Want to play college sports? Learn what it takes to reach the top of your game at
ncaa.org/playcollegesports

table of contents

How to Use This Guide

This Guide answers questions for student-athletes and parents navigating the initial-eligibility process.

What is the NCAA?

Find out who makes up the NCAA membership and how the Association works.

Thinking of Going Pro?

There are more than 480,000 student-athletes and fewer than 2 percent go pro.

Time Management

What Division I student-athletes should expect.

Initial-Eligibility Checklist

Follow a grade-by-grade checklist for navigating the initial-eligibility process.

Student Registration

If you want to play sports at an NCAA Division I or II school, you need to register for a Certification Account.

Division I Standards

Learn the standards to compete at a Division I school.

Division I Sliding Scale Learn the ACT/SAT score needed to match your core-course GPA.

Division II Standards

Learn the standards needed to compete at a Division II school.

Division II Sliding Scale Learn the ACT/SAT score needed to match your core-course GPA.

Division III Information

You can register for a free Profile Page if you wish to learn more about college sports.

What is a Core Course?

Learn the types of courses that will help you meet the Divisions I and II standards.

Nontraditional Courses

Learn the types of nontraditional courses that will

help you meet the Divisions I and II standards.

2

3

5 6

8

9 11

13

14

16

17

18

19

Grade-Point Average

Your core-course GPA is based on the grades you earn in NCAA-approved courses.

Division I Worksheet

Use this worksheet to track your progress toward your Division I initial eligibility.

Division II Worksheet

Use this worksheet to track your progress toward your Division II initial eligibility.

Transcripts

Ask your high school counselor to send a six-semester and final high school transcript.

Equivalency Tests/Diplomas Check the guidelines for using an equivalency test as proof of graduation.

Test Scores

Send all your ACT or SAT scores to the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Education-Impacting Disabilities Information on accommodations for students with EIDs.

Home School Students Useful information for home school students.

International Students Useful information for international students.

Amateurism

Learn which activities may impact your amateur status.

Important Terms

Learn some key terms about the initial-eligibility and recruiting processes.

Recruiting Calendars Learn more about the recruiting rules for Divisions I, II and III.

Scholarships

Learn more about scholarship opportunities at NCAA schools.

National Letter of Intent

Useful information about the National Letter of Intent.

20

21

22

23

23

24 25 26 27 28

30

31

36

36

NCAA, Make It Yours, March Madness and Women’s Final Four are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. All other trademarks are property of their respective holders.

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE	1

How to Use This Guide

This guide answers important questions for four groups of people involved in the NCAA initial-eligibility process:

• High school students who hope to compete in college sports at an NCAA Division I or II school.

• Parents, guardians and family members of high school students.

• High school counselors and athletics administrators.

• High school and nonscholastic coaches.

Have a question about NCAA eligibility?

Find answers to many typical questions about NCAA eligibility by:

• Reading this guide.

• Searching Frequently Asked Questions at ncaa.org/studentfaq.

• Visiting ncaa.org/playcollegesports.

• Visiting the Help section of eligibilitycenter.org.

• Calling the NCAA Eligibility Center.

NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER CONTACT INFORMATION

ONLINE ncaa.org/playcollegesports eligibilitycenter.org
Follow us on Twitter @NCAAEC

PHONE

U.S. and Canada except Quebec (toll free): 877-262-1492 International callers:
011-317-917-6222

CERTIFICATION PROCESSING NCAA Eligibility Center Certification Processing
P.O. Box 7136

Indianapolis, IN 46207-7136

OVERNIGHT DELIVERY NCAA Eligibility Center Certification Processing
1802 Alonzo Watford Sr. Drive

Indianapolis, IN 46202

2	GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

membership and
three NCAA
manage the
Welcome from the President

Dear college-bound student-athlete:

I am glad you are interested in pursuing your education and sport at the college level. College sports provide
a chance to compete at a high level while earning an education that will lead to opportunities beyond your
playing career. Through our commitment to academics, well-being and fairness, we at the NCAA strive to provide you with a positive opportunity for personal development and future success, no matter what career path you choose.

This guide is designed to educate you, your family and high school administrators about the initial-eligibility process for NCAA Divisions I and II schools. If you are interested in NCAA Division III, please visit ncaa.org/d3, create a free Profile Page on eligibilitycenter.org, or contact the athletics office at a Division III campus for its initial-eligibility standards.

No matter in which division you choose to play, I encourage you to take an active role in the process of preparing for college. More than 1,100 schools are part of the NCAA and sponsor stellar academic and athletics programs, so it is never too early to start looking for your best fit. If you do choose to attend a Division I or II school, the information in this guide is designed to make your transition to college sports easier, and get
you playing sooner.

At the NCAA, we want to make sure high school athletes meet standards that ensure they are prepared to succeed in the college classroom. Initial eligibility affects your ability to receive an athletics scholarship and to practice and compete in your first year as a full-time college student. Work closely with your high school counselors, coaches, parents/guardians and mentors as you transition to college.

If you have questions, please reach out to us. The NCAA Eligibility Center strives to make your registration and certification experience positive
and helpful.

I wish you the best of luck as you embark on this important journey, and look forward to your future success.

All the best, Mark Emmert NCAA President

HELPFUL HINTS

• Visit ncaa.org/playcollegesports to learn more about opportunities available at NCAA schools.
• Know current and future academic standards for Division I and Division II.
• Complete NCAA-approved courses throughout high school.
Your high school counselor can help you find and select courses.
• Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org during your sophomore year if you are interested in playing college sports.
• After six semesters, ask your high school counselor to send official transcripts from all high schools you have attended to the NCAA Eligibility Center.

What is the NCAA?

The National Collegiate Athletic Asso-ciation is an organization dedicated to providing a pathway to opportunity for college athletes. More than 1,100 col-leges and universities are members of the NCAA. Those schools work together with the NCAA national office and athletics conferences across the country to sup-port nearly half a million college athletes that make up 19,500 teams competing
in NCAA sports.

The NCAA’s diverse members include schools ranging in size from those with hundreds of students to those with tens of thousands. The NCAA’s current three-division structure was adopted in 1973 to create a fair playing field for teams from similar schools and provide college athletes more
The NCAA
opportunities to participate in
national cham-
pionships.	national office work

together to help Among the	more than 480,000

divisions, Divi-	student-athletes sion I schools	develop leadership,

generally have	confidence,

the biggest	discipline and student bodies,	teamwork through

largest athlet-	college sports. ics budgets
and offer the highest number of athletics scholarships. The Division II approach provides growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletics competition and a focus on service to the community. The Division III experience offers participation in a com-petitive athletics environment that pushes college athletes to excel on the field and build upon their potential by tackling new challenges across campus.

To learn more about the pathway that’s right for you, visit ncaa.org/divisions.

Our Three Divisions

DIVISION I Division I schools generally have more students, larger athletics budgets and more
athletics department support than schools in Division II or III.
	DIVISION II Schools in Division II emphasize a life balance in which academically and athletically gifted students
can compete at a high level, while maintaining a traditional collegiate experience.
	DIVISION III
Academics are the primary focus for Division III student-athletes who experience shorter sports seasons, reducing their time away from academic studies and other campus activities.
	
NUMBER OF SCHOOLS
	
347

32%
	309

28%
	442

40%
	
MEDIAN UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT
	
9,970
	2,524
	1,790
	
STUDENTS WHO ARE ATHLETES

1in 25

[180,699]
	
1 in 13

[120,434]
	
1 in 6

[191,398]
	
AVERAGE NUMBER OF TEAMS PER SCHOOL

19
	
16
	
18
	
PERCENTAGE OF NCAA STUDENT-ATHLETES IN DIVISION

37%

24%

39%
	
ATHLETICS SCHOLARSHIPS

Multiyear, cost-of-attendance athletics scholarships available
53 percent of athletes
receive athletics aid
	
Partial athletics scholarships model
56 percent of athletes receive athletics aid
	
No athletics scholarships
75 percent of athletes receive non-athletics aid

Do schools in all three divisions offer athletics scholarships?

Schools in Divisions I and II provide more than $2.7 billion in
athletics scholarships annually to more than 150,000 student-athletes. Division III schools do not offer athletically related financial aid, but student-athletes may receive academic or need-based financial aid similar to other students on campus. For more information about scholarships, see page 36.

Are initial-eligibility standards similar in all three divisions?

If you want to com-pete at a Division I or II school, you must meet academic and amateurism standards set by
the NCAA member-ship. Divisions I and II requirements can be found on pages 11 and 14, respec-tively. At Division III schools, you must meet the admis-sion standards set by the school for all incoming students and amateurism
standards set by the NCAA membership. For more information about Division III, see page 17.

4	GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

thinking of going pro?

There are more than 480,000 NCAA student-athletes, and fewer than 2 percent will go pro in their sport.

	MEN’S BASKETBALL
	WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
	
FOOTBALL
	
BASEBALL
	MEN’S ICE HOCKEY
	MEN’S SOCCER

High School Student-Athletes
	
546,428
	
429,380
	
1,083,308
	
488,815
	
35,155
	
440,322
	
High School Senior Student-Athletes
	156,122
	122,680
	309,517
	139,661
	10,044
	125,806
	
NCAA Student-Athletes
	18,684
	16,593
	73,660
	34,554
	4,102
	24,803
	
NCAA Freshman Roster Positions
	5,338
	4,741
	21,046
	9,873
	1,172
	7,087
	
NCAA Senior Student-Athletes
	4,152
	3,687
	16,369
	7,679
	912
	5,512
	
NCAA Student-Athletes Drafted
	44
	35
	251
	695
	51
	75
	
Percent High School to NCAA
	3.4%
	3.9%
	6.8%
	7.1%
	11.7%
	5.6%
	
Percent NCAA to Professional
	1.1%
	0.9%
	1.5%
	9.1%
	5.6%
	1.4%
	
Percent High School to Professional
	0.03%
	0.03%
	0.08%
	0.50%
	0.51%
	0.06%

*Percentages based on estimated data.

