NCAA Academic-Eligibility Requirements

1. NCAA Academic-Eligibility Requirements

2. Division I16 Core-Course Rule Complete these 16 core courses: • 4 years of English • 3 years of math (algebra 1 or higher) • 2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered by your high school) • 1 extra year of English, math, or natural or physical science • 2 years of social science • 4 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or foreign language, nondoctrinal religion or earn philosophy)

3. You must: • Earn a minimum required grade-point average in your core courses • Earn a combined SAT or ACT sum score that matches your core-course grade-point average and test score sliding scale (for example, a 2.400 core-course grade-point average needs an 869 SAT).

4. Requirement to graduate with your high school class You must graduate from high school on schedule (in eight semesters) with your incoming ninth-grade class. If you graduate from high school in eight semesters with your class, you may use one core course completed in the year after graduation (summer or academic year) to meet NCAA Division I eligibility requirements.

5. Division II14 Core-Course Rule 14 Core-Courses: • 3 years of English • 2 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher) • 2 years of natural or physical science (1 year of lab if offered by high school) • 2 years of additional English, mathematics, or natural or physical science • 2 years of social science • 3 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy)

6. You must: • Earn a 2.000 grade-point average or better in your core-courses • Earn a combined SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68 In the year 2013 for Division II eligibility you must complete 16 core courses

7. Division III • Division III does not use the Eligibility Center. Contact your Division III college or university regarding its policies on admission, financial aid, practice and competition.

8. What Is A Core Course? A core course must: • Be an academic course in one or a combination of these areas: English, mathematics, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, nondoctrinal religion or philosophy • Be four-year college preparatory • Be at or above your high school’s regular academic level (no remedial, special education or compensatory courses) • Be completed not later than the high school graduation date of your class

9. Grade-Point Average How Your Core-Course Grade-Point Average is Calculated The Eligibility Center will calculate the grade-point average of your core courses on a 4.000 scale. The best grades from your NCAA core courses will be used. Grades from additional core courses you took will be used only if they improve your grade-point average. To determine your points earned for each course, multiply the points for the grade by the amount of credit earned. Use the following scale unless your high school has a different scale on file with the Eligibility Center: A-4 points C-2 points B-3 points D-1 point

10. Special High School Grades and Grade-Point Average If your high school uses numeric grades (such as 92 or 93), those grades will be changed to your high school’s letter grades (such as A or B). See your high school’s grading scale by pulling up your school’s list of approved core courses at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.

11. Steps You Must Take to Participate in NCAA Division I or II Athletics Freshman and Sophomores Should: • Start planning now! • Work hard to get the best grades possible. • Take classes that match your high school’s NCAA List of Approved Core Courses. The NCAA Eligibility Center will only use approved core courses to certify your initial eligibility.

12. Steps You Must Take to Participate in NCAA Division I or II Athletics Juniors Must: • At the beginning of your junior year, register with the Eligibility Center at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net and complete the amateurism questionnaire. • Register to take the ACT, SAT, or both, and use the Eligibility Center code “9999” as a score recipient. • Double check to make sure that you are taking courses that match your high school’s NCAA List of Approved Core Courses. • Request that your high school guidance counselor send an official transcript to the Eligibility Center after completing your junior year. (The Eligibility Center does NOT accept faxed transcripts.)

13. Steps You Must Take to Participate in NCAA Division I or II Athletics Seniors Must: • At the beginningof your senior year, check with your guidance counselor and the Eligibility Center to determine the number of core courses that need to be completed your senior year. • You may take the SAT and/or ACT as often as you feel necessary. The Eligibility Center will use the best scores from each section of the SAT or ACT to determine your best cumulative score. • Continue to take core courses. • Check to make sure that you are taking courses that match your high school’s NCAA List of Approved Core Courses.

14. Steps You Must Take to Participate in NCAA Division I or II Athletics Seniors Must: • Review your amateurism questionnaire responses and request final amateurism certification beginning April1 (for fall enrollees) or October 1 (for spring enrollees). • Continue to earn the best grades possible. • After graduation, ask your high school guidance counselor to send your final transcript to the Eligibility Center with proof of graduation. • Graduate on time (in eight academic semesters). If you fall behind, use summer school sessions prior to graduation to catch up.

