National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- December 6, 1999

Full-court press

NCAA Basketball tips off intensive promotional effort

BY KAY HAWES
STAFF WRITER

A comprehensive NCAA Basketball promotional plan, which includes several unique initiatives that will directly benefit NCAA member institutions, is making its debut across the country.

The plan, initiated by the NCAA Basketball Marketing Subcommittee in an effort to help increase game attendance as well television viewership and fan interest, will focus on men's and women's basketball in all three NCAA divisions.

The campaign will center on the theme "My Team" and will highlight the passion and the emotional connection college basketball fans have for their favorite teams.

The plan includes national initiatives, such as a new NCAA Basketball Web site that will have scores and team news, along with other basketball features. The plan also includes assistance with grass-roots efforts on individual campuses in the form of an NCAA Basketball Promotional Kit, which was sent to all NCAA member institutions.

New public service announcements also are being developed to air during television coverage of the men's and women's postseason tournaments.

Carolyn Schlie Femovich, chair of the subcommittee and the executive director of the Patriot League, said promotion of the game of basketball will raise the excitement level for everyone involved.

"NCAA Basketball initiatives, which will promote college basketball to the next level, are being coordinated to strengthen the college basketball experience for the fans, the student-athletes, the institutions and their communities," she said.

The NCAA Basketball promotional campaign is a cooperative effort coordinated by NCAA members, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

Basketball.net

The new college basketball regular-season Web site is www.ncaabasketball.net. It is a product of NCAA Online, the official Web site of the NCAA.

This unique site will offer college basketball fans the opportunity to personalize the site and follow the progress of their favorite team through a feature called "My Team," where fans can get scores, schedules -- including television schedules when available -- and team news. Registered users also will be notified of available live Internet telecasts, including audio and video streaming, provided by their favorite team's Web site or the NCAA.

And, computer users may choose one men's or women's team from any of the three NCAA divisions. Fans may follow multiple teams -- or perhaps the men's and women's teams of the same university -- by changing their team preferences.

Information on teams comes from two different sources. First, the site has services that search for scores and news. Next, the site takes scores and news from material sent by NCAA member institutions, thus giving many institutions their first international platform for such material about their basketball teams.

In its first week, www.ncaabasketball.net featured 71 percent of all basketball scores -- men's and women's -- in all three divisions. That number, which will probably go higher as more schools decide to participate, makes the site the most comprehensive place on the Internet to locate basketball scores and team news.

(If an institution is not yet participating in this free service and would like more information, a representative may contact Mary Eiland, NCAA assistant director of promotions, at meiland@ncaa.org.)

Another interactive component of the site lets visitors test their college basketball knowledge in an ever-changing "Trivia Game," complete with scoreboards that show the site's daily and lifetime high scores.

Visitors also will be able to participate in weekly polls contributing their views on a spotlighted subject pertaining to college basketball, as well as send electronic postcards, download screen savers and easily find links to athletics departments' home pages.

Visitors can go to the "Coaches Corner" to watch videos featuring past and present coaches, they can download NCAA Basketball public service announcement videos or purchase NCAA Basketball merchandise, and they can also see more information about other NCAA Basketball-related events and programs.

In January, the "Kid's Court" will make its debut with a variety of interactive games and information created just for kids.

The site was created by Expidant, an Indianapolis-based technology company.

Promoting the game

In addition to being able to submit material for the new Web site, institutions can make the most of an NCAA Basketball Promotional Kit, which includes free materials the institution can use to promote its basketball teams and NCAA Basketball on campus.

All NCAA member institutions were sent the kit, which includes information about the NCAA Basketball promotion, logos, public service announcements for radio and television, and information on acquiring free NCAA Basketball decals and signage that can be personalized for each institution.

The NCAA also is continuing the "Take a Kid to the Game" promotion in conjunction with the NCAA Basketball campaign. Now entering its fifth year for women's teams, the program was expanded last year to include men's teams as well. (The program also is concluding its second year of affiliation with NCAA Football.)

The program allows institutions to receive in-arena signage, promotional posters, copies of public service announcements and sample press releases. Most institutions select a specific game day to permit adults buying a full-price ticket to receive a youth ticket free or at a reduced rate, thus encouraging youth attendance.

The "Take a Kid to the Game" promotion is a coordinated effort of the WBCA, the NABC, participating NCAA schools and Host Communications. For more information on "Take a Kid to the Game," call Emily Stevens at Host Communications at 972/778-7750.

The final piece of this year's NCAA Basketball campaign is a promotional character that will be unveiled later in the season.

Designed primarily to appeal to children, it will aim to engage and educate youth on the healthy physical and emotional value of basketball while also promoting youth basketball participation. The character, which will equally represent both men's and women's basketball, also will promote sportsmanship.