Bay State Games begins partnership with Gentle Giant Moving Company

WOBURN (February 4, 2020) – Bay State Games and Gentle Giant Moving Company are excited to announce a partnership. Through this partnership, Gentle Giant will serve as the official moving and storage company of Bay State Games for the Summer Games.

“The Bay State Games’ mission of promoting personal development, education, physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship directly aligns with Gentle Giant’s core focus of developing exemplary leaders and our history of employing high level athletes. We’re very excited to be able to support the Bay State Games and connect with their network of athletes,” says Craig Averett, Gentle Giant Recruiting Manager and 1995 Bay State Games competitor.

Of the budding relationship, Bay State Games Executive Director, Kevin Cummings says, “since 1982, Bay State Games has produced programs that develop students, athletes, and the future leaders of tomorrow. Gentle Giant shares many of these same values and we look forward to our partnership which will focus on providing opportunities for student-athletes.”

Gentle Giant has a 40-year history of hiring the best and brightest athletes at their offices across New England and in several other regional locations. If you are looking for a paid work out, a flexible schedule, and competitive benefits please visit www.gentlegiant.com/careers for more information or to fill out the preliminary application

For questions, email info@baystategames.org or call 781-932-6555.

About Gentle Giant

Gentle Giant was founded in 1980 by Larry O’Toole, a former Northeastern University rower. He wanted to build the best team of movers ever assembled and guarantee clients a stress-free move at a competitive price to create customers for life. Gentle Giant is now an award-winning national moving and storage company. Its commitment to customer service is still its greatest strength.

About the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation/Bay State Games
The Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that was established in 1982 to host the first sanctioned state games of the Commonwealth. It operates with the mission of promoting personal development, education, physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship to Massachusetts citizens of all ages and abilities. The Foundation is recognized for hosting high quality, Olympic-style events through the Bay State Summer and Winter Games, as well as educational programs including the Future Leaders Scholarship Program, a Sportsmanship Initiative and the High School Ambassador Program.

Bay State Games Presents 2020 Berkshire Hero Awards

Pictured: Nate Cariddi (left) and Sue Briggs (right) receive Berkshire Hero award from Bay State Games Executive Director, Kevin Cummings

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. (January 5, 2020) – Bay State Games awarded the Berkshire Hero Award to two staunch supporters of the Bay State Winter Games Saturday evening. The 2020 award recipients are Nate Cariddi from Williams College and Susan Briggs of the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce. The two recipients received their awards during the Bay State Skate Figure Skating Show, which took place at Lansing Chapman Rink on the campus of Williams College on Saturday, January 4. 

Nate Cariddi is the Groundskeeper Lead at Williams College with responsibilities including the Williams Ice Rink. Nate has served as an important contact between the Games and Williams College. Nate and his crew put in a lot of extra work and care during the Bay State Winter Games Figure Skating competition to ensure that all participants have a first-class experience. Nate has had a long association with Bay State Games as he was a member of the Summer Games West Region Baseball team when he was in high school.

Sue Briggs is the Executive Director of the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce and has been a strong supporter of the Bay State Games for many years. Sue has worked to engage Williamstown businesses to support the Bay State Games through offering local discounts and putting up promotional posters in their storefronts. Sue has also helped to enhance the Bay State Games participant experience by providing athletes and their families with information on Williamstown and the lodging, restaurant, and attraction options in the area.

The Berkshire Hero Award was created in 2008 to recognize individuals, businesses, facilities, and organizations within Berkshire County that go above and beyond to ensure that the Bay State Winter Games are a success.

For a list of past Berkshire Hero recipients, click here.

For questions, email info@baystategames.org or call 781-932-6555.

About the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation/ Bay State GamesThe Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that was established in 1982 to host the first sanctioned state games of the commonwealth. It operates with the mission of promoting personal development, education, physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship to Massachusetts citizens of all ages and abilities. The Foundation is recognized for hosting high quality, Olympic-style events through the Bay State Summer and Winter Games, as well as educational programs including the Future Leaders Scholarship Program, a Sportsmanship Initiative and the High School Ambassador Program.

Bay State Games Newsletter: Winter 2019 Edition

To see the Bay State Games Winter 2019 Newsletter, click here.

