NCAA INITIAL ELIGIBILITY

1. NCAA INITIAL ELIGIBILITY What you need to know to help your student-athletes meet eligibility requirements to participate in college sports. Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions” Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

2. Overview • NCAA 101 • Initial-eligibility requirements • Clearinghouse crash course • Step-by-step advice • Common questions/myths • Important contact information Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

3. NCAA 101 • Why initial eligibility? • NCAA is a membership organization made up of colleges and universities • The membership decided it was important to set minimum standards for participation • Commitment to student-athlete academic success • NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse is the entity that certifies eligibility for Division I and Division II. • Consistent decisions • Fair and impartial Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

4. NCAA 101 • NCAA initial eligibility vs. college admission • NCAA initial eligibility is separate from college admission • Each institution makes its own admission decisions, based on established admissions criteria • A prospective student-athlete may gain admission to an institution but not meet NCAA initial-eligibility standards OR • A prospective student-athlete may meet NCAA initial-eligibility standards but not gain admission Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

5. Four elements to initial eligibility • Graduation from high school; • Completion of a minimum number of core courses; • Minimum core grade-point average; and • ACT or SAT test score Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

6. Division I core-course requirementsFor classes of 2008 and after • 4 years of English • 3 years of math (Algebra I or higher) • 2 years of natural/physical science (one lab) • 1 year of additional English/math/science • 2 years of social science • 4 years of additional core courses (any of the areas above or foreign language, non-doctrinal religion/philosophy) Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

7. Division II core-course requirementsFor classes of 2005 and after • 3 years of English • 2 years of math (Algebra I or higher) • 2 years of natural/physical science (one lab) • 2 years of additional English/math/science • 2 years of social science • 3 years of additional core courses (any of the areas above or foreign language, non-doctrinal religion/philosophy) • Computer science cannot be used as a core course for the class of 2005 and after, unless the course gets math or science graduation credit and is on the high school’s list of approved core courses as such. Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

8. How do I know if courses at my high school will count as core courses?www.ncaaclearinghouse.net Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

14. How to update your list of NCAA approved core courses Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

18. What you should be doing: • Ninth and tenth grades: • Meet high-school graduation requirements; • Adequately prepare them for the rigors of college work; and • Meet NCAA initial-eligibility requirements Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

19. What you should be doing: • Eleventh grade: • Register to take ACT and/or SAT test • When registering, students must select the clearinghouse as a recipient of their test score • Code 9999 • This will ensure scores are sent automatically to the clearinghouse • Test scores must come directly from the testing agency. May no longer be used if reported on the high school transcript. • Both Division I and II; effective August 1, 2007. Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

20. Test-score tidbits… • SAT/ACT must be taken on a national testing date under standard testing conditions • Students with a documented disability may take a nonstandard test if permitted by the testing agency • No need to document disability with NCAA for nonstandard test purposes Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

21. Test-score tidbits… • ACT sum score is used, NOT the composite score • Add four subscores: English, math, science, reading • If the clearinghouse has more than one ACT score for a student , the highest score from each ACT subtest (English, math, science, reading) will be used • Similarly, the highest score on the SAT verbal/critical reading and math sections will be used • The writing portion of the ACT and SAT is not used Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

22. Grade-point average/test score requirements Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

23. New Division I Initial-Eligibility IndexTo be used with 14 and 16 core courses This is an abbreviated version of the index. For the full index, see the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.

24. Division II grade-point average and test-score requirements • Core grade-point average must be at least 2.000. • Minimum test score must be at least 820 on the SAT and 68 sum score on the ACT. • NO sliding scale in Division II.

25. What you should be doing: • Eleventh grade, continued: • Help students register with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse • Online: www.ncaaclearinghouse.net • Continue to monitor course selection

28. What you should be doing: • Eleventh grade, continued: • After student registers, mail transcript to the clearinghouse • Clearinghouse must have a transcript with at least six semesters represented to do a preliminary certification • Transcripts cannot be faxed • Look at the transcript carefully before it’s sent. • Are the course titles correct? • Are the grades correct? • Are the units of credit correct? Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

29. Common transcript question • What if the student went to more than one high school? • Each high school may send the transcript directly to the clearinghouse. • The current high school may send copies of all the transcripts to the clearinghouse. • For example, if the student attended high schools A, B, C and D, the clearinghouse has to receive all four transcripts. There can’t be just one transcript from the current high school with courses and grades from all four. Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

