1. The NCAA & Your Path to the Student-Athlete Experience
Presented by
Don Ross
Associate Director of Athletics
Eastern Washington University
Joel Vickery
Assistant Director of Athletics

2. Why Are You Here? Resources Process www.ncaa.org
Registered with Eligibility Center?
Academic Requirements?
Where are the colleges?
Support of HS /Club coach?
Admitted to the college?
Do you know recruiting rules?
Signed a letter of intent?
Are you an amateur?
Do you know of your abilities?
Resources
Guide for the
College-Bound Student-Athlete

3. NCAA Background Information
Founded in 1906
1066 schools in 3 Divisions
340 in Division I
290 in Division II
436 in Division III
Over 430,000 Student-Athletes
(stats from NCAA.org)

4. D-I D-II D-III What are the differences?
Size of School
# of Athletic Programs
# of Scholarships
Does it make a difference for the student?
Skill level
“Small fish in a big pond”
“Big fish in a small pond”

5. Pacific Northwest D-I Schools
Alaska
Idaho
Montana
Boise St. University
Idaho St. University
University of Idaho
Montana St. Univ.
Univ. of Montana
Oregon
Washington
Oregon St. Univ.
Portland St. Univ.
University of Oregon
University of Portland
Eastern WA Univ.
Gonzaga University
Univ. of Washington
Washington St. Univ.
Seattle University
(from NCAA.org)

6. Northwest/Rocky Mountain D-II Schools
Colorado
Montana
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
Montana State - Billings
Central WA University
Seattle Pacific 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)

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

8. NAIA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
Founded in 1937, the NAIA has 284 schools and
Thousands of athletes.
Montana Washington Oregon
Carroll College The Evergreen State College Cascade College
Univ. of Great Falls Northwest University Concordia University
MSU-Northern Corban College
Montana Tech Idaho Eastern Oregon University
Univ. of Montana-Western Albertson College Oregon Inst. Of Technology
Rocky Mountain College Lewis & Clark State College Southern Oregon University
Warner Pacific College

9. Estimated Probability of Competing Beyond H.S. Level
Student/Athlete
Football
Men’s Basketball
Women’s Basketball
Baseball
HS Student-Athlete
1,095,993
535,289
435,885
474,219
HS Senior Student-Athlete
313,141
152,940
124,539
135,491
NCAA Student-Athletes
69,643
17,890
16,134
31,999
NCAA Freshman Roster Spots
19,898
5,111
4,610
9,143
NCAA Senior Student-Athletes
15,476
3,976
3,585
7,111
NCAA Athletes Drafted
253 51 31
693
Percent HS to NCAA
6.4%
3.3%
3.7%
6.7%
Percent NCAA to Professional
1.6%
1.3%
.9%
9.7%
Percent HS to Professional
0.08%
0.03%
0.02%
.051%

10. The Myth of the Full $ Ride
NCAA Allowed Grant-in-Aid
# Student-Athletes on Team
Football (85 FBS*, 63 FCS)
(both FBS and FCS)
Men’s Basketball*
15-16
Women’s Basketball *
16-17
Volleyball *
15-18
Women’s Soccer
24-32
Men’s Soccer
22-29
Men’s Tennis
9-12
Women’s Tennis *
10-12
Softball
18-27
Baseball
27-35
Men’s Track and Field
35-50
Women’s Track and Field
35-60

11. NCAA Eligibility Center Process
Go to and click “enter here” for prospective student-athletes.
Set-up new account (password and pin number) and fill in the information – both for academic and amateur status.
Have ACT/SAT scores sent to the Eligibility Center.
#9999
Check back frequently as eligibility center will send you updates and information needed to process eligibility status.

12. Here is How the Eligibility Website page Will Look
The NCAA Eligibility Center will not combine section scores from
the SAT taken beginning in March 2016 with scores taken
prior to March Read More

13. Academic Eligibility for D-1
For college-bound student-athletes enrolling full time at an NCAA Division I college or university on or after August 1, 2016, there are three possible academic outcomes:
QUALIFIER = competition, athletics aid and practice the first year.
ACADEMIC REDSHIRT = athletics aid the first year, practice in first regular academic term.
NONQUALIFIER = no athletics aid, practice or competition the first year.

