Creating a Pathway to the NCAA Division I or Division II Student-Athlete Experience

JCCA Summer Conference, Louisville, KY

Thursday, August 1, 2013

NCAA Eligibility Center Staff:

Jeremy McCool

Amy Routt

Jack Britton

Overview

NCAA Eligibility Center Responsibilities. Current initial-eligibility requirements 2016 Academic Initial-Eligibility changes Role of the High School. Helpful Steps for College-Bound Student-Athletes. Available Resources

NCAA Eligibility Center Responsibilities

The NCAA Eligibility Center is responsible for determining the

eligibility of every college-bound student-athlete in NCAA

Divisions I and II using the following two areas:

Academic Certification.

Does the college-bound student-athlete meet the legislated

minimum academic requirements?

Amateurism Certification.

Has the college-bound student-athlete jeopardized his or her

amateur status?

Current NCAA Initial-Eligibility Requirements

1. Graduate from high school

2. Successfully complete 16 NCAA-approved courses

Within the core course time limitation requirements (Div. I only)

3. Earn a minimum required core-course grade-point average(GPA)

4. Earn a required SAT or ACT sum score

5. Successful Amateurism Certification

The Certification Process

Student registers in sophomore year. Student takes the ACT and/or SAT junior year (using score

recipient code 9999). At the end of the junior year, student asks the high school to

send his/her high school transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center. If the student is on an active IRL, the NCAA Eligibility Center will

perform a preliminary certification using the student’s six-semester transcript.• It is helpful to know where the student is academically; as it

can help guide future course selection and/or academic effort. On/after April 1 of the student’s senior year, he/she can request

a final amateurism certification.

Early Academic Qualifier

Run at the time of preliminary certification (six semester mark).

Division I:• 900 SAT (critical reading and math) or 75 ACT sum;• 3.000 core grade-point average (GPA); and• 14 units (3 English, 2 math, 2 science, 2 additional English,

math or science, and 5 additional core courses). Division II:

• 1000 SAT (critical reading and math) or 85 ACT sum;• 3.000 core GPA; and• 12 units (3 English, 2 math, 2 science and 5 additional core

courses).

Core Curriculum

Division I 16 core requirement:

• 4 years English• 3 years Math (Algebra 1 or

higher)• 2 years Science (including 1

lab, if offered)• 1 year Additional English,

Math or Science• 2 years Social Science• 4 years Additional Core

Division II Effective Fall 2013. 16 core requirement:

• 3 years English• 2 years Math (Algebra 1 or

higher)• 2 years Science (including 1

lab, if offered)• 3 years Additional English,

Math or Science• 2 years Social Science• 4 years Additional Core

Core-Curriculum Time Limitation

Division I: Must graduate on time. Ability to take one core course after graduation. Three core courses after graduation with approved

Education Impacting Disability.

Division II: All core courses completed following start of ninth grade and

prior to full-time enrollment at four-year collegiate institution.

NCAA Division I Initial-Eligibility Academic Requirements (New)

There are new requirements for college-bound student-athletes enrolling full time at an NCAA Division I college or university on or after August 1, 2016.

High School Graduation D Division I Initial-Eligibility

NCAA Division I Initial-Eligibility Academic Requirements (New)

For college-bound student-athletes enrolling full time at an NCAA Division I college or university on or after August 1, 2016, there are three possible academic outcomes:

1. Full qualifier = competition, athletics aid (scholarship), and practice the first year.

2. Academic redshirt = athletics aid the first year, practice in first regular academic term (semester or quarter).

3. Nonqualifier = no athletics aid, practice or competition the first year.

Minimum GPA for Competition: Minimum GPA of 2.300 in 16 best core courses.

Core-course progression. Must complete 10 core courses before seventh semester of high

school (e.g., senior year).

Of the 10 core courses completed, seven must be in the area of English, math, or science.

These 10 core courses become “locked in” for the purpose of GPA calculation. o A repeat of one of the “locked in” courses will not be used if

taken after the seventh semester begins.

NCAA Division I Full Qualifier:Requirements for Athletics Aid, Practice and Competition

Academic Redshirt: Requirements for Athletics Aid and Practice.

