NCAA Basketball is hitting the court running again this year with another youth initiative designed to promote grass-roots growth.

For the 2002-03 season, the NCAA has developed a youth initiative program called Fast Break, a Web-based program that college marketing directors can use with local elementary and middle schools to increase regular-season attendance.

The educational program sparks youth interest in basketball through lesson plans that incorporate the sport into the learning. The lesson plans are in six subject areas (language arts, math, social studies, physical education and sporting behavior, art, and science) and are available online for teachers to download. The lessons reinforce academic concepts through the use of basketball fixtures such as statistics, leadership characteristics of NCAA student-athletes and geographic location of NCAA institutions.

The lessons are divided into three age groups: kindergarten through second grade, third grade through fifth grade and sixth grade through eighth grade. Written by teachers for teachers, each plan adheres to national core standards and comes with instructional guidelines to ensure that kids engage in the learning. The program is available through NCAA Basketball at www.ncaa.org/fastbreak.

Fast Break is one of many NCAA Basketball youth initiatives. Others include the Good Sports Contest, a promotion targeting host cities of the Divisions II and III Men's and Women's Basketball Championships. Interested schools in districts located within the city limits of the championship host city are eligible to participate in the contest, which involves students submitting essays or posters that address good sportsmanship. The contest offers the opportunity for children in grades kindergarten through eight to win NCAA Basketball prizes and tickets to the championship game.

NCAA Basketball also will feature its mascot, J.J. Jumper, again this year. J.J. Jumper, created in 1999, is available for visits to campuses and performances during college basketball games.

The NCAA also partners with Host Communications, Inc., on the Take A Kid to the Game program, a nationwide grass-roots effort that encourages adults to take a child to an NCAA basketball game. The 2002-03 season will mark the eighth year of this promotion in NCAA women's basketball and the fifth year in NCAA men's basketball.

For more information on the various youth initiatives, go to www. ncaabasketball.net.