NJCAA Board of Directors Approves Several Momentous Proposals at 2012 Convention

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) made its plans for the upcoming 2012-13 academic sports season by passing several meaningful legislative proposals that signal a new way forward for the second-largest intercollegiate athletic organization in the United States.

The 54-member board of directors of the NJCAA gathered for the organization’s 71st annual meeting March 28-31 at the Double Tree World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo., which has served as the national headquarters for the association since 1985.

Likely the most significant change the NJCAA approved at its 2012 convention was the change in format and qualification for both its Division I men’s and women’s basketball championship tournaments. Both events will expand to a 24-team, single-elimination bracket and will cease all consolation games except for a 3rd place contest.

The current 16 district alignment in both sports will stay in place and all district champions will earn an automatic berth to either Salina, Kan. (women) or Hutchinson, Kan. (men). The additional eight teams will qualify for the national tournament(s) by one of four at-large selections or by District zone-qualification.

Each basketball committee drafted clear policies on how at-large teams would be selected. For zone qualification, the current 16 districts were divided into four zones. Each year one zone, consisting of four districts, will qualify a second team based on criteria determined by each district.

Both 24-team tournaments will be fully seeded per criteria set forth by each respective basketball committee.

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) is the governing body of two-year college athletics, offering athletic and academic opportunities to college students. It is the second largest national intercollegiate athletic organization in the United States with over 500 member schools in 43 states. Each year over 60,000 student-athletes compete in one of 28 different sports and the organization sponsors 48 national championship events and nine football bowl games. NJCAA Headquarters has been located in Colorado Springs, Colo., since 1985.