For the rest, the experiences of college athletics and the life lessons they learn along the way will help them as they pursue careers in business, education, athletics administration, communications, law, medicine and many more fields. Education is a vital part of the college athletics experience, and student-athletes treat it that way.

Overall, student-athletes graduate at higher rates than their peers in the student body, and those rates rise each year.

NCAA sports

The NCAA conducts 90 national championships in 24 sports across Divisions I, II and III, with 45 championships administered for women and 42 for men. That means almost 54,000 student-athletes participate in NCAA championships each year.

From signature events like the NCAA March Madness® men’s and women’s basketball tournaments to rowing, rifle, softball and skiing, the NCAA administers championships to ensure student-athletes have a first-class experience. But the NCAA also is committed to quality events for everyone involved, from the coaches to the fans and broadcast audiences.

It is important to the NCAA that our championships have a positive impact on the communities that host them. The NCAA hosts youth clinics and various fan events to complement the competition — creating what is hoped to be a championship experience for everyone involved.

FALL SPORTS

Men:

Cross Country Football Soccer
Water Polo

Women: Cross Country Field Hockey Soccer
Volleyball

WINTER SPORTS

Men: Basketball

Fencing

Gymnastics

Ice Hockey

Indoor Track and Field

Rifle

Skiing

Swimming and Diving

Wrestling

Women: Basketball

Bowling

Fencing

Gymnastics

Ice Hockey

Indoor Track and Field

Rifle

Skiing

Swimming and Diving

SPRING SPORTS

Men: Baseball

Golf

Lacrosse

Outdoor Track and Field

Tennis

Volleyball

Women: Beach Volleyball

Golf

Lacrosse

Outdoor Track and Field

Rowing

Softball

Tennis

Water Polo

EMERGING SPORTS

Women: Equestrian

Rugby

Triathalon

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE	5

TIME MANAGEMENT

What Division I student-athletes should expect.

Time management is a key component of any college student’s success, but it is especially important for students who play Division I sports. From classes to competition, and everything in between, the student-athlete schedule stays busy year-round. Know what awaits before you step foot on campus.

What takes up a Division I student-athlete’s time?

Time spent on activities per week* (168 total hours per week)

Athletics

Academics

Socializing / Relaxing

Other (e.g., sleep, job, extracurriculars)

*Medians collected from the 2015 NCAA GOALS Study

38.5 HOURS

34

HOURS

78.4 HOURS

17.1

HOURS

2/3 Two-thirds* of Division I student-athletes said they spend as much or more time on
athletics during the offseason as during

Athletics activities include the following:

Did you know?

their competitive season.

*Based on the 2015 NCAA

GOALS study

Activities marked with an * are considered

countable athletically related activities (CARA). NCAA rules limit the time student-athletes can spend on these activities each week. Check with your campus athletics department
for more

Competition*

Film review*

Nutritionist sessions

Practice*          Strength and conditioning*

Academic       Injury treatment meetings         and prevention

Prospective	Team student-athlete       fundraising
host duties

Supplemental workouts*

Sports psychologist sessions

Media activities

4.4 - 8.6 hours

During a typical day of competition, Division I student-athletes report spending anywhere from 4.4 to 8.6 hours* on their sport. For
the full breakdown by sport, visit
ncaa.org/time-management.

information.	Community service

Compliance meetings

*Based on a 2015 survey of

Division I student-athletes

6	GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

QUESTIONS TO ASK	REMEMBER ...

While you are on a campus visit, consider asking the following questions about time expectations.

Would the time demands of being on this sports team allow me to pursue the academic major of my choosing? Why or why not?

What does the typical team travel look like (for example, mode of transportation, duration of trip, percentage of day dedicated to academics)?

What resourse would be available to me as a student-athlete to help with my time management skills?

What does a typical day-week look like when the team is in season and how does that compare to a day-week during the offseason?

In addition to receiving your academic
and amateurism certification from the NCAA Eligibility Center, you also must apply and be accepted to your school before you
can compete in college.

What are the major requirements or expectations of being on this team that I may not be aware of?

Would I have time in the offseason to pursue interests outside athletics

(for example, internships, study-abroad experiences, etc.)? If yes, how much?

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE	7

Initial Eligibility	REMEMBER ...

Initial-eligibility standards help ensure you are prepared to succeed in college. The eligibility process also protects the fairness and integrity of college sports by ensuring student-athletes are amateurs.

If you want to practice, compete and receive an athletics scholarship during your first year at a Division I or II school, the NCAA Eligibility Center must certify you as eligible. Throughout the process, NCAA Eligibility Center staff members partner with students and their families, as well as high school administrators and coaches.

Get Ready. Get Set. Go!

As a college-bound student-athlete, you are responsible for your eligibility — that means planning ahead, taking high school classes seriously and protecting your amateur status. It can be a difficult first step, but the benefits of being a student-
athlete are worth the effort.

GRADE 9

Plan

Start planning now: take the right courses and earn the best grades possible.

Ask your counselor for a list of your high school’s NCAA-approved core courses to make sure you take the right classes.

Sign up for a free Profile Page to receive reminders about NCAA academic and amateurism requirements.

GRADE 10 Register
Register for a Profile Page or Certification Account with the NCAA Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org.

If you fall behind academically, ask your counselor for help finding approved courses you can take.

GRADE 11

Study

Check with your counselor to make sure you are on track to complete the required number of NCAA-approved courses.

Take the ACT or SAT and submit your scores to the NCAA Eligibility Center using code 9999.

At the end of the year, ask your counselor to send or upload your official transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center. If you took classes at more than one high school or program, ask each school to submit an official transcript.

Make sure you are on track to graduate on time with your class.

GRADE 12

Graduate

Complete your final NCAA-approved core courses as you prepare for graduation.

Take the ACT or SAT again, if necessary, and submit your scores to the NCAA Eligibility Center using code 9999.

Request your final amateurism certification beginning April 1 (fall enrollees) or Oct. 1 (winter/spring enrollees) in your NCAA Eligibility Center account at eligibilitycenter.org.

After you graduate, ask your counselor to send or upload your final official transcript with proof of graduation to the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Reminder: Only students on an NCAA Division I or II school’s institutional request list will receive a certification.

8	GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

STUDENT REGISTRATION

If you want to play NCAA sports at a Division I or II school, you need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org. You should plan to register during your sophomore year of high school. If you have questions about your eligibility or the registration process, this guide will help you. You also can search our frequently asked questions at ncaa.org/studentfaq. Finally, you can call us toll free at 877-262-1492. International students should use our International Contact Form found on ncaa.org/international or call 011-317-917-6222. The information below is intended to help walk you through the registration process.

Choose from our two account types to get started:

1. Certification Account: You need to be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center to compete at an NCAA Division I or II school. You also need to be fully registered with a Certification Account before you can make official visits or sign a National Letter of Intent in Division I or II.

2. Profile Page: If you plan to compete at a Division III school or currently are not sure 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. You may not move from a Certifica-tion Account to a Profile Page.

For Certification Accounts, please allow between 30 to 45 minutes to register completely. If you need to exit and come back at a later time, you can save and exit once your account is created.

Reference the “Help” section located in the top task bar at any time to answer your questions as you work through registration.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Date I registered: 	

My NCAA ID#:

My email address:

My high school(s) attended:

Date my six-semester transcript was sent:

Date my test score
was sent: 	

Date my final transcript (with proof of graduation) was sent:

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE	9

date of birth, primary and secondary contact informa-
tion and address.
BASIC STUDENT EDUCATION HISTORY
the same school system in which you later attended
Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto
REGISTRATION ESSENTIALS

Below are some items you should have with you as you create an account at eligibilitycenter.org:

VALID STUDENT EMAIL	provide details for any expenses or awards you re-
You need a valid email address that you check	ceived, any teams you have practiced or played with or regularly and will have access to after high school to	certain events in which you participated outside of the register. This is important for updating prospective	traditional high school season. It also includes informa-
student-athletes about their account. If you have a	tion about any individuals who have advised you or sibling that has previously registered, you will need	marketed your skills in a particular sport. This informa-to use a different email address than the one on your	tion helps the NCAA Eligibility Center certify your ama-sibling’s account.	teur status when it is requested by an NCAA school.

BASIC STUDENT PERSONAL INFORMATION	PAYMENT – CERTIFICATION ACCOUNTS ONLY This includes information such as your name, gender,	Your Certification Account will be complete when your
registration fee is paid (or submission of a fee waiver if you are eligible). You may pay online by debit, credit card or e-check. The registration fee for students in
We will ask you to provide details about all high schools	the United States, U.S. territories (includes American
or secondary schools you have attended in the United
States or internationally, and additional programs you               Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands) and Canada is $80. The have attended. Be sure to include all schools, regard-              fee for all other international students is $135. Profile
less of whether you received grades or credits. If you	Pages do not have a fee.
attended ninth grade at a junior high school located in	All fees are nonrefundable once you have success-
high school, do not list the ninth-grade school.	fully registered. If you completed a duplicate registra-tion and paid your registration fee twice, you may be
STUDENT SPORTS PARTICIPATION HISTORY	eligible for a refund of the duplicate registration fee. Select the sport(s) you plan to participate in at an NCAA	To receive a refund, you will need to complete and school. For Certification Accounts, we will ask you to	submit an NCAA refund form.

Fee Waiver

You are eligible for a waiver of the registration fee if you have received a waiver of the ACT or SAT fee. This is not the same as a U.S. state voucher. You must have an authorized high school official submit your fee waiver documentation online once you complete your registration.

ACT

In order to be eligible for an ACT fee waiver, you must meet one of these indicators of economic need:

• Your family receives low-income public assistance.

• Your family income is at or below the Bureau of Labor Statistics Low Standards Budget.

• You are a ward of the state.

• You live in a foster home.

• You are homeless.

