For College-Bound Athletes

Athletics is a great way to learn life lessons and to develop qualities such as commitment, tenacity, loyalty, selflessness, and leadership. Trinity encourages students to take full advantage of its excellent athletics programs, but for the right reasons. These include character development, love of sports, and being part of a close-knit team.

For most students, athletic involvement influences college admissions only as an indicator of character. Students interested in playing sports in college must place a transcript on file with the NCAA Eligibility Center. They should also read the NCAA rules regarding eligibility. See the College Counselor for more information.

What is the NCAA Eligibility Center?

The Eligibility Center is the organization that officially certifies students as academically eligible to compete in NCAA Division I or Division II athletics.

Why do I have to register?

If you want to compete in NCAA Division I or Division II athletics, you must fulfill certain academic requirements, which include coursework, grade point average, and test scores. The Eligibility Center checks whether you meet these requirements and certifies your eligibility to play for any college or university that may be interested in recruiting you.  Students planning to participate at a Division III school should contact the college or university for eligibility requirements.

When should I register?

If you want to play as a college freshman, you should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at the beginning of your junior year of Upper School. The Eligibility Center will not evaluate your record unless you have completed four semesters of Upper School coursework. The Eligibility Center must have certified your eligibility before you can receive an athletic scholarship, practice, or compete at a Division I or Division II institution.

How do I register?

• Register online at www.eligibilitycenter.org.
• After graduation, Trinity must send the Eligibility Center a copy of your final transcript, confirming your graduation from Upper School.

What happens after I submit my registration forms?

During the summer before your senior year, the Eligibility Center will send you an evaluation of your academic record. This evaluation will tell you what Upper School coursework you still need to take in order to become certified as eligible to play NCAA Division I or Division II athletics. Use this evaluation to schedule your senior-year courses.

What are the NCAA's academic eligibility requirements?

Effective August 1, 2008, sixteen core courses are required for NCAA Division I eligibility. This rule applies to any student first entering any Division I college or university on or after August 1, 2008. Fourteen core courses are required in NCAA Division II.

Division I Requirements (16 core courses)

• 4 years of English.
• 3 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher).
• 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of laboratory science if offered by high school).
• 1 year of additional English, mathematics, or natural/physical science.
• 2 years of social science.
• 4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language, or non-doctrinal religion/philosophy).

Division II Requirements (14 core courses)

• 3 years of English.
• 2 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher).
• 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab if offered by high school).
• 2 year of additional English, mathematics, or natural/physical science.
• 2 years of social science.
• 3 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language, or non-doctrinal religion/philosophy).

These requirements are also outlined in the NCAA's Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete. On the NCAA Eligibility Center Web site, you can find out which Trinity courses count toward freshman eligibility.  You may also call the NCAA Eligibility Center toll-free number, 877.262.1492.

Test Scores

Division I has a sliding scale for test scores and grade-point averages. Division II has a minimum SAT score requirement of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68. The SAT score used for NCAA purposes includes only the critical reading and math sections; the writing section score is not included in the calculation. The ACT score used for NCAA purposes is the sum of the four sections on the ACT: English, math, reading, and science.

All SATand ACT scores must be reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center by the testing agency. Test scores that appear on transcripts are not accepted. When registering for the SAT or ACT, use the clearinghouse code of 9999 to make sure your score is reported to the Eligibility Center.

GPA

Only core courses are used in the calculation of grade-point averages for the NCAA. Be sure to look at the list of NCAA-approved core courses on the Eligibility Center web site to make certain that the courses you have taken have been approved as core courses. The website is www.eligibilitycenter.org.

The Division II GPA requirement is a minimum of 2.000.