SETTING A COURSE TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

RICK CHRISTENSEN

DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY

TOPICS TO DISCUSS

•NCAA DIVISIONS•STARTING OUT•RECRUITING PROCESS FACTS•NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER PROCESS & INITIAL ELIGIBILITY

NCAA DIVISIONSNCAA DIVISIONSDIVISION I 346 INSTITUTIONS (EXAMPLES: PITT, DUQUESNE, RMU, WVU)

MUST SPONSOR AT LEAST 7 SPORTS FOR MEN & 7 SPORTS FOR WOMEN, OR 6 FOR MEN & 8 FOR WOMEN, WITH 2 TEAM SPORTS FOR EACH GENDER

MUST SCHEDULE DIVISION I SCHOOLS TO COMPETE AGAINST TO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA

MUST MEET MINIMUM FINANCIAL AID AWARDS FOR ATHLETIC PROGRAM

ARGUABLY A MORE COMPETITIVE LEVEL OF INTERCOLLEGIATE COMPETITION

DIVISION II 291 INSTITUTIONS (EXAMPLES: SLIPPERY ROCK, CAL PA, IUP, EDINBORO)

MUST SPONSOR AT LEAST 4 SPORTS FOR MEN & 4 FOR WOMEN, 2 TEAM SPORTS FOR EACH GENDER

ONLY SCHEDULING REQUIREMENT FOR FOOTBALL AND MEN’S & WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

CAN OFFER ATHLETICALLY-RELATED FINANCIAL AID

MORE REGIONAL COMPETITION BETWEEN SCHOOLS

DIVISION III 439 INSTITUTIONS (EXAMPLES: CMU, LA ROCHE, WAYNESBURG, W&J)

MUST SPONSOR AT LEAST 5 SPORTS FOR MEN & 5 FOR WOMEN, WITH 2 TEAM SPORTS FOR EACH GENDER

NO ATHLETICALLY-RELATED FINANCIAL AID IS OFFERED TO ANY DIVISION III STUDENT-ATHLETE

NAIA (EXAMPLES: CARLOW, POINT PARK)

NJCAA (EXAMPLES: CCAC, BUTLER COUNTY C.C., WESTMORELAND COUNTY C.C.)

GETTING THE FACTS:UNDERSTANDING THE RECRUITING PROCESS

PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE (I.E., RECRUIT OR PROSPECT) DEFINED AS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS STARTED CLASSES IN THE 9TH

GRADE - - A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL. “RECRUITED” PROSPECTS ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CONTACTED

BY COLLEGE COACHES (EITHER BY TELEPHONE OR IN-PERSON) AND/OR ARE PROVIDED WITH AN EXPENSE-PAID VISIT TO A COLLEGE CAMPUS, AND/OR A WRITTEN ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP OFFER.

COLLEGE COACHES’ RECRUITING TIMELINE FRESHMAN & SOPHOMORE YEARS – NOT MUCH DIRECT

INTERACTION OUTSIDE OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATION. JUNIOR & SENIOR YEARS – SPECIFIC RECRUITING MATERIALS CAN

BE SENT TO RECRUITS, TELEPHONE CALLS CAN BE INITIATED AND EXPENSE PAID CAMPUS VISITS CAN BE PROVIDED.

UNOFFICIAL vs. OFFICIAL CAMPUS VISITS RECRUITING “DEAD PERIODS” SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS – VERBAL vs. WRITTEN

INITIAL-ELIGIBILITYAND THE

NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER PROCESS

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 with the NCAA Eligibility Center◦ Have Test Scores/Transcripts on file at NCAA

Eligibility Center◦ Receive a “Final Qualifier” Certification Status

for Academic and Amateurism purposes.

WHAT IS A FINAL “QUALIFIER”?

A final 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 (each school has their own list of approved core courses).

◦ Meets Division I or II “Sliding Scale.”◦ Has graduated from high school.◦ Is certified as an amateur athlete.

Registering with the NCAA Registering with the NCAA Eligibility CenterEligibility CenterAny 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. Fee waivers accepted from Guidance Counselors.

Online Registration Only.

High School Transcripts and Standardized Test ScoresCore Course GPA will be determined using

the official transcript sent by the High School directly to the NCAA 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.

Important! Important! Test Scores SubmissionTest Scores Submission

Test Scores must be sent directly to the Eligibility Center via the Testing Agency.

Code for NCAA 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.

Recap – Division I

Final Qualifier in Division I:◦ Has 16 core courses in designated areas◦ Core Course GPA corresponds with minimum test

score requirement on sliding scale◦ Has graduated from High School

Any student not meeting any of these requirements is a final Non-Qualifier.◦ May not receive aid, practice and/or compete in

first year. Has 3-4 seasons of competition.◦ Some Division I conferences do not permit non-

qualifiers to participate.◦ No Partial Qualifier.

Division II Initial Eligibility RequirementsQualifier: 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.

Amateurism CertificationAll 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 as set forth by the NCAA.

Upon registration, prospects will be asked a series of questions—certain answers may trigger requests for additional information.

“Eight Semester” Rule

A prospective student-athlete must complete his or her core-curriculum requirements no later than the high school graduation date of the prospective student-athlete's class as determined by the first year of enrollment in high school (ninth grade). 

““Eight SemesterEight Semester”” Rule RuleA Student must:

◦ Satisfy 16 core course requirement;◦ Meet Sliding Scale (test may be retaken multiple

times until initial enrollment in a collegiate institution);

◦ Not exceed 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 NCAA initial-eligibility requirements (e.g., core course GPA, number of core courses).

5 HELPFUL REMINDERS5 HELPFUL REMINDERS1. Can send up to four SAT scores out for FREE - - NCAA’s

four-digit code is 9999.

2. Students must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center in order to take an “official (recruiting) visit” during your senior year of high school…and to receive a written athletic scholarship offer in the form of a National Letter of Intent.

3. If the student attends multiple high school, they must have official transcripts sent to the NCAA Eligibility Center from each high school separately. Official transcripts can only be sent to the NCAA Eligibility Center directly from the high school.

4. There will be a change to the current Qualifier standards for all prospective Division I student-athletes in the Class of ‘16.

5. Consult with and seek the assistance of your guidance counselor throughout the process for updates on your eligibility status, core course planning, fee waivers, submission of information, etc.

Questions??

RICK CHRISTENSENDUQUESNE UNIVERSITY

EMAIL - CHRISTENSEN@DUQ.EDU