Helping the Student-AthleteNCAA Clearinghouse & Considering the Next Step

Where to begin…

What is the NCAA Clearinghouse for?

Determines student eligibility to play sports in college

Created so there are minimum academic standards for student-athletes

For students who plan to play one or more Division I or II college sport (s)

What’s the process?•Students must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse

–By completing the Student Release Form (SRF) AFTER their JUNIOR year

•will be rejected if less than 6 semesters

–Includes a $50 fee

•PSA’s may not receive scholarship money, practice, or compete until certified by NCAA Clearinghouse

Registration Process• Log on to website www.eligibilitycenter.org

• Students create a new account and complete all sections

• After registering:– #1- Complete a transcript request form– #2- Send transcript via guidance counselor to

NCAA Clearinghouse– #3- Send SAT scores

• Must send SAT scores directly to NCAA– Contact collegeboard to have them sent(Scores on H.S. Transcripts – DO NOT COUNT!!)

Eligibility is determined using…• Core courses(14 min)

– A list of approved courses are available on-line – School specific

• Test Scores (See chart)- SAT OR ACT

– Can use highest sub-scores from SATs from different testing dates

– Writing score is not used• Div. 1- sliding scale chart • Div II- min. SAT 820/ACT-68

• GPA Requirement– Div II- 2.0 – Div. I- sliding scale chart

Remember

The NCAA academic rules DO NOT guarantee your admission to a

College!!!

Check for the specific requirements for each college you wish to consider.

Recruiting Rules & Regs.Just the basics!

Recruiting RegulationsRecruiting rules differ at each level (i.e.

Div. I, Div. II, and Div. III)

Example:Div. I allows a senior 5 official visitsDiv. III official visits are unlimited for a

senior

Recruiting rules and calendars differ for each sport

Official Visit• A visit to a member institution by a PSA

that is financed in whole or in part by the member institution

– Institution can only provide ONE official visit to their campus

– PSA’s can take ONLY FIVE total Official visits • Each to a different school• Regardless of the number of sports played by

the PSA

– First visit can be no sooner than the first day of the PSA’s senior year

Un-Official Visit• A visit to a member institution by a PSA

that is made at the PSA’s own expense• Exceptions:

– complimentary admission to on-campus event

– transportation to view practice/competition home competitions

– Unlimited Un-Official Visits are permitted

Recruiting 101• Key Terms

– Red Shirt• A PSA who does not compete for an entire year (can

practice); do not lose a year of eligibility

– National Letter of Intent• A binding agreement between a PSA and an institution• PSA is ensured by the institution, an athletics

scholarship for one full academic year• Institution is ensured that the PSA will enroll at the

institution• Penalties exist for breaking this agreement!!!• Once signed, no other institution may make recruiting

contact/calls to said student

Time Periods• Contact period- permissible to make in-person, off-

campus recruiting contacts and evaluations

• Dead period- not permissible to make in-person, recruiting contacts or evaluations on or off-campus or permit official or unofficial visits

• Evaluation period- permissible to be involved in off-campus activities to assess qualifications of psa. No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts with psa allowed

• Quiet period- permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts only on the member institutions’ campus

Contact vs. Evaluation• Contact

– Any face-to-face contact with the psa or psa relative & college coach/rep. that extends beyond a greeting

– Any pre-arranged meeting at a practice, competition,… regardless of if a conversation occurs

• Evaluation– any off-campus activity designed to assess

academic or athletic abilities of a psa – Visit to psa’s school (even if no contact is made)

• Number Allowed– 7 total for each PSA (Contacts & Evaluations combined)

– Only 3 Off-campus in the Senior Year, excluding official visits

In-person Contact• In-person, off-campus recruiting contacts shall NOT be made with

a PSA or the PSA’s relatives before July 1 following the PSA’s completion of the JUNIOR YEAR of high school

• Junior Year- 1 phone call by coach in March• Senior Year- 1 phone call per week ONLY from

COACH (PSA has to call them back)

• At PSA’s institution– Permission must be granted by the h.s. first

• At Competition Site– No contact at the site prior to the contest or during the

day of the contest – No contact after the competition until PSA is released by

their coach– No contact while competition over several days is taking

place until final competition is over

Recruiting

Prospective

Student-Athlete

Things to Consider

Taking the next step

Prior to your junior year:

• Consider the NCAA core courses as you prepare your schedule

• Begin the college search & consider schools at each level of play (D I, II, III)

• Challenge yourself in course work by taking honors & AP courses

• Take the PSAT’s & continue to take practice tests on line especially during the summer months

Junior Year:• Continue the college search & make a list of

those to visit• Take the SAT’s in Dec. or Jan.• Prepare your academic/athletic profile &

junior highlight/game film• Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse at

www.eligibilitycenter.org at end of year• Make contact with coaches before touring

each campus• Send e-mails, letters, highlight film, student

athlete profiles to each of the colleges you are considering

• Always remember to thank coaches for their time after a visit

The Final Stages-Your Senior Year• Revisit colleges of interest• Continue to maintain contact with coaches• Retake the SAT’s and/or the ACT’s• Update and maintain student/athletic profile• Send updated profile & include transcript,

newspaper articles, & senior highlight/game film

• Monitor your status with the NCAA Eligibility Center website

• Get recommendation letters• Make application to colleges on-line• Remember to send a final transcript to the

NCAA Clearinghouse

Questions to Ask Yourself:• Are you informed about the college &

know why you want to attend there?• What level of play are you looking to

attain? What are your goals as an athlete?

• What role do you expect to play? All four years?

• How important are your academics?• Where do you see yourself after

graduation? What does your life look like?

Resources to help

• www.eligibilitycenter.org

• Scholarship Searches, College Searches & Testing Help– www.princetonreview.com– www.finaid.org– https://access.bridges.com– www.collegeboard.com