ABSTRACT
Deciding to play collegiate level sports at either division I or II takes serious consideration due to the time demands and campus lifestyle as a student-athlete. While there are many perks for athletes, campus life and college life may fall outside that of a typical college experience, as much time is devoted to the team through structured practice and playtime and specialized living corridors. Even the academic experience may look different with classrooms-turned-tutors on the road and team study requirements. Curfews are imposed, and flex time is limited. It is assumed that a student-athlete may not have a typical college social experience due to the demands that team or individual sports impose.
Before applying, a student-athlete must consider the level of collegiate participation and register with the NCAA Clearinghouse as soon as junior year. Once registered, students can evaluate whether they remain on track meeting the academic requirements imposed by DI/II-level participation as outlined clearly by the clearinghouse rules and regulations. Recruitment rules apply to types and timeline of outreach between coaches and student-athlete prospects. Specific allowances will differ across not only the type of sport but also across DI and DII, as well as men’s and women’s sports.
