The NCAA Women's Gymnastics Committee took a major step in revamping the format for its National Championships, approving recommendations that would cut the number of teams advancing to the team championship from six to four.

The number of teams competing in the preliminary competition still would be 12.

Also approved was the recommendation that all six scores count on each event, rather than the best five out of six. In addition, the championships would be held Friday through Sunday, rather than Thursday through Saturday.

The coaches association voted 60-3 in favor of making the changes with the belief the format would draw more fans into the sport by making the finals easier to follow and better for live TV coverage.

"The four on the floor concept received great support from our coaches association," committee chair Paul Plinske said, who is also the athletic director at Wisconsin-Whitewater. "It has the potential to create a more exciting, fan-friendly and understandable championship final."

The committee recommended the changes be implemented for the 2011 NCAA Championships, scheduled for Cleveland.

Utah gymnastics coach Greg Marsden, who has long pushed for a more fan-friendly format, is excited change could be in the works but said he'd reserve his celebrations when and if the changes are approved by the Championships/Sport Management Cabinet, which has the final say on such matters.

The cabinet meets in

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September. Marsden is worried that the few dissenters will continue to push for the format to remain as is. Earlier this month SEC commissioner Mike Slive wrote a letter to the committee asking that no changes be made, even though SEC coaches voted 5-3 in favor of change.

"My concern is I don't think people who are opposed to this are going to let it lie," he said. "I'll believe it when we are out there competing on the floor," he said.

While Marsden was in favor of having just four teams advance to the finals, which would eliminate the need for byes, he would have preferred teams use just five gymnasts on each event with all five scores counting. There is some concern that a lack of depth by teams will hurt them if all six scores are counted.

Another aspect he isn't behind is using a format in which all six routines per event would count for regionals and nationals, but not in the regular season when only five out of six would count toward the team score.

lwodraska@sltrib.com

Highlights

» Committee approves NCAA Championships changes, including reducing final round from six to four teams.

» The changes also include counting all six gymnasts' scores, rather than best five out of six.

» The Championships/Sport Management Cabinet, which will meet in September, must still give final approval.