Division I and
Division II: Athletes planning to enter
college in 2005 or after must have 14 core courses to be eligible to practice,
play and receive financial aid.
Division I
only: Athletes planning to enter college
in 2008 or after must have 16 core courses to be eligible to practice, play and
receive financial aid.
Athletes must also meet specific academic criteria. In Division II, the minimum core GPA is 2.0 and the minimum SAT score is 820 (verbal and math sections only). In Division I, the core GPA/SAT score is on a sliding scale. A student with the minimum GPA will need a higher test score, and the student with a minimum test score will need a higher GPA.
Students must
take specific approved "core" courses in order to meet NCAA
eligibility requirements. It is important athletes be aware of these NCAA
requirements and plan their courses and testing to meet these criteria.
Core
courses: English, math, natural/physical
science, social science, foreign language or nondoctrinal
religion/philosophy.
Recruiting the Prospective College Athlete
Your guidance counselor can provide you with basic information about
collegiate athletics. Each year, the
National Collegiate Athletic Association prints a booklet, and provides a
website, for the high school athlete explaining eligibility. To initiate the eligibility process, you will
need to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse (www.ncaaclearinghouse.net).
This should be done at the end of your junior year.
Be sure to read the information about maintaining your eligibility in
the event you are a recruited athlete.
The NCAA is serious about recruiting violations. Ignorance of these NCAA rules can cost you a
sports scholarship. The NCAA is unhappy
with coaches who violate recruiting policies; but the NCAA can declare you
ineligible to participate in collegiate sports should you unknowingly break one
of their recruiting guidelines.
The Salisbury Athletic Director is a great source of information about
the NCAA, and you should feel free to ask any questions you may have about
collegiate athletics and recruiting.
Your high school coach is another source of information to you; however,
it is your responsibility to know the rules.
Remember that rules may change from year to year, so you need to stay up
to date.