Setting a Course to Compete at the College Level

1. Setting a Course to Compete at the College Level

2. Overview • Questions to Ask • Seeking Advice • Recruiting Process • Eligibility Process • Financial Aid and National Letter of Intent

3. Questions to Ask • Do I really want to compete in this sport at the next level? Am I good enough? • What are my geographic interests? What are the best schools in that area? • How can I find out about the athletic program at my schools of interest? What kind of opportunity will I have there? • What do I want to study? • What do I need to do to become eligible?

4. Who Can Assist Me With these Questions? • Parents/Relatives • High School or Club Coach • High School Guidance Counselor • High School Athletic Director • Current Student-Athletes • College Coach or Athletic Dept. Official

5. Understanding the Recruiting Process

6. Recruiting Timeline • High School Freshmen and Sophomores • College Coaches may not call or email you. • College Coaches are only permitted to send you a few items via mail (questionnaires, camp brochures, admissions info). • Recruits can make calls and visit campuses on their own at any time. • College coaches may meet with recruits on campus if they visit on their own. • Information generally available via website.

7. Recruiting Timeline • High School Juniors and Seniors • Starting Sept. 1 of Junior year, college coaches may send you recruiting materials (i.e. letters, media guide, program information. • Following Junior year (generally July 1), coaches may begin calling you on a once per week basis. • Starting August 1, sports other that Football/Track/Swimming calls may begin Junior Year and are unlimited! • Starting with the first day of classes of your senior year, coaches may bring recruits on campus for “official visits”.

8. Recruiting Visits • Official visits • Institution finances all or part of the visit. • Maximum of 5 visits per prospect. • One visit per school. • Maximum 48 hours in length. • Academic requirements for visit: • Division I: Test score and transcript. **Registered at Eligibility Center

9. Recruiting Visits • Unofficial Visit • Prospect pays all expenses. • Institution may provide 3 complimentary admissions to an on-campus athletics event. • Prospect may take an unofficial visit at any time. • Prospect may take as many unofficial visits as he/she wishes.

10. College Eligibility & the NCAA Eligibility Center

11. The Basics • In order for a student in their first year of collegiate enrollment to practice, compete and receive athletically related financial aid at a Division I and/or II institution they must: • Be registered at the NCAA Eligibility Center • Have Test Scores/Transcripts on file at NCAA Eligibility Center • Receive a “Final Qualifier” Academic Certification Status • Receive a Final Amateurism Certification

12. What is a final academic qualifier? • A final academic qualifier is an incoming student-athlete for whom the NCAA Eligibility Center has certified as meeting all Division I or II initial-eligibility requirements. • A final qualifier is eligible for financial aid, practice and four seasons of competition. • A final qualifier: • Has passed the required amount of core courses in the required areas • Meets Division I “sliding scale” or Division II minimums • Has graduated from high school

13. Registering with the Eligibility Center • Any student who will attend a NCAA Division I or II institution and wishes to participate in intercollegiate athletics must register at www.eligibilitycenter.org • Application fee: $70 ($120 for international students). Fee waivers accepted from Guidance Counselors. • Online Registration Only. • Must be registered and paid to go on official visit.

14. What is a Core Course? An NCAA core course must meet the following: • Recognized academic course which qualifies for high-school graduation credit in one or a combination of: English, math, science, social studies, foreign language, nondoctrinal religion, philosophy; 2. Course must be considered college preparatory for entrance into a four-year college; 3. Mathematics must be at the level of Algebra I or higher; 4. Course must be taught by a qualified instructor; • Course must be at or above regular academic level. • Computer Science is eliminated as a core course unless it has been approved under the math category.

15. Approved Courses Form (48H) Each High School has a 48H form, found at www.eligibilitycenter.org, where all accepted core courses are listed by subject area. Guidance Counselors may update this form via the website. A course will not be accepted as core—even if it meets the definition—if it is not listed properly on this form. *NEW at Eligibility Center: Date of Last Update*

16. High School Transcript and Standardized Test Score • Core Course GPA will be determined using the official transcript sent by the High School directly to the Eligibility Center. No other type of transcript is accepted. • SAT score is highest combination of Critical Reading and Math Sections. • ACT score is highest combination of English, Math, Reading and Science subsections.

17. Important! Test Scores Submission • Test Scores must be sent directly to the Eligibility Center via the Testing Agency. • Code for NCAA Eligibility Center for both SAT and ACT: 9999. • May be requested upon registration or may be sent after results are posted via the appropriate website. • Test scores submitted by the high school on an official transcript will not be accepted.

18. Division I Core-Course Requirements (until August 1, 2016) • 4 years of English • 3 years of math (at Algebra I or higher) • 2 years of science (one must be a lab) • 1 years of additional English, math or science • 2 years of social studies • 4 years of additional core-course units _____________________________________________ • 16 Total Core Courses CORE COURSE GPA MUST MATCH TEST SCORE on “SLIDING SCALE”

19. “Eight Semester” Rule • In order to be eligible you must: • Satisfy 16 core course requirement not later than the standard graduation date of your incoming class (i.e. 4 years). If the requirements are not met within this time frame, you will not be able to complete them during a “fifth” year of high school. • *Exception*: A prospect who graduates “on time” may use up to one additional core course taken up to one year after graduation to satisfy requirements. • No time restriction for SAT/ACT score and/or completion of graduation requirements, except that both must be completed before initial full-time enrollment at a collegiate institution.

