Conference USA launches Classroom on the Court (The Sports Addict Network)

Conference USA and its 12 women's basketball programs are proud to introduce Classroom on the Court to its fans, community and supporters. This program was developed thanks to an NCAA Grant aimed to grow the sport.

Classroom on the Court is a grassroots program that will introduce school children in grades four and five to their local Conference USA Women's Basketball team, as well as the entire league, through a curriculum-based program. This program will motivate students to learn in a fun way, using sports as the focus, and ultimately increasing attendance as their affinity for their local women's basketball team develops and grows.

The NCAA established a funding program "to grow women's basketball from the inside out and at a grassroots level." The NCAA also committed annual funding for a three-year program in an effort to specifically enhance Division I women's basketball attendance.

The league has partnered up with Sporting Geography to produce worksheets, postcards, email and mailing distribution lists that targets teachers of fourth and fifth graders in all 11 C-USA cities. Once a teacher registers his/her class, participation in the Classroom on the Court program occurs any time they attend one of their local women's basketball games and/or complete a gameday worksheet.

Registered students will receive a bar-coded credential and t-shirt (base on availability) affording them season long complimentary admission to their local women's basketball games. By attending the games and completing the game day worksheet they accumulate points for their schools. In addition, they will be given a sticker at the C-USA table, to adhere to their credential to track and reward their individual attendance. For example, after a student has attended three games he/she will receive one free guest admission tickets.

Students are rewarded for their attendance throughout the season, while the schools and classes with the highest totals are rewarded at the end of the season with fabulous prizes.

The NCAA named 12 institutions and five conferences to receive funds from the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Marketing Grant Program. The recipients were selected from more than 70 member institutions and conferences who submitted proposals for annual grants ranging from $15,000-$100,000. Approximately $750,000 in grant money was given to the schools and conferences by the NCAA.

Courtesy of Conference USA Associate Director of Media Relations Debbie Davis

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