• You participate in free or reduced-price lunch program at school.

• You participate in a federally funded TRIO Program such as Upward Bound.

SAT

You are eligible for consideration for an SAT fee waiver if you are a U.S. citizen or a foreign national taking the SAT in the United States or its territories and you meet one of the fol-lowing requirements:

• You are enrolled in a program for the economically disadvantaged such as AVID or TRIO.

• Your family’s annual income falls within the levels listed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for free or reduced-price lunches.

• Your family receives public assistance.

• Your family lives in federally subsidized public housing.

• You live in a foster home.

If you are a home schooled student in the United States or U.S. territories who cannot afford to pay the test fees, you must provide proof of eligibility to your local high school or agency administrator. Only a school or agency administrator can provide you with the fee waiver card for the appropriate test. Students from countries other than the United States or its territories are not eligible for a fee waiver.

10 GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

Division I Academic Standards

Division I schools require you to meet academic standards for NCAA-approved core courses, core-course GPA and test scores. To be eligible to practice, compete and receive athletics scholarships in your first full-time year at a Division I school, you must graduate from high school and meet ALL of the following requirements:

1. Complete a total of 16 core courses in the following areas:

ENGLISH

4 years

MATH (Algebra I or higher)

3 years

NATURAL/ PHYSICAL SCIENCE

(one year of lab, if offered)

2 years

ADDITIONAL ENGLISH, MATH OR NATURAL/ PHYSICAL SCIENCE

1 year

SOCIAL SCIENCE

2 years

ADDITIONAL COURSES

(Any area listed to the left,
foreign language or comparative
religion/philosophy)

4 years

Note: See the core-course progression requirements.

2. Complete 10 out of your 16 core courses, including seven in English, math or natural/physical science, before the start of your seventh semester. Once you begin your seventh semester, you must have more than 10 core courses completed to be able to repeat or replace any of the 10 courses used to meet the 10/7 requirement. Students
whose academic credentials are solely international (including Canada) are not required to meet the 10/7 requirement.

3. Complete the 16 NCAA-approved core courses in eight academic semesters or four consecutive academic years from the start of ninth grade. If you graduate from high school early, you still must meet core-course requirements.

4. Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score that matches your core-course GPA (minimum 2.300) on the Division I sliding scale. SAT scores earned on or after March 2016 will be evaluated based on concordance tables established by the College Board.

How to plan your high school courses to meet the 16 core-course requirement: 4 x 4 = 16
4 English courses (one per year)

+ 4 math courses (one per year)

+ 4 science courses (one per year)

+ 4 social science (and/or additional) courses (one per year)

16 NCAA core courses

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE     11

Academic Certification Decisions

To receive an academic certification, you must have:

• A final official transcript with proof of graduation.

• Official transcripts from ALL high schools attended. • Test scores.
• No open academic tasks.

• Be on a Division I school’s institutional request list.

Being placed on a school’s institutional request list notifies the NCAA Eligibility Center to complete an academic evalu-ation for you once all of your appropriate documents have been submitted.

Once a certification has been completed, you will receive one of the following decisions if you are being recruited by a Division I school:

EARLY ACADEMIC QUALIFIER

If you meet specific criteria after six semesters of high school, you may be deemed an early academic qualifier for Division I and may practice, compete and receive an athletics scholarship during your first year of enrollment. You will need:

Minimum SAT combined score* (math and critical reading) of 900 OR minimum ACT sum score of 75; and a core-course GPA of 3.000 or higher in a mini-mum of 14 core courses:

• Three years of English. • Two years of math.
• Two years of science.

• Two additional years of English, math or natural/physical science.

• Five additional core courses in any area.

A final high school transcript is required to be submit-ted to the NCAA Eligibility Center after high school graduation for all early academic qualifiers.

QUALIFIER

You may practice, compete and receive an athletics scholarship during your first year of enrollment at an NCAA Division I school.

ACADEMIC REDSHIRT

You may receive an athletics scholarship during your first year of enrollment and may practice during your first reg-ular academic term but may NOT compete during your first year of enrollment. You must pass either eight quarter or nine semester hours to practice in the next term.

NONQUALIFIER

You will not be able to practice, receive an athletics scholarship or compete during your first year of enroll-ment at a Division I school.

What if I Don’t Graduate on Time?

In Division I, if you do not graduate on time (in four years/ eight semesters), the NCAA Eligibility Center still will use your grades and coursework for the first four years/eight semesters in your certification. You still will need to provide proof of graduation (once you graduate) and you may not use any coursework taken after your high school graduation

toward your certification.

What if I Don’t Meet the Division I Standards?
If you have not met all of the Division I academic standards, you may not compete in your first year at a Division I col-lege. However, if you qualify as an academic redshirt, you may practice during your first term in college and receive an athletics scholarship for the entire year.

To qualify as an academic redshirt, you must graduate high school and meet ALL of the following academic standards:

• Complete 16 core courses.

• Earn an SAT combined score* or ACT sum score matching your core-course GPA (minimum 2.000) on the Division I sliding scale.

Courses Taken After High School

For Division I, only courses completed in your first eight se-mesters will qualify as core courses. If you graduate from high school on time (in eight semesters) with your incoming ninth-grade class, you may use one core course completed in the year after graduation (summer or academic year) before full-time collegiate enrollment. You may complete the core course at a location other than the high school from which you gradu-ated and may initially enroll full time at a collegiate institution at any time after completion of the core course. A college course taken after high school graduation can be used toward your initial eligibility and will be awarded 0.5 units unless awarded one full unit by your home high school, and it must appear on your home high school transcript with grade and credit.

An additional core-course unit taken after on-time high school graduation cannot replace a course used to meet the core-course progression (10/7) requirement, but an additional core course after on-time graduation may re-place one of the remaining six core-course units necessary to meet core-course requirements.

*Remember, if you took the SAT on or after March 2016 you need to compare your score on the College Board concor-dance table. Learn more about the concordance table on page 24 or visit ncaa.org/test-scores.

12 GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

Sliding Scale for Division I

*Remember, if you took the SAT on or after March 2016 you need to compare your score on the College Board concordance table. Learn more about the concordance table on page 24 or visit ncaa.org/test-scores.

DIVISION I
FULL QUALIFIER SLIDING SCALE
	
CORE GPA	SAT*	ACT SUM
READING/MATH
	
3.550	400	37
	
3.525	410
	38
	
3.500	420
	39
	
3.475	430	40
	
3.450	440	41
	
3.425	450	41
	
3.400	460	42
	
3.375	470	42
	
3.350	480	43
	
3.325	490	44
	
3.300	500	44
	
3.275	510	45
	
3.250	520	46
	
3.225	530	46
	
3.200	540	47
	
3.175	550	47
	
3.150	560	48
	
3.125	570	49
	
3.100	580	49
	
3.075	590	50
	
3.050	600	50
	
3.025	610	51
	
3.000	620	52
	
2.975	630	52
	
2.950	640	53
	
2.925	650	53
	
2.900	660	54
	
2.875	670	55
	
2.850	680	56
	
2.825	690	56
	
2.800	700	57
	
2.775	710	58

DIVISION I
FULL QUALIFIER SLIDING SCALE
		
CORE GPA	SAT*	ACT SUM
READING/MATH
		
2.750	720	59
		
2.725	730	60
		
2.700	740	61
		
2.675	750	61
		
2.650	760	62
		
2.625	770	63
		
2.600	780	64
		
2.575	790	65
		
2.550	800	66
		
2.525	810	67
		
2.500	820	68
		
2.475	830	69
		
2.450	840	70
		
2.425	850	70
		
2.400	860	71
		
2.375	870	72
		
2.350	880	73
		
2.325	890	74
		
2.300	900	75
		
2.299	910	76
	
ACADEMIC REDSHIRT
	
2.275	910	76
		
2.250	920
	77
		
2.225	930	78
		
2.200	940	79
		
2.175	950
	80
		
2.150	960	81
		
2.125	970	82
		
2.100	980	83
		
2.075	990	84
		
2.050	1000	85
		
2.025	1010	86
		
2.000	1020	86

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE     13

Division II Academic Standards

Division II schools require college-bound student-athletes to meet academic standards for NCAA core courses, core-course GPA and test scores.

To be eligible to practice, compete and receive an athletics scholarship in your first full-time year at a Division II school, you must graduate from high school and meet ALL of the follow-ing requirements:

1. Complete 16 core courses in the following areas:

ENGLISH

3 years

MATH (Algebra I or higher)

2 years

NATURAL/ PHYSICAL SCIENCE

(including one year of lab science,
if offered)

2 years

SOCIAL SCIENCE

2 years

ADDITIONAL

(English, math, or natural/physical science)

3 years

ADDITIONAL

(English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy)

4 years

2. Earn an SAT combined score* or ACT sum score that matches your core-course GPA (minimum 2.200) on the Division II competition scale.

14 GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

Academic Certification Decisions

To receive an academic certification, you must have:

• A final official transcript with proof of graduation.

• Official transcripts from ALL other high schools attended. • Test scores.
• No open academic tasks.

• Be on a Division II school’s institutional request list.

Being placed on a school’s institutional request list notifies the NCAA Eligibility Center to complete an academic evalu-ation for you once all of your appropriate documents have been submitted.

Once a certification has been completed, you will receive one of the following decisions if you are being recruited by a Division II school:

EARLY ACADEMIC QUALIFIER

If you meet specific criteria listed below after six semesters, you may be deemed an early academic qualifier for Division II and may practice, compete and receive an athletics scholarship. You will need:

Minimum SAT combined score (math and critical read-ing) of 820 on the old SAT or 900 on the redesigned SAT OR minimum sum score of 68 on the ACT; and a core-course GPA of 2.5 or higher in a minimum of 14 core courses in the following areas:

• 3 years of English. • 3 years of math.
• 2 years of natural or physical science. • 6 additional core courses in any area.
A final high school transcript is required to be submit-ted to the NCAA Eligibility Center after high school graduation for all early academic qualifiers.

