1. “How to Get in the Game” Presented by the
DHS Academic Advising Team and
DHS Athletic Department

2. General Overview NCAA Recruiting Process
Divisions I, II, III
Recruiting Process
NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center
Formerly the NCAA Clearinghouse

3. NCAA Divisions Division II Division III Division I 282 schools
Offer Athletic scholarships
More restrictions on # of scholarships
Require certain # of sports (5- m, 5-w)
Division I
329 schools
FBS, FCS, and non-football
Offer Athletic Scholarships
More scholarships available
Have more sports required (7-m, 7-w)
Attendance requirements (FBS teams)
Division III
422 schools
No athletic scholarships
Require certain # of sports (5-m, 5-w)
Focus is on participation and enhancing SA experience

4. Pacific Northwest D-1 Schools
Colorado
Utah
Montana
CSU
CU-Boulder
UNC DU
Air Force Academy
BYU
Southern Utah University of Utah
Utah State
Utah Valley
Weber State
Montana St.University
University of Montana
Arizona
New Mexico
NAU
University of Arizona
ASU
NMSU
UNM
(from NCAA.org)
Pacific Northwest D-1 Schools

5. Northwest/Rocky Mountain D-2 Schools
Colorado
New Mexico
Washington
Adams State College
CO Christian University
CO School of Mines
CO State Univ. – Pueblo
Ft Lewis College
Mesa State College
Metropolitan State College
Regis University
Univ. of CO – CO Springs
Univ. of Northern CO
Western State College of CO
Eastern NM University
NM Highlands University
Western NM University
Central WA University
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle University
St Martin’s University
Western WA University
Arizona
Grand Canyon University
Oregon
Alaska
Western Oregon Univ.
Univ. of AK – Anchorage
Univ. of AK – Fairbanks
Idaho
Northwest Nazarene Univ.
(from NCAA.org)

6. Northwest/Rocky Mountain D-3 Schools
Washington
Oregon
Colorado
Pacific Lutheran Univ.
Univ. of Puget Sound
Whitman University
Whitworth University
Eastern Oregon Univ.
George Fox University
Lewis and Clark College
Linfield College
Pacific University
Willamette University
Colorado College
(from NCAA.org)

7. NAIA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
Founded in 1937, the NAIA has 283 schools and Thousands of athletes. For a complete list of NAIA Colleges go to:

8. Estimated Probability of Competing Beyond H.S. Level
Student/Athlete
Football
Men’s Basketball
Women’s Basketball
HS Student/Athlete
983,600
549,500
456,900
HS Senior Student/Athlete
281,000
157,000
130,500
NCAA Freshman Positions
16,200
4,500
4,100
NCAA Athletes Drafted
250 44 32
Percent HS to NCAA
5.8
2.9
3.1
Percent HS to Professional
0.09
0.03
0.02

9. Estimated Probability of Competing Beyond H.S. Level

10. Estimated Probability of Competing Beyond H.S. Level

11. The Myth of the Full $ Ride
Sport #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
Men’s BB 13 9 8 10 6
Women’s BB 15
7.35
Men’s Soccer
9.9 5 7
Volleyball 12 3 4
(stats from HECB)
Cost of Attendance at State schools vs Private schools affects the $$$ amount of your scholarship

12. The Recruitment Process
There are two reasons high school students do not get recruited:
They are not good enough.
The right college coaches who may need their talent have not heard of them.

13. Three Step Process Assess Athletic Ability (high school or club coach)
Identify Appropriate Colleges
(find the right “fit”)
Communicate with the college coach
(phone, or letter)

14. Student Questions for their High School/Club Coach
How good do you think I am?
What level and size school do you recommend?
What colleges and college coaches do you know?
Do you have any search suggestions?
Might I have problems at the collegiate level?
Could you prepare a letter of recommendation?
Would you be willing to contact college coaches on my behalf?

15. Recruiting Process Prospective Student Athlete
Anyone who has started classes for the 9th grade
Sophomore year (D1 only)
Camp brochures, questionnaires
No phone calls from coaches
No off-campus contact by coaches

16. Recruiting Process (cont.)
Junior Year
Recruiting Materials (includes s)
Sept. 1st (DI/DII)
MBB – June 15
DIII – anytime
Phone calls
Men’s Basketball
1x per month starting June 15th thru July 31st after his Junior year
Women’s Basketball
1x per month in April, May, June 1-20, June 21-30
3x in July (no more than 1x per week)
Football
1 call from April 15th thru May 31st
No limit on # of calls or when made (DIII)
No off-campus contact by coaches
Register w/NCAA Initial Eligibility Center (summer after junior year)

