Only two percent of high school athletes will play college sports. Shocking, right?
Joining a college sports team is the ultimate goal for many competitive high school athletes, but getting there isn’t easy.
Out of the many major collegiate athletic associations, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or the NCAA, is the largest. It is in charge of all athletic areas of four year colleges including recruiting, eligibility, and financial aid.
For athletes that want to continue their sports career in college, the NCAA has a set of strict rules regarding academics and a set minimum combination of GPA and standardized test scores.
Attempting to be recruited, or noticed, by a college coach, can be a nerve wracking situation. The recruiting process is different depending what on what division level you are being recruited at and the sport you play. Also, the amount of money spent on recruiting by each sports team is unregulated and can impact the coaches’ perspective on potential athletes.
Unless you initiate it, college coaches are prohibited from contacting you. This is a way for some athletes to get scholarships ahead of other recruits.
Another stress inducing factor in the recruiting process is the need to create a lasting impression on the coach.
Depending on the college and the student’s athletic capability, a student may be able to obtain a scholarship.
According to NCAA, the first step to playing a sport at college level is registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center. The Center ensures that student athletes are prepared to meet the academic rigors of college.
A student-athlete’s final eligibility status from the NCAA will only be received after graduating high school. Since they need all of your high school grades and proof of graduation, the NCAA cannot determine your eligibility status before then.
To most athletes, getting a full ride scholarship is the pinnacle of success. Unfortunately there are a only a few select sports, and divisions that offer this highly coveted option.
The NCAA regulates the maximum number of scholarships that colleges can award in each sport. This number varies by division and college.
The intense amount of stress caused by the amount of paperwork, evaluations, applications, and long conversations alone discourage many potential college athletes from continuing along this path.
Whether a student is in the process of being recruited, obtaining a scholarship, or deciding to play a sport in college at all, be prepared for a bumpy road ahead of you.
Athletes | Women’s Basketball | Men’s Basketball | Baseball | Men’s Ice Hockey | Football | Men’s soccer |
High School Athletes | 452,929 | 546,335 | 470,671 | 36,263 | 1,071,775 | 358,935 |
High School senior athletes | 129,408 | 156,096 | 134,477 | 10,361 | 306,221 | 102,553 |
NCAA Athletes | 15,096 | 16,571 | 28,767 | 3,973 | 61,252 | 19,797 |
NCAA Freshman Positions | 4,313 | 4,735 | 8,219 | 1,135 | 17,501 | 5,655 |
NCAA Senior Athletes | 3,355 | 3,682 | 6,393 | 883 | 13,612 | 4,398 |
NCAA Senior Athletes Drafted | 32 | 44 | 600 | 33 | 250 | 75 |
Percentage: High School To NCAA | 3.3% | 3.0% | 6.1% | 11.0% | 5.7% | 5.5% |
Percentage: NCAA To Professional | 1.0% | 1.2% | 9.4% | 3.7% | 1.8% | 1.7% |
Percentage: High School To Professional | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.45% | 0.32% | 0.08% | 0.07% |