NCAA College Athletics

Most collegiate athletic programs are regulated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), an organization that has established rules on eligibility, recruiting and financial aid. There are three membership divisions that comprise the NCAA-- Division I, Division II and Division III. Membership in a division is determined by an institution’s size and scope of their athletic programs and if they provide athletic scholarships.

If you wish to participate in Division I or Division II athletics and are enrolling as a freshman, you seek certification by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. To file with the Clearinghouse, see your high school counselor or obtain information from the institution’s athletic program that you wish to participate in the spring of Junior year about the rules and calendar governing your filing with the Clearinghouse. Forms for filing with the NCAA are available in July following your Junior Year.

All student-athletes expecting to play NCAA Division I & II athletics must meet initial eligibility requirements established by the NCAA Clearinghouse. These requirements include:

  • a minimum grade point average on 13 approved core courses
  • a minimum score on a standardized test
  • a grade point average is calculated on a 4.0 scale that does not include plus or minus points
  • the sum of the four sub scores of the ACT or the sum of the SAT* verbal and math scores are used in the eligibility index

Certification

The requirements for certification are ALWAYS changing. Please check with the NCAA online resource at http://www.ncaa.org. NOTE: Grade point average and ACT/SAT scores vary according to the Initial-Eligibility Index.

Registration

It is necessary for a student to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse for certification. To register you must go to the NCAA website - http://www.ncaa.org.

Resources for College Bound Athletes

American Sport Education Program
http://www.asep.com

Athletic Recruiting and College Scholarship Guide
http://www.athleticrecruit.com

NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete
http://www2.ncaa.org/index_students_parents.php

National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA)
http://www.nacda.com

National Small College Athletic Association
http://users.lr.net/~dmagee/nscaa.html

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
http://www2.ncaa.org

National Scouting Report
http://www.nsr-inc.com