How do I know if I am eligible to play Division I or Division II sports in college?
Eligibility is based on a number of factors including amateur status and academics. Students must have completed 16 core courses by graduation and meet a particular GPA and ACT/SAT score based on a sliding scale.
Colleges are changing their standards for eligibility. There are new GPA, core courses, and test scores to be able to play as a freshman in college. If you would like to see a snapshot of these requirements, I have included the NCAA Eligibility Quick Reference Sheet on this site under NCAA Downloads.
How do I register with the NCAA for DI or DII?
You will need to create an account and register with the NCAA at the end of your junior year or during your senior year of high school at
http://www.eligibilitycenter.org
What are the rules regarding the recruitment process?
There are different rules for each division.
Questions about what to ask recruiters?
If you are being recruited, you may not know what is even important to know from the recruiter. The NCAA has composed a list of questions that you should consider asking a recruiter before you speak to college representatives. This list has been posted on this site under NCAA Downloads and is titled Helpful Questions to Ask about Playing a Sport in College.
What if I want to play for a Division III school?
The individual institution determines eligibility for DIII athletics. Division III schools are NOT permitted to award athletic scholarships to students.
What is NAIA?
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics or NAIA is another organization like the NCAA that manages collegiate athletics. Some schools may be an NAIA school, so they have their own eligibility procedures. Find out more about which schools are part of the NAIA at
http://naia.cstv.com/member-services/about/members.htm . To find out additional information and/or register, go to
http://www.playnaia.org
What are my chances of playing at an NCAA DI or DII school or playing professionally?
Sports have many benefits to students within high school, but the chances playing at a DI or DII school or professionally are much smaller than what many students may think. Check out the stats available on NCAA Downloads titled Probability of Competing Past High School.
Getting recruited
Getting recruited means putting yourself out there to be seen. Here are some resources to help you do that. Some of their services are free while others are at a cost.