Intercollegiate Athletics Eligibility (NCAA/NAIA/NCCAA/NJCAA/NWAC)

College Athletics Eligibility Information

College athletics are a way that students can pay for their education. While not everyone is able to compete athletically at that level, many student athletes from Vallivue High School and Idaho can with hard work in the classroom and on the field/court. Because colleges and universities belong to associations and to ensure that they are promoting education and positive values, each athletic association has a set of rules and guidelines that athletes must qualify for before being able to compete. It is VERY important that student athletes who wish to compete at the college level are aware of these rules and guidelines in order to ensure they are eligible to compete.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has over 1,000 member schools nation wide and is made up of over 90 athletic conferences. They are all schools that offer bachelor degrees as a minimum. Its members are split into three different divisions and each division's members follow slightly different rules. Overall, however, the NCAA requires a 2.3 cumulative GPA to consider any student eligible for any division. 

NCAA Recruiting Fact Sheet

Division 1 (from www.ncaa.org)

Among the three NCAA divisions, Division I schools generally have the biggest student bodies, manage the largest athletics budgets and offer the most generous number of scholarships. Schools who are members of Division I commit to maintaining a high academic standard for student-athletes in addition to a wide range of opportunities for athletics participation.

Division 2

Division II is a collection of more than 300 NCAA colleges and universities that provide thousands of student-athletes the opportunity to compete at a high level of scholarship athletics while excelling in the classroom and fully engaging in the broader campus experience. This balance, in which student-athletes are recognized for their academic success, athletics contributions and campus/community involvement, is at the heart of the Division II philosophy.The differences among the divisions emerge primarily in how schools choose to fund their athletics programs and in the national attention they command.

Division 3

Academics are the primary focus for Division III student-athletes. The division minimizes the conflicts between athletics and academics and helps student-athletes progress toward graduation through shorter practice and playing seasons and regional competition that reduces time away from academic studies. Participants are integrated on campus and treated like all other members of the student body, keeping them focused on being a student first. Division 3 schools do not offer athletic-based scholarships.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Students must complete certain academic requirements (courses) that are NCAA approved before gaining eligibility to play NCAA athletics. Additionally, students must take the ACT or the SAT and score at a certain level, dependent on their cumulative GPA (see tables below). A student's eligibility is determined by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Students must apply for eligibility.

NCAA REQUIRED COURSES (from the NCAA Website)

Not all high school classes count as NCAA core courses. Only classes in English, math (Algebra 1 or higher), natural or physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy may be approved as NCAA core courses. Remedial classes and classes completed through credit-by-exam are not considered NCAA core courses.

Classes that are NCAA core courses include:

English: English 1-4, American Literature, Creative Writing

Math: Algebra 1-3, Geometry, Statistics

Natural or Physical Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics

Social Science: American History, Civics, Government

Additional: Comparative Religion, Spanish 1-4

Classes that are not NCAA core courses include:

Classes in non-core areas, fine arts or vocations such as driver education, typing, art, music, physical education or welding.

Personal skill classes such as personal finance or consumer education.

Classes taught below grade level, at a slower pace or with less rigor or depth. These classes are often titled basic, essential, fundamental or foundational.

Classes that are not academic in nature such as film appreciation, video editing or greenhouse management.

If you take a high school class such as Algebra 1 or Spanish 1 before you start ninth grade, the class may count for your 16 core courses if it is on your high school’s list of approved core courses and is shown on your high school transcript with a grade and a credit.

Credit

You can earn credit for a core course only once. If you take a course that repeats the content of another core course, you earn credit for only one of these courses and the higher grade counts toward your core-course GPA.

Generally, you receive the same number of credits from the NCAA for a core course that you receive from your high school for the class. One academic semester of a class counts for .5 of a core course credit. One academic trimester of a class counts for .34 of a core-course credit. One academic quarter of a class counts for .25 of a core-course credit. A one-year class taken over a longer period of time is considered one core course and is not awarded more than one credit.

Division I Additional Core Course

Division I schools allow you to complete one additional core-course unit after you graduate high school, as long as you graduate in eight semesters after you begin ninth grade. The additional core-course unit must be completed within one year after your high school graduation and must be completed before you enroll in college.

The additional core course unit may be taken at a different school than the high school from which you graduated as long as the class is on the new school's list of approved NCAA core courses. If you take the additional core course at a school other than the school from which you graduated, you must provide the NCAA Eligibility Center with an official transcript from the new school showing the additional core-course grade and credit.