15. Amateurism • The Eligibility Center encourages you to update your athletics participation information often, especially if you participate in events outside your normal high school session. • Meet with your high school guidance counselor often to make sure that you are protecting your amateurism and are also meeting your core-course requirements. • Stay college eligible – always ask before you act! • NCAA amateurism certification web site: www.ncaa.org/membership/ach/index.html.

16. ALWAYS ASK BEFORE YOU ACT!Amateurism Red Flags Ask questions before: • Signing a contract with a professional team. • Receiving money for participating in athletics. • Receiving prize money above actual and necessary expenses. • Playing with professional athletes. • Trying out, practicing or competing with a professional team. • Receiving benefits from an agent or prospective agent. • Agreeing to be represented by an agent. • Participating in organized competition after your first opportunity to enroll in college.

17. Early Certification Early Certification Waiver If you meet the following criteria after six semesters, you will be certified as a qualifier: • Minimum SAT (math and critical reading) of 1000 or minimum sum score of 85 on the ACT. For Division I: Core-course grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher in a minimum of 13 core courses: • 3 English • 2 math • 2 science • 6 additional core courses For Division II: Core-course GPA of 3.0 or higher in a minimum of 12 core courses: • 3 English • 2 math • 2 science • 5 additional core courses

18. Graduate On Time • From the time your enter the ninth grade, you have four years or eight semesters to graduate from high school. If you don’t graduate “on time” in eight semesters, no core courses taken after the eighth semester will be counted toward your NCAA academic eligibility requirements. • Graduation “on time” also means that if your high school graduation takes place June 1, you graduated June 1. If you do not graduate June 1 with the rest of your high school class, you have not graduated “on time”

19. Registering with the Eligibility Center Start at the beginning of your junior year: • Log on to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net • Select “Prospective Student-Athletes • Register as a U. S. or international student-athlete.

20. Taking the ACT and/or SAT • Be sure to enter the “9999” code when registering for the ACT or SAT • This requests for your official test scores to be sent directly to the Eligibility Center • Test scores on high school transcripts will not be used.

21. Your Best Test Scores Will Be Used to Certify You TestScore MathVerbalTotal SAT (10/08) 350 470 820 SAT (12/08) 420 440 860 Scores Used 420 470 890

22. Recruiting • Before a Division I college or university may invite you on an official visit, you must provide them with a copy of your high school transcript and SAT or ACT scores. You must also register with the Eligibility Center. • Division II colleges and universities require official SAT or ACT scores, along with registering with the Eligibility Center. • You may take a maximum of five expense-paid visits, with no more than one permitted to any single college or university. This restriction applies only for expense-paid visits to Division I or II institutions.

23. Financial Aid • There are no four-year athletics scholarships. • All athletics scholarships awarded by NCAA institutions are limited to one year and are renewable each academic year and may be reduced or withdrawn. • Athletics scholarships may be renewed each academic year for a maximum of five years within a six-year period of continuous college attendance. • Athletics scholarships are awarded in a variety of amounts, ranging from full scholarships (including tuition fees, room and board, and books) to partial scholarships (e.g., book only).

24. Resources • NCAAstudent.org for the 2010-2011 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete. • NCAA.org – Under “Legislation & Governance” section, click on “Eligibility and Recruiting” and then click on “Information for College-Bound Student-Athletes and Parents.” • NCAAclearinghouse.net to complete your registration and check your status with the Eligibility Center. • Act.org • Collegeboard.com

25. Five Things Your Athletes Need To Know

26. The Recruiting Process Started Yesterday! • Myth – Recruiting begins when your student-athletes are contacted by a college coach during junior or senior year of high school • Reality – Due to the rise in athletic scholarship need and the increase of available information for college coaches, the recruiting process is starting earlier than ever before. According to the NCAA, college coaches are starting to identify 7th and 8th graders as recruits and are even starting to offer scholarships to prospects before their freshman year. • Advice – Instruct your players to download and study a copy of the Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete. They need to understand all NCAA rules and regulations on core courses and academic requirements as soon as they enter high school.

