GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT ATHLETE

So, you want to be a college athlete. That’s great! The National College Athletic Association (NCAA) has developed a process that ensures that all participating colleges and universities and their student-athletes are competing on a “level playing field,” and that all prospective athletes are academically eligible to participate. Understanding that process is the first step. This handout is intended to help you better understand that process.

Playing sports in college can be a rewarding experience, whether you’re playing a varsity sport at a Division I or II school or intramural sports: you can continue to play your favorite sport, you get to be part of a team, and you have an instant group of friends. The difference is that if you are recruited at a DI or DII college and receive a scholarship, the coach will expect your priority to be sports, and it will often be up to you to make sure you keep a balance with academics. Try to think ahead to when the cheering stops. Careers in sports can end abruptly. Starting spots can evaporate after only one year. Practice schedules are hard on grades. Some players spend more than four years trying to graduate and eventually their eligibility expires. If you are a high school athlete who wants to play college-level sports, keep two priorities in mind: COLLEGE FIRST, SPORTS SECOND. Avoid situations that might leave you without a degree or even a team to play on.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLEGE ATHLETICS

What is the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse?

The NCAA creates and enforces regulations designed to protect a student during the recruitment process. The Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse was established to ensure consistent application of NCAA requirements for all prospective student athletes at all member institutions. Registration with the Clearinghouse assures coaches that their athletes have met key academic requirements. (For more information on those requirements, see the last two pages of this handout.)

What are the differences among Division I, II, and III schools?

The difference lies in the number of sports that institutions are required to sponsor and in the amount of athletically related financial aid they award to students. Institutions select their division. In Divisions I and II scholarships may be awarded to student-athletes; Division III institutions may not award scholarships on the basis of athletic talent. You do not have to register with the Clearinghouse to play Division III sports.

How does the recruitment process work?

In an attempt to minimize high-pressure recruitment tactics, the NCAA strictly regulates the conversations that take place between coaches and prospective student-athletes. During the junior year, coaches are allowed to mail or email information to students, but all verbal contact (phone calls or appointments) must be student-initiated. For this reason, it is important that student athletes email or call coaches to express interest in schools they may want to attend. Beginning in July before the senior year, coaches are allowed to call students in their homes but are limited to one call per week. However, students may initiate conversations as frequently as necessary.

For general information on:

· Academic Eligibility for Divisions I, II, and III

· Recruiting Policies for Divisions I, II, and III

· Information on Approved Core Courses

· Information on Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse

· And much more!

1. Go to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

2. Click on “General Information”

3. Click on “Guide for the College-Bound Student Athlete” in left-hand column

4. Click on “View Online”

5. Click on “Guide for the College-Bound Student Athlete” PDF

When should I register for the Clearinghouse?

Students should register with the Clearinghouse after completion of their junior year in high school. The Clearinghouse wants the cumulative GPA after the sixth semester (2^nd semester junior year) before they will process the student.

How do I register for the Clearinghouse?

TO APPLY FOR NCAA ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY:

1. Go to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

2. Click on “Prospective Student-Athletes”

3. Click on “Domestic Student Release Form”

4. Complete the online form. Be prepared for the following:

· You must have a Social Security Number.

· You will need to create a Personal Identification Number (PIN).

· Judge’s school code is “450375.”

· You have the option to receive communication from the NCAA Clearinghouse either by the email/web option, which requires a valid email address, or the paper option, which can delay notification up to two weeks.

· You will need a MasterCard or Visa debit or credit card or check to pay the processing fee.

· Both student and parent (if student is less than 18 years old) must check box certifying that they have read and understood NCAA agreement.

· IMPORTANT! After you have submitted your form, be sure to print out the Release: Copy 1 and Release: Copy 2 forms. Sign and bring these forms to the Counseling Center and request a transcript from Ms. Scholl, the Registrar ($3). We will send your transcript to the NCAA Clearinghouse with the release form.

· The NCAA Clearinghouse will no longer accept the test scores that are printed on the back of your transcript and you will need to request that your test scores be sent to the Clearinghouse directly from the testing agency (Use the clearinghouse code of 9999 when requesting scores with College Board or ACT). **If you attended another high school besides Judge, the Clearinghouse will want transcripts sent directly from that high school to their office: they will not accept Judge’s reporting of those grades.**

If I am a recruited athlete, how does that affect my chances for admission to a very selective university?

