NCAA Information for StudentAthletes

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NCAA Information for Student-Athletes

• Presented by Ashley Borden
• Dana Hills High School
• October 2008

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OVERVIEW

• NCAA 101
• Initial-Eligibility Requirements
• Year-by-Year Advice
• Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
• Recruiting Information
• Common Questions
• Important Contact Information

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NCAA 101
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NCAA 101

• Three Divisions DI, DII, DIII
• Division I Division II institutions may offer
  athletic scholarships Division III institutions
  may not
• Division I 331 institutions
• Division II 291 institutions
• Division III 429 institutions

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NCAA 101

• NCAA Eligibility Center (formerly the
  Clearinghouse) is the entity that certifies
  eligibility for Division I and Division II.
• At Division III institutions, initial eligibility
  depends on the policies of each institution.
• NCAA initial eligibility is separate from college
  admission.

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NCAA 101

• List of NCAA-Sponsored Sports

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Initial-Eligibility Requirements
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Four Parts of Initial Eligibility

• 1. Graduation from high school.
• 2. Completion of minimum number of core courses.
• 3. Minimum core grade-point average.
• 4. Minimum ACT or SAT test score.

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Graduation Requirements

• Student must graduate from high school on
  schedule (in eight semesters).
• The General Education Development (GED) test may,
  under certain conditions, satisfy the graduation
  requirement, but it will not satisfy the
  core-course GPA or test-score requirements.

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Core-Course Definition

• An NCAA core course must meet the following
• 1. Recognized academic course which qualifies
  for high-school graduation credit in one or a
  combination of English, math, science, social
  studies, foreign language, nondoctrinal religion,
  philosophy

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Core-Course Definition

• 2. Course must be considered college preparatory
  for entrance into a four-year college
• 3. Mathematics must be at the level of
  Algebra I or higher
• 4. Course must be taught by a qualified
  instructor
• 5. Course must be at or above regular
  academic level.

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Use of Non-Traditional Courses

• 1. Course must meet definition of NCAA core
  course
• 2. Instructor and student must have access to
  one another for teaching, evaluating, assisting
• 3. Evaluation of work is conducted by
  appropriate academic authorities
• 4. Course is acceptable for all students, and is
  placed on the high-school transcript.

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List of Core-Courses

• For a list of core-courses
• Go to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
• Click on High School Administration
• Click on View Core Course List
• Look up and Enter the 6-Digit High School Code

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Division I Core-Course Requirements--Current Rule

• 4 years of English
• 3 years of math (at Algebra I or higher)
• 2 years of science (one must be a lab)
• 1 year of additional English, math or science
• 2 years of social studies
• 4 years of additional core-course units
• Total of 16 core-courses for Division I

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Division II Core-Course Requirements

• 3 years of English
• 2 years of math (at Algebra I or higher)
• 2 years of science (one must be a lab)
• 2 years of additional English, math or science
• 2 years of social studies
• 3 years of additional core-course units
• Total of 14 core-courses for Division II

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Core-Course GPA

• NCAA calculates GPA using the core courses only
• 4.000 scale
• A 4 points
• B 3 points
• C 2 points
• D 1 point

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SAT and/or ACT Test Scores

• SAT/ACT sum score is used, not the composite
  score
• SAT Add two subscores Math verbal/critical
  reading
• If the Eligibility Center has more than one SAT
  score for a student, the highest subscore from
  each SAT will be used
• The writing component of the SAT/ACT is not used
  at the Eligibility Center
• Test must be taken prior to initial full-time
  college enrollment

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Division I Initial-Eligibility Index

• This is an abbreviated version of the full
  scale. For the full index, see the NCAA Guide for
  the College-Bound Student-Athlete.

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Division II Eligibility Requirements

• Minimum 820 SAT or 68 sum ACT and
• 2.00 core grade-point average

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Qualifiers

• Students that meet all 4 Initial Eligibility
  Requirements
• May practice, compete, and receive an athletics
  scholarship during first year and
• May play four seasons in their sport (if remain
  eligible)

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NonQualifiers

• Students that do no meet all 4 Initial
  Eligibility Requirements
• May not practice, compete, or receive an
  athletics scholarship during first year and
• (In Division I only) May only play three seasons
  (may earn fourth season if complete 80 of degree
  entering fifth year of college)

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Year-by-Year Advice
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Year-by-Year Preparation

• Ninth and Tenth grades
• Students course selection should
• Meet high-school graduation requirements
• Adequately prepare them for the rigors of college
  work and
• Meet NCAA initial-eligibility requirements