27. Recruiting Starts With Verified, 3rd Party Information • Myth – College coaches discover talent junior and senior year by attending camps, combines, showcases, tournaments and high school games. • Reality – College coaches depend on verified information from reliable sources about prospects as young as 7th GRADE. Most coaches attend tournaments, games and camps with a list of student-athletes they will evaluate, not with the hopes of discovering prospects. • Advice – Make sure your student-athletes’ ability, recruiting information and academic qualifications have been verified by credible sources that college coaches trust.

28. College Coaches Evaluate Prospects Online • Myth – College coaches initially evaluate talent by attending high school games and watching unsolicited video sent from students and families. • Reality – College coaches do a majority of their initial evaluations by looking at video-requested or received from RELIABLE SOURCES-often delivered online or digitally. Every recruit will need a highlight video. • Advice – Make it clear to your student-athletes what type of video you are willing and able to provide. This will eliminate any confusion when college coaches begin to request film.

29. Be Realistic: Less Than 1% Get A DI Full Ride • Myth – NCAA Division I is the only option for collegiate athletic scholarships. • Reality – There are over 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities that sponsor collegiate athletics and are able to offer financial packages. 80% of those opportunities fall outside of DI. • Advice – Make sure your student-athletes have a clear understanding of the opportunities available at DI, DI-A, DII, DIII, NAIA, or NJCAA. (And yes, DIII schools provide financial packages too!)

30. Don’t Blame The Coach! • Myth – You (the coach) are responsible for getting your student-athletes a scholarship. • Reality – You are busy! Most high school coaches lack the time and resources available to effectively market and manage the recruiting process for all their athletes. • Advice – Set up a time to speak with your student-athletes and families to establish clear recruiting responsibilities and understanding of the recruiting process.

31. Five Things Your Athletes Must Do

32. Develop Your Game Plan And Get Evaluated • Fact – Every student-athlete needs an objective, third party evaluation of their recruiting efforts to identify potential opportunities. A third party helps set realistic goals and expectations, allowing you to formulate an effective recruiting game plan.

33. Post Their Academic/Athletic Resume Online • Fact – The days of delivering paper resumes through the mail are over. Coaches now view websites that contain all of the athletic and academic information needed to recruit a prospect. Coaches are able to see more athletes, more efficiently.

34. Create A Winning Highlight/Skills Video • Fact – Every student-athlete needs a highlight and skills video that best conveys his or her athletic abilities. Videos are now typically streamed online and sent through email. ATHLETES SHOULD NOT SEND DOZENS OF UNSOLICITED DVDS TO COLLEGE COACHES. Unless the video has been requested or is sent from a credible third party, coaches will likely never receive it, let alone watch it!

35. Contact 50-100 (Or More) Realistic Programs! • Fact – Receiving a few emails or letters from college coaches does not constitute serious recruitment. College coaches contact thousands of student-athletes in order to ensure they have athletes to fill their needs. Your student-athletes should play the same game by contacting at least 10-20% of the programs that offer their sport in order to give them enough options to consider. This could mean contacting more than 200 college coaches!

36. This Is Not A 4 Year Decision, It’s A 40 Year Decision • Fact – Recruits need a step plan in order to successfully navigate through the recruiting process. To do it right, it takes hard work, perseverance, and a consolidated team effort between the student-athlete, parents, coaches, guidance counselors, and credible inside recruiting experts.

37. FAST FACTS

38. A survey by the National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA) of more than one thousand college coaches found that 84% of all coaches identify prospects during or before the end of the athlete’s sophomore year.

39. The top of the top athletes can receive fifty offers by January 1 of their junior year. Most major Division I prospects will receive offers by the end of their junior year.

40. The NCAA annually updates its regulations on when and how coaches can contact student-athletes, so review the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athletes and refer to Chapter 5 of Athletes Wanted by Chris Krause, www.athleteswanted.org

41. An invitation for an official visit is a strong precursor to a scholarship offer. One rule of thumb in recruiting is that if an athlete is not offered an official visit, that athlete will not likely be offered a scholarship.

42. Coach’s Tips

43. “Having the accurate height and weight can be as valuable as having an accurate 40-yard time,” said one University of Notre Dame Football Coach

44. The pot of scholarship money is limited, so the recruitment process should be started early. The earlier it is started, the more money will be available for the student-athlete.