17. Recruiting Process (cont.)
Senior Year (D1 and D2)
Recruiting Materials
Telephone calls
D1 – varies per sport
FB (1x week after 9/1)
MBB (2x week starting 8/1)
WBB (1x week starting 8/1)
D2 – 1x week starting June 15th
Off Campus Contacts
D1 (MBB – 9/9, WBB – 9/16, FB – 11/27)
D2 (All Sports – 6/15)
D3 (All Sports – after Junior year)

18. Recruiting Process (cont.)
Text Messaging
Banned at all levels now
Unofficial Visits
Unlimited #, at your own expense
Official Visits
Starting 1st day of class senior year
Can be paid for by school
Travel, lodging, entertainment, etc…
Limits to the # of visits
1 per school
5 visits total

19. NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center
Formerly NCAA Clearinghouse
Oversight of certification, NLI’s, waivers, amateurism, and anything to do with initial enrollees
All DI/DII student athletes must apply
Decides freshman eligibility

20. NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center (cont.)
Main Components
High School Graduation
Core Course Completion
Minimum GPA in Core Courses
Test Scores
Amateurism

21. NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center (cont.)
High School Graduation
Official transcripts with proof of graduation must be sent
GED tests can also be used to satisfy graduation requirement

22. NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center (cont.)
Core Course Completion
Classes must appear on high school’s approved classes list (48-H form)
Only 9th-12th grades used
Summer school after 12th grade
DII can
DI can’t
College courses can count
Must be accepted by high school
Meet all core course requirement
Appear on transcript (DI), college transcript should be sent into Initial Eligibility Center as well

23. NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center (cont.)
D1 = 16 core
4 English, 3 math, 2 science, 1 addt’l (from English, math, science), 2 social science, 4 extra from any of those areas
D2 = 14 core (tuning to 16 in 2013)
3 English, 2 math, 2 science, 2 addt’l (from English, math, science), 2 social science, 3 extra from any of those areas
The NCAA approves core courses, NOT the high school

24. NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center (cont.)
Core Course GPA Requirement
Best grades in 14 or 16 core classes
Lowest scores accepted = D
Pass/Fail classes can count
Assigned school’s lowest passing grade
D2 = straight 2.00 or better
D1 = sliding scale based on Test Score

25. NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center (cont.)
Test Scores
Before full-time enrollment
No limit on # of times taken
Taken on a national testing date
May use best subscores on different tests
Scores MUST come directly from testing agency (code 9999)
Writing component is not used

26. Test Scores
NCAA uses sub scores to determine minimum test score needed
ACT Sum
(add each sub score below)
English • Mathematics • Reading • Science •
SAT Sum
Critical Reading (Verbal) • Mathematics

27. Test Score Examples
ACT composite (22) with sum scores: E (25), M (20), R (23), S (20)
NCAA would use total of sum scores (88)
Admissions would use composite (22)
If student took 2nd ACT (23) with sub scores: E (26), M (19), R(25), S (22)
NCAA would use best sum scores from the two tests (93)
Admissions would use the best composite score (23)
SAT scores are calculated the same
Critical Reading (Verbal)
Mathematics

28. NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center (cont.)
Test Scores
D2 = 820 (SAT) and 68 (ACT)
D1 = sliding scale with Core GPA
Rule of thumb = for every .025 GPA increase, test score requirement goes down 10 (SAT) and 1 (ACT)
2.00
1010 86
2.20
940 79
2.40
860 71
2.50
820 68
2.60
780 64
2.80
700 57
2.90
660 54
3.00
620 52
3.10
580 49
3.25
490 44
3.40
460 42
3.55
400 37

29. Qualifier, Academic Redshirt, Non-Qualifier
Athletic scholarship, practice and competition in your first year in residence
Four years to compete
Academic Redshirt
Athletic scholarship and practice only in your first year in residence
Non-Qualifier
No scholarship, practice or competition in your first year in residence
Only three years to compete, with ability to regain 4th

30. Amateurism – Final Step
Prospects jeopardize NCAA amateur status by:
Formally declaring into professional contract, compete with a professional team in hockey or skiing, or accept a salary
Accepting prize money that exceeds expenses for an athletic event
Entering into agreement or accepting benefits from agents

31. TAKE RIGOROUS COURSES, STUDY HARD
Take college-prep courses
Keep your grades up
Remember student athletes need to meet academic eligibility requirements -- for colleges and for athletic organizations

