Athletics and College
If you are interested in playing sports in college (or even just considering it), no matter the Division, we encourage you to speak with the AHC Athletics Office to ensure that you have the best opportunities and the most support. The Athletics Office is a great source of information so be sure to keep them, and your counselors (college and/or school counselor), in the loop!
The Process
The NCAA Eligibility Center ensures that a student-athlete is academically clear to compete in intercollegiate sports at the Division I or II level. If you are interested in playing sports at a Division I or II school, it is your responsibility to be sure the NCAA Eligibility Center has the documents it needs to certify you; this determination is typically done at the end of the junior year. These documents include:
- Your completed registration on the NCAA Eligibility Center website and $70 fee (fee waivers are available; speak with one of the college counselors for details);
- Your official transcript, mailed directly from every high school you have attended (for information on requesting your transcript electronically from AHC via your Family Connection account, please click here);
- Your official SAT or ACT scores, sent directly from the testing agency;
- International Student Release Form (if appropriate).
Resources for AHC Students
There's a lot of great information for student-athletes in our Athletics & College Counseling Handbook. It contains sample athletic resumes, notes to coaches, core-course GPA calculation sheets, and much more.
Students entering college the fall of 2015 and are considering participating in athletics at a Division I program in the fall of 2015 or beyond, new requirements are in place. Click here to view them. If you'd like to work on your NCAA Core Course GPA, please click here for a Division I and/or Division II worksheets.
Current stuents who would like to have a blanket transcript release form on file should pick up this form from the College Counseling Office. We must have this signed form on file in order to send out transcripts, schedules, test scores, etc. Once on file, College Counseling will communicate with parents via email each time a transcript is requested. If you have questions about this form, please see the College Counseling Office.
More information for prospective student-athletes is also available on the NCAA Eligibility Center web site; the 2012 - 2013 NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student Athlete is a great resource for students. Some additional FAQs are posted below.
FAQs
Q: Why do I need to register and be certified?
A: If you intend to participate in Division I or II athletics as a freshman, you must register with and be certified as eligible by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Eligibility Center. Initial eligibility certification pertains only to whether you meet the NCAA requirements for participation in Division I or II athletics and has no bearing on your admission to a particular Division I or II institution.
Q: When should I register?
A: You should register with the Eligibility Center at the end of your junior year or at the start of your senior year. Holy Cross will submit a 6-semester transcript (grades 9-11) to the Eligibility Center upon registration.
Q: How do I register?
A: Log in to the NCAA Eligibility Center web site and complete the required registration form. Complete and submit your form to the Eligibility Center; beginning September 1, 2012, the registration fee is $70.00 – you must pay with a credit card when you submit your registration. Print out a copy of "Release Form #1" and bring it to the College Counseling Office. We will send that to the Registrar's Office and it will accompany your transcript to the NCAA. It is your responsibility to send your SAT or ACT scores by entering ‘9999’ when you send scores through www.collegeboard.com or www.actstudent.org.
Q: What will the Eligibility Center send to my colleges?
A: The Eligibility Center will send your eligibility status to any Division I or II college that requests it, provided you have given permission on your student release form for the school to receive the information.
Division III
If you are interested in athletic competition at the Division III level, you may wish to be in contact with a coach or coaches at your schools of interest so you can indicate your interest in their school and athletic program. You can begin this communication in the summer between your sophomore and junior year, especially if you are a fall athlete. Additionally, if you make a visit to the college, you may wish to contact the coach before your visit in order to schedule a meeting. You do not have to go through the NCAA Eligibility Center process.
