I I G -.1 ~ ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE NCAA
NCAA ELIGIBIIL TY If you're hitting home runs or making slam-dunks in high school, you may be good enough to get an athletic scholarship to attend college. If you want to be a student-athlete you must first take care of your "student" side. Your participation as a student-athlete will complement your academic education while teaching you life skills not available in the classroom. Growing as a person, both on and off the field, and getting your degree should be your top priority. This new phase of your life can be a wonderful experience if you work hard and prepare for it. As the starting point of the NCAA and the first stop on your way to becoming an NCAA student-athlete, the NCAA Eligibility Center continually strives to make your registration and certification experience positive and beneficial. College-bound student-athletes who want to compete for Divisions I and II programs must be certified academically (and also as an amateur) by the NCAA Eligibility Center. The NCAA Eligibility Center will certify the academic and amateur credentials of college bound athletes who want to compete in NCAA Division I or II athletics. NCAA Eligibility Center certification does not necessarily mean that a collegebound student-athlete will be accepted for admission at a Division I or II member college or university since institutional admissions requirements often are more restrictive than NCAA initial-eligibility standards. Any college-bound student-athlete should prepare for the academic side of college as though the athletics experience did not exist. Division III does not require NCAA Eligibility Center certification. To participate in Division III athletics, a student-athlete must have been admitted as a regularly enrolled, degree-seeking student in accordance with the regular, published entrance or admissions policies of that college or university. Thousands of scholarships are given by universities and colleges every year in sports ranging from the more traditional games like basketball and football, to the more offbeat sports like golf and riflery.
Know the Divisions College athletic associations such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), make the rules governing eligibility, recruiting, and scholarships in college sports for their member schools. The NCAA counts most large colleges and universities as its members and divides schools into competitive divisions I, II, and III. Most scholarships are given by NCAA Division I schools (such as Notre Dame, Duke, and the University of Michigan), which have major college programs in at least one sport. The scholarships are usually one-year, full tuition renewable awards. (There are no four-year college athletic scholarships.) How to Qualify Before you can be eligible for an athletic scholarship, or play college sports at all, the NCAA requires you to be certified. If you don't meet their requirements before you graduate high school, you won't play in your freshman year in college. To register and start the certification process, please visit the NCAA website online: www.eligibilitycenter.org NCAA Eligibility Center: Certification Processing P.O. Box 7136 Indianapolis, IN 46202 Phone: 1-877-262-1492 Fax: 1-317-968-5100 If you are eligible and decide to pursue an athletic scholarship, the first question you should ask is whether your sports skills are good enough. "Get objective advice on your skill level," says Don Lemish, former Director of Athletics at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. "Often your high school coaches can give you this advice." The best high school payers are pursued by colleges, but schools below Division I may consider unsolicited information on your career as an athlete. Remember, even if you do win an athletic scholarship, few players go on to play professionally, and the primary purpose of an athletic scholarship is to reduce the cost of your college education.