QUALIFIER

You may practice, compete and receive an athletics scholarship during your first year of full-time enrollment at an NCAA Division II school.

PARTIAL QUALIFIER

You may receive an athletics scholarship during your first year of enrollment and may practice during your first year of enrollment, but may NOT compete.

NONQUALIFIER

You will not be able to practice, receive an athletics scholarship or compete during your first year of full-
time enrollment at a Division II school.

What if I Don’t Meet the Division II Standards?

If you enroll full time at a Division II school and you have not met all Division II academic standards, you may not compete in your first year. However, if you meet the standards to be
a partial qualifier, you may practice and receive an athlet-ics scholarship in your first year at college. To be a partial
qualifier, you must graduate high school and meet ALL of the following standards:

• Complete 16 core courses; AND

• Earn an SAT combined score* or ACT sum score matching your core-course GPA (minimum 2.000) on the Division II partial qualifier sliding scale.

Core-Course Timeline

If you plan to attend a Division II school, you must complete 16 NCAA core courses after starting grade nine and before your first full-time college enrollment.

Courses Taken After High School

For Division II, you may use an unlimited number of core courses completed after graduation (summer or academic year) before full-time collegiate enrollment. You may com-plete the core course(s) at a location other than the high school from which you graduated. A college course taken after high school graduation can be used toward your initial eligibility and will be awarded 0.5 units unless awarded one full unit by your home high school, and it must appear on
your home high school transcript with grade and credit.

*Remember, if you took the SAT on or after March 2016 you need to compare your score on the College Board concordance table. Learn more about the concordance table on page 24 or visit ncaa.org/test-scores.

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE     15

Sliding Scale for Division II

*Remember, if you took the SAT on or after March 2016 you need to compare your score on the College Board concordance table. Learn more about the concordance table on page 24 or visit ncaa.org/test-scores.

DIVISION II
FULL QUALIFIER SLIDING SCALE
	
USE FOR DIVISION II BEGINNING AUGUST 2018
	
CORE GPA                    SAT*                    ACT SUM READING/MATH
	
3.300 & above
	400
	37
	
3.275
	410
	38
	
3.250
	420
	39
	
3.225
	430
	40
	
3.200
	440
	41
	
3.175
	450
	41
	
3.150
	460
	42
	
3.125
	470
	42
	
3.100
	480
	43
	
3.075
	490
	44
	
3.050
	500
	44
	
3.025
	510
	45
	
3.000
	520
	46
	
2.975
	530
	46
	
2.950
	540
	47
	
2.925
	550
	47
	
2.900
	560
	48
	
2.875
	570
	49
	
2.850
	580
	49
	
2.825
	590
	50
	
2.800
	600
	50
	
2.775
	610
	51
	
2.750
	620
	52
	
2.725
	630
	52
	
2.700
	640
	53
	
2.675
	650
	53
	
2.650
	660
	54
	
2.625
	670
	55
	
2.600
	680
	56
	
2.575
	690
	56
	
2.550
	700
	57
	
2.525
	710
	58
	
2.500
	720
	59
	
2.475
	730
	60
	
2.450
	740
	61
	
2.425
	750
	61
	
2.400
	760
	62
	
2.375
	770
	63
	
2.350
	780
	64
	
2.325
	790
	65
	
2.300
	800
	66
	
2.275
	810
	67
	
2.250
	820
	68
	
2.225
	830
	69
	
2.200
	840 & above
	70 & above

DIVISION II
PARTIAL QUALIFIER SLIDING SCALE
	
USE FOR DIVISION II BEGINNING AUGUST 2018
	
CORE GPA
	SAT*
	ACT SUM
	
READING/MATH
	
3.050 & above
	400
	37
	
3.025
	410
	38
	
3.000
	420
	39
	
2.975
	430
	40
	
2.950
	440
	41
	
2.925
	450
	41
	
2.900
	460
	42
	
2.875
	470
	42
	
2.850
	480
	43
	
2.825
	490
	44
	
2.800
	500
	44
	
2.775
	510
	45
	
2.750
	520
	46
	
2.725
	530
	46
	
2.700
	540
	47
	
2.675
	550
	47
	
2.650
	560
	48
	
2.625
	570
	49
	
2.600
	580
	49
	
2.575
	590
	50
	
2.550
	600
	50
	
2.525
	610
	51
	
2.500
	620
	52
	
2.475
	630
	52
	
2.450
	640
	53
	
2.425
	650
	53
	
2.400
	660
	54
	
2.375
	670
	55
	
2.350
	680
	56
	
2.325
	690
	56
	
2.300
	700
	57
	
2.275
	710
	58
	
2.250
	720
	59
	
2.225
	730
	60
	
2.200
	740
	61
	
2.175
	750
	61
	
2.150
	760
	62
	
2.125
	770
	63
	
2.100
	780
	64
	
2.075
	790
	65
	
2.050
	800
	66
	
2.025
	810
	67
	
2.000
	820 & above
	68 & above

16 GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

Division III information

Division III schools provide an integrated environment focusing on academic suc-cess while offering a competitive athletics environment. Division III rules minimize potential conflicts between athletics and academics and focus on regional in-sea-son and conference play.

While Division III schools do not offer athletics scholarships, 75 percent of Divi-sion III student-athletes receive some form of merit or need-based financial aid.

If you are planning to attend a Division III school, you can create a free Profile Page at eligibilitycenter.org to learn more about college sports. Division III schools set their own admissions and eligibility standards. You can visit ncaa.org/d3 or con-tact the Division III school you are planning to attend to learn more.

what is a core course?

NCAA schools require college-bound student-athletes to build a foundation of high school courses to prepare them for the academic expectations in college.

For a high school class to be an NCAA-approved core course, it MUST meet these conditions:

• Courses that are not academic in nature such as film

appreciation, video editing or greenhouse management.

1. Be an academic, four-year college preparatory course in these subject areas:

• English.

• Math (Algebra I or higher). • Natural/physical science. • Social science.
• Foreign language.

• Comparative religion or philosophy.

2. Be taught at or above your high school’s regular academic level.

3. Receive credit towards high school graduation and appear on an official transcript with course title, grade, and credit awarded.

• Credit-by-exam courses are not considered NCAA-approved core courses.

Find your high school’s list of NCAA-approved courses at eligibilitycenter.org/courselist. Make sure you are taking the courses on the approved list and ask your counselor if you need help.

Core-Course Credits

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

What is Not a Core Course

Not all high school classes are NCAA-approved core courses. Some examples of courses that are not NCAA-approved core courses include:

• Courses in non-core areas, fine arts or vocations such

as driver education, typing, art, music, physical education or welding.

• Courses that prepare students for the world of work or life, or for a two-year college or technical school, such as personal finance, consumer education or tech prep.

• Courses taught below grade level, at a slower pace or with less rigor or depth, such as basic, essential, fundamental or foundational courses.

school for the class. A one-year class taken over a longer period of time is considered one core course and is not awarded more than one credit.

Courses Taken Before High School

If you take a high school class such as Algebra I or Spanish I in eighth grade, the class may count toward your 16 core courses if it appears on your high school’s list of NCAA-approved courses and is shown on your high school transcript with grade and credit.

Courses Taken After High School

For information about courses taken after high school, see

page 12 for Division I or page 15 for Division II.

18 GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

nontraditional and online courses Nontraditional courses are classes taught online or through distance learning, credit recovery, independent study, individualized instruction or correspondence methods.

For a nontraditional course to count as an NCAA-approved core course, it must meet ALL of the following requirements:

• The course must prepare students for academic work at a four-year college.

• A student in the course must have regular instructor-led interaction for the purpose of instruction, evaluation and assistance for the duration of the course. This may include, for example, exchanging emails between the
student and teacher, online chats, phone calls, feedback on assignments and the opportunity for the teacher to engage the student in individual instruction.

• The course must have a defined time period for completion. For example, it should be clear whether the course is meant to be taken for an entire semester or a more condensed time period.

• The course should be clearly identified as nontraditional on the student’s official high school transcript.

• The course must appear on the school’s list of NCAA-approved courses.

REMEMBER ...

Log in to your NCAA Eligibility Center account frequently to update your school information if you take
additional academic programs.

A nontraditional course could fail to meet NCAA core-course requirements for any of the following reasons:

• Does not have teacher-based instruction.

• Does not require regular and ongoing instructor-led interaction between the student and teacher.

• Does not require students to complete the entire course.

• Allows students to take numerous courses at the same time, especially courses in the same subject area or that are sequential.

• Does not prepare students for four-year college classwork.

• Does not have official student grade records.

To find out if a nontraditional program or course is approved, you can go to eligibilitycenter.org/courselist to search the school or program’s list of NCAA-approved courses. You will find information about any nontraditional programs or courses in the “Additional Information” box as seen below.

Additional Information

Coursework from this school/program meets NCAA nontraditional core-course legislation.

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE     19

grade-point average

The NCAA Eligibility Center calculates your core-course grade-point average (GPA) based on the grades you earn in NCAA-approved core courses. Only your best grades from the required number of NCAA core courses will be used. Grades from additional core courses will be used only if they improve your grade-point average.

Your GPA is calculated on a 4.000 scale. Numeric grades such as 92 or 87 are changed to letter grades such as A or B. The NCAA Eligibility Center does not use plus or minus

grades when calculating your GPA. Weighted honors or advanced placement courses may improve your core-course GPA but your high school must notify the NCAA Eligibility Center that it weighs grades in these classes.

In Pass/Fail grading situations, the NCAA Eligibility Center will assign your high school’s lowest passing grade for a course in which you received a Pass grade. For most high schools, the lowest passing grade is a D, so the NCAA Eligibility Cen-ter generally assigns a D as a passing grade.

Calculating Your Quality Points
In order to determine your quality points earned for each course, multiply the quality points for the grade by the amount of credit earned.

