2. Disclaimer
The NCAA, NJCAA, NAIA, and NCCAA rulebooks
change frequently. Some of the details of this
presentation may change. This presentation is designed
to give you an overview of what it takes to become a
collegiate track & field/cross country athlete and to
familiarize yourself with this process.
3. Preview
Divisions (NCAA I,II,III; NAIA, NJCAA, NCCAA)
Athletic Scholarship Information
Recruiting Services (BeRecruited, NCSA, Forms)
NCAA Eligibility Center
Official/Unofficial Visit
How to Choose
How to Commit
Life of a college student-athlete
Benefits
4. Athletic Scholarship Info
“I’m being recruited by X school, so I must be getting
scholarship”
NCAA Division I 18 (Female) 12.6 (Male)
NCAA Division II 12.6 (Female) 12.6(Male)
NCAA Division III0 (Female) 0 (Male)
NAIA 12 (Female) 12 (Male)
NJCCAA 30 (Combined M&F)
Fully Funded?
5. Divisional Breakdown
NCAA Division I
Alabama State University
Alabama A&M University
Auburn University
Jacksonville State University
Samford University
Troy University
University of Alabama
UAB
University of South Alabama
NCAA Division II
Miles College
Stillman College
Tuskegee University
University of Montevallo
University of Alabama at Huntsville
University of North Alabama
University of West Alabama
NCAA Division III
Birmingham Southern College
Huntingdon College
NAIA
AUM
Faulkner University
Spring Hill College
Talladega College
University of Mobile
6. Financial Aid
Academic Scholarship
ACT > 25 SAT > 1200 GPA > 3.0
Amounts vary
Foundational Scholarships
Based on school
Interview based
Leadership positions
Amounts vary
Government Grants
FAFSA (Pell Grant)
Outside sources
FastWeb.org
Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans
7. How to get Recruited
BeRecruited.com
NCSA.com
Prospective Student-Athlete forms
Contact coaches directly
Be prepared to be bombarded with contact
9. Official Visit vs. Unofficial Visit
Official Visits – SR’s Only
Paid for by the institution
$ Room
$ Meals
$Transportation
$ Entertainment
Limited to one per institution
Allowed five total NCAA Division I OV’s
Unofficial Visits – All ages
Paid for by the PSA
Entertainment provided by institution
Unlimited
10. Recruiting Terminology
Dead Period
Quiet Period
Contact
Evaluation
In-Home Visit
Red Shirting
Camp/Clinic
Incidental Contact
National Letter of Intent (NLI)
National Signing Day
11. Moving Forward…
Apply for admission (SR)
Transcripts & Test Scores (SR)
NCAA Eligibility Center (JR/SR)
Tour Campus (FR/SO/JR/SR)
Apply for Housing***(SR)
Attend Camp (FR/SO/JR)
12. Pros & Cons – NCAA Division I
Practice outfits and athletic equipment
Team strength and conditioning coach
State-of-the art training and game facilities
Top-notch competition
Larger class sizes
Athletic time commitment
Strong pressure to perform athletically
Traveling cross-country
13. Pros & Cons – NCAA Division II
Student-to-teacher ratio
Less pressure to perform athletically
Less cross-country travel
Less support for program
Athletic time commitment
Lack of facilities
Stack Magazine “Divisional Breakdown” – Jan/Feb 2009
14. Pros & Cons – NCAA Division III
Student-to-teacher ratio
Games played in immediate region
Easier to play two sports
Minimal summer commitment
Lack of fan support for program
No athletic aid available
Lack of facilities
Stack Magazine “Divisional Breakdown” – Jan/Feb 2009
15. Pros & Cons - NAIA
Student-to-teacher ratio //
Coaches have fewer recruiting restrictions //
Less pressure to perform athletically //
Transferring between schools is easy
Lack of facilities //
Coaches may be faculty members as well //
Athletic time commitment
Stack Magazine “Divisional Breakdown” – Jan/Feb 2009
16. Pros & Cons – NJCAA I,II,III
Better opportunity to play right away
Chance to improve GPA to get admitted to a four-year
college
NJCAA Division I programs can offer full athletic scholarships
NJCAA Division II programs can only offer tuition, fees and
books
NJCAA Division III programs cannot offer athletic aid
Lack of facilities
17. Where do I belong?
“If I woke up tomorrow and couldn’t run anymore,
would I be happy here?”
ACADEMICS!!
Do they have your major?
Or a major that will prepare me for professional school?
Honors programs?
Will I get admitted?
Athletics
Travel opportunities
Top 10 in XC
Can I score at their championship meets
18. Committing and Signing
Verbal Commitment
Notify other schools
National Letter of Intent (NLI)
Housing Deposit
Signing Day!!!
Final Amateurism
FAFSA
Contact Team/Other Signees
MOST Recruiting restrictions lifted
Physicals/Shots/Orientation/Summer Training
19. Am I Good Enough?
Target school conference results
Current roster
WALK ON!!
Prove yourself
Top 10% = more failure
11-20% have the most success
Examples…
20. Life of a Collegiate Track&Field/XC Student-Athlete
Advantage of having a team.
Traveling
Mentors
Academic Resources
The bigger the school, the less you stand out.
New definition of “good”.
Time management
New coaching style (good or bad)
Training is more demanding.
21. Personal Advice
Enjoy every minute.
Be patient in your training.
Buy in with what your coach is doing.
Be a leader.
Be a team player.
Be humble.
Learn to fail.
Learn to succeed.
Push your limits.
Know your limits.
22. …Since I have a Captive Audience…
http://www.troytrojans.com/documents/2013/3/18/Distan
ce_Running_Camp.pdf