As summer winds down and stores fill up with back-to-school supplies, now’s the perfect time to take a much closer look at your athlete’s fall course schedule. It’s our annual reminder to the parents of student-athletes that just because your child has a good GPA doesn’t mean they’re automatically eligible to play Division 1 or Division 2 sports. When it comes to your student-athlete’s class schedule and grades, they need to meet the NCAA core course requirements.
Take for example, Allison. She was a talented softball recruit with a stellar 3.7 GPA. By her junior year, D1 offers starting to roll in. After several campus tours, she committed to a college with an athletic scholarship that shaved off a nice chunk of college costs. Then, in the homestretch of her senior year, it all fell apart.
She received notice from the NCAA that she wasn’t eligible to play Division 1 sports and would not be cleared by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Because of her reputable GPA, no one—not even the college coach—thought to check her eligibility status in advance. Without knowing, she failed to complete the required 10 core courses before her senior year of high school and therefore was forced to redshirt her freshman year of college.
To avoid a similar scenario, here’s what you need to know:
You must complete 16 NCAA core courses
Your student-athlete must complete (and pass) 16 core courses before they graduate high school, including English, math, science and social science. The Division 1 and Division 2 core course requirements differ slightly. You can find the full list here: NCAA Core Courses.
Your athlete needs a minimum core course GPA
This common mistake often blindsides families—the only GPA the NCAA is really concerned about is your child’s core course GPA. Their grades in art, music, any personal skill classes, such as finance, or any electives, such as video editing, don’t count toward the eligibility requirements. Division I recruit need a minimum GPA of 2.3 in their core courses. And, with the new NCAA regulation changes, Division 2 recruits starting school before Aug. 1, 2018 need a 2.0 and those enrolling after Aug. 1, 2018 need a 2.3.
Division 1 athletes need to complete 10 courses by the end of their junior year
When recruits like Allison realize they’ve overlooked this eligibility rule, it’s usually too late. Before your student-athlete kicks off their senior year, they need to complete 10 of the core courses to qualify for Division 1, and seven of the 10 need to be an English, math or natural/physical science class. Once they complete these classes, though, they won’t have a chance to improve their grades and retake them. That’s why it’s crucial for your family to tackle eligibility early in the recruiting process.
Your first move is to contact your child’s high school academic counselor.
Insider tip: Your high school already has a list of approved core courses, so schedule a meeting with their counselor to map out their class schedule. You can also visit the NCAA’s website to see the list of approved courses at your student’s high school.
Remember that while the rules vary a bit between the two divisions, being eligible for Division 1 means you’re eligible for Division 2. Here’s an example class schedule that would meet the requirements for both:
Freshman Year:
American Literature Biology Algebra 2 Gym American History SpanishSophomore Year:
Creative Writing Chemistry Chemistry Lab Driver’s Ed Calculus SpanishJunior Year
Trigonometry AP Physics US History Web Design Modern Literature Study Hall Family Studies Religious studiesSenior Year:
AP English Literature and Composition Art History Statistics Political Science Personal Finance Open Period GeologyInsider Tip: There is no reason to delay in registering with the NCAA. In addition to the traditional NCAA Certification Account, you can now create a free profile, so you can get started with the NCAA, without having to pay a registration fee right away.
How will you find the college that's the right fit for you academically, athletically and socially? Complete our registration form and one of our Sports Consultants will be in touch to kick-start the process.
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