High school athletes interested in playing collegiate sports need to complete the NCAA certification process. Students are encouraged to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center their junior year of high school. After registering, students should send official high school transcripts. In addition, when registering to take the SAT or ACT, students should request that an official score report be sent to the NCAA Eligibility Center directly from the testing agency. Sending all required documents for NCAA certification will make the recruiting process easier for college-bound athletes.
Once a student athlete is enrolled in college, he or she must demonstrate continued progress towards earning a college degree. NCAA understands that student athletes, particularly in the highly competitive Division writemyessay programs, will dedicate considerable time to practice, travel, and competition, but student athletes are expected to be students first. To demonstrate commitment to academics, Division I student-athletes must earn at least six credit hours per academic term and maintain the grade point average set by their school. In addition, Division I teams also must meet qualifications for the Academic Progress Rate or risk facing sanctions. Division II students must earn six credits per term and a total of 24 credits per year. Students in Division III programs must be enrolled in 12 credit hours per term.
College athletics allows thousands of students each year to compete in a variety of exciting sports. Athletic scholarships make higher education more attainable for many students, and collegiate sports contribute positively to campus life for students and encourage alumni and fans to be active on behalf of the school. In order to enjoy the benefits college athletic programs offer, students need to meet eligibility requirements set forth by NCAA, so student athletes should be aware of NCAA rules and requirements well before senior year of high school.