Topics covered include: 2020 Winter Games Preview, the National Congress of State Games Symposium, Marathon Charity Program, 2020 Summer Games, Bay State Games Programs, and the NFHS #BecomeAnOfficial Campaign

Bay State Games to Celebrate 35th Anniversary of Winter Games

The Bay State Games are set to host the 35^th annual Winter Games in the Berkshires in 2020. The Bay State Winter Games have been held in the Berkshire region each year since 1985 except for one year due to funding. The Winter Games expects to attract hundreds of athletes and families to the Berkshire region to compete in sports like figure skating and masters ice hockey.

The 2020 Figure Skating competition will take place January 3-5, 2020 at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. This is the earliest the competition has ever been held in Bay State Games history. This competition will feature more than 400 skaters from Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Skaters ranging in age from 5 to over 65 represent the United State Figure Skating Association or the International Skating Institute.

Highlights for this upcoming competition include the reinstatement of the Bay State Skate Show on Saturday, January 4. Gold medalists from certain events will skate in this exhibition show. The figure skating competition will begin on Friday evening with the short programs. This event will also serve as a qualifier for the 2021 State Games of America to be held in Ames and Des Moines, Iowa. All medal winners will receive an invitation to compete at the 2021 State Games of America. 

“We are thrilled to be hosting the Bay State Games again in 2020,” says Sue Briggs, Executive Director of the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce. “The Games bring an incredible group of up-and-coming athletes from all over Massachusetts, to our small corner of the state. We look forward to welcoming them and their families into our community in January.”

Masters Ice Hockey will take place February 28 – March 1, 2020 in North Adams, Mass. at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Skating Rink. Bay State Games is expecting 8-10 teams to register to the tournament, some of whom have participated in every Bay State Winter Games thus far.

Registration for both figure skating and masters ice hockey is ongoing. For more details and links to on-line registration, go to www.baystategames.org. For questions email info@baystategames.org or call 781-932-6555.

Bay State Games Newsletter: Fall 2019 Edition

To see the Bay State Games Fall 2019 Newsletter, click here.

Topics covered include a Summer Games recap, Winter Games preview, Athlete of Year winners, Future Leaders Scholarship recipients, upcoming opportunities in the Internship Program and High School Ambassador Program, and a recap of the 2019 State Games of America in Lynchburg, Virginia and a preview of the 2021 State Games of America in Ames and Des Moines, Iowa.

Bay State Games Announces 2019 Athletes of the Year

Bay State Games selects an athlete of the year in four categories. The 2019 selections for Athlete of the Year are:

Female Athlete 18 & younger - Isabella Korbly

Male Athlete 18 & younger - Gabriel Matnog

Female Athlete 19 & older - Olivia Kane

Male Athlete 19 & older - Roger Pierce

Isabella Korbly is a resident of Acton, Mass. who has competed in Bay State Games swimming since 2013 and has won 17 medals, including 12 gold. She is a two-time Massachusetts State Champion in the 100 backstroke and holds the meet record for the Fall Division I Girls State Meet in the 100y backstroke. The rising junior holds two individual and one relay record at Acton-Boxboro High School. As a member of the Patriot Swim Club, she was a two-time New England Senior 200y backstroke champion. She is a USA Swimming National and Junior National qualifier and was named to the 2017-18 and 2018-19 USA Swimming Scholastic All-America team. This summer, Isabella competed at the USA Swimming Futures Championships in Geneva, Ohio and finished second in the 100m backstroke and ninth in the 200m backstroke.

Gabriel Matnog is a resident of Malden, Massachusetts. He is 15 years old and has competed in Bay State Games shooting competitions in Air Pistol, Sport Pistol and Progressive Position Pistol and won multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals. He is a high school junior and captain of the Massachusetts Junior Pistol Shooting team which he joined in 2014. He is a two-time Junior Olympian, has won medals in countless NRA sanctioned matches and holds a #1 ranking in Massachusetts for sport pistol and #3 in Air Pistol. Gabriel also plays lacrosse at Malden High School. Gabriel has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at the young age of 14 and is a very accomplished. He is very active in school activities including the mock trial team, school newspaper, and debate team.

Olivia Kane is a resident of Weston, Mass. and has won several gold medals at Bay State Games Baton Twirling over the past few years. She recently graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in communications. At NC State, she was a featured twirler for the Wolfpack Majorettes and served as the captain. She won the 2018 NCA Gameday Division I National Championship and was second at the NBTA Collegiate Halftime National Solo competition. She has also placed top 10 in College Miss Majorette of America more than once. In August 2019, Olivia participated in the 2019 IBTF Grand Prix in Limoges, France as a part of Team USA. She placed 14th in the solo competition and 16th in the 2-baton.  Olivia began twirling at age 3 and has been competing on the national level for more than 15 years.

