You know it requires a lot of athletic skill for a high school athlete to make it to the next level. But did you know the NCAA has requirements of its own that have nothing to do with your athletic skill set?
There are many eligibility requirements set by the NCAA for athletes who want to play sports at their collegiate level. Some of these standards include having a minimum grade point average and completing specific classes in your high school curriculum. Other requirements include participating in extracurricular activities such as voluntary services, interviews and competition with other non-sports related groups.
If you're looking to play a sport at NCAA level, there are some basic rules that you will have to follow as a prospective college athlete. Here are three to be aware of:
1. COVID-19 Regulations
Covid impacted college athletes in many ways, including eligibility standards. The NCAA responded to the academic disruptions caused by COVID-19 in April 2020 by loosening initial eligibility restrictions for high school athletes. Originally, the changes only applied to classes of 2021 and 2022, but now students in 2023-24 will be able to benefit from the same rules.
2. Academics
Academics matter in the recruiting process. An athlete's eligibility status will be reviewed by the NCAA if it has been requested by a D1 or D2 college, and this process will commence once you graduate high school, satisfactorily complete 16 core courses—with a GPA of at least 2.3 in these courses—and earn a qualifying ACT or SAT test score. More details on these requirements:
- Core Course Requirement
- There is a set list of NCAA Core Courses that each high school must offer, of which students are required to pass 16. Although the prerequisites differ slightly between D1 and D2 schools, if you satisfy the D1 core course requirements, your application will also be viable for consideration at the D2 tier.
- Core Course GPA
- Instead of using your overall high school GPA, the NCAA primarily focuses on your GPA from the core courses.
- NCAA Sliding Scale
- Your GPA and SAT/ACT test scores are used in combination to establish your eligibility. You can view the sliding scale to see what GPA and test scores you will need to achieve.
3. Amateurism
NCAA amateurism requirements state that prospective college athletes cannot be paid to play and must not have previously received money for playing their sport. In addition, the NCAA prohibits member schools from paying for an athlete's future earnings potential. The Association also has rules about what types of gifts can be given to athletes by boosters or other individuals associated with a member school and is currently investigating some NIL collectives for inducement-like violations. Although NIL isn't technically pay-for-play, it still complicates the amateurism landscape so be aware of who you're accepting deals from and make sure your NIL activity is in line with NCAA rules.
So…Am I Eligible?
If you are unsure if you are eligible to play sports at NCAA level, there are many ways that you can check this information. One of the best ways to start is by going directly to your school's athletic department and asking if they have any rules that need to be followed before participating in athletics. Another way you can check eligibility requirements is by visiting the NCAA's website. If you are unsure whether or not you have met all of the requirements, there are also NCAA eligibility form processors that can help you determine if you have met all necessary requirements.
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* Originally published on February 7, 2023, by Kelly Wick