Examples:
• An A grade (4 points) for a trimester course (0.34 units): 4 points x 0.34 units = 1.36 total quality points
• An A grade (4 points) for a semester course (0.50 units): 4 points x 0.50 units = 2.00 total quality points
• An A grade (4 points) for a full-year course (1.00 units): 4 points x 1.00 units = 4.00 quality points

The following worksheets will help you to determine your core-course GPA.
	
Quality Points A = 4 points
B = 3 points C = 2 points D = 1 point

Units of Credit
1 quarter unit = 0.25 units 1 trimester unit = 0.34 units
1 semester unit = 0.50 units 1 year = 1 unit

The most important lesson I have learned from being a student-athlete is how to deal with adversity. Life isn’t easy, and being a student-athlete can be difficult at times, too. To conquer adversity, I’ve learned to stay positive and always have a plan. I plan on how to ace an upcoming test or beat an upcoming opponent.

Ty Dennis

Football

Minnesota State University, Mankato

20 GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

Points
Division I Worksheet

This worksheet is provided to assist you in monitoring your progress in meeting NCAA initial-eligibility standards. The NCAA Eligibility Center will determine your academic status after you graduate. Remember to check your high school’s list of NCAA-approved courses for the classes you have taken.

Use the following scale: A = 4 quality points; B = 3 quality points; C = 2 quality points; D = 1 quality point.

ENGLISH (4 YEARS REQUIRED)
	
10/7
	COURSE TITLE
	CREDIT
	X
	GRADE
	=
	QUALITY POINTS (MULTIPLY CREDIT BY GRADE)
	
P
	Example: English 9
	.50
		A
		(.5 x 4) = 2

							

	TOTAL ENGLISH UNITS
					TOTAL QUALITY POINTS

MATHEMATICS (3 YEARS REQUIRED)
	
10/7
	COURSE TITLE
	CREDIT
	X
	GRADE
	=
	QUALITY POINTS (MULTIPLY CREDIT BY GRADE)
	
P
	Example: Algebra I
	1.0
		B
		(1.0 x 3) = 3

							
							
	TOTAL MATHEMATICS UNITS
					TOTAL QUALITY POINTS

NATURAL/PHYSICAL SCIENCE (2 YEARS REQUIRED)
	
10/7
	COURSE TITLE
	CREDIT
	X
	GRADE
	=
	QUALITY POINTS (MULTIPLY CREDIT BY GRADE)

							
	TOTAL NATURAL/PHYSICAL SCIENCE UNITS
					
TOTAL QUALITY POINTS

ADDITIONAL YEAR IN ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS OR NATURAL/PHYSICAL SCIENCE (1 YEAR REQUIRED)
	
10/7
	COURSE TITLE
	CREDIT
	X
	GRADE
	=
	QUALITY POINTS (MULTIPLY CREDIT BY GRADE)

	TOTAL ADDITIONAL UNITS
					TOTAL QUALITY POINTS
	
SOCIAL SCIENCE (2 YEARS REQUIRED)
	
10/7
	COURSE TITLE
	CREDIT
	X
	GRADE
	=
	QUALITY POINTS (MULTIPLY CREDIT BY GRADE)

							
	TOTAL SOCIAL SCIENCE UNITS
					TOTAL QUALITY POINTS
	
ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC COURSES (4 YEARS REQUIRED)
	
10/7
	COURSE TITLE
	CREDIT
	X
	GRADE
	=
	QUALITY POINTS (MULTIPLY CREDIT BY GRADE)

							

	TOTAL ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC UNITS
					TOTAL QUALITY POINTS

	TOTAL QUALITY POINTS FROM EACH SUBJECT AREA / TOTAL CREDITS = CORE-COURSE GPA
		
/
		
=
		
Quality	/	Credits	=	Core-Course GPA

Core-Course GPA (16 required). Ten core courses must be completed before the seventh semester and seven of the 10 must be a combination of English, math or natural or physical

science for competition purposes.

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE     21

POINTS
Division II Worksheet

This worksheet is provided to assist you in monitoring your progress in meeting NCAA initial-eligibility standards. The NCAA Eligibility Center will determine your academic status after you graduate. Remember to check your high school’s list of NCAA-approved courses for the classes you have taken.

Use the following scale: A = 4 quality points; B = 3 quality points; C = 2 quality points; D = 1 quality point.

ENGLISH (3 YEARS REQUIRED)
	
COURSE TITLE
	CREDIT
	X
	GRADE
	=
	QUALITY POINTS (MULTIPLY CREDIT BY GRADE)
	
Example: English 9
	.50
		A
		(.5 x 4) = 2

						
						
TOTAL ENGLISH UNITS
					TOTAL QUALITY POINTS

MATHEMATICS (2 YEARS REQUIRED)
	
COURSE TITLE
	CREDIT
	X
	GRADE
	=
	QUALITY POINTS (MULTIPLY CREDIT BY GRADE)
	
Example: Algebra I
	1.0
		B
		(1.0 x 3) = 3

						
TOTAL MATHEMATICS UNITS
					TOTAL QUALITY POINTS

NATURAL/PHYSICAL SCIENCE (2 YEARS REQUIRED)
	
COURSE TITLE
	CREDIT
	X
	GRADE
	=
	QUALITY POINTS (MULTIPLY CREDIT BY GRADE)

						
TOTAL NATURAL/PHYSICAL SCIENCE UNITS
					
TOTAL QUALITY POINTS

ADDITIONAL YEARS IN ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS OR NATURAL/PHYSICAL SCIENCE (3 YEARS REQUIRED)
	
COURSE TITLE
	CREDIT
	X
	GRADE
	=
	QUALITY POINTS (MULTIPLY CREDIT BY GRADE)

						
						
TOTAL ADDITIONAL UNITS
					TOTAL QUALITY POINTS
	
SOCIAL SCIENCE (2 YEARS REQUIRED)
	
COURSE TITLE
	CREDIT
	X
	GRADE
	=
	QUALITY POINTS (MULTIPLY CREDIT BY GRADE)

						
TOTAL SOCIAL SCIENCE UNITS
					TOTAL QUALITY POINTS
	
ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC COURSES (4 YEARS REQUIRED)
	
COURSE TITLE
	CREDIT
	X
	GRADE
	=
	QUALITY POINTS (MULTIPLY CREDIT BY GRADE)

						

TOTAL ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC UNITS
					TOTAL QUALITY POINTS

TOTAL QUALITY POINTS FROM EACH SUBJECT AREA / TOTAL CREDITS = CORE-COURSE GPA
		
/
		
=
		
QUALITY	/	CREDITS	=	CORE-COURSE GPA

22 GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

transcripts

Ask your high school counselor to send an official transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center after completing six semes-ters. If you have attended more than one high school or took courses from more than one program, the NCAA Eligibility Center needs an official transcript from ALL high school(s) or program(s). You also will need to ask your high school coun-selor to send your final transcript with proof of graduation once you have completed high school. The NCAA Eligibility Center does not accept grades from one high school or pro-gram transcribed on another high school’s transcript.

High schools have the capability to upload transcripts directly to a student’s account from the High School Portal for free. As with other electronic transcript providers, this process is much quicker than using the U.S. Postal Service or any overnight delivery method. Students should contact their high school counselor to ask for their transcript to be uploaded or sent electronically through one of the approved e-transcript providers listed below:

Please note that the NCAA Eligibility Center does not accept faxed or emailed transcripts. In order to send a transcript by U.S. mail or through an overnight or express delivery service, please use the appropriate addresses on page 2.

Note: Some approved programs that have a list of NCAA-approved courses are not credit-awarding institutions and, therefore, do not produce official transcripts. If you attend an approved program that does not award credit, a grade report from the program should be submitted, but in order for it to be used in an academic certification, it MUST be accompanied by an official transcript from a high school that formally awards credit with the course title, grade and credit awarded represented.

• National Transcript Center/ Pearson Edustructure.

• Parchment.

• Scrip-Safe/Credentials.

REMEMBER ...

• Scribbles Software. • ConnectEDU.
• USMO ET.

• XAP.

E E	E ...
REMEMBER ...

If you have attended more than one high school or took courses from more than one program, the NCAA Eligibility Center needs an official transcript from ALL
high schools or programs.

equivalency tests/diplomas

A state high school equivalency test (e.g., General Educa-tional Development) may be accepted as proof of gradua-tion under certain conditions, but it will not satisfy require-ments for core courses, GPA or ACT/SAT scores. The equivalency test may be accepted as proof of graduation if taken after the graduation date of your class and before

full-time enrollment into any college or university. You will need to submit an official copy of the applicable certificate along with test scores through the mail to the NCAA Eligibil-ity Center. You can contact your state education agency
to request the certificate and test scores to be sent to the NCAA Eligibility Center.

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE     23

test scores

Every time you register for the SAT or ACT, use the NCAA Eligibility Center code 9999 to send your scores directly to us from the testing agency. Tests scores on transcripts will NOT be used in your academic certification. The NCAA Eligibility Center does not accept SAT subject test scores. 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 subscore from different tests are used to give you the best possible score.

If you take the SAT or ACT after you graduate high school, the NCAA Eligibility Center may ask you to confirm that you have not yet enrolled full time in college, by completing and submitting a student matriculation letter.

Note: If you took the SAT before March 2016 and then took the redesigned SAT at a later date, the NCAA Eligibility Center will not combine section
scores from the previous and redesigned SAT when determining your initial eligibility. We will only com-bine section scores from the same version of the test. Because the redesigned SAT varies in design
and measures different academic concepts than the past SAT, a numerical score on the past test may not be equivalent to the same numerical score
on the redesigned test.

ACT

An ACT sum score is calculated by adding your English, math, reading and science subscores.

SAT

A combined SAT score is calculated by adding your critical reading and math subscores. SAT scores earned on or after March 2016 will be
evaluated based on the College Board concor-dance table.

