Preparing to be a Collegiate Student Athlete

Transcription

1 Preparing to be a Collegiate Student Athlete Maureen A. Harty National Athletic Collegiate Association Opportunities NCAA National Collegiate Athletic Program Divisions I, II, and III ncaa.org Take unofficial visits. Getting Noticed Personalize your recruiting letters. Resumes are great. NAIA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics naia.org Attend Camps. Send video of strengths and weaknesses. NCCAA National Christian College Athletic Association thenccaa.org NJCAA National Junior College Athletic Association njcaa.org Demographics Points to Consider Top Three Major Choices Family Support Academic Atmosphere Academic Reputation Career Goals Home for Holidays Playing Time Winning Other Costs ATHLETICS ACADEMICS CHARACTER

2 NCAA RECRUITING FACTS College sports create a pathway to opportunity for student-athletes. 480,000 19,000 3 Divisions Teams Student-athletes 1Association DIVISION I Division I schools, on average, enroll the most students, manage the largest athletics budgets, offer a wide array of academic programs and provide the most athletics scholarships. DIVISION II Division II provides growth opportunities through academic achievement, high-level athletics competition and community engagement. Many participants are first-generation college students. DIVISION III The Division III experience provides an integrated environment that focuses on academic success while offering competitive athletics and meaningful non-athletics opportunities. PARTICIPATION 176,000 student-athletes 346 colleges and universities PARTICIPATION 118,800 student-athletes 307 colleges and universities PARTICIPATION 187,800 student-athletes 439 colleges and universities ATHLETICS SCHOLARSHIPS 56 percent of all student-athletes receive some level of athletics aid ACADEMICS 2014 Graduation Success Rate: 83 percent* OTHER STATS Median Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,205 Average Number of Teams per School: 19 Average Percentage of Student Body Participating in Sports: 4 percent Division I National Championships: 26 (1 out of every 8.5 student-athletes participates) ATHLETICS SCHOLARSHIPS 61 percent of all student-athletes receive some level of athletics aid ACADEMICS 2014 Academic Success Rate: 71 percent* OTHER STATS Median Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,530 Average Number of Teams per School: 15 Average Percentage of Student Body Participating in Sports: 10 percent Division II National Championships: 25 (1 out of every 7 student-athletes participates) FINANCIAL AID 82 percent of all student-athletes receive some form of academic grant or need-based scholarship; institutional gift aid totals $17,000 on average ACADEMICS 2014 Academic Success Rate: 87 percent* OTHER STATS Median Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,860 Average Number of Teams per School: 18 Average Percentage of Student Body Participating in Sports: 21 percent Division III National Championships: 28 (1 out of every 10 student-athletes participates) Want to play NCAA sports? Visit *Graduation rate for student-athletes, including those who transfer from one school to another. July 2016

3 Facts about NCAA sports Does the NCAA award athletics scholarships? Individual schools award athletics scholarships. Divisions I and II schools provide $2.7 billion in athletics scholarships annually to more than 150,000 student-athletes. Division III schools, with more than 180,000 student-athletes, do not offer athletically related financial aid, but most student-athletes receive some form of academic grant or need-based scholarship. Do many high school athletes earn athletics scholarships? Very few, in fact. About 2 percent of high school athletes are awarded some form of athletics scholarship to compete in college. Do NCAA student-athletes have difficulty meeting graduation requirements with the time demands of their sport? While competing in college does require strong time-management skills and some thoughtful planning with academic advisors, on average NCAA student-athletes graduate at a higher rate than the general student body. Do many NCAA student-athletes go on to play professionally? Fewer than 2 percent of NCAA student-athletes go on to be professional athletes. In reality, most student-athletes depend on academics to prepare them for life after college. Education is important. There are nearly half a million NCAA student-athletes, and most of them will go pro in something other than sports. ESTIMATED PROBABILITY OF COMPETING IN NCAA ATHLETICS BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL Men s Women s Men s Men s Student-Athletes All Sports Basketball Basketball Football Baseball Ice Hockey Soccer High School Student-Athletes 7,800, , ,500 1,083, ,600 35, ,600 NCAA Student-Athletes 480,000 18,700 16,600 72,800 34,200 4,100 24,500 Percentage Moving from High School to NCAA 6% 3.5% 3.9% 6.7% 7% 11.3% 5.7% Percentage Moving from NCAA to Major Professional* 2% 1.1% 0.9% 1.6% 9.7% 6.6% 1.4% *Percent NCAA to Major Professional figures are based on the number of draft picks made in the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL and MLS drafts. NCAA is a trademark of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. July 2016