Roger Pierce is a resident of Rowley, Mass. who has competed in Bay State Games Masters Track every year since 1986. Roger is 74 years old and finished third in his division competing against athletes 10 years younger than him. He held the Bay State Games meet record in Men 60+ 100 Meter Dash for 4 years. Roger is a 15-time World Champion and is an 11-time World Record Holder. He has won 39 USATF National Championships and broken 17 USA records. He has been inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame (2008), Northeastern University Sports Hall of Fame (2008), and Beverly High School Hall of Fame (2004).

The Bay State Games Athlete of the Year program was established to recognize individuals who excel above and beyond their athletic participation in the Bay State Games. Individuals are chosen based on overall achievements, involvement in the Bay State Games, involvement in their community, effort, sportsmanship, overcoming adversity and attitude on and off the field. Nominations were submitted by coaches, commissioners, parents, volunteers, and other players.

Individuals chosen as Bay State Games Athlete of the Year have been submitted for recognition as the National State Games Athlete of the Year. If chosen as the National State Games Athlete of the Year, recipients will receive an all-expense paid trip to receive their award  at the National Congress of State Games award presentation held annually in the fall. National Athlete of the Year winners will be notified in September 2019.

For more information on the Bay State Games Athlete of the Year program and past winners, go to www.baystategames.org/AOY.

Bay State Games Announces Jack Aborn Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Bay State Games is excited to announce Gene Kang as the 2019 Jack Aborn Memorial Scholarship recipient!

Gene Kang resides in Wilbraham, Massachusetts and is a senior at Wilbraham & Monson Academy where he has made the Academic Honor Roll 8 times. He competed in Bay State Games Archery in 2016, 2018, and 2019, winning two gold medals and one silver. Gene has competed and won numerous medals in tournaments throughout New England including the New England Indoor Championship and Massachusetts Indoor Open in addition to championships in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia, and New Hampshire. He has competed on the national and international stage including the US National Target Championships, the US National Indoor Championships, the USA Team Trials, and the Canadian National Outdoor Championship. Gene has received accolades from USA Archery including being selected as a Regional Elite Development Program Member in 2019 and a Regional Dream Team Member in 2018.

Jack Aborn served as a key member of the Bay State Games Archery committee since the sport was added to the Bay State Games in the early 1990’s. Jack was a dedicated worker and strong supporter of the Bay State Games. He also was a strong proponent of youth participation in sport especially the sport of Archery. The Bay State Games was deeply saddened by the passing of Jack Aborn in 2007. To honor Jack’s memory, his support of the Bay State Games, and his dedication to youth in sport, we have created the Bay State Games Archery Jack Aborn Memorial Scholarship.

To be eligible for the Jack Aborn Memorial Scholarship, participants must be age 21 or younger and must participate in the Bay State Games Archery competition in the year that they apply. The scholarship must be used for educational purposes including college or private school tuition, an educational class, books or school fees or other educational related expenses.

Massachusetts Athletes Compete at the 2019 State Games of America

LYNCHBURG, Va. – 125 athletes from Massachusetts competed at the 2019 State Games of America in Lynchburg, Va. The State Games of America is a biennial competition that brings together medal winners from each of the state games organizations from across the country to compete. The competition took place July 31 – August 4 and was hosted by the Virginia Commonwealth Games, Liberty University, and city of Lynchburg.

Massachusetts had the seventh most athletes compete. 93 of the 125 athletes competed in the figure skating. Massachusetts also had athlete representation in archery (8), footgolf (3), judo (1), track & field (4), yoga (11), pickleball (1), and shooting (1).

Massachusetts was also well represented on the podium having won medals in each represented sports. Highlights included swimmer Daniel Scherrer (Wellesley, Mass.) winning six medals, figure skater Amelia Bouchard (Greenfield, Mass.) winning three gold medals, and every archer earning either a gold or silver in each of their events.

A full list of athletes from Massachusetts can be found here.

The next State Games of America will take place in 2021 and will be hosted by Iowa Games at Iowa State University. All medalists from the 2019 and 2020 Bay State Games will qualify to compete in the 2021 State Games of America.

For results, visit http://stategamesofamerica.com/results2019 

About the National Congress of State Games
The National Congress of State Games (NCSG) is a membership organization comprised of 30 Summer State Games and 10 Winter State Games organizations and a member of the United States Olympic Committee's Multi Sport Organizational Council.  The mission of the NCSG is to support State Games member organizations in the promotion of health, fitness and character building through multi-sport competitions and physical activities.

