College Athlete
If you are a college-bound athlete who wants to play intercollegiate sports, it is important to learn all you can about the rules governing academic eligibility. Depending on which level of competition you are considering, your relationship with a college recruiter must abide by the rules established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) or the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Violating any of the rules might result in your loss of eligibility to compete.
All potential Division I or Division II athletes must be certified by the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse will determine your eligibility by looking at the following factors:
- Will you graduate from high school?
- Your high school grade point average.
- The courses you took in high school.
- Your standardized test scores.
Plan to start the certification process in the spring of your junior year in high school. The eligibility forms must be obtained online at NCAA Eligibility Center. When you take the SAT and/or ACT, be sure to enter 9999 in the score report box so that your scores will go to the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Key Questions to Ask a College Coach
What division is the college/university in (I, II, IA, III, etc.)?
Are there any division changes anticipated in the next four years?
What conference is the college/university in and what were the final standings last season?
How many team members will return next year?
What are the long-range goals of the athletic program?
What is the graduation rate of players?
How often are practices scheduled?
What are the living accommodations?
How many classes may be missed due to team travel? Can they be made up?
Does the school provide study support for athletes?
What financial aid is available and what are the rules for maintaining this aid?
How many players are you recruiting for my position?