2 sports to join Emerging Sports for Women list Aug. 1

The NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program will grow by two sports this August, as acrobatics and tumbling and women’s wrestling are now approved in all three divisions. Additionally, STUNT has received a recommendation from the Committee on Women’s Athletics to join the program.

NCAA