Bay State Games Announces 2019 Future Leaders Scholarship Recipients

WOBURN (June 24, 2019) – The Bay State Games has selected six statewide scholarship recipients for the 2019 Future Leaders Scholarship Program. These winners were selected from a large applicant pool after a process that included committee reviews of all applications and live interviews with selected applicants. 

These future leaders were selected based on their achievements and involvement in academics, community service, athletics, and leadership roles. The Bay State Games Future Leaders Scholarship was established in 1989 and has since distributed nearly $400,000 in financial aid. Each of the rising high school seniors will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

"We are proud to announce our 2019 Future Leader scholarship winners, and to acknowledge six outstanding student-athletes whose contributions to their respective schools, teams and communities is extraordinary," said Phil Gloudemans, board chair of the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation, the organizer of the Summer and Winter Bay State Games. "We are very confident that these young men and women will excel during their college careers, and emerge as the new leaders, managers, and executives in whatever field they choose to pursue."

This year’s six winners are:

Emily Dobrindt attends Milton High School where she is a swimmer for the Swim Team, as well as the South Shore YMCA Strypers for the past 11 years. She is very involved with the Friends of the Blue Hills organization, responsible for the upkeep of a local state park. Emily has done over 300 hours of community service, all while earning straight As in school. She has participated in the Bay State Games swimming competition for the past six years.

Alondra Msallem attends Dedham High School. She has run track and field since 6th grade, competes in cross country, and has participated in the Bay State Games for two years. Alondra is heavily involved in LeadersNow International, which is a worldwide organization that promotes leadership in young women. Through this, she gave back to the community and created her own leadership club at school, Leaders Achieving Service and Experience, to help younger students develop leadership skills.

Nishka Pant attends Westborough High School. She has been swimming for USA club teams over the past five years as well for her varsity swim team for the past three years, qualifying for the State Championship in each year. After winning the Global Harvard Vision Leadership Conference case study competition, she started a vision club at her high school, raising money for an eye hospital in India. Nishka interns at the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory of MIT, working on different research projects.

Keleyia Lamarra Rochelle is from Mattapan and attends Wellesley High School, where she swims on the varsity swim team and sings for her school’s a cappella group and jazz choir. She also is a member of the Young Ethnic Scholars club, which represents the school’s minority students and promotes diversity. Keleyia uses both swimming and music to help her community, by participating in the Swim for Life, raising money for Provincetown Social Services, and performing in assisted living communities. She participated in both the 2015 and 2016 Bay State Games swimming competition where she ranked as a finalist. 

Jacqueline Smith is from Stow and attends Nashoba Regional High School in Bolton. She is a member of the Riverside Archers Road Team where she has been competing in archery competitions for the past two years. Jacqueline also has a passion for art and won a silver key in painting in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards in 2018. She wants to help teach and motivate younger students as well, and on her own became a volunteer teacher at a local elementary school. Jaqueline has participated in the Bay State Games for the past two years and will also be competing in the State Games of America this August.

Ella Stanwood is from Wenham and attends Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School. Ella has been figure skating since she was six years old and in 2018 achieved senior level for U.S. Figure Skating. She has recently competed in the New England Regional Competition and has been competing in the Bay State Games for the past seven years. Ella frequently volunteers her time to help her community, earning the Chester Twiss Memorial Award at the North Shore Skating Club, which is given to the member who dedicates the most time and effort to the community. Ella has also participated in community service trips to Nicaragua in 2018 and Panama in 2019.

College Admissions Process for Student-Athletes – Your Guide to a Successful College Visit

Written by:  Kim Penney and Danielle Dunn, One-on-One College Consulting

A college visit may include an information session and/or campus tour. Depending on your target list of colleges, you may need to register online before you go. A helpful website to map out your visits in an efficient way is: https://goseecampus.com/

Prior to attending a college visit, student-athletes should email the coaches of each school to let them know they will be on campus. Depending on NCAA recruiting timeline and sport, coaches may be able to speak to you while you are visiting. Often times, if they are actively recruiting you, coaches will supplement your tour by showing you the athletic facilities in addition to the admissions tour.