4 . tunity oppor one ess limitl ities. l i Possib Grade 9 Plan Start planning now! Take the right courses and earn the best grades you can. Ask your counselor for a list of your high school s NCAA core courses to make sure you take the right classes. Or, find your high school s list of NCAA core courses at eligibilitycenter.org. Grade 10 Register Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org. If you fall behind on courses, don t take shortcuts to catch up. Ask your counselor for help with finding approved courses or programs you can take. Grade 11 Study Check with your counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate on time. Take the ACT or SAT and make sure we get your scores by using code At the end of the year, ask your counselor to upload your official transcript. Grade 12 Graduate Take the ACT or SAT again, if necessary, and make sure we get your scores by using code Request your final amateurism certification after April 1. After you graduate, ask your counselor to upload your final official transcript with proof of graduation. For more information: eligibilitycenter.org NCAA.org/playcollegesports Search Frequently Asked Questions: NCAA.org/studentfaq Follow us on W FOLLO YOUR PATH

5 eligibilitycenter.org If you want to play sports at an NCAA Division I or II school, start by registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org during your sophomore year. Core Courses This simple formula will help you meet the Divisions I and II core-course requirement: 4x4=16 4 English courses (one per year) + 4 math courses (one per year) + 4 science courses (one per year) + 4 social science courses (one per year) 16 NCAA CORE COURSES Grade-Point Average The NCAA Eligibility Center calculates your grade-point average (GPA) based on the grades you earn in NCAA-approved core courses. Visit eligibilitycenter.org for a full list of your high school s core courses. Sliding Scale Divisions I and II use sliding scales to match test scores and GPAs to determine eligibility. The sliding scale balances your test score with your GPA. If you have a low test score, you need a higher GPA to be eligible. If you have a low GPA, you need a higher test score to be eligible. Find more information about sliding scales at NCAA.org/playcollegesports. Test Scores You may take the ACT or SAT as many times as you want before you enroll full time in college, but remember to list the NCAA Eligibility Center (code 9999) as a score recipient whenever you take a test. We can accept official scores only from ACT or SAT and we won t use the scores from your high school transcript. If you direct the ACT or SAT to send us your scores every time you take a test, we will choose the best scores from each test subject to create your sum score. ACADEMIC STANDARDS DIVISION I To play sports at a Division I school, you must graduate from high school and meet ALL the following requirements: 1. Complete 16 NCAA core courses: 4 years of English 3 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher) 2 years of natural/physical science (including one year of lab science if your high school offers it) 2 years of social science 1 additional year of English, math or natural/physical science 4 additional years of English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy 2. Complete 10 NCAA core courses, including seven in English, math or natural/physical science, before your seventh semester. 3. Earn at least a 2.3 GPA in your NCAA core courses. 4. Earn an ACT sum score or SAT combined score that matches your core-course GPA on the Division I sliding scale. DIVISION II To play sports at a Division II school, you must graduate from high school and meet ALL the following requirements: Before August 1, Complete 16 NCAA core courses. 2. Earn at least a 2.0 GPA in your NCAA core courses. 3. Earn an ACT sum score of 68 or an SAT combined score of 820. After August 1, Complete 16 NCAA core courses. 2. Earn at least a 2.2 GPA in your NCAA core courses. your core-course GPA on the Division II sliding scale. 3. Earn an ACT sum score or SAT combined score that matches Core Courses for Division II To play sports at a Division II school, you must complete these NCAA core courses: 3 years of English 2 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher) science if your high school offers it) 2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab 2 years of social science science 3 additional years of English, math or natural or physical social science, foreign language, comparative religion or 4 additional years of English, math, natural or physical science, philosophy. DIVISION III Division III schools provide an integrated environment focusing on academic success while offering a competitive athletics environment. While Division III schools do not offer athletics scholarships, 75 percent of Division III student-athletes receive some form of merit- or need-based financial aid. If you are planning to attend a Division III school, you do not need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Division III schools set their own admissions standards. NCAA is a trademark of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

