Understanding NCAA Eligibility Joann Graham and Mary Willer Counselors for Student Athletes Santa Barbara City College graham@sbcc.edu, mwiller@sbcc.edu (805) 965-0581

Steps You Must Take to Participate in NCAA Division I or II Athletics your 1st year of college 2

What is the NCAA and NCAA Eligibility Center? Determine initial eligibility for athletic participation Students considering participation in college sports at D1/ D2 must register with eligibility center Take SAT/ACT even if going to community college www.ncaa.org www.eligibilitycenter.org / 877.262.1492

NCAA Division I NCAA Division I - 5 years to play 4 years Full-time enrollment at any college triggers "5- year clock" Exceptions: military service, 1-time pregnancy exception, religious mission Any exceptions must be petitioned by the 4-year college

NCAA Division II 10 semester/15 quarter- full-time enrollment Any full-time collegiate enrollment uses one semester / quarter of eligibility Clock stops if not enrolled or enrolled part-time

HIGH SCHOOL Freshmen and Sophomores Must: Start planning now Need 16 core courses Work hard to get best grades possible Take classes matching your high school’s NCAA List of Approved Core Courses - NCAA Eligibility Center only uses approved core courses to certify initial eligibility Access and print your high school’s NCAA List of Approved Core Courses at www.eligibilitycenter.org, click “Resources” at top of screen

JUNIORS Must: Beginning of junior year, register with Eligibility Center www.eligibilitycenter.org Take ACT, SAT or both and use Eligibility Center code “9999” as a score recipient Make sure to take courses matching your high school’s NCAA List of Approved Core Courses After completing Junior year, SEND official transcript to Eligibility Center. (E.C. DOES NOT accept faxed transcripts) Prior to Senior year, check with your counselor (and Eligibility Center) to determine number of core courses needed to be completed senior year

Seniors Must: Take SAT and/or ACT as often as necessary. E.C. uses best scores from each section to determine best cumulative score Continue taking Core Courses Take courses matching your H.S.'s List of Approved Core Courses Earn best grades possible Graduate on time (in 8 academic semesters) After graduation, send final OFFICIAL transcript to Eligibility Center with proof of graduation

Core-Course Completion “On Time” From the time you enter the ninth grade, you have 4 years (or 8 semesters) to complete the 16 core-course requirement “On time" also means that if graduation takes place June 1, you must graduate June 1

Division I : 16 Core Courses 4 years of English 3 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher) 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab) 1 year of additional English, mathematics or natural/physical science 2 years of social science 4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or non-doctrinal religion/philosophy) See handout for sliding scale (GPA/SAT-ACT, verbal and math sections only)

New sliding scale for DI Must complete 10 core courses before senior year 7 of 10 must be Math, English, and Science. Sliding scale changed to min. GPA of 2.3

NEW Core Course Requirements – Div II 16 Core Courses 3 years of English 2 years of math (Algebra I or higher) 2 years of natural/physical science 3 years of additional English, math, or natural/physical science 2 years of social science 4 years of additional courses from any area above, foreign language or comparative religion/philosophy Need a minimum of 820 (combined Verbal and Quantitative) on SAT or 68 on ACT/2.0 GPA

NCAA Division III Requirements Division III institutions do not require registration with the Eligibility Center Contact Div III college or university for details on admission requirements, financial aid, practice & competition

Qualifier Graduated High School Successfully completed core curriculum - 16 core courses Met specified GPA in core classes and met specified minimum SAT/ACT score Student may practice, play, and receive financial aid initially out of high school at a 4-year university http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/eligibility_center/Quick_Reference_Sheet.pdf

Non-Qualifier Not graduated from high school, or Not earned the GPA in core curriculum or SAT/ACT score required to qualify Cannot practice, play, or receive financial aid for one academic year after high school at a 4 year university

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Initial-Eligibility Overview: Amateurism Update athletics participation information often, especially if participating in events outside of the normal high school season (i.e. Club sports) Meet often with HS counselor, to ensure protecting amateurism AND meeting core-course requirements Stay college eligible – Always Ask Before You Act!

Important Terms for College Eligibility Participation Student athlete plays one play or one second - counts as one season of participation Score is being kept officially. Scrimmages do not count! Officials/ refs during competition Game counts toward official record or post- season play Redshirt: student athlete enrolls full-time but does not play Medical Redshirt: injury before specific time period of season, out for rest of the season. Trainer and doctor must fill out the appropriate paperwork Greyshirt: student athlete enrolls part-time at a school and does not play first semester. Does not trigger the Division I eligibility clock

Qualifiers vs. Non-Qualifiers at the Community College- 2-4 Transfers Division I: You can be recruited after 1 full-time semester Must average 12 transferable credits per full-time term Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 Division II: You can be recruited after 1 full-time semester Average 12 transferable units per full-time term EX. 3 semesters = 36 units Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.2 Division III: Must have been considered academically and athletically eligible if you stayed at your two-year school

Qualifiers vs. Non-Qualifiers at the Community College- 2-4 Transfers (Continued) Division I: Complete a minimum of 3 semesters (summer doesn't count) Earn an Associate of Arts degree Earn a minimum of 48 transferable units GPA 2.5, 6 units of transferable english, 3 units TR math, and 3 units of science. Division II: Complete 2 full-time semesters and Earn an Associate of Arts degree, OR Average 12 transferable units per full-time term Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.2 plus 6 units of English, 3 units of transferable math. Division III: Must have been considered academically and athletically eligible if you stayed at your two-year school

Qualifiers/Non-Qualifiers- 4-2-4 Transfers Division I: All 4-2-4 transfers Earn Associate of Arts degree Complete 12 transferable units per full-time term (excluding summers) 2.50 GPA in transferable units 1 calendar year must have elapsed after leaving four-year Exception: Return to original 4- year institution

Qualifiers 4-2-4 Transfers Division II: Attended two-year institution for 2 full- time semesters 2.2 GPA Earn Associate of Arts degree OR average 12 transferable units per full-time term

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