College Board Concordance Table The SAT test changed in March 2016 and var-ies in design and measures different academic

concepts than the past SAT. A numerical score on the past test may not be equivalent to the same numerical score on the redesigned test
(March 2016 and after). The NCAA’s sliding scales for Divisions I and II were created using the old test model. If you took the SAT on or
after March 2016, you need to use the College Board concordance table to determine where
your new test scores fall on our sliding scales.

If you took the SAT on or after March 2016, follow these steps to understand your score:

1. Find your reported SAT score on the College Board concordance table. Look at what your score converts to on the old SAT.

2. Take the converted (old) SAT score and look at the Division I or II sliding scales to see what GPA you will need to meet NCAA initial-eligibility requirements.

You can find the College Board concordance table on our website: ncaa.org/test-scores.

Here is an example of a student taking the SAT in Decem-ber 2016 using the above steps to find his or her score on the concordance table:

Remember: We will use your highest SAT score in your academic certification to provide you the best result possible.

Testing Dates

The NCAA Eligibility Center accepts national SAT and ACT exams, and state-administered ACT exams.

Puerto Rico

If you plan to enroll in a Division II school in Puerto Rico, you may use a minimum combined score on the Prueba de Apti-tud Academica verbal and math reasoning sections of 730 to
satisfy the test-score requirement.

	REPORTED SCORE
	CONCORDED SCORE
	
SAT (December 2016)
	
930
	
850

NATIONAL TESTING DATES

SAT
Aug. 26, 2017 Oct. 7, 2017 Nov. 4, 2017 Dec. 2, 2017 March 10, 2018 May 5, 2018
June 2, 2018
	ACT
Sept. 9, 2017 Oct. 28, 2017 Dec. 9, 2017 Feb. 10, 2018 April 14, 2018 June 9, 2018
July 14, 2018

24 GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

Education-Impacting Disabilities

For academic eligibility purposes, the NCAA defines an education-impacting disability (EID) as a current impairment that has a substantial educational impact on a student’s academic perfor-mance and requires accommodation.

Some of the most common EIDs include:

• Learning disabilities or disorders.

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

• Mental health disorders.

• Medical conditions.

• Deafness or hard of hearing.

4. Current copy of your Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan. If your high school did not provide an IEP or 504 Plan, the high school must submit documentation describing the available accommodations or an explanation of why accommodations were not provided.

5. A signed Buckley Statement form allowing certain individuals to review your EID information and speak

• Autism Spectrum Disorder.

If you have a documented EID, you must meet the same initial-eligibility standards as other students but may be provided certain accommodations to help meet those standards. For instance, if you have a documented EID, you may be allowed to take classes designed for students with EIDs if the classes appear on the list of NCAA-approved courses at your school.

If you plan on attending a Division I school and your EID documentation is approved by the NCAA Eligibility Cen-ter, you may take up to three additional core courses after
graduating high school and before enrolling full time at a Divi-sion I school, as long as you graduate high school in eight consecutive semesters after starting ninth grade.

If you plan on attending a Division II school, you may take an unlimited number of core courses after starting ninth grade and before enrolling full time at a Division II school.

Submitting Your EID Documentation

If you are a student with a documented EID, you only need to alert the NCAA Eligibility Center about your EID if you are
planning on enrolling full time at a Division I school and would like to take additional core courses after you graduate high school. Information about EIDs submitted to the NCAA is
not released to colleges unless the student-athlete makes a specific written request.

To document your EID with the NCAA Eligibility Center, you must submit the following materials:

1. A complete NCAA EID cover sheet.

on your behalf to the NCAA. A parent or guardian who would like to discuss your EID request with the NCAA must be listed on the Buckley Statement.

The cover sheet and Buckley Statement can be found at ncaa.org/playcollegesports.

Where to Send Your EID Documents NCAA Eligibility Center

EID Services P.O. Box 7110
Indianapolis, IN 46207-7110

Fax: 317-968-5100

Email: ec-processing@ncaa.org

If approved, you will be notified in writing and provided with additional information about available accommodations.

SAT/ACT Exam with Accommodations

If you have a documented EID, you also may request to take an SAT or ACT exam with accommodations to satisfy test-score requirements by:

• Registering for accommodations using the directions provided by the SAT or ACT.

• Following procedures governed by SAT or ACT. The test may not be administered by a member of your high school athletics department or any NCAA school’s athletics department.

If you take an SAT or ACT exam with accommodations, you may take the test on a date other than a national testing date, but you still must achieve the required test score.

2. Your NCAA identification number, high school graduation year, permanent address and phone number.

3. Current, signed documentation of your diagnosis (including test data) and/or recommendations from the treating professional (e.g., medical doctor, clinical psychologist or other qualified individual).

Your high school counselor can help you register to take an SAT or ACT exam with accommodations.

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE     25

home school students

Learning at home is not necessarily the same as being home schooled. Because of recent growth in online and virtual education, a student may be able to learn at home through an online school with online teachers, which would not be considered a parent-directed tutor.

Courses that will be evaluated as home school courses are those in which a parent or parent-directed tutor:

• Plans and delivers actual instructional activities such as lectures, discussions, tutorials, feedback or assistance.

• Determines the student’s comprehension of the material by grading and evaluating student performance and achievement on assignments and assessments and providing appropriate re-teaching and feedback.

• Determines the overall grade the student achieved in the course.

• Places the grade on a transcript or grade report or reports the grade to an approved home school umbrella program.

How to Register

If you are a home school student and want to play NCAA sports at a Division I or II school, you need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and meet the same standards as all other students.

Once you have completed your registration, visit ncaa.org/playcollegesports and navigate to the Home School Students section for a tool kit to provide you with necessary home school resources.

Where to Send Your Home School Documents:

All documents must be submitted via email to ec-processing@ncaa.org or mailed to the following address:

NCAA Eligibility Center

(ATTN: Home School Evaluation) 1802 Alonzo Watford Sr. Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46202-6222

26 GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

international students

An international student is one who has taken coursework outside the United States from school years 9 and up. International students must submit the following information:

• Your transcripts for years 9 and up in the native language.

• Proof of graduation in the native language, including certificates, diplomas or final leaving exams.

• Certified line-by-line English translations of these documents if they are issued in a language other than English.

Please refer to the current Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility and the International Students page of the NCAA Eligibility Center sec-tion of ncaa.org for current NCAA Eligibility Center policies and specific details about the documents you must submit: ncaa.org/international. Use our International Contact Form on this page if you have specific questions
that you cannot find the answer to in our other resources.

In certain situations, the NCAA Eligibility Center may request additional documen-tation to clarify that your academic information is complete, valid and accurate. Your task list will be used to communicate these requests.

Your documents must be mailed to the NCAA Eligibility Center by the issuing body. Documents that are faxed or emailed will be considered unofficial and can-not be used for certification purposes.

In addition to your academic credentials, students also must submit all SAT or ACT scores. Your scores must be sent electronically to the NCAA Eligibility Center by the testing agency.

To me, being a student-athlete means to strive for excellence. We do it in a multitude of ways: we strive for excellence in our sport, in our academics and in our communities. It means to never settle, to continue to grow, to better yourself and your teammates every day, and to leave your team and your sport better than it was when you started.

Jasmyn Lindsay Softball

Queens University of Charlotte

All documents mailed to the NCAA Eligibility Center become the property of the NCAA Eligibility Center and cannot be returned. This includes any original docu-ments that are mailed.

Failure to include any of these items will delay the review of your records.

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE     27

amateurism

When you register for a Certification Account with the NCAA Eligibility Center, you will be asked a series of questions about your sports participation to determine your amateur status. More than 90 percent of student-athletes who register are automatically certified. In some instances, the NCAA Eligibility Center staff may need to gather additional information to evaluate your amateur status.

The following activities may impact your amateur status:

• Signing a contract with a professional team.

• Playing with professionals.

• Participating in tryouts or practices with a professional team.

• Accepting payments or preferential benefits for playing sports.

• Accepting prize money above your expenses.

• Accepting benefits from an agent or prospective agent.

• Agreeing to be represented by an agent.

• Delaying your full-time college enrollment to play in organized sports competitions.

Requesting Final Amateurism Certification If you are enrolling at a Division I or II school for the fall semester, you may request an amateurism certification

decision from the NCAA Eligibility Center on or after April 1, before your enrollment in college. If you are enrolling in college in the spring semester, you may request a final amateurism decision on or after Oct. 1, before your enrollment in college.

Delayed Enrollment

After you graduate high school, you have a certain amount of time – called a grace period – to enroll full time at an NCAA school. If you do not enroll at the first opportunity after your grace period, you will use one season of compe-tition for each calendar year during which you continue to compete in organized competition. Please see the chart
on the next page for specific time frames per sport in Divisions I and II.

In most sports, you may delay full-time college enrollment for one year after your expected high school graduation without impacting your eligibility. In Division I tennis, you must enroll full time at a college or university during the first regular academic term of college, which occurs follow-ing the six-month period after you graduate high school. In Division I men’s ice hockey or skiing, you may be required to enroll full time in college before you turn 21 to avoid impacting your eligibility.

Who is an Agent?

An individual who directly or indirectly represents you by marketing your athletics ability or reputation, who attempts to benefit from guiding you to a particular NCAA school, or who attempts to benefit from your expected earnings as a professional athlete.

What is a Professional Team?

A team that declares itself to be professional or provides any player MORE than the following expenses for participation:

• Meals and lodging directly tied to competition and practice directly related to the competition.

• Transportation expenses, such as to and from practice, training or competition.

• Apparel, equipment and supplies related to competition and practice directly related to competition.

• Coaching and instruction, or the use of facilities and entry fees.

• Health or medical insurance, medical treatment and physical therapy directly associated with an individual’s participation on a team or in an event.

• Other reasonable expenses such as laundry money.

What is Organized Competition?

Competition is considered organized if ANY of the following conditions exist:

• Official score is kept.

• Standings or statistics are maintained.

• Official timer or game officials are used.

