How to Qualify to Play NCAA Sports

If you want to play college sports, you will most likely play for a school with a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) team. Before you even think about being recruited, you need to understand how to be designated eligible for NCAA play. You must also understand the details of the scholarship process, particularly if you are counting on this aid.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Amateur status (or approval from the NCAA)
• The proper academic background and test scores (or approval from the NCAA)
• Understanding of scholarship stipulations

1. Get designated an amateur. To be eligible to play in the NCAA, you need to be designated an amateur, at an eligibility center by the NCAA itself (for Divisions I or II), or by your school (Division III). This means you aren’t playing for money, don’t have a contract or agent, etc.
2. Go to the eligibility center even if you think you don’t qualify as an amateur. If you are not considered an amateur by NCAA standards, you may still qualify to play in certain cases. The eligibility center will consider your case and may still award you eligibility with certain stipulations.
3. Meet academic requirements. To play NCAA sports and get NCAA scholarships, you must meet certain academic requirements, like having taken a certain set of courses and having an SAT score that is commensurate with your GPA.
4. Petition if you don’t make the cut. If you don’t meet academic requirements, an NCAA institution can file an eligibility waiver on your behalf. Contact the school you wish to attend if this is the case for you.
5. Understand the stipulations to your scholarship, if you receive one. NCAA scholarships are not automatically renewed, and they may not extend coverage if you are injured or take longer than 4 years to complete your degree. Also, some stipulate you cannot receive other aid monies.

Tips & Warnings

• The NCAA isn’t the only way to go. Many schools belong to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which is like the NCAA, but on a smaller scale. The NAIA is more flexible than the NCAA; it has fewer recruiting restrictions, and it is easier to transfer among its schools without losing a playing season.
• There are a tremendous number of rules governing how you are to be recruited for the NCAA if you are eligible. Make sure you fully understand these.