20. “Eight Semester” Rule • American prospect must satisfy 16 core course requirement not later than the standard graduation date of their incoming class (i.e. 4 years). If the requirements are not met within this time frame, they will not be able to complete them during a “fifth” year of high school. • *Exception*: A prospect who graduates “on time” may use up to one additional core course taken up to one year after graduation to satisfy requirements.

21. Examples • Prospect B: • Grade 9: 2005-06 • Grade 9 (repeat): 2006-07 • Grade 10: 2007-08 • Grade 11: 2008-09 • Grade 12: 2009-10 (graduates) • “B” may use all courses in the first four years of high school towards initial-eligibility, but may not use any taken during the senior year, or any after graduation. • Prospect A: • Grade 9: 2006-07 • Grade 10: 2007-08 • Grade 11: 2008-09 • Grade 12: 2009-10 (graduates with class) • “A” may use all courses in grades 9-12 for initial-eligibility and up to one course during the summer/academic year after graduation prior to enrollment in a college.

22. Exception!Early Certifications • PSAs who meet certain criteria at the conclusion of the junior year may receive an “early” academic certification status at the Eligibility Center. • 13 core courses (3 English; 2 math; 2 science; 6 additional) at a 3.00 gpa and; • SAT of 1000 or ACT of 85. • Official transcript and test score must be on file at Eligibility Center. • Student remains a final qualifier regardless of senior grades and/or graduation. • Student is still asked to submit final official transcript. • DIVISION I ONLY

23. Division II Initial Eligibility Requirements • Qualifier: Graduates and earns a minimum of 2.0 GPA in 16 core courses as designated and 820 SAT (68 ACT). May practice, compete and receive athletics aid in freshman year. • Partial Qualifier: Graduates and meets either the GPA requirement or the test score requirement. In freshman year, may receive athletics aid and practice only on campus, but may not compete; still has 4 seasons of eligibility. • Non-qualifier: Any prospect who is neither a Qualifier nor a Partial Qualifier. No practice, competition or athletics aid in freshman year; still has 4 seasons of eligibility.

24. Division II Core-Course Requirements • 3 years of English • 2 years of math (at Algebra I or higher) • 2 years of science (one must be a lab) • 3 years of additional English, math or science • 2 years of social studies • 4 years of additional core-course units _____________________________________________ • 16 Total Core Courses

25. Amateurism Certification • All prospective and enrolled student-athletes must meet the NCAA’s definition of an amateur in order to participate in intercollegiate athletics • A student-athlete shall not be eligible for participation in an intercollegiate sport if the individual takes or has taken pay, or has accepted the promise of pay in any form, for participation in that sport, or if the individual has violated any of the other regulations related to amateurism set forth in Bylaw 12. • Upon registration, prospect will be asked a series of questions—different answers may trigger requests for additional information. • Starting in April of senior year, PSAs must return to Eligibility website and request “final authorization”. • NCAA representatives email questions directly to PSAs ONLY. Email is sent to address given during registration.

26. Eligibility Timeline Junior year • Register on line with the Eligibility Center and fill out Amateurism Questionnaire. Don’t Lose your PIN Number!! • Take ACT or SAT test and report scores directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center: Code 9999. • Be sure to double check your approved core courses list (48H) to be sure that it reflects the current coursework being offered at your high school. After junior year • Ask your guidance counselor to send a six-semester official transcript to the Eligibility Center. • Request a preliminary report from the Eligibility Center and review it closely. • Re-take SAT or ACT if necessary.

27. Eligibility Timeline During the senior year • Choose enough core courses in senior year to meet requirements. • Check preliminary report. • Be sure your test scores have been sent in to the eligibility center. • Return to Eligibility Center website (April 1) to request a final amateurism certification. After the senior year • Review your final transcript with your guidance counselor to ensure accuracy. • Ask your guidance counselor sends final official transcript (with proof of graduation) to the NCAA Eligibility Center. • Ask the Eligibility Center to perform a final academic certification. Upon enrollment in a Division I or II institution, a student may participate in practice activities for no more than 45 days without a FINAL academic and amateur certification. No students may compete with a pending status.

28. Accommodations for Students with Disabilities • Use of a nonstandard ACT and/or SAT test. • Use of three courses taken after prescribed high-school graduation date. • No longer able to use unlimited courses up to enrollment. • Use of courses specifically designed for students with disabilities and approved as core courses by NCAA.

29. Financial Aid • National Letter of Intent (NLI) • Binding one-year agreement (verbal agreements non-binding). • Prospect must attend that institution for one year. • Institution must provide prospect with athletics financial aid in conjunction with the NLI. • Multi-Year Grants

30. ALERT!!! • NEW RULES FOR STUDENTS ENTERING SCHOOL IN 2016 AND LATER. (This Year’s High School Sophomores)

31. Questions?