After dedicating countless hours to honing your athletic skills, you're now embarking on the journey of choosing a college where you can continue your passion as a student-athlete. This site is designed to assist you in navigating the unique complexities of the collegiate athletics recruitment process, ensuring that academics remain a top priority as you explore potential schools.
Students who are planning on participating in Division I or II athletics in college need to register and be certified with the NCAA Eligibility Center. It is recommended to create a certification account as early as sophomore year. An account must be created to make official visits to Division I and II schools and to sign a National Letter of Intent. Once you create an account, NCAA will guide you through the rest of the process.
If you plan to compete at a Division III school or are currently unsure in which division you want to compete, create a Profile Page. If at any time you wish to pursue a Division I or II path, you will be able to transition to a Certification Account. It is also recommended to contact the college(s) you wish to attend for their own eligibility requirements.
NCAA: As part of the requirements, the NCAA must receive a high school transcript and your test scores. For transcripts, if you have created a certification account with the NCAA, your transcript will be uploaded into the NCAA portal by the CCRC at the end of each semester. For test scores, the Eligibility Center also needs to receive your ACT and/or SAT scores sent directly from the testing agency in which you would request. All test scores are required to be sent and NCAA does superscore. It is best for students to list the NCAA Eligibility Center as a score recipient at the time of exam registration to avoid additional fees to send later.
NAIA: Your transcript needs to be submitted by Deerfield High School through the NAIA High School Portal. NAIA does not inform DHS about your account status. When you require a transcript to be uploaded via the portal, please reach out to the CCRC. Please be aware that NAIA does not accept high school transcripts sent via email, mail, Parchment, or any other third-party services. Kindly inform the CCRC if you will have an NAIA account.
NJCAA (Junior Colleges): The National Junior College Athletic Association oversees athletics at two-year colleges, which can provide strong athletic competition as well as an affordable academic pathway. NJCAA schools may have their own eligibility requirements, but in most cases students need only a completed high school diploma or GED to participate. Junior college athletics can be an excellent option for students who want to continue playing their sport while improving academics, gaining exposure, or preparing to transfer to a four-year NCAA or NAIA institution. If you are considering this route, be sure to research individual colleges and their athletic programs, as requirements and opportunities vary.
For more information about participating in athletics in college, please contact our DHS Nate Flannery, DHS Athletic Director.
Coach Inquiries
College coaches request transcripts primarily to monitor if students are meeting NCAA academic eligibility requirements, which dictate GPA, and curriculum for Division I and II athletes. In Division III, academic eligibility is determined by individual schools' admissions teams, which may align with or deviate from NCAA standards. Nonetheless, academics remain a crucial aspect of recruiting. If a coach requests a transcript from DHS, you will need to complete this Authorization to Release School Records to Coaches form.
Presentations - from the NCAA Eligibility Center, Fall 2024:
Helpful Links: