RESEARCHING SCHOOLS

One of the common misconceptions in recruiting is believing that athletes are discovered. While the very best high school athletes that play in high level traveling programs and showcase camps may be discovered, most college coaches rely on student-athletes contacting them. The most successful recruits are usually those who possessed a combination of athletic skill and academic talent and worked hard to research different colleges that might be a potential fit for their skills and desires. As we stated earlier, there are over 1,000 NCAA colleges at 3 levels, and it’s important to explore all your options. The goal of the recruiting process is not simply to get recruited by colleges, but to recruit your own schools. You are a huge much part of the recruting process. We're here to help you.

The NCAA rulebook is thicker than the yellow pages. Following some basic rules will keep you out of trouble. However, it is your responsibility to understand the specifics of person-to-person contact.

TELEPHONE CALLS

In all sports other than football and basketball, phone calls FROM coaches can take place on or after the following dates.

• NCAA D1 – College coaches can place 1 call weekly starting July 1 after junior year ( grade 11 in Canada) 
• NCAA D2 – College coaches can place 1 call per week starting June 15th after completion of your junior year. ( grade 11 in Canada) 
• NCAA D3 – Unlike D1 and D2, there are no restrictions as to when a D3 coach can call a prospect in high school. The NCAA feels that smaller D3 schools do not have the time, money, or resources to abuse this privilege, which will often be true.

Note: In any grade, coaches may RECEIVE calls from students who are paying for the call at ANY TIME. However, if a message is left, the coach cannot return the call until the proper time.

OFFICIAL VISITS

Division 1 – You are allowed 5 official visits to different schools of your choice (provided the school has invited you). In order to go on an official visit, you need to provide the college your current transcript on an official school document and your PSAT/SAT/ACT score. Official visits are paid for by the school and include round-trip transportation, lodging, food, and tickets to a game for you and in some instances for your parents. Official visits cannot exceed 48 hours.

Division 2 – The same rules apply for official visits for D2 schools. Regardless of the division classification of the schools you visit, you are allowed 5 total official visits at the NCAA D1 and D2 level. As long as you only use five official visits, they can be broken up as you chose between D1 and D2 schools.

Division 3 – You are allowed the same expense paid official visit to a D3 school as to a D1 or D2 school. While you can only make 1 per school, you can visit as many schools as you would like, as the limit of 5 does not apply for D3 schools. Many D3 schools cannot offer paid official visits due to the expense of bringing a student athlete to their campus.

ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY

The NCAA Clearinghouse processes ALL inquiries regarding an individual’s initial eligibility status to play NCAA D1 and D2 athletics. If you have aspirations of playing college athletics you MUST register with the NCAA Clearinghouse by the end of your junior year. NO EXCEPTIONS!

The Quick Facts:

• NCAA D1 and D2 have standardized minimum academic requirements for S-A’s entering college. If you want to play, you have to register and qualify according to the requirements. No one is exempt! (Except D3 bound S-A’s, they do not have to register with the Clearinghouse)
• Register at the end of your Junior Year by going to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net and/or working with your HS guidance counselor to get all the necessary documentation.
• If you attended more than one HS, you need official transcripts from each school, mailed directly to the Clearinghouse. Don’t mail them yourself.
• The Clearinghouse is in NO way part of the admissions process to a particular college.
• NCAA member institutions (schools recruiting you) will request your information from the 
clearinghouse, you will never send it to anyone yourself.
• You must submit a final transcript of your HS grades to the Clearinghouse when you graduate.

How Is Eligibility Calculated?

The NCAA Clearinghouse uses a sliding scale that compares your GPA and SAT/ACT scores. Unfortunately, most schools have far higher standards than what the NCAA Clearinghouse sets, so it’s possible to be eligible according to the NCAA Clearinghouse, but not get accepted to many individual colleges. The NCAA Clearinghouse doesn’t make admission decisions – only schools make admission decisions. 

Core Course Requirements

In order to be eligible, you must also complete 16 core courses in high school, as follows:

• 4 years of English
• 3 years of math (Algebra1 or higher)
• 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab)
• 1 year of additional English, math or natural/physical science
• 2 years of social science
• 4 years of additional courses (from any are a above or foreign language, 
non-doctrinal religion/philosophy, computer science)

You must earn a combined SAT or ACT sum score that matches your core- course grade-point average and test score sliding scale (for example, a 2.400 core-course grade-point average needs an 860 SAT).

Note: D2 eligibility is slightly different, requiring 3 yrs of English and 2 yrs of additional English, math or natural/physical science as opposed to 4 and 1 listed for D1, as well as 3 years of additional courses. **
The NCAA Clearinghouse Web site has a list of all high schools and approved core courses at those schools. If you are in doubt about a particular class, research your school and classes online or ask your counselor.

Junior College Requirements – You need to graduate from high school.

NAIA Requirements – meet 2 out of the following criteria:

• Score 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SATs;
• Have a GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale;
• Graduate in the top 1/2 of your high school class.

RESEARCHING SCHOOLS

One of the common misconceptions in recruiting is believing that athletes are discovered. While the very best high school athletes that play in high level traveling programs and showcase camps may be discovered, most college coaches rely on student-athletes contacting them. The most successful recruits are usually those who possessed a combination of athletic skill and academic talent and worked hard to research different colleges that might be a potential fit for their skills and desires. As we stated earlier, there are over 1,000 NCAA colleges at 3 levels, and it’s important to explore all your options. The goal of the recruiting process is not simply to get recruited by colleges, but to recruit your own schools. You are as much a part of the process as the coach is.