The Importance of NCAA Qualifier Status for High School Athletes
Not being classified as an NCAA Qualifier out of high school can cause all kinds of problems for student-athletes throughout their college career. Many high school athletes fall through the cracks and don’t meet the academic requirements to be classified as an NCAA Qualifier because they:
- Don’t know what “Qualifier Status” is,
- Weren’t planning early enough in high school, or
- Had bad or incorrect advice regarding college athletic eligibility
The following 3 common scenarios show how important it is for high school athletes and their families to know and understand NCAA Qualifier Status.
My athlete plans to go to an NCAA DI or DII school out of high school:
If an athlete doesn’t meet the NCAA Division I or DII requirements for freshman eligibility because they didn’t take the required core courses, or don’t have the necessary GPA, SAT or ACT test score, the athlete:
- Cannot receive an athletic scholarship during their freshman year unless the requirements for “Academic Redshirt” or “Partial Qualifier” are met.
- Will NOT be eligible to compete with the team during their freshman year.
- Will not be eligible to practice with the team or attend weight training with their team.
My athlete plans to go to an NCAA DIII School:
Qualifier Status is a factor if your high school athlete goes to an NCAA DIII school and then decides to transfer to a DI or DII school before they complete a full year of school.
My athlete is going to a Junior College out of high school and then plans to transfer to an NCAA DI or DII. Does Qualifier Status matter?
The answer is YES, if an athlete goes to a JUCO their freshman year as a non-qualifier, they:
- Will NOT be eligible to transfer to a Division I program after just one year.
- Will have more extensive academic requirements at the JUCO to be immediately eligible upon transfer to a Division I or Division II program (more required junior college courses).
If you have questions:
If you’d like a confidential phone consult to discuss your athlete’s specific situation, schedule an eligibility consult online or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com.