If you take the additional core course through a program that does not award credit, the course must be awarded credit by a credit-awarding high school.

TEST SCORES (from the NCAA Webstie)

When you register for the SAT or ACT, use the NCAA Eligibility Center code of 9999 so your scores are sent directly to the Eligibility Center from the testing agency. Test scores on transcripts will not be used in your academic certification.

A combined SAT score is calculated by adding reading and math subscores. An ACT sum score is calculated by adding English, math, reading and science subscores. You may take the SAT or ACT an unlimited number of times before you enroll full-time in college. If you take either test more than once, the best sub score from different tests are used to meet initial eligibility requirements.

Division I test score requirements

Division I uses a sliding scale to match SAT/ACT scores and core-course grade-point averages to determine eligibility. The sliding scale balances your test score with your GPA. If you have a low test score, you need a higher GPA to be eligible. If you have a low GPA, you need a higher test score to be eligible.

Division II test score requirements

If you enroll full-time at a Division II school before Aug. 1, 2018, you must meet all academic requirements and earn at least a combined SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68 to be eligible to compete.

If you enroll full-time at a Division II school after Aug. 1, 2018, you must meet all academic requirements and earn an SAT or ACT score matching your core-course GPA on the Division II sliding scale to be eligible to compete. The sliding scale will balance your test score with your GPA. If you have a low test score, you need a higher GPA to be eligible. If you have a low GPA, you need a higher test score to be eligible.

If you enroll full-time at a Division II school after Aug. 1, 2016, and you have not met all the Division II academic requirements, you may not compete in your first year. If you meet the requirements to be a partial qualifier, you may practice and receive an athletics scholarship in your first year. To be a partial qualifier, you must graduate high school and meet ALL the following requirements:

• Complete 16 core courses.

• Earn at least a 2.0 GPA in your core courses.

• Earn an SAT or ACT score matching your core-course GPA on the Division II sliding scale.

ABOUT THE NAIA (from www.naia.org): 

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. Since 1937, the NAIA has administered programs and championships in proper balance with the overall college educational experience. 

The student-athlete is the center of all NAIA experiences. Each year more than 60,000 student-athletes have the opportunity to play college sports at NAIA member institutions.The seed of the NAIA began in 1937 with the tipoff of a men's basketball tournament in Kansas City that has become the longest running event in college basketball. Out of the tournament grew the NAIA, an association that has been an innovative leader.  The NAIA was the first collegiate athletics association to invite historically black institutions into membership and the first to sponsor both men’s and women’s national championships.

In 2000, the NAIA reaffirmed its purpose to enhance the character building aspects of sport. Through Champions of Character, the NAIA seeks to create an environment in which every student-athlete, coach, official and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition through five core values. In 2010, the association opened the doors to the NAIA Eligibility Center, where prospective student-athletes are evaluated for academic and athletic eligibility. It delivers on the NAIA’s promise of integrity by leveling the playing field, guiding student-athlete success, and ensuring fair competition.

ELIGIBILITY

Students must meet two of the three following requirements:

            *2.0 cumulative GPA (Unweighted)

            *Graduate in the top half of senior class

            *Score at least an 18 on the ACT or 940 (Reading and Writing +Math) on the SAT

NAIA College-Bound Student Guide

HOW DO I REGISTER FOR THE ELIGIBILITY CENTER?

A student wanting to register for the NAIA must create an online account and follow instructions, including submitting test scores and transcripts. The registration form can be found here: NAIA Registration

ABOUT THE NCCAA (from www.thenccaa.org):

The National Christian College Athletic Association, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit association, was incorporated to provide a Christian-based organization that functions uniquely as a national and international agency for the promotion of outreach and ministry, and for the maintenance, enhancement, and promotion of intercollegiate athletic competition with a Christian perspective.

The NCCAA game plan is to assist colleges in producing winners in the "game of life". Its intent is to assist the colleges and coaches in producing a game plan that will influence the student-athlete immediately as well as for his/her entire life: a plan that will challenge the student-athlete through regional and national competition; a plan that expects academic credibility; a plan of maximum development through assisting college coaches with leadership, programs, and materials; a plan that encourages a mature functioning body of Christians able to serve family, school, church, and society.

