Every student athlete is bound by rules put in place by the various organizations governing college athletics. Here are some terms you need to be familiar with.
FIVE-YEAR CLOCK: If you play at a Division I school, you have five calendar years in which to play four seasons of competition. Your five-year clock starts when you enroll as a full-time student at any college. Thereafter, your clock continues, even if you spend an academic year in residence as a result of transferring, decide to redshirt, if you do not attend school, or even if you go part-time during your college career.
10-SEMESTER/15-QUARTER CLOCK: If you play at a Division II or III school, you have the first 10 semesters of 15 quarters in which you are enrolled as a full-time student to complete your four seasons of competition. You use a semester or a quarter any time you attend class as a full-time student or are enrolled part-time and compete for the institution. You do not use a term if you only attend part-time with no competition or ane not enrolled for a term.
ELIGIBILITY CENTER: The NCAA Eligibility Center evaluates your high school academic record and amateurism history to determine if you are eligible to participate in your initial year of enrollment at a Division I or II college. The Eligibility Center is a separate legal entity that provides services to NCAA member institutions.
FULL-TIME: Each school determines what full-time status means. Typically, you are a full-time student if you are enrolled for at least 12 credit hours in a term, but some schools define a full-time student as someone who takes fewer than 12 credit hours in a term.
QUALIFIER: A student who, for purposes of determining eligibility for financial aid, and competition, has: Graduated from high school, successfully completed the required core curriculum consisting of a minimum number of courses in specified subjects, and obtained a 2.3 GPA in the core curriculum.
- In January 2023, NCAA Divisions I and II adopted legislation to remove standardized test scores from initial eligibility requirements. Check with the NCAA school you plan to attend regarding whether standardized test scores are necessary for admission or scholarship requirements.
NON-QUALIFIER: A student who has not graduated from high school or who, at the time specified in the NCAA rules, has not successfully completed the required number of core-curriculum courses, or has not presented the required grade point average (GPA).
- In January 2023, NCAA Divisions I and II adopted legislation to remove standardized test scores from initial eligibility requirements. Check with the NCAA school you plan to attend regarding whether standardized test scores are necessary for admission or scholarship requirements.
REDSHIRT: Student athletes are given a five-year clock to compete in four seasons. A redshirt year is often use for academic or athletic improvement and can be used any time within the five years.
GREYSHIRT: Only happens before enrolling in a full-time semester/quarter school. If a student-athlete enrolls in less than 12 units, then he/she does not start his/her clock. This is considered a greyshirt year.
SEASON OF COMPETITION: Any competition, regardless of time, during a sesaon in an intercollegiate sport will be counted as a season of competition in that sport, except as provided in the following Bylaws:
This provision is applicable to intercollegiate athletics competitions conducted by two-year or four-year collegiate institutions at the varsity or sub-varsity level.
EXIT INTERVIEW
- You've competed a graduation-check with the Athletic Counselor.
- You've completed your student-athlete exit survey in the Huddle.
