Central District, Parent Center to host athletic recruiting seminar

The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, the Bellmore-Merrick Community Parent Center and Nassau County Legislator David Denenberg will present a program about the college athletic recruiting process, “Does Your Child Dream of Playing Sports in College?” The event will take place on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Brookside School, 1260 Meadowbrook Road in North Merrick.

A panel of speakers, moderated by Calhoun High School Assistant Principal Nicole Hollings, will include: Seth Tierney, head men’s lacrosse coach at Hofstra University (Division I); Susan Cassidy, athletic director and softball coach at Molloy College (Division II); Danny Longo, men’s and women’s soccer coach at Molloy College; Rod Stephan, baseball coach, SUNY Old Westbury (Division III); and Craig Papach, athletic coordinator at Kennedy High School in Bellmore.

Topics covered will include explanations of:

• The recruiting process.

• The differences in the divisions of college athletics.

• •National Collegiate Athletic Conference recruiting regulations and the NCAA Clearinghouse.

• Scholarships and financial aid.

• College visitations, sports resumes, video clips and camps.

• Using the Internet as a resource.

Saul Lerner, the Bellmore-Merrick athletic director, said college athletics are more competitive than ever. “The commitment is now huge. I don’t care what division you’re in,” Lerner said. The program, he said, is intended to help student-athletes make informed decisions about whether and how to play college sports.

Wendy Tepfer, the Parent Center executive director, said, “Parents have a lot of questions” about college recruiting. “Kids don’t really understand the process.”

The program is geared toward middle and high school students and their parents, but is open to athletes of all grades and their parents. The program is free for Bellmore-Merrick Central School District residents, and is $5 for non-residents. To register or for more information, call Wendy Tepfer, the Community Parent Center executive director, at (516) 771-9346, or email her at cpc1260@hotmail.com.