'Got 16?' seminar to be presented by Illinois State

[November 12, 2013]  NORMAL -- Potential collegiate student-athletes are encouraged to attend a free "Got 16?" NCAA initial eligibility seminar, presented by the Illinois State Athletics Compliance Office. The seminar will be on Thursday at Springfield High School in Springfield, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium.

Cindy Harris, Illinois State senior associate athletics director for compliance and student services, and her staff are in their 12th year of presenting the seminars to central Illinois high school students. The seminars have been in high demand in the past, with schools around the state contacting Harris and her staff to conduct the seminars for their student-athletes, coaches, administrators and parents.

Similar seminars have already been conducted in Bloomington-Normal this year, in addition to Chicago-area schools, including Lisle High School. Harris believes the "Got 16?" seminars are critically important for high school-level student-athletes who desire to compete at the NCAA Division I or II level.

"At the seminar, we will detail the many processes and requirements that are mandated by NCAA rules for initial eligibility," Harris said. "In addition, this year's presentation includes information about the newly adopted and increased academic standards that will apply to those student-athletes in the Class of 2016. Initial eligibility is tied to the receipt of an athletic scholarship and participating in competition at these levels, so it's important that it be taken in early in a student's high school career."

The "Got 16?" seminar is specifically geared toward high school student-athletes, high school and club coaches, parents, athletics directors, and guidance counselors. Topics that will be presented include NCAA core courses, test scores (ACT and SAT), registering for the NCAA Eligibility Center, official visits, strategies and perspectives, and improving test scores.

"We'd like to emphasize that the seminars are open to anyone, from any school, in and around the Springfield area," Harris said. "We hope everyone who wants or needs this information will come."

This seminar has been approved by the Illinois State Department Board of Education to award two continuing professional development unit credits, or CPDUs, for attendance.

For more information on NCAA eligibility standards, visit the NCAA Eligibility Center's website at www.eligibilitycenter.org or the NCAA's "2.3 or Take a Knee" rules education campaign at http://2point3.ncaa.org/.

[Text from news release received from Illinois State University]