14. Academic Qualifications
“Academic Qualifiers” and “Academic Redshirts” Will:
Graduate from High School.
Complete a core curriculum of at least 16 academic courses.
Have a core course grade point average and a combined score on the ACT or SAT based on the INDEX.
Home schooled athletes will need to register so Eligibility Center can determine eligibility. Use code #

15. Academic Qualifier
In addition, to be a qualifier, a student must complete 10 of the required 16 core courses before the start of his or her seventh semester of high school. Seven of the 10 core courses must include English, Math, and Natural or Physical Science. These 10 core courses cannot be replaced by other core courses taken in his or her senior year.

16. Academic Redshirt
If you fail to meet the required 10 core courses prior to the start of your seventh semester, (seven of which must be in English, math or natural or physical science), you will be allowed to retake core courses in your seventh or eighth semester, which will will be used in your academic certification for the purpose of meeting the academic redshirt requirements.

17. Academic Redshirt
If you meet these requirements, you can receive an athletics scholarship during your first year at an NCAA Division I college or university. After the first term is complete, you must successfully complete nine semester hours or eight quarter hours in each applicable term at your college or university to continue to practice for the remainder of the year.

18. Non-Qualifier
If you do not meet either set of requirements, you are a non-qualifier. A non-qualifier: Cannot receive athletics aid during the first year at an NCAA Division I college or university. Cannot practice or compete during the first year at a Division I college or University.

19. What is a Core Course?
A core course must be a recognized academic course in English, mathematics, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language or non-doctrinal religion/philosophy and qualify for high school graduation credit.
A course must be considered college preparatory by the high school. College preparatory is defined for these purposes as any course that prepares a student academically to enter a four-year collegiate institution upon graduation from high school.
A mathematics course must be at the level of Algebra I or higher.
A course must be taught by a qualified instructor as defined by the appropriate academic authority (high school, school district, etc.).
A core course must be taught at or above the high school’s regular academic level.

20. Core Course Requirements
Division I
4 Years English
3 Years Math (Algebra I or higher)
2 Years Natural/Physical Science (1 yr lab if offered by HS)
1 Year additional English, Math, or Physical/Natural Science
2 Years Social Science
4 Years of additional courses (from any area above or world languages, or non-doctrinal religion/philosophy)

21. West Valley 48-H
ENGLISH
AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGLISH STUDIES   ENGLISH I-II/AP
COLLEGE PREP ENGLISH   COMPOSITION ENGLISH III-IV/AP  
CREATIVE WRITING   DEBATE ENGLISH 12
CP   WRITING   ENGLISH 5-6   ENGLISH III-IV/H
HUMANITIES 12/H ENGLISH I-II ENGLISH V-VI/H  
ENGLISH-HUMANITIES LANG & COMP/AP HUMANITIES 9/H
ENGLISH VII-VIII ENGLISH III-IV ENGLISH V-VI
ENGLISH I-II/H ENGLISH/AP HUMANITIES 10/H
ENGLISH-HUMANITIES/H HUMANITIES 11/H   ENGLISH 7

22. Social Science AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY STUDIES CIVICS
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE   NW HISTORY NW HISTORY/H
ANCIENT/MEDIEVAL HISTORY CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS CRIMINAL JUSTICE
AP WORLD HISTORY     ECONOMICS/GEOGRAPHY US HISTORY
ECONOMICS/GEOGRAPHY/NW HISTORY EUROPEAN HISTORY/AP
GEOGRAPHY GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT/H
WORLD HISTORY HUMANITIES HISTORY HIST OF PAC RIM
US HISTORY/AP NW HIST US HISTORY/H
HUMANITIES HISTORY II/H I/H   MODERN WORLD HISTORY (WRLD HIST)  
PSYCHOLOGY A     PSYCHOLOGY B       PSYCHOLOGY/ADV
   

