National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
NCAA & College Athletics
Are you interested in playing a sport at the college level? If so, it is important to begin planning early. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is the organization that oversees college athletics at more than 1,000 colleges and universities across the United States. The NCAA provides rules and standards for student-athletes and helps ensure that students are academically and athletically prepared to compete at the college level.
What is the NCAA?
The NCAA is made up of three divisions:
- Division I – Offers the highest level of college athletic competition. Many Division I schools offer athletic scholarships.
- Division II – Provides a balance between academics and athletics, with athletic scholarship opportunities available at many schools.
- Division III – Emphasizes academics and the overall college experience. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, although other forms of financial aid may be available.
Why does NCAA eligibility matter?
Being a talented athlete is only one part of becoming a college student-athlete. You must also meet the NCAA's academic and athletic eligibility requirements. The NCAA Eligibility Center reviews information such as your high school coursework, grades, transcript, graduation status, and athletic participation.
Not every high school course counts as an NCAA-approved core course. Students interested in college athletics should work closely with their school counselor to make sure they are taking the appropriate courses and staying on track academically.
For Division I and Division II, students generally need to complete 16 NCAA-approved core courses and meet the applicable core-course GPA requirements. Division I currently requires a minimum 2.3 core-course GPA, while Division II requires a minimum 2.2 core-course GPA. Requirements can change, so students should always check the current NCAA standards.
how do i start planning?
If you are considering playing a sport in college:
- Talk to your school counselor early. Let your counselor know that you are interested in playing college athletics.
- Review your course schedule. Make sure you are taking NCAA-approved core courses.
- Maintain strong grades. Your NCAA core-course GPA may be different from your overall high school GPA.
- Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Students interested in Division I or Division II competition will need an NCAA Eligibility Center certification account. Students who are still exploring their options can begin with a Profile Page.
- Keep track of your athletic participation. NCAA eligibility can include reviewing your sports participation and other athletics-related activities.
- Research colleges and communicate with coaches. Learn about schools that offer your sport and explore their athletic programs, academic programs, and admissions requirements.
- Stay organized. Keep your NCAA account and educational information updated and respond to any tasks or requests for documentation.
Who can help you?
Your High School Counselor Can Help
Your school counselor can be an important part of your college-athletics journey. Counselors can help you review your course selections, monitor your academic progress, provide information about NCAA requirements, and submit official transcripts when required.
If you think you may want to play college sports, don't wait until senior year to start planning. The earlier you understand the requirements, the more opportunities you will have to make sure you are on the right path.
Your Athletic Director Can Help
Southmoreland Athletic Director: Mr. Brian Pritts
prittsb@southmoreland.net
Your Head Coach Can Help
Feel free to reach out and get more assistance with the NCAA Eligibility Center from your coaches. They will be able to provide you and help you getting your registered with your NCAA student account.
NCAA Website
(Click on link above)