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

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

3. Estimated Probability of Competing Beyond H.S. Level

4. Estimated Probability of Competing Beyond H.S. Level

5. 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

6. 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:

7. 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.

8. 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.

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

10. 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?

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center (cont.)

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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

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

25. 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!!!!!

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. 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

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. Recruiting Advice
Do not hesitate to call or coaches. If you don’t, someone else is. BE PROACTIVE!
Use . 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!

36. 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