Resources for potential college athletes
Resources for Athletes
Many students dream of playing sports past high school. Below are some statistics on athletes:
Less than 3% of college seniors will play 1 year in the NBA.
Odds of football players making it to the pros are 6,000:1.
Odds of basketball is 10,000:1
So as the student dreams of playing professional sports, a college degree could matter in the long run.
What Can Parents Do:
Help your athlete remain eligible to play during the school year
Be informed on the NCAA Clearinghouse www.eligibilitycenter.org
Help with selecting the college and coach
Work with your counselor through this process
NCAA Clearinghouse
Potential college athletes must be certified through the NCAA Clearinghouse. They must take a certain amount of core courses. The gpa for the core courses is compared to the ACT/SAT sum of scores in which the student must fall within the comparison. The NCAA Clearinghouse has increased the number of core courses for the Division schools. The NCAA website has details information at www.eligibilitycenter.org
To know what courses will count for MCHS, contact the NCAA clearinghouse under high school administration, list of approved courses www.eligibilitycenter.org
MCHS school code is 142990.
Testing
ACT or SAT can be taken
The sum of the sub scores: English, math, reading and science are calculated
Can use the sub scores on different ACT national test dates
Have your test scores sent to the Clearninghouse â 9999 code for the ACT
Comparing grades with test scores
ACT or SAT sum of scores are compared to the core courses GPA
No weight is added to any gpa
A sliding scale issued: the lower the gpa â the higher the ACT score is needed
How Can I tell if I will be eligible?
Talk to your counselor and coach!
Download approved course handout that lists acceptable MCHS courses
Registering through the NCAA Clearinghouse will give absolute answer!
How and when do I register?
You do not need to register until the end of the 2nd semester of junior year or 1st semester senior year.
Prospective athletes can register online at the NCAA website
Register prior to taking the national ACT
NCAA will generate a report indicating deficiencies
I Want to Attend College and Play Intercollegiate Athletics:
WHAT TO DO?
Selecting a college requires careful thought and foresight on your part. What are you looking for?
School size?
Curriculum/major?
Geographic location?
Strength/competitiveness of athletic teams?
Believe it or not, there is a college that can meet nearly all of your academic and athletic needs. The challenge is finding that institution. It will take some effort on your part, but isn't your life worth the effort? Don't settle for mediocrity, find what you want and need.
Talk with your coach, parents, teachers, and counselors about your academic and athletic goals. Keep an open mind, listen to the viewpoints of everyone you talk to, but remember you are the one who has to decide because you are the one that will be spending the next 4-5 years of your life at the chosen college. Don't be afraid to ask for assistance in your search.
WHERE DO I START?
RESEARCH. Compile a list of school you have an interest in. Write to several schools, not just your first couple choices. Start early; preferably the spring semester of your junior year. You can get addresses of colleges from your school counselor who has access to college guidebooks. Use the internet as a tool to locate, research, and contact admission counselors/coaches at schools you are interested in attending.
MAKE CONTACT. Write the coach of each institution. Your initial contact should include a typewritten letter and short resume. The letter should be brief and to the point. Its purpose is to make the coach aware of you, your interest in their college, and in their athletic program. Locate college athletic team websites to contact coaches via e-mail.
Include:
* Personal Information: name, address, telephone #, e-mail, age, position, height, weight.
* Education: GPA, ACT/SAT scores, class rank, senior year program, extra-curricular activities.
* Athletic Accomplishments: honors/awards, stats, camps/clinics attended, (Also include coach's name, address and phone number #)
* Season Schedule: Send a game schedule so the coach can possibly attend.
* Video: Send a video of competitive footage or let the coach know if one is available. Highlight videos are great, but make sure to include some actual competition.
VISIT. After receiving academic and athletic information from the colleges, you must decide which you prefer to attend and wish to visit. See as many colleges as possible-big, small, public, private DI, DII, DIII, close, far. Coaches will welcome your visit. You need to make sure you like the whole package-not just the athletic part. Go to a class, tour the campus, talk with an admission counselor, meet the players and coach, explore and ask questions1 This will be the best way to narrow down your list.
THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS
Division I schools may offer full athletic scholarships, (tuition, fees, books, room and board).
Division II schools are eligible to offer partial scholarships.
Division III schools and non-scholarship colleges have full-scale athletic programs. They are eligible to offer financial assistance based solely on need, regardless of athletic ability. Research academic scholarship options if applicable. Under NCAA rules, DIII institutions are not allowed to give athletic scholarships. Similarly, the IVY League does not allow its member schools to give scholarships, event though it has DI status.
If you are considering a DIII or non-scholarship school, you should ask the same questions you would at a scholarship institution. In addition, you should ask the coach about possible sources of financial aid and how to apply for it. Contact these institutions as early as possible because some forms of financial aid are given on a first come, first serve basis.
If you plan to play DI or DII athletics, make sure you are a "qualifier" in the NCAA guidelines and will be eligible for competition upon entering your first year. To do this, you must register and be certified by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. Talk to your coach and high school counselor for details or inquire about the forms by contacting the NCAA Clearinghouse.
www.eligibilitycenter.org
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW?
