Making Achievement Desirable: NCAA Eligibility Standards

1. Making Achievement Desirable: NCAA Eligibility Standards Saraland High School Presented by Jeff Kelly Athletic Director Saraland City School System

2. NCAA SCHOOLS • NCAA colleges and universities are divided into three divisions; Division I, Division II and Division III. • Diversity within the Divisions (big schools, small schools, different sports). • Difference between Divisions • Mission/Philosophy • Rules • Emphasis on competition (i.e., national, regional) • National championships • Athletic scholarships

3. General Athletic Eligibility • Admissions • Amateurism • NCAA Initial Eligibility Requirements

4. Admissions All NCAA Divisions • Student-Athletes must be admitted as a regularly enrolled, degree-seeking student • Student-Athletes may be admitted under special exception

5. Why does the Eligibility Center Exist? • To certify a student-athlete’s initial eligibility to practice, compete and to receive institutional aid during his/her first year of enrollment at a NCAA Division I or II school. • The NCAA Initial Eligibility Center now certifies prospective student-athlete amateur status • Students should only register with the NCAA Initial Eligibility Center if they are planning to participate at a NCAA Division I or II school.

6. Amateurism • Who needs to be certified? • Any individual enrolling at an NCAA Division I or Division II institution for the first time. This includes: • Domestic prospects • International prospects • Transfer student-athletes • Two-year institution • Four-year institution • NAIA institution • Foreign institution • NCAA Division III institution

7. Scope of Amateurism Questionnaire • QUESTION 1 – Agent issues. • QUESTION 2 – Pre-enrollment issues. • QUESTION 3 – Post-enrollment issues. • QUESTION 4 – Organized-competition issues.

8. NCAA Initial Eligibility Requirements • Does not apply to Division III schools • DIII student-athletes need only meet admission requirements and full-time enrollment to be eligible to practice and compete during first year • Applies to NCAA Division I & II schools

9. NCAA Initial Eligibility Requirements - continued • During first year at a NCAA Division I or II school, student-athlete must meet these requirements in order to be: • Eligible to receive institutional aid • Eligible to practice on a varsity team • Eligible to compete on a varsity team • Eligible for 4 seasons on competition

10. NCAA INITIAL ELIGIBILITY TERMS • Qualifier: • High school graduate • Presents specific academic qualifications (i.e., minimum core GPA and corresponding test score) • Can practice and compete during first year at Division I or II school • Has four (4) seasons of competition at a NCAA Division I or II school • Is eligible to receive institutional financial aid during his or her first year at Division I or II school • Nonqualifier: • Not a high school graduate and/or • Does not present specific academic qualifications (i.e., minimum core GPA and corresponding test score) • Can not practice or compete first year at Division I or II school • Has three (3) seasons of competition at a NCAA Division I or II school only after satisfying an academic year in residence at a four-year college/university • Is not eligible to receive institutional financial aid during his or her first year at Division I or II school. Eligible for need-based financial aid only. • Non-qualifier awarded a 4th season upon completing 80% of degree prior to his or her 5th year

11. NCAA INITIAL ELIGIBILITY TERMS • NCAA Core-Course: • Recognized academic course which qualifies for high-school graduation credit in one or a combination of the following areas: English, Mathematics, Natural/Physical Science, Social Science, Foreign Language or Non-Doctrinal Religion/Philosophy • Must be considered college preparatory • Math courses must be at the level of Algebra I or higher • Taught by a qualified instructor • Course must be taught at or above high school’s regular academic level • 48H – List of approved core courses for a specific high school

12. Example 48H List (Saraland HS) NAT/PHYS SCIENCE • Biology • Biology/AP • Chemistry • Chemisty/AP • Chemistry/H • AP Physics Course • Astronomy • Earth Science • Physical Science • Physics MATHEMATICS • Algebra 1 • Algebra 2 • Geometry • Calculus • Precalc. Math • Statistics & College Algebra ENGLISH • English 9 • English 10 • English 11 • English 12 • AP English • English 3/H • English 3 American Studies • English 4 • English 4/AP • Humanities • College Reading • Drama/Theatre Art