6 Division i academic requirements College-bound student-athletes will need to meet the following academic requirements to practice, receive athletic scholarships, and/or compete during their first year. Core-Course Requirement Complete 16 core courses in the following areas: MATH ENGLISH 4 years (Algebra I or higher) NATURAL/ PHYSICAL SCIENCE (One year of lab, if offered) 3 years 2 years Full Qualifier Complete 16 core courses. Ten of the 16 core courses must be completed before the seventh semester (senior year) of high school. Seven of the 10 core courses must be in English, math or science. Earn a core-course GPA of at least Earn the ACT/SAT score matching your core-course GPA on the Division I sliding scale (see back page). Graduate high school. Academic Redshirt Complete 16 core courses. Earn a core-course GPA of at least Earn the ACT/SAT score matching your core-course GPA on the Division I sliding scale (see back page). Graduate high school. ADDITIONAL ENGLISH, MATH OR NATURAL/ PHYSICAL SCIENCE SOCIAL SCIENCE (Any area listed to the left, foreign language or comparative religion/philosophy) 1 year 2 years 4 years ADDITIONAL COURSES Full Qualifier: College-bound student-athletes may practice, compete and receive athletics scholarships during their first year of enrollment at an NCAA Division I school. Academic Redshirt: College-bound student-athletes may receive athletics scholarships during their first year of enrollment and may practice during their first regular academic term, but may NOT compete during their first year of enrollment. Nonqualifier: College-bound student-athletes cannot practice, receive athletics scholarships or compete during their first year of enrollment at an NCAA Division I school.

7 Test Scores When a student registers for the SAT or ACT, he or she can use the NCAA Eligibility Center code of 9999 so his or her scores are sent directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center from the testing agency. Test scores on transcripts will NOT be used in his or her academic certification. A combined SAT score is calculated by adding reading and math subscores. An ACT sum score is calculated by adding English, math, reading and science subscores. A student may take the SAT or ACT an unlimited number of times before he or she enrolls full time in college. If a student takes either test more than once, the best subscore from different tests are used to meet initial-eligibility requirements. If a student took the SAT before March 2016 and then took the redesigned SAT at a later date, the NCAA Eligibility Center will not combine section scores from the old and redesigned SAT when determining his or her initial eligibility. The NCAA Eligibility Center will only combine section scores from the same version of the test. Because the redesigned SAT varies in design and measures different academic concepts than the old SAT, a numerical score on the old test may not be equivalent to the same numerical score on the redesigned test. DIVISION I FULL QUALIFIER SLIDING SCALE DIVISION I FULL QUALIFIER SLIDING SCALE CORE GPA SAT ACT SUM CORE GPA SAT ACT SUM READING/MATH READING/MATH ACADEMIC REDSHIRT NCAA is a trademark of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

8 Division II Academic Requirements College-bound student-athletes enrolling at an NCAA Division II school need to meet the following academic rules to practice, compete and receive athletics scholarships during their first year. Core-Course Requirement Complete 16 core courses in the following areas: 3 years of English 2 years of math (Algebra I or higher) 2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered) 2 years of social science 3 additional years of English, math or natural or physical science 4 additional years of English, math, natural or physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy Full Qualifier Partial Qualifier Complete 16 core courses Complete 16 core courses Earn a core-course GPA of at least Earn an SAT combined score of at least 820 or an ACT sum score of at least 68 OR Graduate high school least 68 Graduate high school Earn a core-course GPA of at least Earn an SAT combined score of at least 820 or an ACT sum score of at Full Qualifier: College-bound student-athletes may practice, compete and receive athletics scholarship during their first year of enrollment at an NCAA Division II school. Partial Qualifier: College-bound student-athletes may receive athletics scholarships during their first year of enrollment and may practice during their first regular academic term but may NOT compete during their first year of enrollment. Nonqualifier: College-bound student-athletes may not practice, compete or receive athletics scholarships during their first year of enrollment at an NCAA Division II school. Test Scores If you take the current SAT before March 2016 and then take the redesigned SAT at a later date, the NCAA Eligibility Center will not combine section scores from the current and redesigned SAT when determining your initial eligibility. The NCAA Eligibility Center will only combine section scores from the same version of the test. Because the redesigned SAT varies in design and measures different academic concepts than the current SAT, a numerical score on the current test may not be equivalent to the same numerical score on the redesigned test. Updated January 8, 2016 Page 1 of 1

