NCAA Eligibility: From High School to College Student-Athlete

 For college-bound student-athletes enrolling full time at a 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.

 Ten core courses required before beginning of senior year.  Other changes were turned down at a NCAA Board of Directors meeting

NCAA Division I Full Qualifier: Requirements for Athletics Aid, Practice and Competition NCAA Eligibility Center Standards Graduate from High School 16 Core Courses Must be on List of Approved Courses at the high school (aka 48H form) Must complete 10 core courses before seventh semester of high school (e.g. senior year) Earn minimum required GPA in core courses Earn minimum SAT/ACT sum score that matches core course GPA on sliding scale

NCAA Division I Full Qualifier: Requirements for Athletics Aid, Practice and Competition NCAA Eligibility Center Standards 4 years English 3 years Math (Algebra I or higher) 2 years Science (1 year lab, if offered) 1 year Additional English/Math/Science 2 years Social Science 4 years Additional Core from areas above or foreign language, philosophy or comparative religion

NCAA Division I Full 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.

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

Academic Redshirt Example  Q: A college-bound student-athlete completes nine core courses prior to the seventh semester of high school. What is the college-bound student-athlete’s initial-eligibility status?  A: The college-bound student-athlete cannot be certified as a qualifier because only nine of the 10 required courses were completed before the seventh semester. He/she would be permitted to practice and receive aid (scholarship), provided he/she presents 16 core courses and meets the necessary core-course GPA and test score requirement at the time of graduation.

 Q: A college-bound student-athlete completes 15 core courses with a core-course GPA and an 820 SAT score (critical reading and math). What is the college-bound student-athlete’s NCAA initial-eligibility status?  A: The college-bound student-athlete is a nonqualifier because only 15 core courses were completed, not the required 16 core courses. Nonqualifier Example

Initial Eligibility Standards Amateurism Standards (All Prospects) All Prospects MUST complete the amateurism portion of the NCAA Eligibility Center.  Participation After 21st Birthday—Men’s Ice Hockey and Skiing. In skiing, any participation as an individual or a team representative in organized sports competition by a student during each 12-month period after the student’s 21st birthday and prior to initial full-time enrollment in a collegiate institution shall count as one year of varsity competition in that sport.

Best Practices  Register with NCAA Eligibility Center   Send official transcripts  Send ACT or SAT test scores  NCAA Eligibility Center  PO Box 7136  Indianapolis, IN

 Courses taught through:  The Internet (online or virtual);  Distance learning;  Independent study;  Individualized instruction;  Correspondence;  Computer software programs; or  Other similar means. Nontraditional Core Courses

 Must include ongoing access between the instructor and student.  Must have a defined time period for completion (i.e., six weeks).  Should be clearly identified as nontraditional courses on the high school transcript.  Must be four-year college preparatory and need to be comparable in length, content and rigor to courses taught in a traditional classroom setting. Things to consider before taking Nontraditional Courses

Questions?