New NCAA Division I Initial-Eligibility Academic Requirements

Phil Wille, Associate AD for Internal Operations

Peter Prigge, Director of Compliance Kelley Anderson, Assistant Director of Compliance

Purpose

• To ensure that all Prospective Student-Athletes (PSA), parents, and high school academic support staff are familiar with NCAA initial eligibility rules.

The Basics

• The NCAA has strict eligibility standards that must be followed in order to be eligible to compete in NCAA D1 athletics. – Not NAIA, JUCO, etc.

• Initial Eligibility (our focus) • Continuing Eligibility &

Progress Toward Degree

New NCAA Division I Initial-Eligibility Academic Requirements

• 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.

New NCAA Division I Initial-Eligibility Academic Requirements

• 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.

Summary of Changes

• Minimum core-course GPA of 2.300 required; • Change in GPA/test score index (sliding scale);

and • Ten core courses required before beginning of

senior year.

The following slides explain these changes in further detail.

What is a “Core Course?”

• To establish eligibility at a member institution, a “core course” must meet the following criteria: – Must qualify for graduation in English, Math, Science,

Social Science, Foreign Language, Non-doctrinal Religion, or Philosophy.

– Must be a 4 year college preparatory course – any course that prepares student for a 4-year college.

– Must be Algebra 1 or high level math course. – Must be taught by qualified instructor as defined by

the high school. – Must be taught at or above the high school’s regular

academic level.

NCAA Division 1 Qualifier: Requirements for Athletics Aid, Practice and Competition

• Students will need to meet the following requirements to receive athletics aid, practice and compete their first year. – 16 core courses in the following areas:

• 4 years English; • 3 years Math (Algebra 1 level or higher); • 2 years Natural or Physical Science (one lab if offered at any high

school attended); • 1 year additional English, Math or Natural/Physical Science; • 2 years Social Science; and • 4 years additional from areas above or foreign language, philosophy or

comparative religion. – Minimum required GPA:

• Minimum GPA of 2.3 in those 16 core courses. – Graduate from high school.

NCAA Division 1 Qualifier: Requirements for Athletics Aid, Practice and Competition

• 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 • A repeat of one of the “locked in” courses will not be

used if taken after the seventh semester begins.

GPA and Test Score

• A Prospective Student-Athlete’s GPA will be calculated based on his/her grades in the 16 core courses.

• That core course GPA will be matched up with student’s corresponding SAT/ACT score to determine if that individual is a qualifier.

• The NCAA uses a sliding scale to determine qualifier status.

Sliding Scale Effective Starting August 1, 2016

Academic Redshirt: Requirements for Scholarship and Practice ONLY.

• 16 core courses in the following areas: – 4 years English; – 3 years Math at Algebra 1 level or higher; – 2 years Natural or Physical Science (one lab if offered at any high

school attended); – 1 year additional English, Math or Natural/Physical Science; – 2 years Social Science; and – 4 years additional from areas above or foreign language, philosophy or

comparative religion. • 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.

• Example: GPA of 2.50 requires SAT of 820 or ACT sum of 68.

Academic Redshirt: Requirements for Scholarship and Practice

ONLY.

Academic Redshirt: Requirements for Scholarship and Practice ONLY.

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

• After the first semester or quarter is complete, in order to continue to practice the rest of the year, the student-athlete must have successfully completed 9 credit hours the previous semester.

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. • Based on the Mountain West Nonqualifier rule, a PSA

who is a nonqualifier out of high school should NOT attend the University of Wyoming without first attending another institutional and qualifying under one of the NCAA transfer rules.

Resources

• For more information or questions: – NCAA Eligibility Center website at

www.eligibilitycenter.org • Click the “Resources Tab”

– NCAA Eligibility Center Customer Service: • 877.622.2321 (high school administrators only); or • 877.262.1492 (public).

– 2.3 or Take a Knee • http://2point3.ncaa.org

Recruiting

• There are many NCAA rules that limit interaction between college coaches and high school student-athletes.

• For this presentation, we will discuss the basics and what to expect if a student with whom you work is contacted to participate in collegiate sports!

Recruiting Terms

• Prospective Student-Athlete (PSA) – Students become a “prospective student-athlete”

when he/she begins ninth grade. – OR prior to ninth grade, a college gives a student,

his/her relative or friends any financial aid or other benefits that the college does not provide to students generally.

Recruiting Terms – Continued

• Evaluation – An activity by a coach to assess a PSA’s academic or athletic ability. – Example: Coach watches a high school game or

practice

• Contact – A face-to-face exchange with a prospect, his/her parents or legal guardians with an institution’s coach. – Example: Coach talks to PSA after game or

practice

Recruiting Terms – Continued

• Official Visit – Any visit to a college campus by a PSA that is paid for by the college. The college may pay for the following expenses: – Transportation to and from the college; – Room and meals (three per day) while the PSA is visiting

the college; and – Reasonable entertainment expenses, including three

complimentary admissions to a home contest. *Before a college may invite a PSA on an official visit, he/she must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center and provide the college with a copy of a high school transcript (Division I only) and SAT, ACT or PLAN score.

Recruiting Terms – Continued

• More on Official Visits (OV) – Division I – A PSA is allowed to take an OV starting the

opening day of classes for his/her senior year. – A PSA is limited to one (1) OV per college and up

to a maximum of five (5) total official visits. – Exception – Men’s Basketball PSAs can make an

official visit starting on January 1 during their Junior Year of HS.

Recruiting Terms – Continued

• Unofficial Visit – Any visit by a PSA to a college campus paid for by the PSA and his/her parents or legal guardians. The only expense a PSA may receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest. PSAs may make as many unofficial visits as he/she would like. The only time a PSA cannot talk with a coach during an unofficial visit is during a dead period.

Recruiting Calls

• What about phone calls? – The NCAA has different regulations for different sports regarding when coaches may call prospects.

• In most cases, phone calls do NOT start until after September 1 at the beginning of a prospect’s junior year in high school.

• Football and Ice Hockey have exceptions that allow limited calls prior to a prospect’s senior year.

• MBB and WBB have an exception that allows for telephone/text contact at different times.

Financial Aid (Athletic Scholarships)

Financial Aid – Terms

• Full Grant in Aid – A full grant-in-aid is financial aid that consists of tuition and fees, room and board, and required course-related books.

• Length of a Scholarship – At a minimum, an athletic scholarship must be a one-year agreement and can be up to five years.

Financial Aid – Terms

• Walk-On – A student who does not receive athletically-related institutional financial aid, but is a member of a college athletic team.

• “Outside” Scholarships – Aid that is not awarded by the institution or Athletics Dept. – In Division I, SA’s cannot accept outside

scholarships that require the SA attend a particular institution or are awarded from someone with a direct connection to the institution.

Thank You

• Questions?

Contact Info.

• Phil Wille, Associate AD for Internal Operations – Phone: 307-766-2391 – Email: pwille@uwyo.edu

• Peter Prigge, Director of Compliance – Phone 307-766-3795 – Email: pprigge@uwyo.edu

• Kelley Anderson, Assistant Director of Compliance – Phone: 307-766-4960 – Email: manderso@uwyo.edu