13. Four Parts of Initial Eligibility • High School Graduation • Minimum core grade-point average • Minimum Sum ACT or SAT test score • Completion of 16 core course distribution

14. Minimum Core Grade-Point Average • Weighted honors or advanced courses may be used • Core grade-point average based on 16 best grades • Quality Points ( 4 points = A, 3 points = B, etc)

15. Minimum Sum ACT or SAT test score • SAT (only verbal and math scores used to determine initial eligibility) • ACT Cumulative Points • Combined Test Scores

16. Completion of 16 core course distribution • Core-Curriculum Time Limitation (grades 9 through 12) • Courses taken after 12th grade (e.g., summer school) • Courses taken in a repeated term • Nontraditional Courses • College Courses

17. Accommodations for Students with Learning Disabilities • Common Questions • 1. What initial eligibility requirements must a student diagnosed with a learning disability meet? • Same as all other students, but they are permitted to use approved accommodations. • 2. Who is eligible to use the approved accommodations? • Those who have obtained the ability to use non-standardized test scores from a testing agency (ACT or SAT). • Those with a diagnosed disability who are receiving accommodations from their high school.

18. Division I - 16 Core Course Breakdown • 4 years of English • 3 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher) • 2 years of natural / physical science (1 lab course) • 1 additional year of English, math, or nat./phys. Science • 2 years of social science • 4 additional courses • English • Mathematics • Natural / physical science • Social science • Foreign language • Non-doctrinal religion or philosophy

19. Division I GPA / Test Score Scale ABBREVIATED VERSION OF SLIDING SCALE

20. Division II - 14 Core Course Breakdown • 3 years of English • 2 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher) • 2 years of natural / physical science (1 lab course) • 2 additional years of English, math, or nat./phys. Science • 2 years of social science • 3 additional courses • English • Mathematics • Natural / physical science • Social science • Foreign language • Non-doctrinal religion or philosophy

21. Division II GPA / Test Score Scale DOES NOT EXIST • 2.000 GPA in 14 core courses • Minimum combined SAT score of 820 or SUM ACT score of 68 If student meets one of the above but not both, he/she may practice with the team at home facilities and receive athletics aid, but MAY NOT compete or travel during initial year of enrollment. ONLY FOR DIVISION II.

22. Preparing to be certified by the NCAA Initial Eligibility Center • Freshman year through senior year • Students should register for high school courses in accordance with: • Your high school’s graduation requirements. • Appropriate college-prep courses. • NCAA core-course requirements. • NCAA core-course time limitation (only courses completed 9th grade 12 grade). • Sophomore and Junior years • Students should take the PSAT, SAT or ACT. • Test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to the NCAA Initial Eligibility Center by selecting code 9999. • This is FREE for students. Sending scores later costs $$$$.

23. Continuing Preparation • After Junior year • Register with NCAA Eligibility Center • Preliminary certification completed upon receipt of six-semester transcript sent directly from the high school. • The Eligibility Center will not accept a transcript that is sent by the prospect or the prospect’s parents. • The Eligibility Center will not accept a faxed copy of a prospect’s transcript. • If a high-school student attended more than one high school, the Eligibility Center will need a copy of each high school’s transcript. • Exception: the Eligibility Center will accept a high school transcript with credits and grades from multiple high schools if the schools are in the same school district and the Eligibility Center has documentation that this is the school district’s policy. • The Eligibility Center registration fee is $60 for U.S. students and $85 for foreign students.

24. Final Preparations • Early Senior year • Students should audit/reconcile high school transcripts and respective preliminary Eligibility Center certification to determine deficiencies in satisfying the NCAA core-course requirement, core-course grade point average and test score. • Test-score time limitation. • Post Graduation • Review final high school transcripts very carefully before sending to the NCAA Initial Eligibility Center (i.e., date of high school graduation included, ensure course titles on transcript are consistent with course titles on high school’s 48H that is on file at the Eligibility Center.