9 2018 Division II New Academic Requirements College-bound student-athletes first enrolling at an NCAA Division II school on or after August 1, 2018, need to meet new academic rules to practice, compete and receive athletics scholarships during their first year. Core-Course Requirement Complete 16 core courses in the following areas: ENGLISH MATH (Algebra I or higher) NATURAL/ PHYSICAL SCIENCE (including one year of lab science, if offered) SOCIAL SCIENCE ADDITIONAL (English, math, or natural/physical science) ADDITIONAL (English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy) 3 years 2 years 2 years 2 years 3 years 4 years Full Qualifier Complete 16 core courses. Earn a core-course GPA of at least Earn the ACT/SAT score matching your core-course GPA on the Division II full qualifier sliding scale (see back page). Graduate high school. Partial Qualifier Complete 16 core courses. Earn a core-course GPA of at least Earn the ACT/SAT score matching your core-course GPA on the Division II partial qualifier sliding scale (see back page). Graduate high school. Full Qualifier: College-bound student-athletes may practice, compete and receive athletics scholarships during their first year of enrollment at an NCAA Division II school. Partial Qualifier: College-bound student-athletes may receive athletics scholarships during their first year of enrollment and may practice during their first regular academic term, but may NOT compete during their first year of enrollment. Nonqualifier: College-bound student-athletes may not practice, compete or receive athletics scholarships during their first year of enrollment at an NCAA Division II school.

10 Test Scores If a student took the SAT before March 2016 and then took the redesigned SAT at a later date, the NCAA Eligibility Center will not combine section scores from the old and redesigned SAT when determining his or her initial eligibility. The NCAA Eligibility Center will only combine section scores from the same version of the test. Because the redesigned SAT varies in design and measures different academic concepts than the old SAT, a numerical score on the old test may not be equivalent to the same numerical score on the redesigned test. DIVISION II FULL QUALIFIER SLIDING SCALE USE FOR DIVISION II BEGINNING AUGUST 2018 CORE GPA SAT ACT SUM READING/MATH & above & above 70 & above DIVISION II PARTIAL QUALIFIER SLIDING SCALE USE FOR DIVISION II BEGINNING AUGUST 2018 CORE GPA SAT ACT SUM READING/MATH & above & above 68 & above NCAA is a trademark of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

11 Quick Reference Guide to the NLI This reference guide is intended to be a resource. Additional NLI regulations and procedures are located at Signing Dates for Enrollment Basketball (Early Period) November 9, November 16, 2016 Basketball (Regular Period) April 12, May 17, 2017 (Division I) August 1, 2017 (Division II) Football (Midyear JC Transfer) December 14, January 15, 2017 Football (Regular Period) February 1, April 1, 2017 Soccer and Men's Water Polo February 1, August 1, 2017 All Other Sports (Early Period) November 9, November 16, 2016 All Other Sports (Regular Period) April 12, August 1, 2017 What is the National Letter of Intent (NLI)? The NLI is a binding agreement between a prospective student-athlete and an NLI member institution. Valid NLI Prospective student-athlete agrees to attend the institution full-time for one academic year (two semesters or three quarters). Institution agrees to provide athletics financial aid for one academic year (two semesters or three quarters). Basic Penalty for not fulfilling the NLI agreement: Serve one year in residence (full-time two semesters or three quarters) at the next NLI member institution and lose one season of competition in all sports. NLI must be accompanied by an athletics financial aid agreement (aid from an athletics source). NLI must include the NCAA ID. The NCAA ID will be available to the prospective studentathlete once registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center and will be available to the institution once the prospective studentathlete is placed on the Institutional Request List (IRL). All junior college prospective student-athletes must also have an NCAA ID included on the NLI. NLI may not be signed prior to the signing dates for the applicable sport. NLI must include a parent or legal guardian signature if the prospective student-athlete is under the age of 21, regardless of marital status. The Conference Office validates the NLI to ensure the NLI and athletics aid agreement are complete and meet all NLI and NCAA requirements. How does the institution process the NLI? Institution issues an NLI and offer of athletics aid to the prospective student-athlete. Prospective student-athlete then signs two copies; returns one to institution and keeps one. Must be signed within 7 days of issuance date. (7 day deadline does not apply when 7 days are not left in the signing period) Institution verifies required information and sends to its Conference Office for validation. Must be filed with the Conference within 14 days of final signature. Over 44,000 prospective studentathletes sign NLIs to attend NCAA Division I or II institutions. Less than two percent request a release. Coaching Change A prospective student-athlete signs an NLI with an institution. If the coach leaves, the NLI signee is still bound by the provisions of the NLI. What is the Recruiting Ban? Other institutions must respect the prospective student-athlete s NLI signing by ceasing all communication. The recruiting ban remains in effect until the prospective student-athlete enrolls at the signing institution. Once enrolled, the student-athlete is governed by NCAA recruiting regulations. If the prospective student-athlete does not enroll at the signing institution, the recruiting ban will be lifted after the institution s academic year has elapsed (e.g., prospective student-athlete signs during , the recruiting ban applies through the end of the academic year). Contact the NLI Office: (phone) (fax) How is the NLI declared null and void? Denied admission. Discontinued Sport. Does not meet NCAA, institutional or conference eligibility requirements. One-Year Absence. - Signee does not enroll (two-year or four-year institution) for at least one academic year and the scholarship (in its same amount) is no longer available. Also applies to a signee who serves in the U.S. Armed Forces or Church Mission for one year. NLI remains binding if the scholarship (in its same amount) is available. - Sport is no longer offered, includes student-athletes who are already enrolled. Recruiting Rules Violation. - NLI may be declared null and void if the violation is substantiated and prompts the need for reinstatement by the NCAA staff. It is the prospective student-athlete s choice to null and void the NLI under these circumstances.

