2008 College Coaches' Forum
Information for College Bound Student Athletes

Date and Time:
August 2, 2008 - 11:00 am to 2:30 pm
You MUST complete your participation in the College Coaches' Forum BEFORE you register for The Nationals.  Nationals Registration is from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm on August 2nd.

Location:
Claremont Resort & Spa, adjacent to the Berkeley Tennis Club

Who Can Participate?
All college bound student athletes that have completed their junior year in high school as of July 1, 2008 may participate in the Forum.  This includes players who are in The Nationals as well as alternates.

What Schools Will Be There?
A list of all schools participating in the Forum will be posted on the College Coaches Forum area of the website as the schools register.  The list will be updated from time to time as schools register for the event.  At the option of the coach, a link to the coaches' email address and/or a link to the school's website will be provided.  Click here to view the list.

Event Summary:
The 12th Annual College Coaches Forum has beenorganized with you, the college bound student athlete, in mind.  It is intended to be a non-intimidating, casual atmosphere where you can come and meet with coaches and learn about collegiate programs you are interested in.  Many athletes also are pleasantly surprised to discover that a school they've never heard of might be the best university for them! 

When you check in at the Forum, you will receive a nametag that includes your name, USTA Section, and hometown.  Your parents will not receive a nametag, but they are welcome to participate with you.  The coaches have already received a list of all players in The Nationals as well as those on the Alternate List.  The list includes the contact information the tournament received as part of the online TennisLink registration process, as well as any additional contact information you may have provided to the tournament.

All colleges participating in the Forum will be set up at tables in ball rooms at the Claremont Resort & Spa.  Schools will have one or more of their coaches there for you to speak with and will be providing you with information on their tennis and academic programs, however, some schools may be only meeting with players on an appointment-only basis.

Please do not register for The Nationals on August 2nd until you have finished your participation in the Forum.  Tournament Registration closes at 3:30 p.m.

How to Prepare for the Forum:
1. Prepare a Player Bio on yourself - click on the link to download a PDF version of a sample Player Bio.  This year, all Player Bios will be assembled in a Player Bio Book and made available to the coaches at The Nationals.  Use the sample Player Bio to create your own Player Bio.  If you choose to add additional information to your Player Bio, it must fit on one, one-sided page.

Player Bios may be sent by email or regular mail to Andrea Norman (AndreaN64@aol.com OR 1748 Dorrance Drive, San Jose, CA, 95125).  Email is preferred.  All Player Bios RECEIVED by Wednesday, July 30th, will be guaranteed to be included in the Player Bio Book.

If you do not meet the July 30th deadline, we will have blank Player Bio forms for you to complete by hand before entering the Forum or you can bring your Player Bio to the Forum registration and it will be included.  We will also be taking pictures to affix to the Player Bios on the day of the Forum.

NOTE:  The Player Bio is not the same as the Player Profile that is completed online, posted on our website, and used primarily for publicity purposes.  You must follow the instructions above to have your Player Bio included in the Player Bio Book.

2. Complete and return the Entry Supplement/Release Form.  One of the questions on the form relates to whether you've completed your junior year in high school.  We only prepare nametags for players who have represented to us that they have completed their junior year - a NCAA requirement.  If you haven't provided us with this information, a preprinted nametag may not be waiting for you at the Forum.

You may have already completed and sent the Entry Supplement/Release Form.  If you have not already completed and returned the Form, click the link above to download it.  You may fax OR email it as instructed on the form - there is no need to do both.

3. Familiarize yourself with the rules and procedures for recruiting.  Visit the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse Page for Prospective Student-Athletes: (https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/student/index_student.html).  It is recommended you register with the Clearinghouse and review all the information provided.  From the Information and Resources for Prospective Student-Athletes link on the left side of the page you will be able to download The Guide for College-Bound Student-Athlete published by the NCAA.  This Guide will help you through the recruiting process, including providing instructions on how to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Questions???
If you have questions about the Forum, feel free to contact Andrea Norman at AndreaN64@aol.com.