Core Courses Eligibility Center Divisions I and II Initial-Eligibility Requirements NCAA Division I requires 16 core courses. NCAA Division II currently requires 14 core courses. Division ll will require 16 core courses for students enrolling on or after August 1, 2013. See lhe charts below. NCAA Division I will r equire 10 core courses to be completed prior to the seventh semester (seven of the 10 must be a combination of English, math or natural or physical science that meet the distribution requirements below). These 10 courses become "locked in" at the seventh semester and cannot be retaken for grade improvement. o Beginning August 1, 2016, it will be possible for a Division I college-bound student-athlete to still receive athletics aid and the ability to practice with the team if he or she fails to meet the 10 course requirement, but would not be able to compete. Test Scores Division I uses a sliding scale to match test scores and core grade-point averages (GPA). The sliding scale for those requirements is shown on Page No. 2 of this sheet. Division II requires a minimum SAT score of 820 or au ACT sum score of 68. The SAT score used for NCAA purposes includes only the critical reading and math sections. The writing section of the SAT is not used. The ACT score used for NCAA purposes is a sum of the following four sections: English, mathematics, reading and science. When you register for the SAT or ACT, use the NCAA Eligibility Center code of 9999 to ensure all SAT and ACT scores are reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center from the testing agency. Test scores that appear on transcripts will not be used. Grade-Point Average Be sure to look at your higb school's List of NCAA Courses on the NCAA Eligibility Center's website (www.eligibilityceuter.org). Only courses that appear on your school's List of NCAA Courses will be used in tile calculation of tile core GP A Use the list as a guide. Division I students enrolling full time before August 1, 2016, should use Sliding Scale A to determine eligibility to receive athletics aid, practice and competition during tbe first year. Division I GPA required to receive athletics aid and practice on or after August 1, 2016, is 2.000 (corresponding test-score requirements are listed on Sliding Scale Bon Page No.2 of this sheet). Division I GPA required to be eligible for competition on or after August 1, 2016, is 2.300 (corresponding test-score requirements are lis ted on Sliding Scale Bon Page No.2 of this sheet). The Division II core GPA requirement is a min imum of 2.000. Remember, the NCAA GPA is calculated using NCAA core courses only. DMSION I DIVISION II 16 Core Courses 16 Core Courses 4 years of English. (2013 and After) 3 years of mathematics (Algebra I 3 years of English. or higher). 2 years of mathematics (Algebra I or 2 years of natural/physical science higher). (1 year of lab if offered by high 2 years of natural/physical science (1 school). year of lab if offered by high year of additional English, school). mathematics or natural/physical 3 years of additional English, science. mathematics or natural/physical 2 years of social science. science. 4 years of additional courses (from 2 years of social science. any area above, foreign 4 years of additional courses (from language or comparative any area above, foreign language religion/philosophy). or comparative religion/philosophy).
For more information, visit the NCAA Eligibility Center website at 1 n 1 l 1._g I igih.i I i.b.:n'n lc r.o.rg. Page No. 2
ACT and SAT Tests for NCAA Test-Score Requirements You must achieve the required score on an SAT or ACT test before your full-time college enrollment. Taking Tests More than Once You may take the SAT or the ACT more than one time. If you take either test more than once, you may use your best subscore from different tests to meet the minimum test-score requirements. Here is an example: SAT (10/06) SAT (12/06) Scores used Math 350 420 420 Verbal/Critical Reading 470 440 470 Total Score 820 860 890 Your test score will continue to be calculated using the math and verbal/critical reading subsections of the SAT and the math, science, English and reading subsections of the ACT. The writing component of the ACT or SAT will not be used to determine your qualifier status. IMPORT ANT CHANGE: All SAT and ACT test scores must be reported to the clearinghouse directly from the testing agency. Test scores will not be accepted if reported on a high school transcript. When registering for the SAT or ACT, input the clearinghouse code of 9999 to make sure the score is reported directly to the clearinghouse. NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse The clearinghouse evaluates your academic record to determine if you are eligible to participate at a Division I or II college as a freshman student-athlete. (The clearinghouse is not the NCAA, but an organization that performs academic evaluations for the NCAA.) Clearinghouse Registration Complete the Student Release Form: To register with the clearinghouse, you must complete the Student Release Form (SRF), after your junior year, online, and send the clearinghouse the registration fee, $70.00. This SRF does two things: It authorizes each high school you have attended to send the clearinghouse your transcript, test scores, proof of graduation and other necessary academic information. It authorizes the clearinghouse to send your academic information to all colleges that request your eligibility status. Online registration: The only method is to register online. Go online to www.ncaaclearinghouse.org Select Prospective Student-Athletes and click on Domestic Student Release Form. Complete the SRF form online, and include your credit or debit card information to pay the fee. Then follow instructions to complete the transaction. Print a copy of your completed registration form and both Copy 1 and Copy 2 of the transcript release form. Sign the transcript release forms, and give both to your high school counselor.
