KANSAS CITY, Mo. – ​​​​The NCAA has sent a letter denying an urgent request from United Soccer Coaches for a change to this year’s DIII women and men’s soccer championships to have a day of rest between the finals and semifinals, the latter organization said on Monday.

The United Soccer Coaches had aske for the extra day for safety and an improved championship experience for student athletes.

“Our Division III coaches asked us to advocate on their behalf after years of going through the NCAA system directly to get this change made,” United Soccer Coaches CEO Lynn Berling-Manuel said in a statement. “This issue is too important to let languish. The NCAA’s response is tepid and disappointing but we will not drop this until our D-3 coaches get the safety and experience they want for their players.”

The NCAA was responding to a letter from United Soccer Coaches sent on Nov. 8 to NCAA executive director Mark Emmert outlining the reasons and asking for the change for this year. United Soccer Coaches offered to pay the $20,000 projected expenses for the additional rest day and have since sent a response sharing their disappointment in the denial.

“I’m disappointed the NCAA seemed to have no sense of urgency. However, I was incredibly gratified for the response from coaches, alumni, parents and players on the need for this change,” Berling-Manuel said. “What our association will do is keep this issue in front of NCAA, school and conference officials, student athletes, coaches and parents. It is not going away.”

The NCAA Division III men’s and women’s Championships will be held Dec. 3-4 at UNCG Soccer Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.