Questions to Ask
The Athletic Program
How do you qualify for the team?
What conference/league?
If you accept a scholarship, are you guaranteed a spot on the team?
What is the game schedule?
What is the traveling schedule? Accommodations? Transportation?
What types of off-season activities are expected of you?
What is the team's past record?
What are your expected time commitments? (practice, weights, film, study table)
Does the coach require a certain type of behaviors, dress or diet?
Do you like the coach? Agree with his/her philosophy? Style?
Do you like the players?
What are the athletic facilities like? Availability?
Can you participate in more than one sport? Or extra-curricular activities?
Have you seen me play? Where would I fit into your program? Role? Position?
Describe your team's offensive and defensive style?
Academics
Does the school have the academic curriculum you want?
Can you meet the admission and academic requirements?
Is academic support available to you?
Do professors allow tutoring and make-up tests when the team schedules conflicts?
Are athletes housed together?
What is the overall attitude of the student body toward athletics?
What is the number of courses and GPS you will be required to maintain to remain eligible?
Financial Aid
If no scholarship, what forms of financial aid are available? Is the same amount guaranteed every year?
If a scholarship is offered, what is exactly included? How much will you be paying?
Is the scholarship renewable? By term? By year?
Does the school include a letter of intent? (A letter, if signed, is your promise that you will attend the particular school.)
Does the school provide a written contract stating the amount, duration, conditions, and terms of the scholarship?
If you choose not to play, will you lose all or part of your scholarship?
If you are injured, can your scholarship be withdrawn?
Can you lose your scholarship due to poor grades?
What student-employment opportunities are available?
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Be sure to fill out every athletic questionnaire you receive from a college you are interested in, even if you are only remotely interested. Do not wait until after your season because it may be too late.
Keep your options open! Have a plan, especially if you are looking for a Division I athletic scholarship. You never know what might happen, and it's always a good idea to be prepared and know what your second option is before you come to that obstacle.
Communicate with coached. Call or e-mail them if you have questions, want to update them on your season, want to tell them you are very interested in their school, and especially if you are not longer interested!! The earlier you let a coach know your institution, the better for you and the coach.
Plan ahead to visit colleges. As a student-athlete, you are trying to juggle a busy schedule, but exploring your options needs to be a priority in your life.
As soon as you apply to an institution, be sure to follow up with you guidance counselor and the institution to which you applied. Give your high school guidance counselor ample time to meet deadlines and be sure to call the college Admission Office to ensure that both your application and file are complete. Also, as a follow-up, be sure to find out what financial aid paperwork you and/or your parents need to fill out. Complete this as early as possible.
Explore all your options and remember you are the one who decides. It will not be an easy decision, but once itâs made, feel good about it and make the best of your college experience!
Procedures for registering for the NCAA Clearinghouse
All student-athletes expecting to play NCAA Division I and Division II athletics must meet initial eligibility requirements established by the NCAA Clearinghouse located in Iowa City, Iowa. These requirements include a minimum grade point average on approved core courses and a minimum score on a standardized test (ACT/SAT). A student's grade point average is calculated on a 4.0 scale. The sum of the four sub scores of the ACT or the sum of the SAT verbal and math scores are used in the eligibility index.
Certification/Registration
It is necessary for a student to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse for certification. Students may register after the end of their junior year. The NCAA clearinghouse registration is online at www.NCAAstudent.org
1. Select Prospective Student Athlete
2. Select Domestic Student Release Form
Provide the requested information:
Part I. Student information
Part II. Current high school enrollment MCHS school code 142990
Part III. List other high school attended if necessary
Part IV. Learning Disability information
Part V. Personal Identification Number (PIN)
Part VI. Output option
Part VII. Payment -
Part VIII. Authorized signature
You will be requested to print two-transcript release form that must be signed and returned to Mrs. Matteson.
Note: There is a NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete that covers important information located at www.ncaa.org/eligibility/cbsa/index.html
If a prospective student-athlete wishes to pay by check or money order, the student must complete the paper form. The student's counselor should have this form.
Websites that may be useful for students who desire to participate in intercollegiate athletics:
Campus Champs http://www.campuschamps.com
This free website is a reference tool for high school student athletes that contains information on playing high school sports and preparing for college.
Link Athletics â www.linkathletics.com
This site has links to over 13.000 websites for men and women's athletics programs at universities.
NCAA www.ncaa.org
This site has information for the potential college athlete. The initial clearinghouse section will take you to the academic application athletes must submit to determine eligibility.
NCJAA National Junior College Athletic Association www.njcaa.org
Provides opportunities for student-athletes to continue their athletic careers at the junior college level.
NAIA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics - www.naia.org
Provides information on small, private colleges and universities that are a part of the NAIA.This free database assists students and coaches in locating one another and matching their needs via e-mail.
The external websites listed below are not controlled by MCHS and are subject to change at any time. Their inclusion with the district website does not in any way reflect the policies of MCHS. These links are made on good faith that the people in control of them have only the best of intentions.
