BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Women’s water polo was among the topics of discussion at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Competition Oversight Committee (COC) meeting on October 7-8, 2024.
The committee reviewed a referral from the Student Athlete Experience Committee (SAEC), which oversees NCAA Bylaw 17 (playing and practice seasons) regarding a request from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) to amend the playing season legislation in women’s water polo. Specifically, the proposal is to establish an official first day of competition for women’s water polo and a first day of training to be 16 days prior to that first day of competition. This would create a uniform approach to women’s water polo across the country with a consistent playing season of 14 weeks, the same length as the men’s water polo season The proposal includes moving the NCAA championship to the last weekend of April. The NCAA Women’s Water Polo Committee reviewed the proposal including the impacts of a championship date change on already selected hosts and broadcast delivery and supports this recommendation. After discussion, COC members agreed with the proposal’s intent and recommended that the SAEC move forward in recommending that the Division I Council introduce legislation accordingly. However, the COC expressed some concern with the timing of the proposal and advised that it have an effective date of no earlier than the 2026 championship.
Further, the COC approved the following seven conferences for automatic qualification to the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Water Polo Championship: Big West Conference, Collegiate Water Polo Association, Golden Coast Conference, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Mount Pacific Sports Federation, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Western Water Polo Association.
The COC also approved adding results versus teams already qualified and other teams under consideration as a secondary criterion for selections to the NCAA Championship in women’s water polo. COC members agreed this is an acceptable addition to secondary criteria that will help the committee in its selections process.
Further, the COC approved a waiver allowing Ted Minnis, head men’s and women’s water polo coach at Harvard University, to serve as chair for the 2024-25 academic year. COC members agreed that it is typical for a coach to chair a committee overseeing an Olympic sport.