• Admission is charged.

• Teams are regularly formed or team rosters are predetermined.

• Team uniforms are used.

• An individual or team is privately or commercially sponsored.

• The competition is either directly or indirectly sponsored, promoted or administered by an individual, an organization or any other agency.

Division I: It is scheduled and publicized in advance.

Division II: It is scheduled in advance.

28 GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

OVERVIEW OF NCAA DIVISIONS I AND II PRE-ENROLLMENT AMATEURISM BYLAWS

Before initial full-time enrollment at a college or university, may a college-bound student-athlete ...

PERMISSIBLE IN DIVISION I?

PERMISSIBLE IN DIVISION II?

try out with a professional team?

enter into a professional draft?

accept prize money?

receive benefits from an agent?

enter into an agreement with an agent (oral or written)?

delay full-time collegiate enrollment and participate in organized competition?

[If you are charged with season(s) of competition under this rule, you also will have to serve an academic year in residence at the NCAA college or university.]

Men’s ice hockey and skiing: Yes. May receive actual and necessary expenses for one visit (up to 48 hours) from each professional team. Self-financed tryouts may be for more than 48 hours.

All other sports: Yes. May not be compensated above actual and necessary expenses.

Yes

Tennis: Yes, if it does not exceed $10,000 per calendar year and comes from the sponsor of the event. Once the $10,000 limit is reached, additional prize money may not exceed actual and necessary expenses and the expenses are
provided by the sponsor of the event, or the team for which the individual represents.

All other sports: Yes, if it is does not exceed actual and necessary expenses and comes from an amateur team or sponsor of the event.

No

No, except in baseball a student-athlete who is drafted before collegiate enrollment may use the services of an agent to negotiate with a profes-sional team, provided he discontinues the agent agreement before enrolling in college.

Tennis: Must enroll full time at a Division I school during the first regular academic term that occurs following the six-month period after the expected date of high school graduation (based on start of ninth grade).

Men’s ice hockey and skiing: Any activity in organized competition after your 21st birthday and before initial full-time enrollment in a Division I school will count as varsity competition (no academic year-in-residence requirement).

All other sports: Must enroll full time at a college or university during the first regular academic term that occurs following the one-year period after your expected date of high school graduation or you will lose one season of intercollegiate competition for each calendar year during which you continue to participate in organized competition.

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

All sports: Must enroll full time at a college or university during the first regular academic term that occurs following the one-year period after high school graduation or will lose one season of intercollegiate competition for each calendar year during which you continue to participate in organized competition.

Men’s ice hockey: May compete for two years after graduation and prior to full-time college enrollment.

Skiing: May compete for two years after graduation, provided participation is sanctioned by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association or its international counterparts.

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE     29

important terms

Celebratory standardized signing form (A form used by Division III institutions.): This form is a standard NCAA-provided, nonbinding athletics celebratory signing form after a college-bound student-athlete has been accepted for enrollment at a Division III school.

Contact: A contact happens any time a college coach says more than, “Hello,” during a face-to-face meeting with you or your parents off the college’s campus.

Contact period: During a contact period, a college coach may have face-to-face contact with you or your parents, watch you compete, visit your high school, and write or telephone you or your parents.

Dead period: A college coach may not have any face-to-face contact with you or your parents on or off the college campus at any time during a dead period. The coach may write and call you or your parents during this time.

Evaluation: An evaluation happens when a college coach observes you practicing or competing.

Evaluation period: During an evaluation period, a college coach may watch you compete, visit your high school, and write or telephone you or your parents. However, a college coach may not have face-to-face contact with you or your parents off the college’s campus during an evaluation period.

Financial aid (scholarship): Any money you receive from a college or another source, such as outside loans or grants. Financial aid may be based on athletics ability, financial need or academic achievement.

Five-year clock: If you play at a Division I school, you have five calendar years in which to play four seasons of competition. Your five-year clock starts when you enroll as a full-time student at any college. Thereafter, your clock continues, even if you spend an academic
year in residence as a result of transferring, decide to redshirt, do not attend school or attend school part time during your college career.

Full-time student: Each school determines what full-time status means. Typically, you are a full-time student if you are enrolled for at least 12 credit hours in a term, but some schools define a full-time student as someone who takes fewer than 12 credit hours in a term.

International student: An international student is any student who is enrolled in a secondary school outside the United States, U.S. territories or Canada (except Quebec).

Institutional request list: An institutional request list (IRL) is a list of college-bound student-athletes who an NCAA Division I and/or II school is interested in recruiting. The action of adding a college-
bound student-athlete to the IRL informs the NCAA Eligibility Center of the school’s interest in having an academic certification decision for the student-athlete.

Official commitment: When you officially commit to attend a Division I or II college, you sign a National Letter of Intent, agreeing to attend that school for one academic year.

Official visit: During an official visit, the college can pay for transportation to and from the college for you, lodging and meals (Division I allows for up to three meals per day) for you and your parents or guardians, as well as reasonable entertainment expenses, including three tickets to a Division I home sports event or five tickets

to a Division II home sports event. Before a college may invite you on an official visit, you will have to provide the college with a copy of your high school transcript and ACT, SAT or PLAN score (test scores
are required for Division I only) and register for a Certification Account with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Quiet period: During this time, a college coach may not have any in-person contact with you or your parents off the college’s campus. The coach may not watch you play or visit your high school during this period. You and your parents may visit a college campus during this time. A coach may write or call you or your parents during this time.

Recruited: If a college coach contacts you off campus, pays your expenses to visit the campus, or in Divisions I and II, issues you a National Letter of Intent or a written offer of financial aid, you are considered recruited.

Recruiting calendar: NCAA member schools limit recruiting to certain periods during the year. Recruiting calendars promote the well-being of college-bound student-athletes and ensure fairness among schools by defining certain periods during the year in which recruiting may or may not occur in a particular sport.

Season of competition: Generally, NCAA rules say that any competition in a season — regardless of the amount of time — counts as having played a season in that sport. If you play any time during a season, regardless of how long you played, it counts as having played for an entire season in that sport. Your season of competition starts when you spend one second in competition on the field, court, gym or track.

Ten-semester/15-quarter clock: If you play at a Division II or III school, you have the first 10 semesters or 15 quarters in which you are enrolled as a full-time student to complete your four seasons
of participation. You use a semester or quarter any time you attend class as a full-time student or are enrolled part time and compete for the school. You do not use a term if you only attend part time with no competition or are not enrolled for a term.

Two-year college: An school from which students can earn an Associate of Arts, an Associate of Science or an Associate of Applied Science within two years. Some people call these schools community colleges or junior colleges.

Unofficial visit: Any visit by you and your parents to a college campus paid for by you or your parents. The only expense you may receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a Division I home athletics contest of five complimentary admissions to a Division II home athletics contest. You may make as many unofficial visits as you like and may take those visits at any time, expect in the sports of lacrosse, wrestling and women’s gymnastics as listed on the next page. The only time you cannot talk with a coach during an unofficial visit is during a dead period.

Verbal commitment: A verbal commitment happens when you verbally agree to play sports for a college before you sign or are eligible to sign a National Letter of Intent. The commitment is not binding on you or the school and can be made at any time.

Walk-on: Someone who is not typically recruited by a school to par-ticipate in sports and does not receive a scholarship from the school, but who becomes a member of one of the school’s athletics teams.

30 GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

recruiting calendars SOPHOMORE YEAR – DIVISION I

RECRUITING METHOD
	MEN’S BASKETBALL
	WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
	
FOOTBALL
	OTHER SPORTS

Recruiting materials

Telephone calls

Off-campus contact

Official visit

Unofficial visit

• You may receive brochures for camps, question-naires, NCAA materials, and nonathletics recruiting publications.

• You may begin receiv-ing recruiting materials June 15 after your sophomore year.

• You may make calls to the coach at your expense only.

• College coach can make unlimited calls beginning June 15 after your sopho-more year.

• None allowed.

• None allowed.

• You may make an unlim-ited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.

• You may receive brochures for camps, question-naires, NCAA materials, and nonathletics recruiting publications.

• You may make calls to the coach at your expense only.

• College coach cannot call you.

• None allowed.

• None allowed.

• You may make an unlim-ited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.

• You may receive brochures for camps, question-naires, NCAA materials, and nonathletics recruiting publications.

• You may make calls to the coach at your expense only.

• College coach cannot call you.

• None allowed.

• None allowed.

• You may make an unlim-ited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.

• You may receive brochures for camps, question-naires, NCAA materials, and nonathletics recruiting publications.

• Men’s Ice Hockey — You may begin receiving recruiting materials January 1 of your sophomore year.

• Sports other than Lacrosse may make calls to the coach at your expense only.

• College coach cannot call you.

• Women’s Ice Hockey — A college coach may call international college-bound student-athletes once on or after July 7 through July 31 after sophomore year.

• Men’s Ice Hockey — May not be made before Janu-ary 1 of sophomore year.

• None allowed.

• Men’s Ice Hockey — May not be made before June 15 after sophomore year.

• None allowed.

• You may make an unlim-ited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.

• Lacrosse, Women’s Gymnastics, Wrestling — not permitted.

Being a student-athlete is an opportunity to be part of something greater than myself ... College sports has given me an education, valuable transferrable skills, the teammates and friends I surround myself with, and the opportunity to participate in SAAC and excel in a leadership role I could have never imagined taking on.

Nicole Sherwin Women’s Soccer

Northern Arizona University

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE     31

JUNIOR YEAR – DIVISION I

RECRUITING METHOD
	MEN’S BASKETBALL
	WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
	
FOOTBALL
	OTHER SPORTS

Electronic correspondence

(e.g., text messaging, instant messenger, email)

Recruiting materials

Telephone calls

College coaches may call you

Off-campus contact

• You may begin receiving electronic correspondence June 15 after your sopho-more year.

• Correspondence must be private between you and the coach until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.

• Allowed.

