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If you want to play sports while in college, or go to college on an athletic scholarship, you will need to do some planning ahead.
Most college athletic programs are regulated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), an organization with rules and regulations on eligibility, recruiting, and financial aid. The NCAA has three membership divisions: Division I, Division II, and Division III. Colleges and universities are members of a division according to the size and scope of their athletic programs.
If you are planning to enroll in college as a freshman and you wish to participate in Division I or Division II athletics, you must be certified by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse is a separate organization hired by the NCAA to ensure consistent interpretation of the NCAA initial-eligibility requirements for all prospective student-athletes at all colleges and universities.
You should be taking NCAA approved courses throughout high school. Be sure to let your Enrollment Advisor know that you will need to be NCAA eligible. In junior year you should begin the certification process with the NCAA Clearinghouse, and plan to take the ACT or SAT Reasoning Test. In the beginning of senior year you will need to submit your Student Release Form to the Clearinghouse.
The Eligibility Process for Division I and II
Students who plan to participate in NCAA Division I or II college sports must obtain the Student Release Form (available at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net or in the Guide for College-Bound Student-Athletes), complete it, and send it to the NCAA Clearinghouse. This form authorizes high schools to release student transcripts, proof of grades, and other academic information, to the Clearinghouse. It also authorizes the Clearinghouse to release this information to colleges requesting it. The form and fee must be received before any documents can be processed. Fee waivers are available for economically disadvantages students.
In addition you will need to forward your ACT or SAT score reports to the NCAA Clearinghouse. Students can have score reports sent directly to the Clearinghouse by entering the school code (LSS CODE 052256).
Once a year, high schools submit courses for NCAA approval. Once approved, the NCAA Clearinghouse updates each high school's NCAA list on the NCAA Clearinghouse website. Thereafter, the Clearinghouse will determine each student's initial eligibility. Colleges will request information from the Clearinghouse on the initial eligibility of prospective student-athletes, at which time the Clearinghouse will make a certification decision and report it directly to the institution.
There are three types of eligibility:
- Certification of eligibility for expense-paid campus visits.
- Preliminary certification of eligibility to participate in college sports (student appears likely to meet all NCAA requirements but not yet graduated).
- Final certification granted when proof of graduation is received.
Additional Information
Laurel Springs School students are not considered Homeschoolers; the LSS School Code is 052256.
It is recommended that every student and parent read the Guide for College-Bound Student-Athletes, published by the NCAA. You can access this informative guide at https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/student/index_student.html under "Information and Resources for Prospective Student Athletes" (sidebar)
Also at the same website, NCAA approved course lists can be accessed by cicking on "list of approved courses" in sidebar.
Please note that the NCAA Eligibility Processor has changed. For up to date information please visit: www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
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