Eligibility Center Transcript Release Form Student's Name: ------------------------------ NCAAID: This form can be used to send an official transcript through grade 11 and/or the final transcript after graduation from high school. Faxed or emailed transcripts will not be accepted. The above student has requested academic records be sent to the NCAA Eligibility Center from your high school. Your school may use this release as authority to transmit academic records to the address listed below. Authorization Signatures I understand and agree to abide by the procedures in the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete. authorize the high schools listed to release to the NCAA Eligibility Center my transcripts, proof of graduation, and any other academic or school-related information or records, as requested by the NCAA Eligibility Center for the purpose of determining my athletics eligibility. I further authorize the NCAA Eligibility Center to release personally identifiable information from my education records obtained by the NCAA Eligibility Center (including this release form and resulting certification decisions) to the NCAA, to any testing service whose test scores are included in my records (e.g., ACT or ETS), to my high school(s) or to all NCAA member institutions requesting my eligibility information, to the extent that such information is necessary to report, verify or review my athletics eligibility. I also authorize the NCAA to disclose personally identifiable information from my education records to a third party (including but not limited to the media) as necessary to correct any inaccuracies reported by the media or related to my preliminary or final certification decisions, without such disclosure constituting a violation of my rights, including my rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. I understand and agree that the information provided to the NCAA Eligibility Center for the purpose of determining my athletics eligibility may be used for NCAA and NCAA Eligibility Center research concerning athletics eligibility, the academic preparation and performance of student-athletes, and related issues. I also understand and agree that such research may be published or distributed to third parties. but that I will not be identified in any such published or distributed data. I also understand that the NCAA Eligibility Center will send my eligibility status to any NCAA Division I or II college that requests it. Further, I realize that the NCAA Elig ibility Center will not send my eligibility information at my request; rather, the college must make the request for that information. Finally, I am aware that if no member institution requests my eligibility status, a final certification may not be processed. By submitting this form I understand it is my responsibility to provide accurate and true information to the NCAA Eligibility Center and to provide accurate and truthful updated information as necessary. Student: Read and Sign Below I certify that I am the person whose name appears on this form and that I have read and agree to the authorization statement outlined above. Student Signature: Date: Parent Signature: Date: (if student is under 18 years of age) HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR ONLY Please provide this form along with the above student's high school transcript to the following address: NCAA Eligibility Center Certification Processing P 0. Box 7136 Indianapolis, IN 46207
Bigibility Genter Registration Checklist Below is a list of items that you may want to have prepared prior to beginning your registration with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Allow at least 15 minutes to one hour to register completely. If you need to exit and come back at a later time, you can save and exit once your account has been created. 0 Valid Email Address. You need a valid email address that you check regularly for any possible updates that the NCAA Eligibility Center might send. If you do not currently have one, there are several providers who provide free accounts (e.g., AOL, Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.). 0 Basic Personal Information. This includes information such as your name, gender, date of birth, contact information and a list of any other countries in which you have lived. 0 Basic Education History. This includes a list of all high schools or secondary schools you have attended and the dates during which you attended them. 0 Additional Courscwork. This includes details pertaining to any coursework you may have taken in addition to your normal high school or secondary school education (e.g., courses taken to improve a grade, summer school courses taken at a location other than your high school or secondary school, courses taken at a college or junior college, or any type of correspondence or internet courses). 0 Sports Participation History. This includes details for any teams with which you have practiced or played or certain events in which you may have participated, as well as information about any individuals that have advised you or marketed your skills in a particular sport. 0 Payment. The registration fee is $70 for U.S., U.S. Territories and Canadian students (U.S. Territories include American Samoa, Guam, Nort hern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands); and $ 120 for all other international students. The NCAA Eligibility Center accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. If you are a U.S. resident, you can choose to pay by electronic check. Some indi viduals may qualify to apply for a fee waiver.
