Student-Athlete (stood-nt-ath-leet) noun: A participant in an organized competitive sport sponsored by the educational institution in which he or she is enrolled. Student-athletes are full time students and athletes at the same time.
ESTIMATED PROBABILITY OF COMPETING IN NCAA ATHLETICS BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL
Student-Athletes All Sports M B-ball W B-ball Football Baseball Ice Hockey M Soccer
HS Student-Athletes 7,300,000 546,400 429,400 1,083,300 488,800 35,200 440,300
NCAA Student-Athletes 492,000 18,700 16,600 73,700 34,600 4,100 24,800
% Moving from HS to NCAA 6% 3.4% 3.9% 6.8% 7.1% 11.7% 5.6%
% Moving from NCAA to Pro 2% 1.1% 0.9% 1.5% 9.1% 5.6% 1.4%
NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER: https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS:
To play sports at a Division I or II school, you must graduate from high school, complete 16 NCAA-approved core courses, earn a minimum GPA and earn an ACT or SAT score that matches your core-course GPA.
GRADE-POINT AVERAGE:
The NCAA Eligibility Center calculates your grade-point average (GPA) based on the grades you earn in NCAA-approved core courses. • DI requires a minimum 2.3 GPA. • DII requires a minimum 2.2 GPA.
TEST SCORES:
SAT or ACT scores required. NCAA does superscore across test dates.
SLIDING SCALE:
Divisions I and II use sliding scales to match test scores and GPAs to determine eligibility. The sliding scale balances your test score with your GPA. If you have a low test score, you need a higher GPA to be eligible.
ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION::
2%: STUDENT-ATHLETES ACROSS ALL DIVISIONS EARNING AN ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP
HEADCOUNT SPORTS VS. EQUIVALENCY SPORTS
THE COLLEGE SEARCH/FIT:
1ST QUESTION ALL STUDENT-ATHLETES SHOULD ASK THEMSELVES:
What role is athletics playing in my college search and selection process?
Answers we tend to hear:
Dictating the process
One component
Important but not as important as academics
I’d like to use my athletic ability to get into a “better” school
THINGS TO CONSIDER AS YOU MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS:
Proactive vs. Reactive Recruiting
Who is responsible for what?
Identify fit based on full experience
Have a full understanding of the financial aid process
Honest self and outside assessment
RESOURCES:
Guide for the Collegebound student-athlete:
http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/CBSA19.pdf
Facts about the three ncaa divisions: http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Recruiting%20Fact%20Sheet%20WEB.pdf
Recruiting terms to know:
http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future/recruiting
Division I Eligibility and Sliding Scale: http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/2018DIEC_Requirements_Fact_Sheet_20180117.pdf
Division II Eligibility and Sliding Scale: http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/2018DIIEC_Requirements_Fact_Sheet_20180117.pdf
Recruiting calendars (vary by sport):
TRANSITIONING TO COLLEGE:
THINGS TO DO & KNOW:
Be an active learner (always remember you are a student-athlete not an athlete-student)
Talk to your professors, advisors, and other supportive members of the college community, make sure they know you’re a student-athlete and that you care about your success in and out of class.
Create short-term plans, long-term goals, and prioritize
Own your experience but also be willing to ask for help!