By Amy Nickerson
Engagement Insider

I always encourage student-athletes (and their parents) to keep their main focus on the educational aspect of getting to college, rather than solely on athletics. This, of course, must be their primary concern at all times of the year, especially in the summer months.  Summertime is a great time for parents of student-athletes to conduct an inventory of their student-athletes’ academic records.  With so many academic requirements that must be met, it is imperative that you make sure that all bases are covered when it comes to school.

It’s always a good idea to check in with school counselors to make sure your student-athlete is on the right track. Just like we take our cars in for periodic checks - checking the oil, brakes, tire pressure, etc. - the same goes for academic checks.  Not all counselors will be available in the summer, however, so check with your school to see when someone will be there to help you.  In helping to ensure that your student-athlete understands what is expected of him/her academically, some questions to ask the counselor might include:

• Am I on track to fulfill all courses I need to graduate?
• Am I in enough challenging courses?
• What is my cumulative GPA?  Core-course GPA?
• Are all of the courses I am taking approved by the NCAA?

Speaking of the NCAA, it is extremely important to become familiar with the NCAA requirements that college prospects must fulfill.  Any student-athlete who desires to play in college should be aware of these requirements.  All student-athletes aiming to play at the D-1 collegiate level must successfully complete the approved 16 core courses as required by the NCAA.  When looking at the list, make sure that you have a full understanding of all of the course subjects, and also go over this with your high school counselor.  Be mindful that some schools offer classes that are not accepted by the NCAA to fulfill the 16 core course requirements, so check, recheck, and then check some more!  You can find your high school’s list of NCAA courses on the NCAA’s website (under Eligibility Center) at www.ncaa.org.

Some of you may not be familiar with these NCAA Core Courses.  What exactly is a Core Course? As defined by the NCAA, a Core Course must be:

• An academic course in one or a combination of these areas: English, Mathematics, Natural/Physical Science, Social Science, Foreign Language, Comparative Religion or Philosophy;

• Four-year college preparatory; and

• Taught at or above your high school’s regular academic level (no remedial courses, those taught at a slower pace or those that cover less content).

NCAA’s 16 Core Courses At A Glance:

• 4 years of English.
• 3 years of Mathematics (Algebra I or higher).
• 2 years of Natural/Physical Science (1 year of lab 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 Comparative Religion/Philosophy).

Again - there is a broad range of high school curriculums out there. Not all classes offered which satisfy high school graduation requirements may be used as core courses.  Check it out!  Make sure your student-athlete is in the right classes and that they line up with NCAA requirements in order to be eligible as a college recruit.

By the way, besides the NCAA, there are other organizations that govern smaller schools or schools with fewer sports programs, such as the NAIA.  Since not every high school student-athlete will attend an NCAA institution, it’s best to become familiar with the other organizations as well.  But, in general, if you meet the eligibility requirements to be an NCAA Division I athlete, you will be eligible for the other organizations as well.  Nonetheless, always check with each organization to be certain.

The bottom line – student-athletes must work hard to get the best grades possible, at all times. By performing well academically, they can greatly enhance their college opportunities, whether they end up earning an athletic scholarship or not. However, during the summer months, it’s easy for them to regress academically if they don’t continually exercise and challenge their minds. Help them to develop good habits of staying academically conscious. Remind them that they need to keep their brains busy - not just their quads, abs and biceps.

Until next time,

Your All-Pro Team Mom

Resources:

NCAA Eligibility Center

NAIA Eligibility Center