The NCCAA game plan includes: dedicated and caring leadership, national competition, international outreach and ministry through athletic teams, discipleship programs and materials for student-athletes and coaches, and conferences on current key issues.

We believe:

Athletics are a means to an end, not the end in themselves.

The process is as important as the performance.

The person (student-athlete) is more important than the program 

ELIGIBILITY

In order to compete for an NCCAA member institution, a student must be fully accepted into that institution and be a graduate of an accredited high school. More information can be found at http://www.thenccaa.org/index.aspx.

ABOUT THE NJCAA (from www.njcaa.org):

It is the mission of the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) to foster a national program of athletic participation in an environment that supports equitable opportunities consistent with the educational objectives of member colleges.

The NJCAA's mission is to promote and foster two-year college athletics. 

NJCAA DIVISIONAL STRUCTURE

Competitive sport divisions were launched by the NJCAA in the early 1990's due to the growth and popularity of several sports. In order for a sport to be granted divisional status, member college participation in the sport must meet the divisional structure guidelines published in the NJCAA bylaws. 

Member colleges of the NJCAA are permitted to participate in any division of a sponsored sport of the association. A member college is permitted to participate across multiple divisions in various sports should it feel it is in the best interest of the institution. Every two years member colleges are required to declare the sports it will sponsor and what division they wish to participate. During the two year committment period, member colleges are locked into the divisions they declared. 

Competing within a specific division of an NJCAA sponsored sport comes with specific policies and guidelines published in the NJCAA bylaws. Below are the current scholarship parameters for the three competition divisions of the association.

Division Scholarship Guidelines:

Division I

Colleges may grant full athletic scholarships (tuition, books, fees, room & board), up to $250 in course required supplies and transportation costs one time per academic year to and from the college by direct route. Each sport has limits on the number of scholarships that can be granted. 

Division II

Colleges may grant athletic scholarships, but scholarships are limited to tuition, books, fees and up to $250 in course required supplies. Each sport has limits on the number of scholarships that can be granted. 

Division III

Colleges are not permitted to offer any athletic scholarships

NOTE: If a sport does not have the numbers to break into separate divisions, it operates under the Division I scholarship guidelines. 

ELIGIBILITY

Students must be enrolled full time at the institution of which they are representing athletically. The following is the full eligibility pamphlet for 2016-2017: NJCAA Eligibility Pamphlet

ABOUT THE NWAC (from www.nwacsports.org):

The Northwest Athletic Conference is the parent organization for thirty-six (36) community colleges located in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. The NWAC has a variety of administrative responsibilities including conference tournament management, eligibility, publications, rule enforcement and sports information.

The growth of the community colleges over the past few decades has been impressive. The colleges in the Northwest are comprehensive in nature and provide a variety of academic and vocational offerings as well as many enrichment activities for their students. As our student-athletes have transitioned into a work environment, many have provided testimony about the significant benefit and value that participation in community college athletics provided for them. Enrollment in community colleges continues to grow as does interest, participation and membership within the NWAC. 

ELIGIBILITY

-Athletes must be registered in a minimum of 12 credit hours.

-Athletes must have passed a minimum of 10 credit hours the last quarter you were enrolled in college. 

-Athletes may not participate in one sport more than two seasons. 

-Athletes must be registered within 20 days from the beginning of the quarter. 

-To qualify for eligibility to participate in a second (2nd) season of any sport, you must have earned a minimum of 36 credit hours and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 during any quarter of participation. 

-Athletes must be a high school graduate or the class of which you were a member has graduated. 

-ANY TIME you participate in a regularly scheduled game, match or contest, you will be charged with one year of eligibility in that sport. 

-Athletes may be declared ineligible if during the sport season you represent any club, organization or team other than your college team. 

-If you are a athletic-transfer from another community college that is a member of the NWAC, you become eligible for athletic competition after a time lapse of three quarters, exclusive of summer school, after separation from the athletic program.

-If convicted for the use or sale of legend drugs, including anabolic steroids, you will be disqualified from participation in a NWAC sponsored athletic event or activity for a period of one year.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY INFO: Athletic recruiting will be confined to only the states of Washington, Oregon, Alaska, province of British Columbia, 

California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Hawaii, Utah and Wyoming.  Recruited student athletes shall be a high school graduate, or the class of year which they were a member shall have graduated in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, province of British Columbia, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Hawaii, Utah and Wyoming.