�NCAA Division I Intercollegiate Athletics��Parent & Incoming Student Guide

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Shea Dunbar

Marquette University Athletics Compliance

TOPICS

1. Academic Eligibility

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• Recruiting

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• Financial Aid

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• Name, Image, Likeness (NIL)

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• Age Based Eligibility Model

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Division I Standards

• 16 Core Courses
• English – 4 credits
• Math – 3 credits
• Natural or Physical Science – 2 credits
• Additional English, Math, or Science – 1 credit
• Social Studies – 2 credits
• Additional courses from the following subjects (English, Math, Science, Social Science, Foreign Language, Non-doctrinal Religion, Philosophy) – 4 credits

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• Core-Course GPA = 2.3 or higher

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• Best 16 courses are used. Additional core courses are not counted (i.e., surplus core courses allow you to remove poor grades)

Additional Core Course Requirements

• Complete 10 core courses prior to senior year of high school.
• 7 of the 10 core courses must be completed in English, Math, and Natural/Physical Science.

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• Prior to senior year, final grades from at least 10 core courses must be used to calculate the core-course GPA.

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• All Core Courses are specific to each high school and must be approved through the NCAA Eligibility Center (Guidance Counselor)

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Initial-Eligibility Classifications

• Qualifier
• Meets all NCAA initial eligibility requirements
• Eligible for practice, competition, and an athletics scholarship

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• Academic Redshirt/Partial Qualifier
• Has a core course GPA between 2.0-2.29
• Eligible for athletics aid and practice
• No Competition in first year of school

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• Non-Qualifier
• Does not meet initial eligibility requirements OR has a core GPA below 2.0
• No athletics aid, practice, or competition the first year.
• Some Conferences have rules prohibiting freshmen NQs

What should you do?

1. Meet with your high school guidance counselor to ensure you are on the right track with your courses

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• Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center (QR Code at end)

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• Have your guidance counselor upload your latest transcript to the EC as early as sophomore year

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• Visit NCAA.org (“Student-Athletes” tab) for FAQs, educational resources, and links

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• Put just as much effort, if not more effort, into the classroom as you do in your sport!

RECRUITING

Once you start 9^th grade you are considered a “prospective student-athlete.”

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Coaches have strict rules for when/where they can:

1. Meet with you on or off campus

2. Evaluate your athletics/academic abilities

3. Send you material/information in the mail or via email

4. Call/Text you

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*Most of these rules are sport-specific; however, most sports permit calls initiated by a coach to begin AFTER your sophomore year and off-campus contacts beginning your junior year of HS.

No Publicity in Recruiting

Publicity rules pertain to the school and the coaches.

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Recruits may publicize all aspects of their recruitment if they wish to do so.

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Prior to signing an athletics aid agreement, any correspondence a coach has with you must be private (e.g., texts, DMs, emails). Not on social media, not in a group message.

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A verbal commitment to a university does not remove the publicity restriction.

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What can you do?

1. Attend Camps/Clinics run by college coaches
• Regardless of what the camp is titled, if college coaches are working at the camp, the camp must be open to any and all entrants (restricted only age, total number, grade level, and gender)
2. Involvement in Local Sports Clubs
• Club coaches can be an additional resource to connect with college coaches and in some instances current DI coaches are permitted to operate as a club coach themselves
3. Take Unofficial Visits to campuses
• First opportunity to meet with athletics personnel would be junior year (MBB – soph, Hockey – soph, FB/WBB – anytime)
4. Reach out to college coaches directly
• They may not respond but that doesn’t mean you aren’t on their radar
• Don’t be afraid to ask your HS or club coach reach out
5. Take an Official Visit, if given the opportunity

FINANCIAL AID

Athletic Scholarships may partially or completely cover the expenses that make up your Cost of Attendance at a University. These expenses include:

• Tuition, Room, Board, Required Course Related Books and Fees

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Must be (at least) a one year aid agreement

• Multi-year aid agreements are permitted, but not guaranteed

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Often aid agreements are subject to:

• Retaining academic eligibility
• Not violating any University code of conduct
• Not violating any team rules
• Not quitting the team or withdrawing from school
• Other policy (be sure to read through your agreement)

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Athletic Aid - Team Limits

Equivalency Calculation

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• Equivalency calculation is the process in which a total number of scholarships are divided up among the total number of recipients on the roster

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• NCAA defers to Universities to determine scholarship limitations within each sport

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• NCAA now limits total roster spots within each sport

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• No sport automatically comes with a full scholarship any longer, although some will still function this way

Non-Athletic Scholarships

• Academic/Merit Aid

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• State Government Grants

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• Federal Government Grants
• FAFSA – Strongly recommended to complete one each year regardless of any athletic scholarship

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• Outside/Private Scholarships
• If criteria for award involves athletic accomplishments and/or is only available to athletes you might not be able to accept it if you wish to participate in athletics

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• ROTC
• Tuition Remission

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Name, Image, & Likeness [NIL]

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What is it?

• Compensation relating to the value of a student-athlete’s name, image, likeness

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Who is making the payments?

• Businesses outside the University
• Revenue Sharing (internal funds)
• Collectives (donor funds)

Name, Image, Likeness [NIL]

Do all student-athletes receive NIL?

• No, but all student-athletes have an opportunity to.

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• Student-athletes being offered Revenue Sharing/Collective funds will typically have that ironed out during their recruitment.

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• For most student-athletes, traditional NIL opportunities comes down to how much work they are willing to put in with local businesses and/or on social media.

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*Speaking strictly in terms of compensation at the college level

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Are there risks with NIL deals?

• Contract liability
• Tax implications
• Exploitation

What can you do?

Volunteering Opportunities

• While in high school, work on balancing your schedule between school, athletics, and social time while integrating some outreach

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Social Media Presence

• Can bring value on its own to businesses

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Protect Yourself

• Know what you are signing/agreeing to
• Tax ramifications
• Read your school’s Student-Athlete Handbook for restrictions

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If your school has an NIL GM, use them as a resource

• Introduce yourself early; Ask questions
• Often know what local businesses are looking for, can help get you started

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Understand Your Time Demands

• Be realistic with your class/athletics schedule and adjustment into college life

Age Based Eligibility Model

Previously: Student-athletes had a five-year window to compete in four different years. That fifth year would be a ‘redshirt’ year, and waivers were granted to extend eligibility for injury or other mitigating circumstances.

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New rule: Upon enrolling full-time in college, or beginning the fall following your 19^th birthday, whichever is first, a student-athlete shall have five years to compete. No longer are waivers available to extend the participation window.

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*Only exceptions – Military Service, Pregnancy, Recognized Religion Missions

What does it mean?

• Athletically, know what you want in terms of early playing time. Pick a school that realistically reflects that expectation.

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• Each season is use-it or lose-it

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• No extension waivers, No medical hardships

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• Academically, have a plan for your 5^th year

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• Would you need that 5^th year to finish undergrad?

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• If graduating in four years, is there a 1-year graduate/certificate program? If not, would you finish the graduate program with no athletics aid in year 6?

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• Would you forgo that 5^th year to find a job?

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QUESTIONS?

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NCAA Eligibility Center

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Shea Dunbar

Marquette University Athletics

shea.dunbar@marquette.edu