30. How do I know which students have registered?

32. What you should be doing: • Twelfth grade: • Continue to monitor course selection • After high-school graduation, mail final transcript to the clearinghouse • Must show proof of graduation • Transcripts cannot be faxed • Look at the transcript carefully before it’s sent. • Are the course titles correct? • Are the grades correct? • Are the units of credit correct? Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

33. Common questions… • May courses taken in the eighth grade be used for initial-eligibility purposes? • Generally, no • If student has taken high-school course in eighth grade, it will be used IF • Course is on the high-school transcript with grade and credit shown; • Course is on the high school’s list of approved core courses; • Course receives high-school graduation credit; • Verification is received from principal • Students rarely need such courses Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

34. Common questions… • May internet, distance learning, correspondence courses, etc. be used? • Yes, provided: • Course meets core-course requirements; • The course provides for instructor-student access; • Evaluation of the coursework is conducted according to high-school policies; and • Course is acceptable for any student and is placed on the high-school transcript Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

35. Common questions… • What about English as a Second Language (ESL) courses? • You may submit ESL courses online to be included on your list of NCAA approved core courses in all core-course areas except English • ESL English courses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis • High school will be asked to verify that the ESL course is advanced in nature; • NCAA staff will review course(s) and approve if appropriate Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

36. What if a student has a documented disability? • The student must meet all the standards. • The following accommodations may be used to meet the standards: • A nonstandard ACT and/or SAT. A nonstandard test is one that accommodates the student’s disability; for example, an extended time test. • The student may seek your assistance in registering for a nonstandard test. • Make sure the student uses the clearinghouse code (9999) when registering for the nonstandard test to make sure the score goes directly to the clearinghouse. Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

37. What if a student has a documented disability? • More accommodations to help the student meet the standards: • Use of specially-designed courses. For example, the student may have taken a resource room English 9 class. • The course MUST be on the high school’s list, just like any other NCAA core course. • These specially-designed courses appear on your high-school’s list with an = sign next to the course title. Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

38. What if a student has a documented disability? • More accommodations to help the student meet the standards: • Use of courses taken after high-school graduation. • These courses are automatically acceptable for Division II, IF the courses are on the high school’s list and IF they appear on the high-school transcript. • If the student plans to go to a Division I school, the courses are acceptable IF they’re on the high school’s list and IF they’re on the transcript AND the student must document the disability with the NCAA. • Professional diagnosis • Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

39. Rumors and things… • True or false: A student must be registered with the clearinghouse before college coaches can call or come watch the student practice and/or play. • FALSE! The student needs to register after the junior year. Coaches may call or come see the student play even if the student is not registered. Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

40. Rumors and things… • True or false: An athletics scholarship is good for four years. • FALSE! Athletics scholarships are for a period of one year. After the year is over, the scholarship may be kept the same, reduced or even cancelled. Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

41. Rumors and things… • True or false: If a student signs a National Letter of Intent (NLI) in November for one school and later changes his or her mind, the student may sign another letter in the spring with another school. • FALSE! The NLI is a legal, binding contract. Once a student signs, the student must attend that school for one full year. Make sure you encourage the student to read the letter before signing! Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

42. Rumors and things… • True or false: If a student signs an NLI to go to a particular school, and the coach gets fired or quits just before the student reports to campus, the student can sign with another school because the coach left. • FALSE! The NLI is a contract with the school, not the coach. Students are bound by the NLI, even if the coach gets fired or leaves the school. Make sure you encourage the student to read the letter before signing! Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

43. Handy information… • Clearinghouse information • Registration forms and transcripts must be sent to the clearinghouse. • Mailing address • P.O. Box 4043, Iowa City, Iowa 52243-4043 • Shipping address • 301 ACT Drive, Iowa City, Iowa 52243-4044 • Phone numbers (for information about a specific student’s eligibility, their file, their transcripts, etc.) • 877/262-1492 (toll-free) customer service line • 8:00-5:00 Central time Monday-Friday Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

44. Handy information… • NCAA national office information • Only disability information is sent to the NCAA national office. Everything else must be sent to the clearinghouse. • Mailing address • P.O. Box 6222 Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6222 • Shipping address • 1802 Alonzo Watford Sr. Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 • Phone number (for general information—any specific questions about a specific student’s eligibility need to be directed to the clearinghouse at their toll-free number) • 317/917-6222 Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”

45. Questions? Comments? Blue Waves Athletics – “Building Champions”