23. Mathematics ALGEBRA I-II ALGEBRA IIA AP STATISTICS
CALCULUS I-II COLLEGE PREP MATH COLLEGE PREP MATH I
COLLEGE PREP MATH II GEOMETRY GEOMETRY I-II
PRE-CALCULUS PRE-CALCULUS I-II TRIGONOMETRY
ALGEBRA III-IV

24. Natural/Physical Science
BIOLOGY X   BIOLOGY/AP X INTEGRATED SCI IV X
CHEMISTRY X   CHEMISTRY II X CONCEPTUAL SCIENCE II
CHEMISTRY I X   CONCEPTUAL SCIENCE X INTRO. LIFE SCIENCE X
CHEMISTRY/ADV X   FORENSICS SCI X LIFE SCIENCE I-II X
CONCEPTUAL SCIENCE I X   INTRO PHYSICS I X LIFE SCIENCE III-IV X
GENERAL SCIENCE X   GEOLOGY I X   INTEGRATED SCI I X
GEOLOGY II X   HUMAN ANATOMY X   INTEGRATED SCI III X
HUMAN ANATOMY/PHYSIOLOGY X INTEGRATED SCI II X
PRE AP BIOLOGY X INTRO PHYSICS II X PHYSICAL SCIENCE I-II X
PHYSICS X PHYSICS/ADV X SCIENCE PROJECTS
SOCIOBIOLOGY/WASHINGTON  WILDFLOWERS X   

25. Additional Core Courses
FRENCH 1   FRENCH 2   FRENCH 3  
FRENCH FRENCH I-II FRENCH III-IV
FRENCH V-VI   FRENCH VII-VIII   FRENCH/AP  
RUSSIAN 1   RUSSIAN 2   RUSSIAN 3  
RUSSIAN 4   RUSSIAN I-II   RUSSIAN III-IV  
RUSSIAN V-VI   RUSSIAN VII-VIII   SPANISH 1  
SPANISH 2   SPANISH 3   SPANISH 4  
SPANISH I-II   SPANISH III-IV   SPANISH V-VI  
SPANISH VII-VIII   SPANISH/AP    

26. Initial-Eligibility Index
Division I Index For Qualifier:
GPA SAT ACT
3.55 & above
Only Verbal & Math SAT is scored. SAT writing or optional ACT writing will not be scored by the eligibility center.

27. Initial-Eligibility Index
Division I Index For Academic Redshirt:
GPA SAT ACT
3.55 & above
Only Verbal & Math SAT is scored. SAT writing or optional ACT writing will not be scored by the eligibility center.

28. Non-Traditional Courses
Courses taught via the Internet, distance learning, independent study, correspondence and courses taught by similar means may be used if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
The course meets all requirements for a core course.
The instructor and the student have ongoing access and regular interaction with one another for purposes of teaching, evaluating and providing assistance to the student throughout the duration of the course.
The student’s work is available for evaluation and validation.
The course includes a defined time period of completion.
5. The course is acceptable for any student and is placed on the high
school transcript.

29. Core-Course Time Limitation
From the time you enter the ninth grade, you have four (4) years or eight (8) semesters to complete your core-course requirements. If you fail to complete high school “on time” in eight semesters, core courses taken after the eighth semester will not be counted toward your NCAA academic-eligibility requirements. You may, however, take 1 core course after high school graduation. “On time” also means that if your high school graduation takes place June 1, you must graduate June 1. If you do not graduate June 1 with the rest of your high school class, you have not completed your requirements “on time”.

30. Academic Eligibility for D-II
“Qualifiers” Will:
Graduate from High School.
Complete a core curriculum of at least 16 academic courses.
Earn a 2.00 grade point average or better in your core courses.
Earn a combined SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68.
Home schooled athletes will need to register so eligibility center can determine eligibility. Use code #

31. Core Course Requirements
Current Rule – 16 Core Course Requirements
Division II
3 Years English
2 Years Math (Algebra I or higher)
2 Years Natural/Physical Science (1 yr lab if offered by HS)
3 Years additional English, Math, or Physical/Natural Science
2 Years Social Science
4 Years of additional courses (from any area above or world languages, or non-doctrinal religion/philosophy

32. Amateur Certification
If you want to participate in NCAA Division I or II athletics, you
must also be certified as an amateur student-athlete. The Eligibility
Center will determine the amateurism eligibility of all freshman
and transfer college-bound student-athletes for initial participation
at an NCAA Division I or II member institution. In Division III,
certification of an individual’s amateurism status is completed by
each institution, not the Eligibility Center.

33. Amateur Certification
When you register with the Eligibility Center, you will be asked
questions about your athletics participation. The information you
will provide will be reviewed and a determination will be made
as to whether your amateurism status should be certified or if
a penalty should be assessed before certification.
If a penalty is assessed, you will have an opportunity to appeal the decision.

34. Amateur Certification
The following pre-collegiate enrollment activities will be reviewed:
Contracts with a professional team.
Salary for participating in athletics.
Prize money.
Play with professionals.
Tryouts, practice or competition with a professional team.
Benefits from an agent or prospective agent.
Agreement to be represented by an agent.
Delayed initial full-time collegiate enrollment to participate in organized sports competition.

35. Steps to Achieving Your Eligibility
Freshmen and Sophomores
Work Hard to get the best grades possible.
Access and print your high school’s list of NCAA Courses at
by clicking “Resources” at the top of the screen.
Take Classes that match your school’s list of approved Core Courses.
The NCAA eligibility center will only use approved courses to certify your eligibility
Register at at the beginning of your sophomore year.
If you fall behind, use summer school sessions before your senior year to catch up.

36. Steps to Achieving Your Eligibility
At the beginning of your junior year: Register to take the ACT, SAT or both and send scores (9999) to the eligibility center. Double check to make sure the courses you have taken match your school’s list of approved core courses. Request that your high school counselor send an official transcript to the eligibility after completing your junior year (faxes are not accepted). Check with your guidance counselor to determine the amount of core courses you need to complete your senior year.

37. Steps to Achieving Your Eligibility
Seniors
Take the SAT and/or ACT again, if necessary. The eligibility center will use the best scores from each section of the ACT or SAT to determine your best cumulative score.
Continue to take college-prep courses.
Check the courses you have taken to match your school’s list of approved core courses.
Review your amateurism responses and request final amateurism certification on or after April 1.
Continue to work hared to get the best grades possible.
Graduate on time.
After graduation, ask your guidance counselor to send your final transcript to the eligibility center with proof of graduation.

38. Initial Advising Considerations
Be aware of the High School Graduation Requirements.
Be aware of the College Admissions Entrance Requirements.
Be aware of the NCAA Initial Eligibility Requirements.
They are seldom the same!
Requirements
HS Graduation
College NCAA
Admissions

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

40. Academic Vice-Principal
Where can I get help?
Academic Vice-Principal
Athletic Director
Head Coach
Counselor
Parent

41. 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.

42. Blue Chip or Yellow Chip?
Highly Skilled
Accomplished
Very Visible
D-I or D-II
Recruited
Complete paperwork
Visits-official/unofficial
Compare aid packages
Yellow Chip
Less Skilled
Less Accomplished
Less Visible
D-III or NAIA or CC
Non-recruited
Start self-promotion
Letters, , video etc.
Persistent and patient

43. 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)

44. 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?

45. Recruiting Advice
Do not hesitate to call or coaches. If you don’t,
someone else is.
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!

46. What Student-Athletes Need to Know
Recruitment Calendar.
Specific Rules of the Sport.
Campus Visits: When should I go? Who pays?
Telephone Calls: Who calls whom? When?
Contacts: How many? Where? When? What ?
Letter of Intent: Early sign/late sign/regular?
Scholarship differences: By division, school, sport?

47. Need Help?
Joel Vickery
Don Ross