25. Transcript Accuracy is Vital!!! • Once the NCAA Eligibility Center receives a final transcript, a revised transcript may not be used. • All transcript changes after graduation must be handled through the initial-eligibility waiver process. • The NCAA Eligibility Center MUST receive a transcript from each high school the student attended (even for summer classes).

26. Changes to the NCAA Initial Eligibility Requirements • Core-Curriculum Time Limitation • Must graduate with high school class (8 semesters from start of 9th grade). • Can use one additional core course completed within one year following graduation. • If student does not graduate with class, he/she can not use additional core course. • Core Courses increase from 14 to 16 • As of graduating class of 2008

27. JUCO Transfers • Qualifier • A JUCO transfer who was certified as a qualifier may participate as long as he/she has passed an average of 12 credits with a minimum of a 2.0 GPA during each full time semester of enrollment. • May be eligible immediately at second institution. • 5 year clock starts upon first term of full-time enrollment @ JUCO • Non Qualifier • A JUCO transfer who was not certified as a qualifier must graduate from the JUCO • The student must pass a minimum of 48 transferrable credits with a minimum GPA of 2.0 • Must transfer in 2 English courses and 1 Math course • May be eligible immediately at second institution • 5 year clock starts upon first term of full-time enrollment @ JUCO

28. Recruiting Material • Coaches are permitted to send printed materials to prospects, coaches of prospects or any other individuals responsible for teaching or directing an activity in which a prospect is involved. • Earliest date to send recruiting materials to prospects: • Men’s Basketball – On or after June 15 of prospect’s sophomore year • All other sports – September 1 of prospect’s junior year • Recruiting material that may be sent to prospects before September 1 of the prospect’s junior year: • Camp brochures • NCAA produced Educational Information (e.g., Guide to College Bound Student-Athletes). • Questionnaires

29. Official Visits • An official visit is an expense paid visit to a college campus • A prospect is allowed one official visit to a particular college • A prospect may only take 5 official visits to a Division I or II college during his/her senior year • The earliest a prospect may take an official visit is the first day of classes of his or her senior year • A prospect can not take an official visit prior to a high school contest on the same day of the high school contest • Academic Requirements for Official Visit • A PSAT, SAT, or ACT Test Score • Academic Transcript • Registration for the NCAA Eligibility Center

30. National Letter of Intent and Athletics Scholarships • National Letter of Intent (NLI) is a voluntary agreement that a prospect signs to signify his or her commitment to attend a college or university. Prospect must also be awarded an athletics grant-in-aid at the time he or she signs the NLI agreement. • Agreement – College awards the prospect a scholarship for an academic year. The prospect agrees to attend that college for one academic year. • There are penalties if the prospect does not fulfill his or her part of the agreement • Benefits of signing a NLI • Secure athletics scholarship for one year • No more recruiting stress • Negatives of signing a NLI • Penalties (loss of eligibility)

31. Financial Aid • What does a full athletics scholarship cover? Tuition and fees, room and board, and required text books. • What is the range of athletics scholarships awarded? Athletics scholarships could be for as little as required text books or as much as a full grant-in-aid. However, academic scholarships may be available at the school as well. • Can athletics scholarship be awarded for less than two semesters (i.e., academic year)? No, athletics scholarship should be awarded for an academic year. • Are athletics scholarship guaranteed for 4 years? No, athletics scholarship must be renewed after each year.

32. Where will I go to college?Do your Research • Visit all types of different schools during sophomore and junior year in HS • Meet with or speak with an admissions counselor • Speak with current students • Know all paperwork and fee deadlines

33. What questions should I ask? Education • Majors, minors, general eduation requirements • Honors program, internships, etc. • Length of are class periods Size of School • Student-Teacher ratio • Transportation Housing/Social Life • Dining • Dorms • Student Activities/Organizations

34. Thank you for your attention to our presentation on NCAA eligibility and recruiting rules. Any questions? To contact the Saraland Athletic Director, call 251 602 8978 or email jkelly@saralandboe.org.