It Takes More than Talent; NCAA Division I Eligibility University of Notre Dame

Overview O What is the NCAA? O Defining Initial Eligibility O Initial Eligibility Requirements; Academic O Initial Eligibility Requirements; Amateurism O Remaining Eligible

WHAT IS THE NCAA?

National Collegiate Athletic Association O Nonprofit Association Founded 1910 O Governs over 1,200 institutions, conferences & organizations in U.S. & Canada O 3 Divisions since 1973 O Division I, Division II & Division III O DI football divided into FBS & FCS O Intercollegiate athletics began in 1852 when Harvard & Yale met in what sport?

DEFINING INITIAL-ELIGIBILITY

Defining Eligibility Qualifiers can do all of the following during their initial year: O Receive Athletics Financial Aid O Practice O Compete Nonqualifiers must spend their initial academic year in residence (e.g., cannot receive GIA, practice or compete)

Defining Eligibility Beginning with the Class of 2016, Academic Redshirts may do the following during their 1 st term: O Receive Athletics Financial Aid O Practice O Compete They must earn 9 credit hours (or 8 quarter hours) during term 1 to continue practicing in term 2

NCAA Eligibility Center eligibilitycenter.org

INITIAL-ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ACADEMIC

Initial Academic Eligibility O Graduation from high school O Minimum core grade point average O Minimum corresponding ACT or SAT score O Completion of 16 academic core courses

The DI Sliding Scale Division I uses a sliding scale to match test scores and core grade-point averages (GPA). O The SAT score used by the NCAA includes only the critical reading and math sections. The writing section of the SAT is not used. O The ACT score used by the NCAA is a sum of the following 4 sections: English, mathematics, reading and science.

The DI Sliding Scale What is a Core Course GPA? 16 high school Core Courses must be completed for DI eligibility O 4 years of English O 3 years of math (Algebra I or higher) O 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab if offered)

The DI Sliding Scale 16 high school Core Courses cont… O 1 year of additional English, math or natural/physical science O 2 years of social science O 4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or comparative religion/philosophy) Your high schools list of NCAA courses is available on eligibilitycenter.org under Resources

Core-Course Time Limitation O A prospect must complete core-curriculum requirements not later than the high school graduation date of his or her high school class O Anticipated graduation date is determined by the prospects 9 th grade enrollment O Exception: a prospect who graduates on time with his or her high school class may use 1 core course completed in the year following graduation

Additional Core Course Requirements for QualifiersEffective August 1, 2016 O 10 of the 16 required core courses must be completed prior to the start of the 7 th semester of high school O Includes summer school between the end of junior year and the start of senior year O 7 of 10 courses must be in English, math, and natural/physical science O The grades for these 10 courses must be used in calculating GPA and cannot be replaced by classes completed at a later date

The DI Sliding Scale Current sophomores, juniors & seniors O NCAA Eligibility Center Quick Reference Guide – Sliding Scale A O Qualifier O Nonqualifier

The DI Sliding Scale Class of 2016 O NCAA Eligibility Center Quick Reference Guide – Sliding Scale B O Academic Redshirt O Qualifier O Nonqualifier

Class of 2016 Academic Redshirt: eligible for athletics aid in first year of enrollment and for practice during first term of enrollment O Minimum core GPA O Must meet additional academic requirements to be eligible for practice in second term of enrollment (pass 9/8) O May not engage in competition during first year of enrollment Qualifier: eligible for athletics aid, practice, and competition during first year of enrollment O Minimum core GPA Non-Qualifier: ineligible for athletics aid, practice, and competition during first year of enrollment O Below core GPA, insufficient test score, less than 16 core courses, not a high school graduate

Education-Impacting Disabilities Students with a diagnosed disability may: O Use nonstandard ACT and/or SAT test scores O Use courses completed after high school graduation O Use courses designed specifically for students with disabilities

What should I be doing? O Choose NCAA recognized Core Courses O Class of 2016 O schedule 10 prior to senior year O 7 of the 10 must be in English, math or science O Register at eligibilitycenter.org (fee required) O Take the SAT/ACT & have test scores sent directly to the NCAA (code 9999) O Send official transcripts & POG to the NCAA O Contact collegiate admissions offices

INITIAL-ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AMATEURISM

Defining Eligibility Professional Athlete: an athlete who receives any kind of payment, directly or indirectly, for athletics participation O If youre not a professional athlete, youre considered an amateur

Amateurism Certification O All student-athletes entering a Division I or Division II institution must complete the amateurism certification process O Both domestic and international prospects must complete an amateurism questionnaire after registering with the Eligibility Center O Amateurism status is determined by the responses provided by the prospect

What Type of Questions Will be Asked? O Contracts with professional team O Salary for participating in athletics O Prize money above actual and necessary expenses O Play with professionals O Educational expenses from individual or entity other than a parent O Preferential treatment based on athletics participation or reputation O Tryouts, practice, or competition with a professional team O Benefits from an agent or prospective agent O Agreement to be represented by an agent

Amateurism Certification O Online, sport-specific questionnaire about their athletics history through the Eligibility Center O Included in the Eligibility Center registration fee O Elite athletes will be reviewed automatically by the NCAA staff O Must complete before a written offer of aid/NLI may be issued by a Division I institution

National Letter of Intent O Binding one-year agreement O Prospect must attend that institution for one year O Institution must offer athletics aid to the prospect in conjunction with the NLI (financial aid agreement) O Athletics aid can be offered for one year and renewed on an annual basis –OR- can be offered on a multi-year basis for a maximum of five years. O If the NLI agreement is broken, the basic penalty is to sit out of competition for a year and lose a year of eligibility.

REMAINING ELIGIBLE

Remaining Eligible O 6 hours a semester O Football 9 hour rule O 18 degree applicable hours during the academic year O 24 hours prior to 3 rd semester O 40/60/80 rule for 5 th, 7 th, and 9 th semesters O Term-by-term GPA requirements (1.8, 1.9, 2.0) O GOAL: to graduate in 5 years

Important Contacts O NCAA Eligibility Center O O Toll Free: 877/ O International Callers: 317/ O Fax: 317/ O O NCAA National Office O 317/ O Hotline: 800/ O Fax: 317/ O O College Bound Student-Athlete Guide O