Here is a general checklist you can use as a guide on your visits:

·         Take campus tour

·         Attend admissions information session

·         Eat at cafeteria

·         Attend a class

·         Read college newspaper

·         Tour area around campus

·         Talk to students and professors

·         Visit places of interest not on tour (i.e. music/sports facilities)

·         Have an admissions interview (if applicable)

·         Speak to college coach (if applicable)

Next BSG Blog Topic (Week of June 24, 2019) – Questions to Ask Coaches When on a College Visit

College Admissions Process for Student-Athletes – How to Maximize Your Summer as a Recruited Student-Athlete

Besides playing on a club team, are you doing all that you can during the summer to improve your athletic skills and increase your chance of being recruited to play at the next level? Once you identify your list of colleges that fit you academically and socially, the summer months serve as an ideal time to help overlay the athletic fit.

Below are some activities that will assist you with this process:

1. Attend College Camps:

· According to your list of desired colleges, research whether the coaches of those schools offer prospect camps.

· Make a calendar reflecting all of the camp dates for each school, and then determine which camps fit your personal schedule and budget.

·You should plan to participate in at least 2-3 camps per summer. If you are not certain that a school on your target list offers a prospect camp, email the coach directly to ask which summer camps he/she runs or works at that would be beneficial for you to attend.

· Before attending a camp, be certain you fill out/update the online recruiting form for that college with your most recent GPA and test scores.

2. Attend Individual Summer Showcases/Tournaments:

· If you compete on a club team, your summer may be filled with team-oriented showcases/tournaments, but if your schedule allows, you may want to supplement it with individual events that can also be great platforms for you to be seen by college coaches.

·  For example, we highly recommend trying out and competing in the Bay State Games, Massachusetts’ own Olympic-style sports festival for high school student-athletes. The 2019 Summer Bay State Games typically hold tryouts in June and the competitions are held for one week in July at local sports venues across the state. For more information, go to:  http://www.baystategames.org/summer-sports

3. Get In the Gym:

· Nothing replaces hard work. Talent alone will not suffice. To be a top college recruit requires discipline not only working on your sport skills but also in the gym.

· Commit yourself to a strength and conditioning program that will increase your potential to be a stand-out recruit.  

Next BSG Blog Topic (Week of June 17, 2019) – Your Guide to a Successful Campus Visit

Bay State Games Newsletter: Summer 2019 Edition

To see the Bay State Games Summer 2019 Newsletter, click here.

Topics covered include the new recruiting resources, information about the 2019 Summer Games, new partnerships, and an announcement of the 2019 Bay State Games Hall of Fame Class.

Bay State Games Inducts Four Into 2019 Hall of Fame Class

Wayland resident Yvonne Chern, Marblehead native and resident Beth Sopka, Brockton’s Orlando Vandross and Roxbury’s Charlie Titus join past MLB, NBA, NHL and Olympians with Bay State Games ties.

WOBURN – Assistant coach of the 2019 NCCA National Championship Basketball Team, Orlando Vandross, Vice Chancellor of Athletics and Recreation and long-term UMass Boston Men’s Basketball Coach, Charlie Titus, and longtime Badminton Co-Directors Yvonne Chern and Beth Sopka have been selected for induction into the 2019 Bay State Games’ Hall of Fame. All four inductees will receive their award at a pre-game ceremony at Fenway Park on June 24 prior to the Red Sox game against the Chicago White Sox.

The Bay State Games Hall of Fame was created to recognize past participants who have gone on to prestigious and successful athletic careers, as well as former and current coaches, officials, sports organizers, and volunteers who have made significant contributions to the organization throughout its 38-year history.   Past inductees among the over 60 previous honorees include the NBA’s Dana Barros (`06), Tom Thibodeau (’17) and the late Reggie Lewis (`02); WNBA’s Rebecca Lobo (’03), the NHL’s Bill Guerin (`09) and Keith Yandle (14); Major League Baseball’s Carlos Pena (`11) and Rich Hill (`13); Olympians Nancy Kerrigan (`07), Jim Pedro (’04) and Bill Cleary (`14) as well as US Paralympic Gold Medalist Joe Lemar (’15).

Yvonne Chern has served as a co-director of badminton for the Bay State Games tournament for over 15 years. She lives in Wayland, Massachusetts and has been influential in expanding badminton on the East Coast. With her husband, she created the Boston Badminton Club located in Westborough, Massachusetts, which held the first USA Badminton Team trials outside of California. Yvonne serves as the Vice President of both the Northeast Badminton Association, the Massachusetts Badminton Association, and is a former board member of USA Badminton.

Beth Sopka helped initiate badminton into the Bay State Games and has served as a co-director for over 15 years. Sopka lived in Marblehead, Massachusetts where her love for badminton began while playing with her son. In 1996, she started the New England Junior Cup and in 1997 co-founded the North Shore Junior Badminton Association. She’s been President of the Massachusetts Badminton Association for nearly 20 years as well as Vice President of the Northeast Badminton Association since 2016.