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Year-by-Year Preparation

• Junior year
• Continue with proper course selection
• Register to take SAT and/or ACT test
• When registering, students should select the
• Eligibility Center as a recipient of their test
  score
• The Code is 9999
• This will ensure scores are sent automatically to
  the Eligibility Center
• IMPORTANT! The Eligibility Center will not accept
  the test scores located on the high school
  transcript

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Year-by-Year Preparation

• Junior year, continued
• Students should register with the NCAA
  Eligibility Center
• Online www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
• 60 registration fee for domestic students (fee
  waivers available if qualify)
• After junior year, official transcripts must be
  mailed to the Eligibility Center
• Eligibility Center must have transcript with at
  least six semesters represented to do a
  preliminary certification
• Transcripts cannot be faxed

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Year-by-Year Preparation

• Senior year
• Continue appropriate course selection
• After high school graduation, official transcript
  must be mailed to the Eligibility Center
• Must show proof of graduation
• Transcripts cannot be faxed

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Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
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Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

• Use of a nonstandard ACT and/or SAT test.
• Use of courses taken after high-school
  graduation.
• Use of courses specifically designed for
  students with disabilities.

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To Register

• Send to the NCAA the following documents
• Professional diagnosis of disability
• Diagnostic test results used in diagnosing the
  disability (usually included in the report of the
  professional diagnosis) and
• Copy of the students Individual Education Plan
  (IEP), Individual Transition Plan (ITP), 504 Plan
  or other statement of accommodations.
• Sent to NCAA Membership Services, P.O. Box
  6222, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6222.

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Recruiting Information
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Recruiting Visits

• Unofficial Visit
• Prospect pays all expenses.
• Institution may provide 3 complimentary
  admissions to an on-campus athletics event.
• Prospect may take an unofficial visit at any
  time.
• Prospect may take as many unofficial visits as
  he/she wishes.

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Recruiting Visits

• Official visits
• Institution finances all or part of the visit.
• Maximum of 5 visits per prospect.
• One visit per school.
• Maximum 48 hours in length.
• Academic requirements for visit
• Division I Test score and transcript.
• Division II Test score.

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National Letter of Intent (NLI)

• Binding one-year agreement.
• Prospect must attend that institution for one
  year.
• Institution must provide prospect with athletics
  financial aid in conjunction with the NLI.
• Athletic aid is for one year only,
• renewed on a year-to year basis.

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Summary of Recruiting Rules for Division I
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Summary of Recruiting Rules for Division I
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Summary of Recruiting Rules for Division I
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Summary of Recruiting Rules for Division II
Division III
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Common Questions
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Who Needs to Register with the Clearinghouse?

• A student who plans to attend an NCAA Division I
  or II institution
• and
• who wishes to participate in intercollegiate
  athletics.

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What if the student went to more than one high
school?

• Each high school may send the transcript directly
  to the Eligibility Center.
• The current high school may send copies of all
  the transcripts to the Eligibility Center.
• For example, if the student attended high schools
  A, B, C, and D, the Eligibility Center has to
  receive all four transcripts. There cant be just
  one transcript from the current high school with
  courses and grades from all four.

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May internet, distance learning, correspondence
courses, etc. be used?

• Yes, provided
• Course meets core-course requirements
• The course provides for instructor-student
  access
• Evaluation of the coursework is conducted
  according to high-school policies and
• Course is acceptable for any student and is
  placed on the high-school transcript.

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Does a student have to be registered with the
Eligibility Center before college coaches can
call or come watch the student practice and/or
play?

• No, the student needs to register after the
  junior year. Coaches may call or come see the
  student play even if the student is not
  registered.
• A DI or DII school may not provide an official
  visit or issue a National Letter of
  Intent/scholarship offer to a student who has not
  registered.

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Is an athletic scholarship good for all four
years of college?

• No, athletic scholarships are for a period of one
  year.
• After one year, the scholarship may be kept the
  same, reduced, or even cancelled.

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If a student signs a National Letter of Intent
(NLI) in November for one school and later
changes his or her mind, can the student sign
another letter in the spring with another school?

• No, the NLI is a legal, binding contract.
• Once a student signs, the student must attend
  that school for one full year.
• Be sure to read the letter and be certain of your
  decision before signing!!

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Important Contact Information
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Eligibility Center Information

• Mailing address
• Certification Processing, P.O. Box 7136,
  Indianapolis, IN 46207-7136
• Package or Overnight Delivery
• 1802 Alonzo Watford Sr. Drive, Indianapolis, IN
  46202
• Customer Service
• Representatives are available from 8 a.m. to 6
  p.m., Eastern Time, Monday Friday
• 877.262.1492
• Fax [phone]

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NCAA National Office

• For general information general rules regarding
  initial eligibility, scholarships, transferring
  to another college, etc.
• 317.917.6222
• Customer Service Monday Friday, 12 p.m. 4
  p.m., Eastern Time