32. BE PROACTIVE – GET NOTICED
Contact coaches at colleges of interest
Create highlight video and resume
Attend sports camps

33. TAKE AND RETAKE TESTS TO MEET TARGET SCORES
Take the ACT or SAT
International students may need to take TOEFL or IELTS tests
Send scores to college admission offices and to NCAA or NAIA

34. CONSIDER A RANGE OF COLLEGES
Work with your counselor
Set high goals, but also apply where you are likely to get in
Have a backup plan

35. FILE THE FAFSA, APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
Full scholarships and “full rides” are rare
Submit the FAFSA as soon as possible
Work with your Academic Advisor to identify scholarships

36. FIND THE RIGHT “FIT”
Research academic and athletic programs, majors, etc.
Visit the campus, talk to students, coaches, faculty, attend a game in your sport
Consider expectations for playing time
Use the “broken leg” test

37. APPLY TO COLLEGES
Follow instructions and meet all application requirements
Meet all deadlines
Know that the final decision comes from the admissions office and not athletics

38. KNOW WHAT YOU’RE SIGNING
Review all official paperwork with a trusted adult
Read Letters of Intent carefully
Check with colleges to determine their rules

39. Keep eligibility center account up to date
 FINAL DETAILS
Work with your counselor to ensure transcripts and proof of graduation are submitted
Keep eligibility center account up to date

40. College Search Timeline
FRESHMAN YEAR
Familiarize yourself with eligibility information.
Plan a four-year class schedule that meets core course requirements.
Explore college websites and talk with student-athletes.
Develop a resume and highlight video.
Consider attending a summer sports camp at a college of interest.

41. College Search Timeline
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Continue college exploration. Start a list of prospective schools
Stay focused on academics and keep your grades up.
Register with the NCAA or NAIA eligibility center, if applicable.
Update your resume and highlight reel.
Consider making initial contact with college coaches.
Consider attending a summer sports camp at a college of interest.

42. College Search Timeline   
JUNIOR YEAR
Narrow your college list. Visit schools you are interested in attending.
Take the ACT or SAT. Send the scores to college athletic associations and college admissions offices
Check with school counselor to ensure your senior year courses align with requirements.
Demonstrate your interest by contacting coaches, completing questionnaire
Update your resume and highlight video.
Consider attending sports camps, ID camps, showcases

43. College Search Timeline   
SENIOR YEAR
Submit a quality application to colleges,
If applying Early Action or Early Decision, work with your counselor to meet deadlines.
Retake the ACT or SAT if necessary.
File the FAFSA as soon as possible.
Research scholarship opportunities.
Learn about letters of intent, ask questions before signing official paperwork.

44. College Search Timeline   
SENIOR YEAR continued
Contact coaches at the colleges in which you are interested, and give them an opportunity to see you compete.
Work with your school counselor to make sure that necessary documentation—final transcripts and proof of graduation—are forwarded to the college admissions offices as well as appropriate college athletic association.

45. NCAA Clearinghouse Eligibility Process
Go to and click “prospective student athlete” link.
Go to the “Domestic Student Release” link and fill out the form.
Print two copies of the “Student Release Form”.
Give Copies #1 and #2 to Post Secondary Office (copy #1 is sent with 6th semester transcript while copy #2 is sent with final transcript upon graduation).
Have ACT/SAT scores sent to the Clearinghouse (#9999)

46. NAIA Eligibility Requirements
An entering freshman student must meet two of the three entry level requirements:
A minimum score of 18 on the Enhanced ACT or 860 on the SAT (on the Critical Reading and Math Sections combined).
An overall high school grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Graduate in the upper half of the student's high school graduating class.

47. Information Student-Athletes Need to Know
NCAA Approved Courses
What their transcript looks like
How to calculate NCAA Core GPA
How to complete the Clearinghouse Form
How to develop a pin number
Where can I get help?
DEADLINES, DEADLINES, DEADLINES

48. Recruiting Advice
Do not hesitate to call or coaches. If you don’t, someone else is. BE PROACTIVE!
Use . It gives the coach the ability to contact on their own time.
Do some research on your own. You can get a good feel for the school/team/coach by looking at their website.
Use contact time wisely – Prepare a list of good questions. Answer the questions thoroughly and thoughtfully. Beyond “yes,” “no,” and “um”.
There are no dumb questions. Get to know the coaches and see how you’d feel being with them for four years.
They want to talk with the student and get an idea about who they are – not the parents!

49. RESOURCES High School Coaches High School Post-Secondary Office
College Coaches
College Compliance Directors
NCAA Initial Eligibility website
was
Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete