Phone numbers and Web sites for each region highlight improvements made by Worldtek Travel, the NCAA official travel agency, for this year's Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Championships.

March championships travel typically presents Worldtek its toughest challenges, and in order to meet these challenges, the travel agency and the NCAA have devised a program that can help teams make such travel more efficient.

Even though teams selected to participate in the Division I basketball championships are not officially announced until Sunday, March 12, teams that have a reasonable idea that they may be selected can assist Worldtek in the following ways:

* Before March 12, team administrators should fax (203/875-2034 or 203/777-1483) or e-mail (ncaa.travel@worldtek.com) a tentative travel-party list to Worldtek/NCAA Travel Service. The NCAA will mail forms to each institution, but the institution may send the list in its own format. This list should include everyone who may be a part of the travel party, including student-athletes, coaches, band members, cheerleaders and mascots. Teams should indicate whether an individual is a student-athlete, coach, athletics administrator, cheerleader, band member, faculty member or serves the institution in another capacity. Teams should include the approximate weights of student-athletes and coaches. Teams may make changes to this list at any time. Teams may change the individuals' names at any time. Having a preliminary list will save Worldtek and the participants valuable time.

* Since available commercial airline seats are extremely limited for groups, institutions may be asked to divide the travel party into smaller groups, use alternate airports or adjust departure times. Institutions should apprise members of the travel party of this possibility in advance. Some potential alternatives include requesting some individuals to travel two days before the game, others one day before the game or others on game day.

* Institutions should submit a list of the cargo and equipment for game and band equipment, if applicable.

* Although an institution's administrator may have communicated its travel requests before March 12, administrators should reconfirm these requests on selection Sunday via e-mail or by calling Worldtek immediately after the bracket announcement. To help ensure more personal attention for each institution, administrators should , if possible, forward these "final" travel rosters (plus cargo lists and any subsequent changes) to the e-mail address designated by region to which the team is assigned:

Men's championship

* mn.east@wspan.com

* mn.south@wspan.com

* mn.midwest@wspan.com

* mn.west@wspan.com

Women's championship

* wn.east@wspan.com

* wn.mideast@wspan.com

* wn.midwest@wspan.com

* wn.west@wspan.com

Worldtek will answer all e-mail promptly. Teams may use these e-mail addresses for all rounds of competition.

* Team administrators who do not have access to e-mail may phone Worldtek at the appropriate region's toll-free number:

* Men's and women's East region -- 877/562-1153

* Men's South region and women's Mideast region -- 877/562-1154

* Men's and women's Midwest region -- 877/562-1155

* Men's and women's West region -- 877/562-1156

* Persons leaving voice mails for Worldtek, should leave a phone number where Worldtek staff members can return the call promptly.

* Teams that wish to charter aircraft should plan early. Most charter airlines will not respond and confirm charter times and rates until Monday, March 13. The NCAA Travel Service will contact each team as soon as these rates become available.

Whether an institution will have the option to use a charter flight depends on the commercial services available, charter cost and availability. If commercial space is available, Worldtek will book it. If Worldtek cannot arrange a commercial flight for an institution, that institution will become a priority for charter service. Institutions with flexibility in departure and arrival times are more likely to receive charter service.

As part of the NCAA travel guarantee, all charters as well as departure times must be approved by the NCAA. Charter flights do not offer flexibility in terms of time changes on outbound or return flights without substantial cancellation or change fees. The NCAA is not be responsible for fees associated with such changes.

Institutions are permitted to advertise charters booked through Worldtek/NCAA Travel Service in such media outlets as college newsletters, periodicals or college radio stations; however, mass media advertising is not permitted for charters provided by the NCAA travel guarantee.

Institutions' return flights are subject to change based on the outcome of the games. Travel administrators should be prepared to split their travel parties or take alternate commercial flights, if necessary.

Any questions regarding these procedures should be directed to Karen LaRose or Shelley Mongillo at Worldtek (800/243-1800 or 800/243-1723), or Crystal Reimer at the NCAA national office (317/917-6222, ext. 6436).