College Athletes

Students who want to play NCAA sports in college should be aware of eligibility requirements, registration steps, and important timelines.

What You Should Do

• Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center before your junior year of high school.
• Complete required NCAA core courses and maintain qualifying GPA.
• Communicate with coaches and counselors throughout high school.

Students interested in playing NAIA sports should also meet eligibility requirements and complete the registration process.

What You Should Do

• Create your PlayNAIA.org account as early as possible (freshman-sophmore year recommended).
• Review eligibility requirements and tasks assigned to your profile.
• Reach out to NAIA schools and coaches about opportunities to compete.

Academic first

• NCAA and NAIA both require minimum academic standards (GPA, coursework) in addition to athletic ability.

Counselor check-ins

• Regular meetings with your school counselor help ensure your high school academic plan satisfies NCAA/NAIA core-course and graduation requirements.

Deadlines matter

• Registration and documentation must be completed on time to maintain eligibility and avoid delays in recruitment.