• You may begin receiving recruiting materials June 15 after your sophomore year.

• You may make calls to the coach at your expense.

• Unlimited.

• Allowed beginning opening day of classes. Contacts other than April period may only occur at your school. Contacts in April may occur at your school or residence.

• No contact on the day of a competition.

• Contacts may not occur during the time of day when classes are in session.

• You may begin receiving electronic correspondence September 1 of your
junior year.

• Correspondence must be private between you and the coach until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.

• You may begin receiving September 1 of your junior year.

• You may make calls to the coach at your expense.

• Unlimited beginning September 1 of your junior year.

• Allowed beginning March 1 of your junior
year only at the student’s school or residence.

• No contact on the day of a competition.

• Contacts may not occur during the time of day when classes are in session.

• You may begin receiving electronic correspondence September 1 of your
junior year.

• Correspondence must be private between you and the coach until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.

• You may begin receiving September 1 of your junior year.

• You may make calls to the coach at your expense.

• One call from April 15 to May 31 of your junior year. Additional calls may not be made before September 1 of your senior year.

• None allowed.

• All forms of electronic cor-respondence permissible September 1 of your junior year.

• Correspondence must be private until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.

• You may begin receiving September 1 of your junior year.

• Men’s Ice Hockey — You may begin receiving recruit-ing materials January 1 after your sophomore year.

• You may make calls to the coach at your expense.

• Lacrosse — You may not call a coach before September 1 of your junior year.

• May not be made before September 1 at the begin-ning of your junior year.

• Swimming & Diving — May not be made before July 1 following comple-tion of junior year, or the opening day of classes of your senior year, whichever is earlier.

• Women’s Gymnastics — Allowed after your junior year beginning July 15.

• Women’s Ice Hockey — Allowed after your junior year beginning July 7.

• Fencing — Allowed after completion of participa-tion in the USA Fencing
National Championship and July Challenge and after completion of junior year.

• Wrestling — Allowed beginning your junior year after September 1 only
at the student’s school or residence.

• Lacrosse — Allowed beginning your junior year after September 1 only
at the student’s school or residence.

• All Other Sports — Allowed beginning July 1 after your junior year.

32 GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

®
JUNIOR YEAR – DIVISION I CONTINUED

RECRUITING METHOD
	MEN’S BASKETBALL
	WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
	
FOOTBALL
	OTHER SPORTS

Official visit

Unofficial visit

• Allowed January 1 of your junior year.

• You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Division I colleges. There is no limit to official visits to Division II colleges.

• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.

• Allowed April of your junior year beginning Thursday following the Women’s Final Four.

• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.

• Allowed April 1 of your junior year through the Sunday before the last Wednesday in June, provided the official visit is not in conjunction with participation in an
institutional camp or clinic.

• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.

• None allowed.

• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.

• Wrestling, Lacrosse and Women’s Gymnas-
tics — Not allowed before September 1 of your junior year.

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE     33

SENIOR YEAR – DIVISION I

RECRUITING METHOD
	MEN’S BASKETBALL
	WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
	
FOOTBALL
	OTHER SPORTS

Electronic correspondence (e.g., text messaging, instant messenger, email)

Recruiting materials

Telephone calls

College coaches may call you

Off-campus contact

Official visit

Unofficial visit

How often can a coach see me or talk to me off the college’s campus?

• You may begin receiving electronic correspondence June 15 after your sopho-more year.

• Correspondence must be private between you and the coach until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.

• Allowed.

• You may make calls to the coach at your expense.

• Unlimited.

• Allowed.

• You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Division I colleges. There is no limit to official visits to Division II colleges.

• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.

• A college coach may contact you or your parents/legal guardians (including evaluating you off the college’s campus) seven times.

• Unlimited number of con-tacts and evaluation after you sign an NLI, written offer of admission and/or financial aid; OR after the college receives a financial deposit from you.

• You may begin receiving electronic correspondence September 1 of your
junior year.

• Correspondence must be private between you and the coach until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.

• Allowed.

• You may make calls to the coach at your expense.

• Unlimited.

• Allowed.

• You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Division I colleges. There is no limit to official visits to Division II colleges.

• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.

• A college coach may contact you or your parents/legal guardians (including evaluating you off the college’s campus) seven times.

• Unlimited number of con-tacts and evaluation after you sign an NLI, written offer of admission and/or financial aid; OR after the college receives a financial deposit from you.

• You may begin receiving electronic correspondence September 1 of your
junior year.

• Correspondence must be private between you and the coach until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.

• Allowed.

• You may make calls to the coach at your expense.

• Once per week beginning September 1 outside con-tact period.

• Unlimited calls after you sign an NLI, written offer of admission and/or financial aid; OR after the college receives a financial deposit from you.

• Unlimited during contact period.

• Allowed beginning July 1 prior to your senior year.

• Allowed beginning opening day of classes your senior year.

• You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Division I colleges. There is no limit to official visits to Division II colleges.

• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.

• A college coach may con-tact you or your parents/ legal guardians (including evaluating you off the col-lege’s campus) six times.

• One evaluation during September, October and November.

• Two evaluations—April 15 through May 31 (once to evaluate athletics ability and once to evaluate aca-demic qualifications).

• Unlimited number of con-tacts and evaluation after you sign an NLI, written offer of admission and/or financial aid; OR after the college receives a financial deposit from you.

• All forms of electronic cor-respondence permissible September 1 of your junior year.

• Correspondence must be private until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.

• Allowed.

• You may make calls to the coach at your expense.

• Unlimited calls after you sign an NLI, written offer of admission and/or financial aid; OR after the college receives a financial deposit from you.

• Allowed.

• Allowed beginning opening day of classes your senior year.

• You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Division I colleges. There is no limit to official visits to Division II colleges.

• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.

• A college coach may con-tact you or your parents/ legal guardians not more than three times.

• Unlimited number of contacts and evaluation after you sign an NLI, written offer of admission and/or financial aid; OR after the college receives a financial deposit from you.

34 GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE

DIVISIONS II AND III

RECRUITING METHOD
	DIVISION II
	DIVISION III

Recruiting materials

• You may receive brochures for camps, questionnaires,	• You may receive printed materials any time. NCAA materials, and nonathletics recruiting publications
at any time.

• A coach may begin sending you printed recruiting mate-rials June 15 before your junior year in high school.

Telephone calls
	• No limit on number of calls by college coach beginning June 15 before your junior year.
• You may make calls to the coach at your expense.
	• No limit on number of calls or when they can be made by the college coach.
• You may make calls to the coach at your expense.

Off-campus contact

Official visit

Unofficial visit

• A college coach can have contact with you or your par-ents/legal guardians off the college’s campus beginning June 15 before your junior year.

• No limit on number of contacts off campus.

• You may make official visits starting June 15 before your junior year.

• You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Division I colleges. There is no limit to official visits to Division II colleges.

• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits any time, except during a dead period.

• A college coach may begin to have contact with you or your relatives or guardians off the college’s campus after your sophomore year.

• No limit on number of off-campus contacts.

• You may make official visits starting January 1 of your junior year. (Effective August 1, 2015)

• You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Division I colleges. There is no limit to official visits to Division III colleges.

• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits any time.

Being a student-athlete to me means excelling in all phases of life, academically, athletically and personally. Being a student-athlete has sharpened my time management skills, enhanced my ability to work in a team setting and perhaps most importantly, has prepared me for life beyond college. I would not be in the position I am today had it not been for my past four years as a student-athlete and for that, I am eternally grateful.

James “Jimmy” Gehrels Men’s Volleyball Pepperdine University

GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE     35

scholarships

NCAA Divisions I and II schools provide more than $2.7 billion in athletics scholarships annually to more than 150,000 student-athletes. Division III schools do not offer athletics scholarships.

Only about 2 percent of high school athletes are award-ed athletics scholarships to compete in college. Of the student-athletes participating in sports with professional leagues, very few become professional athletes. A college education is the most rewarding benefit of your student-athlete experience.

Division I schools may provide tuition and fees, room and board, books, and other expenses related to attendance at the school. Division II full scholarships cover tuition and fees, room, board, and course-related books and supplies. Most student-athletes who receive athletics scholarships receive an amount covering a portion of these costs. Many student-athletes also benefit from academic scholarships, NCAA financial aid programs such as the NCAA Division I
Student-Athlete Opportunity Fund and need-based aid such as Federal Pell Grants. You must report all financial aid you receive to your NCAA school’s financial aid office. If you
have questions about what financial aid can be accepted,

you should contact your NCAA school’s financial aid office and athletics department for help.

Division I schools may provide you with multiyear scholar-ships. Additionally, Division I schools may pay for you to finish your bachelor’s or master’s degrees after you finish playing NCAA sports. NCAA rules require you to be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center in order to be recruited, to go on an official visit, to receive an offer of financial aid or to sign
a National Letter of Intent, but it is not required for you to receive an academic evaluation before any of these activities.

If a school plans to reduce or not renew your aid, the school must notify you in writing by July 1 and provide an opportuni-ty for you to appeal. In most cases, the head coach decides who receives a scholarship, the scholarship amount and whether it will be renewed.

Contact the NCAA school you hope to attend for more de-tailed information about NCAA financial aid rules.

national letter of intent

A National Letter of Intent (NLI) is signed by you, agreeing to attend a Division I or II college for one academic year. NLI member institutions agree to provide financial aid to you for a minimum of one academic year as long as you are admitted to the school and are eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules.

The NLI is voluntary and not required for you to receive financial aid or participate in sports. Signing an NLI ends the recruiting process because coaches are prohibited from recruiting student-athletes who have signed NLIs with other NLI member institutions.

If you sign an NLI but decide to attend another college, you may request a release, but it is the school’s discretion to grant your NLI release or not. If you sign an NLI with one school but attend a different school, you lose one full year of eligibility and must complete a full academic year at
the new school before being eligible to compete. If you have questions about the NLI, visit the website at nationalletter.org.

36 GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE