“How to Get in the Game” Presented by the DHS Academic Advising Team and DHS Athletic Department

General Overview NCAA Recruiting Process Divisions I, II, III Recruiting Process NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center Formerly the NCAA Clearinghouse NAIA JUCO

Estimated Probability of Competing Beyond H.S. Level

Estimated Probability of Competing Beyond H.S. Level

NCAA Divisions Division II Division III Division I 282 schools Offer Athletic scholarships More restrictions on # of scholarships Require certain # of sports (5- m, 5-w) Division I 329 schools FBS, FCS, and non-football Offer Athletic Scholarships More scholarships available Have more sports required (7-m, 7-w) Attendance requirements (FBS teams) Division III 422 schools No athletic scholarships Require certain # of sports (5-m, 5-w) Focus is on participation and enhancing SA experience

NAIA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Founded in 1937, the NAIA has 283 schools and Thousands of athletes. For a complete list of NAIA Colleges go to: http://www.naia.org

NJCAA Over 500 member institutions Eligibility through individual institutions Allows for transfer to NCAA or NAIA schools Allowed 2 seasons of competition in any sport and must not have competed at any intercollegiate level during two (2) season prior.

The Recruitment Process There are two reasons high school students do not get recruited: They are not good enough. The right college coaches who may need their talent have not heard of them.

Three Step Process Assess Athletic Ability (high school or club coach) Identify Appropriate Colleges (find the right “fit”) Communicate with the college coach (phone, email or letter)

Student Questions for their High School/Club Coach How good do you think I am? What level and size school do you recommend? What colleges and college coaches do you know? Do you have any search suggestions? Might I have problems at the collegiate level? Could you prepare a letter of recommendation? Would you be willing to contact college coaches on my behalf?

Recruiting Terminology Prospective Student Athlete Any student that has started the 9th grade. 7th grade for boy’s basketball and softball Evaluations Any activity designed to assess the academic and athletic talents of a student. Contacts Any in-person, off-campus face-to-face encounters beyond a greeting. Telephone Calls All electronically transmitted voice exchange. General Correspondence Includes recruiting materials and electronic messages

Unofficial visit Official Visit Prospect incurs expenses associated with visit except including up to three (3) complimentary admission. Unlimited number of unofficial visits, but cannot occur during a dead period. In sports other than football and basketball, cannot occur prior to September 1 of prospects junior year. Official Visit Institute may pay the following expenses during a 48 hour period. Prospect’s transportation to and rom the college Parents transportation in football and basketball Meals (three per day and a snack) for prospect and up to four (4) family members while visiting the college Reasonable entertainment expenses, including up to six (6) complimentary admission to a home contest

Recruiting Process 9th and 10th Can be evaluated but no contact from the coach Can receive limited recruitment materials Camp Brochures Questionnaires Institutional Admissions Information NCAA Educational literature Can reach out to a coach EXCEPT Lacrosse and Softball (not until 11th grade) Football and Basketball ONLY Can made unofficial visits

Recruiting Process (cont.) Junior Year Coach can evaluate and begin to contact the student. Coaches can begin to send recruiting materials to prospects Recruiting letters Electronic correspondence Coaches can begin to make phone calls to prospects Prospects can begin to make official and unofficial visits.

Recruiting Process (cont.) Senior Year Coaches can continue to evaluate and have contact with prospects Coaches can continue to send recruiting materials to prospects Recruiting letters Electronic Correspondence Coaches can send written intent of offering athletic aid Coaches can continue to make phone calls to prospects Prospects an continue to make official and unofficial visits Prospects can sign a National Letter Intent

National Letters of Intent (NLI) Legally binding agreement with the NCAA college Full-time for one (1) Academic Year Institute will provide athletic financial aid May be a multi-year at DI Schools NLI Schools Must offer athletic scholarships Must be signed by student and cosigned by parent/guardian if under 21. Not NLI Ivy League, Service Academies, DIII, NAIA, Prep schools and JUCO

NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center Formerly NCAA Clearinghouse Oversight of certification, NLI’s, waivers, amateurism, and anything to do with initial enrollees All DI/DII student athletes must apply Decides freshman eligibility https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/

NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center (cont.) Core Course Completion Classes must appear on high school’s approved classes list Only 9th-12th grades used Summer school after 12th grade DII can DI can’t College courses can count Must be accepted by high school Meet all core course requirement Appear on transcript (DI), college transcript should be sent into Initial Eligibility Center as well

NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center (cont.)

Qualifier, Academic Redshirt, Non-Qualifier Athletic scholarship, practice and competition in your first year in residence Four years to compete Academic Redshirt Athletic scholarship and practice only in your first year in residence Non-Qualifier No scholarship, practice or competition in your first year in residence Only three years to compete, with ability to regain 4th

Amateurism – Final Step Prospects jeopardize NCAA amateur status by: Formally declaring into professional contract, compete with a professional team in hockey or skiing, or accept a salary Accepting prize money that exceeds expenses for an athletic event Entering into agreement or accepting benefits from agents

NAIA Eligibility Register at PlayNAIA.org as early as your Junior year. 2.0 GPA and a 16 ACT or 860 SAT Very few restrictions on contact between coach and student-athlete. Once you have started college experience by enrolling and/or attending classes, representatives from another NAIA school cannot initiate contact. Not an Letter of Intent program however, some NAIA conferences require member schools to recognize NLIs that are signed with other institutions.

TAKE RIGOROUS COURSES, STUDY HARD Take college-prep courses Keep your grades up Remember student athletes need to meet academic eligibility requirements -- for colleges and for athletic organizations

BE PROACTIVE – GET NOTICED Contact coaches at colleges of interest Create highlight video and resume Attend sports camps

FILE THE FAFSA, APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS Full scholarships and “full rides” are rare Submit the FAFSA as soon as possible Work with your Academic Advisor to identify scholarships Check with your college!!!!!

FIND THE RIGHT “FIT” Research academic and athletic programs, majors, etc. Visit the campus, talk to students, coaches, faculty, attend a game in your sport Consider expectations for playing time Use the “broken leg” test

APPLY TO COLLEGES Follow instructions and meet all application requirements Meet all deadlines Know that the final decision comes from the admissions office and not athletics

KNOW WHAT YOU’RE SIGNING Review all official paperwork with a trusted adult Read Letters of Intent carefully Check with colleges to determine their rules

Keep eligibility center account up to date    FINAL DETAILS Work with your counselor to ensure transcripts and proof of graduation are submitted Keep eligibility center account up to date

College Search Timeline   FRESHMAN YEAR Familiarize yourself with eligibility information. Plan a four-year class schedule that meets core course requirements. Explore college websites and talk with student-athletes. Develop a resume and highlight video. Consider attending a summer sports camp at a college of interest.

College Search Timeline SOPHOMORE YEAR Continue college exploration. Start a list of prospective schools Stay focused on academics and keep your grades up. Register with the NCAA or NAIA eligibility center, if applicable. Update your resume and highlight reel. Consider making initial contact with college coaches. Consider attending a summer sports camp at a college of interest.

College Search Timeline    JUNIOR YEAR Narrow your college list. Visit schools you are interested in attending. Take the ACT or SAT. Send the scores to college athletic associations and college admissions offices Check with school counselor to ensure your senior year courses align with requirements. Demonstrate your interest by contacting coaches, completing questionnaire Update your resume and highlight video. Consider attending sports camps, ID camps, showcases

College Search Timeline    SENIOR YEAR Submit a quality application to colleges, If applying Early Action or Early Decision, work with your counselor to meet deadlines. Retake the ACT or SAT if necessary. File the FAFSA as soon as possible. Research scholarship opportunities. Learn about letters of intent, ask questions before signing official paperwork.

College Search Timeline    SENIOR YEAR continued Contact coaches at the colleges in which you are interested, and give them an opportunity to see you compete. Work with your school counselor to make sure that necessary documentation—final transcripts and proof of graduation—are forwarded to the college admissions offices as well as appropriate college athletic association.

Recruiting Advice Do not hesitate to call or e-mail coaches. If you don’t, someone else is. BE PROACTIVE! Use E-Mail. It gives the coach the ability to contact on their own time. Do some research on your own. You can get a good feel for the school/team/coach by looking at their website. Use contact time wisely – Prepare a list of good questions. Answer the questions thoroughly and thoughtfully. Beyond “yes,” “no,” and “um”. There are no dumb questions. Get to know the coaches and see how you’d feel being with them for four years. They want to talk with the student and get an idea about who they are – not the parents!

RESOURCES High School Coaches High School Post-Secondary Office College Coaches College Compliance Directors NCAA Initial Eligibility website NCAA Elgibility Center Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete