COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY
Special Information for Athletes
If you want to play sports in college or go to college on an athletic scholarship, you need to start planning your junior year of high school. There are many regulations and conditions you need to know ahead of time so that you don't miss possible opportunities.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) establishes rules on eligibility, recruiting, and financial aid for most college athletic programs. Colleges are members of one of the NCAA's three membership divisions—Division I, II, or III—according to the size and scope of their athletic programs and whether they provide athletic scholarships.
In order to participate in athletics and receive athletically-based financial aid, you must register with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse and meet eligibility standards. The unique experience of combining education with athletics at the collegiate level is available for more than 360,000 college athletes each year out of the many millions enrolled in America's colleges and universities. For the vast majority of students, this will be the culmination of their athletic participation experience. The odds of a college football player making it to the NFL are less than 6,000 to 1, and less than two-percent of all college basketball players will make it to the NBA. Obtaining a college degree is vital for every student athlete.
The NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete is available in the Guidance Office. This guide is intended to help students and their families understand NCAA rules, which sometimes can be complex. A completed application must be submitted to the NCAA Clearinghouse before a student may participate in college sports. There is an application fee for registering. Juniors should register after they complete their junior year. It is recommended that seniors submit this form as soon as possible.
Students can complete registration online or by completing and mailing the student release form in the NCAA Guide.