Even the most talented athlete must be eligible academically before she or he can be admitted to a university. Athletic ability is yet another factor considered when trying to assess the potential contributions an individual can make to a campus community. While the recommendations of coaches can be important considerations in a decision to admit, they cannot ensure an applicant’s success. It is also important to maintain perspective in the process. Consider each school for its overall academic programs and compatibility with your needs.

A couple of resources suggested by parents are: The Winning Edge: The Student-Athlete’s Guide to College Sports, available online at www.thinktuition.com and Recruiting Realities, by Jack Renkens, available at www.recruitingrealities.com.

KEEP IN MIND:

Athletes who sign a National Letter of Intent and then change their minds lose two years of eligibility in almost all cases.

Athletes who transfer from one four-year school to another lose no eligibility but must sit out a year before playing again.

If you do not have opportunities to play NCAA Division I, II, or III sports, consider trying out as a walk-on, playing club or intramural sports, or even playing your sport for two years at a community college.

WALK-ON ATHLETES

A high school athlete who has not received a scholarship but wants to play a sport in college may be given the opportunity to “walk on” at one or more schools, which means that he or she becomes an non-scholarship member of the team, is allowed to try to earn a position on the team, and is given the opportunity to earn a scholarship at some time in the future. Walking on can be an excellent opportunity for a good athlete who is serious about his or her sport, and it requires careful planning with your counselor and your coach. If you are interested in walking on, follow this advice:

With your counselor:

à Be sure you satisfy the eligibility requirements of the NCAA. Walk-on athletes are subject to the same rules and regulations as athletes on scholarship.

à Do all the preliminary planning needed to identify a possible career. You may not settle on one, but look into it anyway. The experience is helpful.

à Find the colleges that provide programs in your area of interest. Develop a list of them. If you are undecided, identify schools that provide a broad range of programs.

à Discuss the list with your counselor and parents.

à Select your top three or four schools from the list.

With your high school coach:

à Discuss your ability to participate on the college level. Be open-minded during this meeting. Remember that your coach has only your best interests in mind.

à Identify any additional schools at which you may have the chance to play. Be sure they, too, satisfy your career and educational goals.

à Contact the school(s) to secure the college coach’s permission to “walk on.”

à Mail applications, being sure to follow the admission procedures specified by the college coach.

To find information on which schools sponsor your sport, as well as to access athletic contacts at individual schools:

1. Go to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

2. Click on “Schools Sponsoring NCAA Sports” in left-hand column

3. You may choose from the following four options:

Ÿ Schools sponsoring each sport sorted by institution name

Ÿ Schools sponsoring each sport sorted by division

Ÿ Schools sponsoring each sport sorted by conference

Ÿ Schools sponsoring each sport sorted by region

4. You may also choose “Number of schools that sponsor each sport”

5. You may also access a database of names, addresses, and phone numbers for athletic contacts at colleges and universities by clicking on “College and University Athletic Contacts”

In 2007 the Clearinghouse expanded its responsibilities to evaluate the amateurism status of prospective athletes. This will simply mean that the Clearinghouse will ask you more questions in the registration process in an attempt to determine if you’re still an amateur in your sport and therefore qualified to participate in athletics at the Division I or II level.

**The Judge Counseling Center would like to thank Cherry Creek High School (CO) for sharing the Student Athlete prep information included in this handout.**

CHECKLIST FOR THE STUDENT ATHLETE

GRADES 9/10

· Take every opportunity to play—challenge yourself and play with people that are better than you.

· Go to as many summer camps and clinics as possible.

· Find out NCAA academic eligibility requirements no later than the end of the ninth grade or the beginning of the tenth grade.

· Check with the Judge Memorial Counseling Center to obtain a list of the academic courses at Judge Memorial that NCAA has approved as core courses (you can also view this online; see instructions on page 9 of this handout).

· Keep track of sports accomplishments and awards for a sports resume you will create in your junior or senior year.

· At the end of your sophomore year, make contact with coaches and ask them to watch you at summer camps/tournaments. Only do this if you think you are ready. It may hurt your chances if you don’t make a decent impression.

GRADES 11/12

· Develop your own Athletic Information Sheet (see example in this handout). Ask your coach for suggestions on any information to include that would be particular to your sport.

· Go to as many summer camps, clinics, and tournaments as possible. Videotape games with you playing.

· Develop an Athletic Video. This is a video highlighting your skills including close-ups of you hitting, throwing, running, etc. Include your uniform number or identifying characteristics. If you are on a team, include some footage showing how you work with teammates. This video should be no longer than 5 minutes. Ask your coach for suggestions on what to include in this video.

· Take the ACT and/or SAT at the end of the junior year. Depending on your scores, you may retake these standardized tests the fall of the senior year.

· Check to see if colleges you are interested in also require SAT Subject tests. These are one-hour knowledge-specific tests in various academic subjects such as English, mathematics, chemistry, U.S. history, foreign language. Some highly selective colleges and all UC schools (UC Santa Barbara, UCLA, etc.) require two to three Subject tests. (The Counseling Center has sample tests as well as information on whether a college requires SAT Subject Tests.)

· Research college handbooks as well as Internet sites to discover colleges and universities that are a good match with your athletic and academic abilities. Also check to see if the colleges you are interested in have the majors you may want to pursue, in addition to a sport you want to play. Establish a tentative list of colleges that you’d like to contact. Make sure that your grades and ACT/SAT scores will allow you to be eligible academically as well as athletically. Check with Ms. Alamilla or Mrs. Voss to figure out your academic/athletic eligibility.

· Show your list of preferred colleges to your high school coach and ask for feedback on how realistic your chances would be for each school. Ask if she/he would be willing to make/receive contacts on your behalf. If the answer is yes, provide your coach with the following information:

- List of the colleges you plan to contact with each college’s coach, phone number, email address, and mailing address (you can find these on the colleges’ websites)

- Athletic resume

- A copy of your current high school transcript and resume

Optional:

- A copy of a summary of your college and career goals

- Copies of your letters of recommendation from other adults

These documents will allow your high school coach to advocate for you knowledgeably. It’s important to have his/her support.

· Have your high school coach make the initial contact with the college coach. College coaches are much more likely to pay attention to a recommendation from another coach at this time. After your coach has sent a letter of recommendation, you will hopefully hear from the college coach. Then you can send your Athletic Information Sheet, your coach’s letter of recommendation, and your resume (and if appropriate, your video) to selected college coaches. You may also want to include an unofficial high school transcript (available in the Counseling Center). If/when you hear back from a coach, respond within 48 hours.

· Keep college coaches informed of your playing schedules, tournaments, and any summer tournament schedules.

· Register with the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse fall of senior year.

· Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after January 1 of senior year.

· Sit down with your parents and high school coach to list the pros and cons of each school you are considering.

· Be sure of your final choice before signing any papers.

· Let coaches know when their school is no longer in the running. Thank them!

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR RECRUITER

· What is the recruiter’s relationship to the school? Is he or she the head coach, assistant coach, an alumnus, or an admission representative? (Assurances carry different weight depending on who they come from.)

· Keep your education foremost in your mind by asking about academic programs that interest you. A good recruiter is as informed about programs as an admissions person is. Fire away with specific questions about majors and courses in your field.

· At what level does your sport compete? NCAA Division I schools offer athletic scholarships; most Division II schools offer scholarships; no Division III schools offer scholarships.

· Ask for details about athletic scholarships—any strings? Typically, athletic scholarships (or grants, as they are sometimes called) are for one year, renewable at the coach’s discretion. If you get benched, do you start paying your own way from then on?

· How many athletes were kept on scholarship after their eligibility had expired? What is the college’s graduation rate for athletes? Because of heavy demands on their time, some college athletes take five years to graduate. By their final year, they are usually ineligible to play.

· Is tutoring or counseling available? Beware of remarks like, “Don’t worry. We haven’t lost a player yet because of academics,” which could imply that your education will be allowed to suffer before your value to the team will.

· What will happen if you are placed on academic probation? Do you lose part or all of your benefits?

· Ask the coach what he expects of his players: time commitment, behavior, appearance, etc., and decide whether you can work with her or him.

· What is expected of players during the off-season?

· Has drug use been an issue at your school or in your athletic program?

· Most importantly, ask yourself if the school would be right for you even if you weren’t competing in athletics.

QUESTIONS TO ASK OF OTHER PLAYERS AT THE SCHOOL:

§ What does your typical daily schedule look like? In-season? Off-season?

§ How rigorous is your travel schedule?

§ Approximately how many hours a night do you study?

§ How do you like the living arrangements?

§ What assistance is available if you have academic problems?

