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REGULATIONS AND IMPORTANT RULES ABOUT RECRUITING:
It is very important that you are aware of the regulations concerning how the college athletic coach can recruit you. If rules are broken, it may not only cause the coach and the university problems, but may also affect your athletic eligibility to play. A complete guide on these rules called the NCAA Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete can be obtained at most collegiate athletic departments or by writing to the NCAA at 6201 College Boulevard, Overland Park, Kansas 66211-2422. Telephone: 913-339-1906.
THE NCAA CLEARINGHOUSE:
In order to play at the NCAA Division I or II level, you must complete and submit a form to the NCAA Clearinghouse. This organization’s job is to determine the initial athletic eligibility of the prospective student-athlete, and it is very important that this form is carefully submitted as a mistake here could prevent further participation. When this form is submitted, you must also have your high school send in your grades, SAT scores, etc.
Make sure that you start checking on your likely status with the Clearinghouse prior to your senior year in high school. This will give you enough time to make any adjustments in your academic schedule to ensure your eligibility upon graduation from high school. You should ask for a copy of the NCAA Clearinghouse booklet from your guidance counselor, or from the NCAA, so that you can compare your grades on the recognized course list with the specific requirements of the Clearinghouse. If you find that you are deficient in some courses that the Clearinghouse requires, you could possibly retake courses or add additional courses during your last year in high school.
Make sure that your high school sends your final academic records and transcripts to the Clearinghouse. You must also ensure that your SAT or ACT scores are sent to and received by the Clearinghouse. If they do not receive all of the information, your athletic participation may be delayed or prevented completely. Remember, the Clearinghouse must deal with hundreds of thousands of prospective student-athletes, and its specific requirements must be met exactly. If the Clearinghouse does declare you ineligible, you can either try to correct the deficiencies or you may apply to a college that is not governed by the Clearinghouse’s requirements. For example, the NAIA and the NJCAA do not have such a Clearinghouse and have generally less stringent requirements for participation. |