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Sprinting Down the Athletic Route: Part 2 In-Depth Timelines

Freshman and Sophomore Year (Grades 9 and 10)

• Make sure you are on track to get the correct number and type of CXC/ CAPE passes
• Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to answer these questions
• Think about whether you will be leaving at the end of Form 5, Lower 6, or Upper 6.

Until September 1st of junior year/ Grade 11, coaches can:

• Send you sports camp brochures, NCAA information, questionnaires
• Accept phone calls at your expense
• Speak to you on campus if you are visiting unofficially
• Give you a maximum of three complimentary tickets to a college sporting event

Until September 1st of junior year/ Grade 11, coaches cannot:

• Call you on the phone
• Send you any written recruiting information
• Respond to your emails
• Return phone call messages
• Approach you or speak to you off-campus

Junior Year (Grade 11)

• Check with guidance counselor on subjects you are taking
• Register at Eligibility Center if you have not yet done so
• Take the ACT or SAT and submit your scores to the NCAA using Eligibility Center code 9999
• Ask guidance counselor to send official transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center
• Potentially receive offers by the end of Grade 11 or invited on official visits

Coaches can:

• Send written information about the college and its athletic program
• Answer emails and generate emails to you
• Receive as many phone calls as you would like to make

Coaches cannot:

• Contact you in person off the college campus until July 1st at the end of junior year
• Call you more than once a week

Senior Year (Grade 12)

• Register at Eligibility Center if you have not yet done so
• Take the ACT/ SAT again (or for the first time) if necessary
• Accept offers for official (expenses paid) visits at up to 5 different colleges
• Request final amateurism certification from Eligibility enter
• Graduate on time or talk to guidance counselor about options for summer sessions to catch up or increase your GPA
• Get guidance counselor to send your final transcript and proof of graduation to Eligibility Center

Coaches can:

• Make telephone calls or send written correspondence as per junior year
• Make unlimited calls after you sign an offer or make a deposit

Coaches cannot:

• Contact (face-to-face) you or your family more than three times during senior year

Other Important Notes 1. To be a college athlete, you must be an amateur athlete and not a profession. Any of the following can jeopardize your eligibility status:

• Accepting benefit or inducement, letter, phone call, direct contact on or off campus with coaches before the prescribed time
• Accepting payment for your participation in an athletic contest
• Accepting payment for advertisements/ commercials
• Accepting gifts for the above

2. There are nuances for each sport regarding timelines, contact with coaches, number of scholarships available, etc. Do not assume that this article pertains to your sport exactly. 3. Rules change every year and sometimes more often than that, so make sure that you are completely updated on your requirements and that your research is current. 4. Whether you leave at the end of Form 5, Lower 6, or Upper 6, changes when you are considered a “sophomore, junior or senior”, and therefore changes when coaches can contact you, etc. The earlier you make a decision, the more prepared you will be. Conclusion Whew. I know that this is a lot of information. Remember that the earlier you get started, the better. Remember that my first consult is always free, so schedule a consult to discuss your options.