Orlando Vandross grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts and competed in the Bay State Games playing basketball. Vandross played for Brockton High School and was inducted to their Hall of Fame in 2003. After playing throughout college at American International College in Springfield, he coached the 1996 Bay State Games Coastal Region Men’s Basketball team. He moved on to coach at Boston University and UNC Charlotte until 2015. Vandross now is an Assistant Coach for the University of Virginia’s Men’s Basketball team, which won their first NCAA National Championship title in 2019.

Charlie Titus has been on the board of directors for Bay State Games for over 25 years where he has made significant contributions by hosting events at UMass Boston facilities since the mid 1980’s. He currently lives and grew up in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He played basketball at Boston Technical High School and at Saint Michael’s College, where he was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999. Titus was the first and only head coach of the UMass Boston Men’s Basketball team until 2015 when he took over as Vice Chancellor of Athletics and Recreation. Titus was recently inducted to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame for his honorable contributions.


For more information on the Hall of Fame, go to www.baystategames.org/hall-of-fame

College Admissions Process for Student-Athletes – Timeline and Steps in the NCAA Eligibility Process

Written by: Kim Penney and Danielle Dunn, One-on-One College Consulting

In our latest blog, we covered the process of sending standardized test scores to the NCAA Eligibility Center and how to check your high school’s NCAA-approved courses to ensure you meet the 16-core course requirement necessary to compete in NCAA Division I and II sports.

So when should you register with the NCAA? In this blog, we will review a general timeline of when to begin the process and the steps you can expect to take.

Technically, you become a prospective college recruit the first day of your high school career. However, we counsel student-athletes to use freshman year to adjust to high school life before becoming concerned about their future college athletic experience.

The beginning of sophomore year in high school is a good time to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center:

1. Create a Certification Account if you plan on targeting NCAA Division I or II institutions. If you are only looking to play NCAA Division III, there is no need to register with the NCAA.
2. Once you receive your 10-digit NCAA ID #, you can include it on your emails to college coaches and list it on your Athletic Profile. This indicates to college coaches of NCAA Division I and II schools that you have begun the process of becoming academically eligible to be recruited by them.  
3. Check your high school’s NCAA-approved courses to ensure you meet the 16-core course requirements and GPA sliding scale necessary to compete in NCAA Division I and II sports. If the course titles on your high school transcript do not exactly match those listed as NCAA-approved courses for your school, you must go ask your guidance counselor to update your school’s NCAA-approved course listing immediately. You want every course you took to count, if possible.
4. At the end of junior year, request that your guidance counselor submit your final transcript (with 6 full semesters of grades) to the NCAA.
5. Every time you take a standardized test, send the scores to the NCAA officially through either the SAT or ACT testing agency (NCAA code is: 9999).
6. Once you begin senior year, you must log into your NCAA Eligibility Center account to “Request Final Amateurism” to indicate that you did not play your sport for money and that you are indeed still an amateur.
7. At the end of senior year, you must request your final high school transcript to be sent by guidance to the NCAA Eligibility Center. 

Then you are officially qualified to begin your athletic playing career at an NCAA Division I or II institution. Good luck!

Next BSG Blog Topic (Week of June 10, 2019) – How to Maximize Your Summer as a Recruited Student-Athlete

College Admissions Process for Student-Athletes – Standardized Test Scores in Relation to NCAA Eligibility

Written by: Kim Penney and Danielle Dunn, One-on-One College Consulting

Any high school student-athlete who wishes to play NCAA Division I or II sports in college must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Standardized test scores are one part of the equation for determining if the student-athlete meets NCAA academic requirements.

If a student-athlete has Division I or Division II schools on his/her college list, it is the responsibility of the student-athlete to check that the high school courses which he/she is taking are accepted by the NCAA. To search for a high school’s NCAA-approved courses, visit the NCAA Eligibility Center High School Portal. Here, the student-athlete will enter his/her high school’s name and will be directed to a page which will allow him/her to search all of the NCAA-approved courses his/her school offers.

To be eligible to play NCAA Division I, student-athletes must meet the following criteria:

• 16 core courses
• GPA of at least 2.3 in those core courses
• Earn a certain ACT/SAT score matching his/her core-course GPA on a Division I sliding scale

For more detailed information on NCAA Academics Requirements for Division I, click HERE.