WHAT TO ASK ATHLETIC RECRUITERS The following questions and information were developed by the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The committee urges prospective student-athletes to ask these types of questions during their recruitment. ATHLETICS What positions will I ploy on your team? It's not always obvious. Most coaches want to be flexible so that you are not disappointed and you might not get a definite answer. Describe the other players competing at the some position. If there is a former high-school all-american at that position, you may want to take that into consideration. This will give you clues as to what year you may be a starter. Con I "redshirt" my first year? Find out how common it is to "redshirt". Redshirting may impact you athletically and academically. Does the school "redshirt" you if you are injured? What ore the physical requirements each year? Philosophies of strength and conditioning vary by institution. You may be required to maintain a certain weight. How would you best describe your coaching style? Every coach has a particular style that involves different motivational techniques and discipline. You need to know if a coach's teaching style does not match your learning style. What is the game plan? For team sports, find out what kind of offense and defense is employed. For individual sports, find out how you are seeded and how to qualify for conference and national championships. When does the head coach's contract end? How long does the coach intend to stay? Don't make any assumptions about how long a coach will be at a school. If the coach is losing and the contract ends in two years, you may have a new coach. If the coach leaves, does this change your mind about the school/program? What ore the preferred, invited and un-invited walk-on situation. How many make it, compete and earn a scholarship? Different teams treat walk-ons differently.
Who else ore you recruiting for my position? Coaches may consider other student-athletes for every position. Is medical insurance required for my participation? Does the college provide it? You may be required to provide proof of insurance. If I am seriously injured while competing, who is responsible for my medical expenses? Different colleges have different policies. What happens if I want to transfer to another school? You may not transfer without the permission of your current school's athletics administration. Ask how often coaches grant this privilege. Ask for an example of a situat~on where permission was not granted. What other factors should I consider when choosing a college? Be realistic about your athletic ability and the type of athletic experience you would enjoy. Some students want to be part of a particular athletic program, even if that means little or no playing time. Consider coaching staff and style. The ideal is to choose a school that will provide you with both the educational and athletic opportunities you want. ACADEMICS How good is the department in my major? How many students are in the department? What credentials do the faculty members hold? What are the graduates of the program doing after school? Smaller colleges can have very highly rated departments. What percentage of players on scholarship graduate in four years? What percentage of incoming students eventually graduate? This will suggest the school's commitment to academics. The team's grade-point average also is a good indicator of the coach's commitment to academics. What academic support programs are available to student athletes? Look for a college that will help you become a better student. If you have a diagnosed and documented disability, what kind of academic services are available? Special academic services may help you achieve your academic goals. How many credit hours should I toke in season and out of season? It is important to determine how many credit hours are required for your degree and what pace you will need to follow to obtain that degree.
Are there restrictions in scheduling classes around practice? NCAA rules prevent you from missing class for practice. Is summer school available? If you need to take summer courses, will they be paid for by the college? You may need to take summer courses to meet academic and/or graduation requirements. COLLEGE UFE Describe the typical class size. At larger schools, classes are likely to be larger and taught by teaching assistants. Average class size is important to the amount of attention you receive. Describe in detail your academic support program. For example: Study-hal/ requirements, tutor avaj1abj1ity, staff, class load, and faculty cooperation. This is imperative for marginal students. Find a college that will take the 3,000 students and help them get a 3.500 GPA. Describe the typical day for a student-athlete. This will give you a good indication of how much time is spent in class, practice, studying, and traveling. It also will give you a good indication of what coaches expect What are the residence halls alike? Make sure you would feel comfortable in study areas, community bathrooms, and laundry facilities. Ask about the number of students in a room, coed dorms and the rules governing life in the residence halls. Will I be required to live on campus throughout my athletics participation? If the answer is yes, ask whether there are exceptions. Apartment living may be better than dorm living. FINANCIAL AID How much financial aid is available for both the academic year and summer school? What does your scholarship cover? There is no guarantee. Get a firm commitment. You may need to lighten your normal load and go to summer school in order to graduate in four years. Can you take graduate courses and maintain your eligibility? What are the details of financial aid at our institution? What does my scholarship cover? What can I receive in addition to the scholarship and how do I get more aid?