§ Were changes made to any promises once you committed/enrolled? Is the program what you expected based on your recruiting experience?

QUESTIONS TO ASK SCHOOL OFFICIALS/ADMISSION OFFICERS:

· What are the different graduation rates for athletes? In your sport?

· How long does it take someone in your sport to earn a degree from this school?

· What is the placement rate and average starting salary for graduates in your field of study?

· What financial aid is available?

(SAMPLE) ATHLETIC INFORMATION SHEET

AMY ATHLETE

Volleyball Information

1225 Any Street Any Town, Any State 81234

Telephone: (500) 111-1111 or (500) 222-2222

Aathlete@aol.com

Coach: Mary Jones

1010 Training Avenue

Any Town, Any State 81234

Telephone: (500) 111-1212

E-mail: mjones@judgememorial.com

High School: Judge Memorial Catholic High School

650 South 1100 East

Salt Lake City, UT 84102

(801) 517-2136 (Athletics Office)

Volleyball Division: Class 3A

Position: Setter

Jersey: #1 Red/#10 White

Offense Used: 5-1 Offense

Years Starting Varsity: 3 years

Awards/Honors: Best Setter (2004, 2005, 2006)

Most Valuable Player (2005)

All Conference (2005, 2006)

All State (2006)

North All Star Team (2006)

Experience: AAU Volleyball (2005, 2006)

Coed Power Outdoor & Indoor Tournaments (2005-06)

Aspen Volleyball Camp (2004, 2005)

Any University Summer Camp (2004)

Height: 5’8”

Weight: 145 lbs.

Vertical: 23”

GPA & Decile: 3.62 on 4.0 scale

top 30%

Graduation Date: May 2008

(SAMPLE) LETTER FROM HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE

TO COLLEGE COACH

Date

College Coach’s Name

Address

City, State, Zip Code

Dear Coach __________:

I am currently a junior at Judge Memorial Catholic High School. I have played volleyball for four years, starting as a setter for the last three. I am 5’8” and weigh 145 pounds. I have been All-Conference for the past two years and All-State this year. I was also selected for the North All Star Team this year.

My coach’s name is Mary Jones. Her contact information is on the attached Athlete Information Sheet. She has indicated that she would welcome your call. Email is a reliable way to reach her as well.

I am in the third decile in my class of 200 students. My cumulative GPA is 3.6 on a 4.0 scale. My ACT composite is 26. I am interested in pursuing a 4-year degree in biology. I hope to continue playing volleyball on the college level. Your program especially interests me. I’ve followed your team’s season and have attended two games.

I’ve included a skills tape and a game tape. My jersey number is #1 in the red-colored uniforms. I have also included a schedule of our 2007-2008 volleyball season. Please let me know if there is additional information that I (or my coach) can provide.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Athlete’s Name

NCAA REQUIREMENTS

Students who wish to participate in collegiate athletics at the Division I or II level must apply for certification with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Clearinghouse after their junior year in high school.

To be certified by the Clearinghouse, you must:

· Graduate from high school.

You should apply for certification after your junior year in high school if you are sure you wish to participate in intercollegiate athletics as a freshman at a Division I or II institution. The Clearinghouse will issue a preliminary certification report after you have had all your materials submitted. After you graduate, if your eligibility status is requested by a member institution, the Clearinghouse will review your final transcript to make a final certification decision according to NCAA standards.

· Complete the 14 core courses listed below.

Core Units Required for NCAA Certification

	Division I	Division II
English Core	4 years	3 years
Mathematics Core (Algebra I or higher)	2 years	2 years
Science Core (including at least 1 year of lab science)	2 years	2 years
Social Science Core	2 years	2 years
Additional English, math, or science	1 year	2 years
Additional Core
(from any area above or foreign language, non-doctrinal religion/philosophy, computer science*)	3 years	3 years
TOTAL CORE UNITS REQUIRED	14	14

*Computer science courses will no longer be able to be used for initial-eligibility purposes.  This rule is effective August 1, 2005, for students first entering a collegiate institution on or after August 1, 2005. 

· Present a minimum required grade point average in your core courses. Only courses that are on Judge’s “List of NCAA Approved Core Courses” (see below on how to access this list) can be used to calculate your NCAA GPA. No special values are allowed for “+” or “-“ grades.

For the most up-to-date list of Judge Memorial’s Approved Core Courses:

- Go to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

- Click on “General Information”