To be eligible to play NCAA Division II, student-athletes must meet the following criteria:

• 16 core courses
• GPA of at least 2.2 in those core courses
• Earn a certain ACT/SAT score matching his/her core-course GPA on a Division II sliding scale

For more detailed information on NCAA Academics Requirements for Division II, click HERE.

Standardized test scores from SAT and/or ACT must be sent directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center, by using the NCAA Eligibility Center code 9999 from the testing agency.

Note: There are no athletic scholarships available at the NCAA Division III level. Therefore, there is no NCAA Eligibility process necessary for high school student-athletes wishing to pursue Division III college athletics.

Next BSG Blog Topic (Week of May 27, 2019) – Timeline to Begin the NCAA Eligibility Process

Register for Bay State Games by June 1st to Save $10 on Entry Fee

Registration for the 38th annual Bay State Summer Games is currently underway. The 2019 Summer Games will feature 31 sports for athletes of all ages. The Early Registration Deadline is quickly approaching. Athletes who sign up to participate prior to the June 1 early registration deadline will save $10 on their entry fee.

The registration fee will increase $10 in the following sports on June 1:

Badminton: June 22 – 23 at Boston Badminton, Westborough

Baseball*: July 8 – 12 at BC High School, Boston

Girls Basketball*: July 12 – 14 at Emmanuel College, Boston

Boys Basketball: July 20 – 21 at UMass Boston

Field Hockey*: July 12 – 14 at Veterans Memorial Field Complex, Waltham

Boys and Girls Ice Hockey*: July 11 – 14 at New England Sports Center, Marlborough

Judo: July 14 at UMass Boston

Boys Lacrosse*: July 9 – 11 at Veterans Memorial Field Complex, Waltham

Boys and Girls Soccer*: July 11 – 14 at Veterans Memorial Field Complex, Waltham

Softball*: July 8 – 10 at Danehy Park, Cambridge

Swimming – July 6 – 7 at Harvard University, Cambridge
          Qualifiers: June 8 (Worcester Boys & Girls Club), June 15 (Regis College, Weston), June 22 (Lincoln Hancock Pool, Quincy)

Synchronized Swimming: June 15 at Worcester YWCA

Trap Shooting: June 22 at North Leominster Rod & Gun Club, Lunenburg

Boys and Girls Volleyball*: July 13 – 14 at UMass Boston

Weightlifting: July 20 – 21 at UMass Boston

*Tryout information for the eight showcase sports are being posted on the sport’s page as they become available.

For more information on all sports in the 2019 Summer Games, and links to online registration, go to www.baystategames.org. For questions email info@baystategames.org or call 781-932-6555.

Bay State Games Introduces New Sports for 2019 Summer Games

Bay State Games is excited to introduce three new sports to the 2019 Summer Games program. These sports include Pickleball, FootGolf, and Ultimate.

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports among the senior community in the nation. It incorporates elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. Bay State Games is offering doubles and mixed doubles tournaments at a variety of skill levels. The tournament will take place July 27-28 at The Mill Works in Westford.

Medal winners in the 2019 Bay State Games Pickleball tournament will qualify for the 2021 State Games of America National Championship to be held in Ames, Iowa at Iowa State University. At the 2017 State Games of America in Grand Rapids, Michigan, over 600 pickleball players representing 34 states competed. For more information, visit www.baystategames.org/pickleball

FootGolf is a crossover of golf and soccer. The inaugural competition will take place at Quail Ridge Golf Course in Acton on June 22. This tournament will serve as the national qualifier for American FootGolf League National Championship that will take place at the 2019 State Games of America in Lynchburg, Virginia. For more information, visit www.baystategames.org/footgolf

Ultimate will take place on June 29 at Veterans Memorial Field Complex in Waltham. For its first year, Bay State Games will be hosting a U20 tournament. Male and female divisions will be offered. For more information, visit www.baystategames.org/ultimate

Jonathan Levy of New England Ultimate says of the addition, "Ultimate just celebrated its 50th anniversary as a sport. Youth players are its fastest-growing group, with participation by Massachusetts high schools exploding over the past decade. New England Ultimate is thrilled to have the Bay State Games add our sport to their Summer Games."

If you are interested in registering for any of these sports, please go to www.baystategames.org/summer-sports. For questions, email info@baystategames.org or call 781-932-6555.

