When athletes reclassify, they are deviating from the route that many NCAA rules are based on. Extra caution is required to ensure that the requirements are still followed. What exactly is reclassifying? Reclassifying is the decision to modify the date on which you will graduate from high school and/or enter college after you have begun ninth grade. This can be an important decision for athletes to make because it can affect what programs are willing to offer them and when they can apply for financial aid.
The most common reasons why people reclassify include wanting to: spend more time developing their sport (especially if they are good at it); move up a grade level in school; take a year off; go to a different college or university. People also reclassify so they can participate on sports teams that require only one year of eligibility rather than two. In fact, nearly half of all college athletes reclassify at some point in their career.
Those who reclassify usually do so when they are about to turn 19 years old. They can change their mind at any time before then; however, once they register online, they cannot change their mind or be dropped from the team.
People often think that by reclassifying they can start earning money from their sport immediately. This is not true. They can only start receiving payments from their current school if they remain there until they turn 24 years old.
Student-athletes at all levels, from high school through junior college and four-year institutions, are affected by eligibility difficulties. Failure to grasp, know, and follow the eligibility standards can have major short- and long-term implications. Inability to complete eligibility requirements can set back or even destroy a student-whole athlete's sports career.
An athlete must meet two criteria to be eligible to play sports at his or her institution: enrollment as a degree candidate and citizenship. Only when both of these conditions are met can an athlete participate in athletics. Unfortunately, many students who should be declared ineligible to play sports do not have their records corrected after they graduate or withdraw from school.
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules specify that an athlete cannot compete while still enrolled at a school if doing so would affect that person's ability to qualify for other events or teams. For example, if an athlete were to win a national championship while still attending a school, that title would be vacated upon the player's graduation.
Similarly, if an athlete withdrew from school but failed to inform the institution he or she is now attending, that person would be considered to be continuing to attend that school even though physically absent. As a result, that athlete could not play competitively for the new school because NCAA rules prohibit competing while still enrolled at an institution.
These NCAA transfer eligibility regulations are subject to change. For example, on June 26, 2019, the NCAA published revised NCAA transfer regulations, indicating that four of its standards had been altered. These new NCAA transfer regulations were changed in order to explain them. The old version of these regulations can be found here: http://www.ncaa.org/news/articles/2019/06/19/new-transfer-eligibility-regulations.
In general, transfers will have six months to play one season at their new school before becoming eligible to play for a different team. However, certain transfers may be eligible after only five months if they meet certain requirements. It is important to understand the specific timing requirements for each type of transfer before filing any paperwork with the institution you plan to attend.
There are two types of transfers: those who qualify under the "good reason" standard and those who do not. Under this standard, a student-athlete can request a release from his or her current school in order to play for another school as long as it is for a "good reason." If your existing school does not grant you a release, you cannot go to the new school until after you get one.
A "good reason" for wanting to transfer schools includes things such as wanting to play for a coach who is now available, needing more playing time, etc.
As you might think, if you enroll as a collegiate athlete, you must also meet NCAA academic criteria. Division 1 student-athletes have five years of eligibility and athletically related financial assistance, whereas Division 2 student-athletes have ten semesters or fifteen quarters of full-time attendance to complete four competitive seasons.
In addition to meeting the academic requirements, you also must meet certain physical standards to be considered for admission into a college athletic program. The minimum standards are that you cannot be more than one year removed from high school graduation; cannot have tested positive for drugs during drug tests; and must have a grade point average of at least 30 on a scale of 100 (based on completed courses).
The best way to ensure a place on a college sports team is by participating in athletics while in high school. This will give you a head start on your classmates who don't engage in sports and allow you to make up any ground if you fall behind during your first year or two in college.
Also keep in mind that coaches typically have several players waiting in the wings in case of injury to a member of their squad. This means that even if you aren't selected to compete in each game, there's a good chance you'll get exposure over the course of the season that could lead to future opportunities.
Finally, let's say you want to pursue a career in sports management. Many colleges have separate department titles for athletic administrators.
Copyright © 2020 - 2023 Sportsmanist Inc.