How long does my scholarship lost? Most people think a "full ride" is good for four years. Financial aid is available on a one-year renewable basis Exactly how much will my athletic scholarship be? What will and will not be covered? It is important to understand what college expenses your family is responsible for so you can arrange to pay those. Educational expenses can be paid with student loans and government grants, but it takes time to apply for these. Find out early so you can obtain the necessary funds Am I eligible for additional financial aid? Are there any restrictions? Sometimes a student-athlete cannot accept a certain type of scholarship because of NCAA limitations. If you are accepting other scholarships, let the coach and financial aid officer know so that they can determine if you may accept additional money. If I'm injured while competing, what happens to my financial aid? A grant-in-aid is not guaranteed past a one-year period even for injuries. It is important to know if a school has a commitment to assist student-athletes for more than a year after they have been injured. You need to understand your financial obligations if you are injured while competing. Under what circumstances would my scholarship be reduced or cancelled.? Coaches should be able to give you some idea of how players are evaluated from year to year and how these decisions are made. The school may have a policy governing renewal of athletic aid. Ask if such a policy exists and read it. Are there academic criteria tied to maintaining the scholarship? Some schools add academic requirements to scholarships. For example a minimum grade point average. What scholarship money is available after eligibility is exhausted to help me complete my degree? It may take longer than three years to complete a college degree program. Some colleges assist student-athletes financially as they complete their degrees. Ask how this aid is awarded. You may have to work with the team or in the athletic department to qualify for this aid. What scholarship money is available if I suffer a career-ending injury? Not every school continues to provide an athletic scholarship to a student-athlete who can no longer compete because of a career-ending injury. What ore my opportunities for employment while I'm a student? Find out if you can be employed in-season, out-of-season, or during vacation periods. Will my scholarship be maintained if there is a change in coaches? A coach may not be able to answer this, but the athletic director may.
CHECKLIST FOR THE STUDENT ATHLETE USE THE FOLLOWING CHECKUST TO REMIND YOURSELF THROUGH THE YEAR OF THE TASKS YOU NEED TO PERFORM TO ACHIEVE THE "RIGHT" COLLEGE EXPERIENCE. PRE-SEASON.Meet with my counselor in the spring of my junior year to discuss my college plans. Take the SAT and/or the ACT near the end of my junior year. See my counselor about a career inventory to find potential college majors. Meet with my counselor to make sure my senior year courses comply with NCAA rules and regulations. Review my transcript at the end of my junior year to be sure I meet the qualifications on the NCAA Eligibility Index. (See Index on page 102-103). Develop a list of colleges with my counselor that offers my major. Identify schools I can apply to that meet my academic and career needs in the event that I don't play a sport in college. Visit College Campuses. IN-SEASON Apply to at least one school that will meet my needs if I don't play a sport. Double-check with my counselor to assure compliance with the NCAA rules. If highly recruited; meet with my coach to deal with persistent recruiters. Have my transcript sen't to NCAA Clearinghouse to obtain certification..maintain good academic standing. POST -SEASON Meet with my coach to assess my potential to play in college. Review the NCAA rules regarding recruiting Make college visits.,make sure the right academic programs are available in the schools that have expressed an interest in me. Discuss the proper application procedures with the college coaches. Have my transcript sent to colleges well before deadlines. Meet with my counselor, coach and parents to make a final decision.
ESTIMATED PORBABILITY OF COMPETING IN ATHLETICS BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ATHLETES MEN'S BASKETBALL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FOOTBALL BASEBALL MEN'S ICE HOCKEY MEN'S SOCCER High School Student Athletes 546,335 456,929 470,671 36,263 358,935 High School Senior Student Athletes NCAA Student Athletes 156,096 129,408 15,096 306,221 61,252 134,477 28,767 10,361 3,973 102,553 19,793 NCAA Freshman Roster Positions 4,735 4,313 17,501 8,219 1,135 5,655 NCAA Senior Student-Athletes 3,682 3,355 13,612 6,393 883 4,398 NCAA Student Athletes Drafted 44 32 250 600 33 76 % High School Drafted 3.0% 3.3% 5.7% 6.1% 11% 5.5% Percent NCAA To Professional 1.2% 1.0% 1.8% 9.4% 3.7% 1.7% Percent High School To Pr ofessional 0.03% 0.02% 0.08% 0.45% 0.32% 0.07%