College Admissions Process for Student-Athletes – Standardized Testing in the Student-Athlete’s College Admissions Process

Written by:  Kim Penney and Danielle Dunn, One-on-One College Consulting

There are two standardized tests that are commonly used in the college admissions process:  

The SAT and/or the ACT

SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test): This test is administered through the College Board. The test is offered seven times throughout the school year during the following months:  August, October, November, December, March, May and June. The test is scored on a 200-800 point scale in two categories (Reading/Writing and Math). The highest combined score a student-athlete can receive is a 1600. There is no limit to the number of times this test can be taken. However, a student-athlete typically takes it 2-3 times before the early fall of senior year. For more information, visit: https://www.collegeboard.org/

ACT (American College Testing): This test is offered seven times as well during the following months:  September, October, December, February, April, June and July. The test is scored on a 1-36 point scale in four categories:  English, Math, Reading and Science with an optional Writing portion. The average across all sections is calculated into one overall composite score. Similar to the SAT, there is no limit to the number of times this test can be taken and typically a student-athlete takes it 2-3 times by senior year. For more information, visit: http://www.act.org/

Colleges accept both standardized tests. It is up to the student-athlete to submit test scores from either one or both tests if they choose to do so. 

Note: There are over 1,000 colleges and universities that do not require standardized testing as part of their admissions process. To see a list of test-optional schools, go to: http://fairtest.org/university/optional

Next BSG Blog Topic (Week of May 20, 2019) – Standardized Test Scores in Relation to NCAA Eligibility

College Admissions Process for Student-Athletes – Advantages of Early Admissions Policies for the Student-Athlete

Written by: Kim Penney and Danielle Dunn, One-on-One College Consulting

The college admissions process for a recruited student-athlete is naturally accelerated. After completing the Early Read process, a student-athlete can begin transitioning into the application phase. Depending upon the student-athlete’s target list of colleges/universities, there will be a number of different admissions policies from which to choose:

• Early Decision (ED): This is a binding agreement. If the student-athlete applies to a college under an ED admissions policy, the student-athlete must attend that institution and withdraw all of his/her other submitted college applications. A student-athlete would only choose this admissions policy if that particular college/university is his/her number-one choice. Remember:  “D” for Definite.
• NOTE: College coaches of institutions that offer ED admissions policies highly recommend this option. The student-athlete’s main advantage of applying Early Decision is to potentially secure a spot on the varsity roster.   
• Early Action (EA): This admissions policy is non-binding. The student-athlete finds out in mid-December whether or not he/she is accepted and then has until May 1 to make his/her final decision. Remember: “A” for Almost.
• NOTE: College coaches typically do not wait until May 1 to fill their rosters. It benefits the student-athlete to commit soon after they receive their acceptance letter even under an Early Action policy in order to potentially secure a spot on the team.
• Regular Decision (RD): This admissions policy is non-binding. The student-athlete typically finds out in late March – early April whether or not he/she is accepted and then has until May 1 to make his/her final decision.
• NOTE: Unless the institution offers an Early Admissions Option (i.e. ED or EA), recruited student-athletes rarely choose to apply Regular Decision since college coaches like to confirm their incoming class earlier than May 1. 
• Rolling Admission (RA): This admissions policy is non-binding and does not adhere to a strict deadline. Applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received. Therefore, it benefits the student-athlete to apply as soon as they are ready to do so.   

Next BSG Blog Topic (Week of May 6, 2019) – Standardized Testing in the Student-Athlete's College Admissions Process 

College Search Process for Student-Athletes – What is an “Early Read” in the College Athletic Recruitment Process?

Written by: Kim Penney and Danielle Dunn, One-on-One College Consulting

A student-athlete should research his/her best match schools academically and socially before he/she begins to “overlay” the athletic fit. If the student-athlete receives positive feedback/interest from the college coaches he/she has contacted, he/she may transition into the next phase of the athletic recruiting process known as the “Early Read.”

An Early Read typically occurs at the end of junior year after final grades are available. This is when a college coach requests the following academic information from a student-athlete:

·         Official High School Transcript (final grades from 9^th, 10^th and 11^th grade)

·         SAT and/or ACT Score Reports

·         High School Profile

·         List of senior year courses (including course level – i.e. College Prep, Honors, AP)

The college coach then takes this information to his/her respective admissions liaison to get an indication of the student-athlete’s chance of acceptance. From there, the coach communicates to the student-athlete whether or not he/she is a good candidate for admission.

NOTE:  The better a student-athlete does academically, the more options he/she will have athletically. Remember, although college coaches may be able to help support a student-athlete’s chance of acceptance, the student-athlete must officially get accepted into the college/university on his/her own merit through admissions.   

Next BSG Blog Topic (Week of April 22, 2019) – Advantages of Early Admissions Policies for the Student-Athlete