PARENTS/PROSPECTS - Be aware of FERPA

NCAA Clearinghouse  - Eligibility Standards

In order to be eligible for practice and competition, every prospective student-athlete needs to meet NCAA Clearinghouse certification standards.  The following step-by-step list shows how easy it is to go through the process.

1.  Register with clearinghouse here.  There are some amateurism questions to answer as well.

2.  Have your SAT scores sent directly from the testing agency to the Clearinghouse (note that the test scores cannot be sent directly from the high school or the student.  The SAT source code for the Clearinghouse is "9999").

3.  Have your high school forward your final high school transcript with proof of graduation to the Clearinghouse IMMEDIATELY following your high school graduation.

4.  Check your Clearinghouse status periodically to find out what items are missing and take care of the issues immediately.  Also, stay in good communication with your coach regarding your clearinghouse status.

5.  If you have a need for a fee waiver, ask your high school guidance counselor to submit a letter on your behalf directly to the Clearinghouse stating that you have a need for a fee waiver.  The only requirements are that this letter has to be on school letterhead and has to be signed by a school official like a guidance counselor or a principal.  This letter can be faxed or mailed.

6.  Remember that a lot of prospective student-athletes are also going through this process at the same time and this overload can make the Clearinghouse process slow; therefore, make sure to act early and take care of any issues right away.

Basic Rules

Clearinghouse - The NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse officially certifies student-athletes as academically eligible to compete based on requirements that include: coursework, GPA, and test scores.  (The NCAA Clearinghouse's academic standards can be found by clicking on the link above).  Many prospective student-athletes register with the Clearinghouse during their junior year of high school and will have their high schools forward their updated transcripts every semester until they submit their final transcript following graduation.

Amateurism Clearinghouse: Read more here

Recruiting: In most sports, recruiting materials cannot be sent to prospects until September 1 at the beginning of the prospect's junior year of high school.  Further, telephone calls to prospects may not be made before June 15th following completion of the prospect's junior year in high school (Division II) or July 1 following completion of the prospect's junior year in high school (Division I).  Telephone calls are limited to one call per week and are subject to NCAA recruiting calendar restrictions.  An institutional staff member can accept, but cannot return, calls placed at a prospect's own expense before June 15th (Division II) or July 1 (Division I) following the prospect's junior year.  Coaches are also permitted to attend prospects' athletics events and visit prospects' high schools and home during the recruiting process but these contacts and evaluations are subject the NCAA recruiting calendar restrictions.

Unofficial Visits: A prospective student-athlete is permitted to visit any institution an unlimited number of times at any year in school at their own expense.  An institution is; however, permitted to provide complimentary admissions to athletics events.  Although these meetings do not have to be pre-arranged, it is most beneficial if they are.

Official Visits: A prospective student-athlete is permitted to take a maximum of five (5) official visits, with no more than one to any single institution, beginning no earlier than the opening day of senior year classes.  Before arriving on campus, a prospect needs to provide their transcript and (ACT, SAT, or PSAT) test scores to the institution.  Effective August 1, 2007, in order for a prospect to make an official visit, he or she must first register with the NCAA Clearinghouse and appear on the institution's IRL.  The visit can last no longer than 48 hours and, during the visit, the institution is permitted to provide transportation, accommodations, entertainment, complimentary admissions, and meals.

National Letter of Intent: The NLI is a one year financial aid agreement between a prospective student-athlete and an institution dependent upon the prospective student-athlete meeting NCAA and institutional requirements.  NLI's are only permitted to be delivered via express mail, courier service, regular mail, and fax.  NLI"s can only be hand-delivered if the prospect is on campus.  An unlimited number of phone calls can be made to a prospect after a prospect signs an NLI with an institution, while other institutions are no longer permitted to contact that prospect.  To read more about the NLI, click on the following link:  national letter