Atlantic 10 Conference facts for kids

The Atlantic 10 Conference (A10) is a sports league for colleges and universities in the United States. It's part of the NCAA's top level, called Division I. The A10's main office is in Newport News, Virginia. This conference includes schools from the Eastern and Midwestern parts of the U.S.

History of the A10

The Atlantic 10 Conference started in 1975. Eight schools from the Eastern U.S. formed it. It was first called the Eastern Collegiate Basketball League. Games began in 1976, but only for men's basketball.

In 1977, the league added more sports. Its name changed to the Eastern Athletic Association. People often called it the "Eastern 8" because it had eight schools. By 1982, the conference grew to 10 schools. That's when it officially became the Atlantic 10.

Even though "10" is in its name, the A10 hasn't always had exactly 10 members. Since 1991, the number of full member schools has changed. It has been anywhere from 8 to 16 schools. From 1997 to 2006, the A10 even had its own football league. They stopped playing football when another conference, the Colonial Athletic Association, started its own football league.

Who Are the A10 Members?

The Atlantic 10 Conference has different types of members. Most schools are "full members." This means they play most of their sports in the A10. There are also "associate members" who play only one sport in the conference.

Full Members of the A10

Fourteen schools are full members of the Atlantic 10. Many of these schools are private. Seven of them are run by the Catholic Church.

Associate Members

Two schools are "associate members." This means they play only one sport in the A10.

Former Members

Ten schools used to be full members of the A10. They have since moved to other sports conferences.

See also

In Spanish: Atlantic 10 Conference para niños