12 PAGE 2 QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE NLI How can a signee be released from the NLI? Release Request: A request for release must be initiated by the NLI signee by submitting the NLI Release Request online. An institution may release a signee from his or her NLI obligation by selecting the Complete Release option on the NLI Release Request. It is the institution s discretion to grant a release or not. The NLI release is not the same as NCAA permission to contact (e.g., releases cannot include conditions to be released to specific institutions). Appeal Process: For consideration of an appeal, the signee must present extenuating circumstances to the NLI Committee. Completing a playing season does not fulfill the NLI obligation. The entire academic year at the signing institution must be completed. 4-4 transfers are no longer prospective studentathletes. Four-year transfers shall not sign NLIs, including international transfers. The NCAA manages the daily operations of the NLI program while the Division I Collegiate Commissioners Association provides governance oversight. Coaching Contact Prohibited at Time of Signing A coach or institutional representative may not hand deliver the NLI off campus or be present off campus at the time of signing. The NLI may be delivered by express mail, courier service, regular mail, or fax. An NLI submitted to an institution by electronic means is permissible. An institution is not permitted to provide any release agreements to the prospective studentathlete prior to signing. The NLI penalty does not preclude a student-athlete from receiving athletics aid or practicing while serving the one academic year of residence for the NLI penalty. Enrollment in a Junior College (Two-Year College) - After Signing an NLI If a prospective student-athlete signs an NLI and later attends a junior college, the prospective student-athlete would have to graduate from the junior college under the following conditions: To satisfy NCAA 2-4 or transfer rules, if necessary to meet NCAA, conference or institutional regulations. To fulfill a previously signed NLI. In this case, the previous NLI is considered fulfilled if the prospective student-athlete graduates from the junior college. The NLI can be signed prior to graduation. Enrollment in a Junior College (Two-Year College) - No Previously Signed NLI If a prospective student-athlete did not sign an NLI prior to enrolling at a junior college, he or she is permitted to sign while attending a junior college. The following rule applies for Division I: Early Signing Period Penalties Prospective student-athletes who will participate in football are prohibited from signing an NLI during the early signing period (November). A student who signs an NLI during the early period in a sport other than football will be ineligible for practice and competition in the sport of football during the student s first year of enrollment at an NLI member institution, and shall forfeit one season of competition in the sport of football. In circumstances where a student s primary sport is not football, but anticipates participating in football, the student should delay signing an NLI until either the football signing period or during the regular signing period for all other sports. A nonqualifier 2-4 transfer is not permitted to sign an NLI in the first year of junior college enrollment. A nonqualifier in the first year of enrollment does not meet the NCAA requirement to receive athletics aid until attending the junior college for at least three semesters or four quarters. Athletics Aid Agreement An NLI must be accompanied by an athletics aid agreement. A prospective studentathlete not receiving athletics aid is not permitted to sign an NLI. If the prospective student-athlete declines the athletics aid in order to receive other institutional aid, the NLI must be declared null and void. The athletics aid agreement is subject to NCAA rules. NLI Membership 650 NCAA Division I and II institutions are NLI members. Not NLI members: Ivy League, Service Academies, Division III institutions, NAIA institutions, preparatory schools and junior colleges. All members of the NLI program are required to offer athletics scholarships. If NLI is declared null and void or a complete release is granted, a prospective student-athlete is not permitted to sign another NLI until the next signing year. If NLI is declared invalid, a prospective student-athlete is permitted to sign another NLI during the same signing year. If a prospective student-athletes signs an NLI for enrollment in the upcoming academic year, but decides to not enroll, the NLI remains binding.