One of the most important parts of recruiting and chasing an athletic scholarship is NOT being excellent in your sport. Of course being a star on the field or court is helpful, but you will not be eligible to compete for your college team if your High School academics do not meet the NCAA standards for eligibility. Tracking your academic process should start in grade 9, and continue until you graduate.
Beginning for Grads of 2016 the NCAA has brand new Academic Requirements for athletes to be eligible to compete.
Straight from NCAA.com
“The new initial-eligibility requirements create a higher academic standard for freshman to play. That standard is higher than what will be needed to receive aid and practice, creating an academic redshirt year.
Student-athletes who achieve the current minimum initial-eligibility standard will continue to be eligible for athletically related financial aid during the first year of enrollment and practice during the first regular academic term of enrollment. Student-athletes could earn practice during the second term of enrollment by passing nine semester or eight quarter hours.For immediate access to competition, prospective student-athletes must achieve at least a 2.3 GPA and an increased sliding scale. For example, an SAT score of 1,000 requires a 2.5 high school core-course GPA for competition and a 2.0 high school core-course GPA for aid and practice.
Prospects also must successfully complete 10 of the 16 total required core courses before the start of their senior year in high school. Seven of the 10 courses must be successfully completed in English, math and science.”
Here is a summary of the new requirements:
- The minimum core course GPA has increased from 2.00 to 2.30
- 10 of the 16 core course requirements must be satisfied prior to the start of your grade 12 year
- 7 of those 10 core courses must be from the English, Math and Sciences
- Grades earned in the 10 core courses are “locked in” for the purpose of calculating the final core course GPA What does that mean? If you get a C or below in one or more of these courses it will negatively affect your graduating GPA, this can be very difficult to recover from. Athletes must understand early that EVERY GRADE MATTERS. It is a good practice to track your GPA each semester to keep track of where you stand for final eligibility.
- The NCAA has also introduced a new status for the class of 2016 – the “Academic Redshirt.” An “Academic Redshirt” may receive a scholarship and practice with their team, but may not participate in game competition as a college freshman.
- If your core course GPA is between 2.00 and 2.29 you will automatically be assigned an “Academic Redshirt” status.
Remember, the NCAA does not include the writing component of the SAT or ACT and the ACT score is a sum score (not average) of the English, math, reading and science sections.
Prospective athletes should also be aware that many universities have academic standards for incoming freshman athletes that are much higher than the NCAA minimum requirements. Make sure you are clear about the academic requirements of all your target schools.
Curious about what core courses are or have other questions about NCAA academic Eligibility? Login to your member profile for an outline of Academic Eligibility requirements. Wondering where you stand or if you are on track to personally achieve your NCAA eligibility? Need someone to review your transcripts and help you make a plan and GPA goals to get you on the field in University? Contact us to set up an athletic eligibility academic review meeting!
More information about NCAA eligibility requirements can be found on the NCAA eligibility website HERE
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