16 core courses in the following areas: Only 16 “best” core courses will be used for IE certification

Minimum required GPA. Minimum GPA of 2.000 in 16 core courses.

Academic redshirt sliding scale. Minimum sum ACT or SAT score (critical reading/math only)

that matches the 16 core-course GPA.o Example: GPA of 2.50 requires SAT of 820 or

ACT sum of 68.

Sliding Scale for Academic Redshirt (Abbreviated)

Athletics Aid and Practice Only

GPA for Aid and Practice

SAT (critical

reading/math only)

ACT Sum

GPA for Aid and Practice

SAT(critical

reading/math only)

ACT Sum

3.550 or above 400 37 2.500 820 68

3.500 420 39 2.400 860 71

3.400 460 42 2.300 900 75

3.300 500 44 2.299 910 76

3.200 540 47 2.200 940 79

3.100 580 49 2.100 980 83

3.000 620 52 2.000 1020 86

2.900 660 54

2.800 700 57

2.700 740 61

2.600 780 64

The full sliding scale can be found at

www.eligibilitycenter.org under Resources.

Academic Redshirt: Requirements for Scholarship and Practice

If a college-bound student-athlete meets these requirements, he/she can receive an athletics scholarship during his/her first year at an NCAA Division I college or university.

If he/she meets these requirements, he/she can practice during his/her first term (e.g., semester, quarter) at a Division I college or university.

After the first semester or quarter is complete, in order to continue to practice for the rest of the year, the student must be academically successful at the collegiate level.

What If A Student Does Not Meet Either Set of Requirements?

If a college-bound student-athlete does not meet either set of requirements, he/she is a Nonqualifier.

A Nonqualifier: Cannot receive athletics aid during the

first year at an NCAA Division I college or university.

Cannot practice or compete during the first year at a Division I college or university.

Summary of Changes for DI Qualifier Eligibility

Minimum core-course GPA of 2.300 required w/ corresponding test score

Ten core courses required before the beginning of senior year.

7 of 10 courses required in areas of; Math, Language Arts & Nat/Phys. Sciences

Make sure your school’s List of NCAA Courses is accurate and

up to date.

Encourage your college-bound student-athletes to complete the

registration process, at www.eligibilitycenter.org, at the beginning

of their sophomore year.

Send official transcripts at the end of the student’s sixth semester

(junior year) and eighth semester (graduation from high school).

Submit fee waivers online for student registration when applicable.

Role of the High School

Know the initial-eligibility requirements.

Use NCAA Eligibility Center informational resources to map

out the academic track.

Emphasize the importance of academic performance at every step

of the student’s high school career – 9th grade counts!!!

Know how to calculate a student’s core-course GPA.

Use the NCAA Divisions I and II Worksheets found on pages

16-17 of the Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete.

Know that special considerations are given to students with

documented education-impacting disabilities.

Ways That Counselors and Coaches Can Help

www.eligibilitycenter.org

Click here to enter the High School Portal.

High School Portal

Click here to log in.

Or click here.

High School and Coaches Newsletters

To subscribe: Go to www.eligibilitycenter.org; Click the link to enter as a

“High School Administrator”. At the bottom of the log-in

page, click the link to subscribe.

To specifically subscribe to the new Coaches Newsletter, enter “Coach” as your title. You will then receive both the High School and Coaches Newsletters.

Resources Page

Resources

Eligibilitycenter.org for college-bound student-athletes to complete their registration and check their status with the

NCAA Eligibility Center. Also to download and print a copy of the 2012-13 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete.

Act.org. (ACT) Collegeboard.com. (SAT) National-letter.org. (National Letter of Intent)

Additional Resource: NFHS course now FREE!

NCAA Initial Eligibility Online Course

www.nfhslearn.com

2016 NCAA Initial-Eligibility Resource

2point3.org

Amateurism

College-bound student-athletes should update their sports participation information often, especially if they participate in events outside of the normal high school season.

Have your student-athletes meet with you often, to make sure that they are protecting their amateurism and are also meeting their core-course requirements.

Stay college eligible – always ask before you act!

Questions?

The NCAA Eligibility Center has created a phone line exclusively for high schools. Please contact the NCAA Eligibility Center with your questions at

877/622-2321.