What You Need to Know

1. College Athletics What You Need to Know

2. Tonight’s Agenda: • Provide information about college athletics • Help advise potential athletes and their families about their role in this process • Introduce Eligibility requirements • Dispel myths • Answer any questions

3. Do I Want to Participate in • College Athletics? • At What Level of Intensity? • Time Commitment will vary across Divisions and Programs • Level of Play will vary across Divisions and Programs • What is the coach’s background, success, and goals • One year commitment (4 year retention is 25 – 30 %) • The Experience will vary for every Student-Athlete

4. The Building Blocks of Prospective Student Athletes: Recommendations for student-athletes: • Make the grades – do the work! • Play often with and against highest level possible • Overachieve – the next grade builds on the previous year (GPA) • Begin the process (look at colleges on the internet) • Fill out online prospective student surveys • Review NCAA Guide for the College Bound Athlete • Register with the Clearing house Junior/Senior Year

5. Recommendations for your student-ATHLETES • Develop a player resume and write to the schools of interest • Produce a video if possible (keep it short, 10 minutes) • Play at as many high profile events as possible AND PLAY WELL!!! • Update important information – Playing schedule, Awards, Honors • Prepare applications for admission • Have your coach call with a recommendation

6. Call the coach at the schools of interest. They want to hear from the student. • Keep parents involved and in contact with the coach (at the end) • Apply early to the schools of interest • Be realistic in choosing the school • How important is the sport to you? Are you committed to spending the time and energy necessary to be a successful student-athlete? • Visit the campus if possible before senior year • See the team play, meet the coaches and the players Recommendations for your student-ATHLETES

7. What do coaches look for: • Can the candidate play at their school’s level? • What success has the student had in high school athletics? • Do they have the ability: physical, tactical and mental attitude to be successful? • Can they meet the institution’s academic standards? • NCAA v. individual college’s standards • Eligibility Center: “qualifier” status • Does the candidate have character? • Leadership ability? • Goals for life and for sports? • What is their behavior before, during and after a game?

8. How Do You Express an Interest to Play? • Meet with your HS Coach to see Contacts and Recommendations • Write a letter & athletic resume to coaches or programs • Fill out on-line questionnaires or mass mailings • Visit the School and meet with the Coach • Call or email the Coach • 2-way street of communication • Team sports v. individual sports • High school v. club teams • Highlight Videos Hudle

9. Various Divisions in Intercollegiate Athletics • NCAA Division I: Can hold tryouts (but not likely), Athletic Aid • NCAA Division II: One tryout, Athletic Aid • NCAA Division III: No tryouts, No Athletic Aid • NAIA: Tryouts, Athletic Aid • NJCAA Division I: Athletic Aid, tryouts • NJCAA Division II: Athletic Aid, tryouts • NJCAA Division III: No Athletic Aid • Athletic Aid will vary with the sport and the school • Aid will be based on Coach’s interest and the students need • Programs without athletic aid work with Financial Aid

10. The NCAA Clearinghouse & The Eligibility Center www.eligibilitycenter.org • Division I & II Only • Determines athletic eligibility for college • 16 Core Courses (Division I and II) • Class of 2016, requires 10 core classes to be completed before senior year. • Sliding Scale – Core GPA / Test Score Index • Register by the end of the Junior Year • Meet w/ your Counselor for Scheduling Approved Classes • Fee $65 or waiver. • Division III – eligibility determined by school not NCAA.

11. www.CorecourseGPA.com Core classes

12. A student-athlete must be a graduate of a high school with an academic diploma or a General Education diploma. Once enrolled they have to maintain a 2.0 GPA NJCAA www.njcaa.org

13. Division I and II • Register on www.playnaia.org by the end of the Junior Year • Meet 2 out of 3 requirements • Achieve a minimum of 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SAT (reading and math only) • Achieve a minimum overall high school un-weighted GPA of 2.0 • Graduate in the top half of your High School class. • Fee $65 or waiver. NAIA www.playnaia.org

14. The time line for prospective student athletes: • Grade 11 • Register with the eligibility center. • Make sure you are still on course to meet core-course requirements (verify you have the correct number of core courses and that the core courses are on your high school's accepted classes). • After your junior year, have your high school guidance counselor send a copy of your transcript. If you have attended any other high schools, make sure a transcript is sent to the eligibility center from each high school. • When taking the ACT or SAT, request test scores to be sent to the eligibility center (the code is "9999"). • Begin your amateurism questionnaire.

15. The time line for prospective student athletes: • Grade 12 • When taking the ACT or SAT, request test scores to be sent to the eligibility center • Complete amateurism questionnaire and sign the final authorization signature online on or after April 1 if you are expecting to enroll in college in the fall semester. • Have your high school guidance counselor send a final transcript with proof of graduation to the eligibility center (After July 1st ).

16. Questions for the prospective student athlete: • What type of college experience are you looking for? • Location… Close to home v opposite coast (3-5hrs) Academic, Athletic, Social, City/Country… Size…Team/Sport Specifics… • How many players are graduating and what positions will be available? • What are the time commitments of a student athlete? • What is the training like in and out of season? • What are the graduation rates of the school? (All athletes and the team) • What is it like to be a student athlete? • What are the academic benefits and special services for athletes?

17. Recruiting terms: NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student Athlete (Answers on Page 20 in the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound student Athlete) Contact Contact period Dead period Evaluation Evaluation period Official visit Prospective student-athlete Quiet period Unofficial visit Verbal commitment Qualifiers Red shirting

18. Know the process and the myths: • Match student’s academic skills, athletic skills and desire to play with the appropriate college. • Understand the Different levels of Athletic Scholarship (What is a Full Scholarship?) • If a student athlete meets NCAA requirements it does NOT guarantee admission into a college. The student must still meet the college’s admission requirements. • Make the Choice on the School not the coach!! • Coaches leave programs • Student’s interest change in the sport • Injuries may occur that end a career • Playing Time & Success of program may vary

19. Questions? Thank you for your participation. Coach Natalie Davis