The last three episodes on my YouTube channel contain some VERY important information… actually some of the MOST important information regarding the Collegiate recruiting process… a Trifecta
The episodes discuss gaining Initial Eligibility at the NCAA DI, NCAA DII and NAIA levels.
It isn’t glamorous, or fun.
Learning how to increase your vertical leap or improving your speed is much more interesting… I know.
But if you are not familiar with, and do not keep on top of this (Initial Eligibility) information, you are putting your whole recruiting dreams at risk.
- Episode 16 – Your Academics Part 1, discusses the ACT/ SAT tests and the sliding scales used by the NCAA.
- Episode 17 – Your Academics Part 2, discussed Core Courses and Core GPA.
- Episode 18 – Homework Assignment – ties it all together and I provide a tool that you can use to keep up-to-date regarding your initial eligibility. It is this Episode and this worksheet that I am going to focus on in this post.
How to use the Recruiting Worksheet.
This post will follow along with, and supplement the information included in Episode 18 – Homework Assignment… so you can access that video and follow along there as well.
The first step is to download the Worksheet. It is a Google Sheet, and can be downloaded via Episode 18 – Homework Assignment, or at this link:
This will open up the Google Sheet titled Recruiting Worksheet.
In order to use/ edit the worksheet, the first thing you need to do is “make a copy”
To do this, click on –> File-> Make a copy
Then give it a name (or just keep it Copy of Recruiting Worksheet) and select where you want to save it, the click –> OK
Now you have a worksheet that is yours to keep… one you can fill in, complete and use to gauge where you are in the recruiting process.
A few words about what this worksheet IS and what it is NOT.
It is intended to give you a snapshot of where you are in the collegiate recruiting process right now… It is NOT a prediction of if, or at what level, you are going to get recruited. It is designed to help guide you through a self evaluation segment, and guide you in regards to your Initial Eligibility status.
OK… Here we go in filling out and using this tool.
First… every field that is yellow is where you will be entering your information.
The first question – What is your “Dream” school?
If you could get recruited, get a scholarship, and attend ANY college in the country, where would it be? Type your answer in here:
In the next section you will be evaluating yourself on the 9 different qualities that college recruiters will be looking at… I have called these “Purple Cow” qualities (you want to be like a Purple Cow… remarkable… not a brown cow… ordinary).
If you are not sure what recruiters will be looking for in these areas, or want to better understand what will make you remarkable, you can click on any of these links to episodes on my YouTube channel where I discuss these qualities.
The complete playlist of my YouTube channel is at this link:
YouCanDoMore YouTube all episodes
You will rate yourself 1-5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest) in each of these areas… typing in your rating in the corresponding yellow cell.
A couple of things to keep in mind as you are rating yourself on these “Purple Cow” qualities:
- Remember you are competing against student-athletes all across the country for scholarship aid… not just against athletes in your school, city, and state… so rate yourself accordingly
- This is a rating on where you are right now… not where you want to be or think you will be at the end of this process
The worksheet will calculate an average rating, but more importantly, it will point out areas that you are strong in, as well as areas you might need to put some additional work and effort into.
The next section will help you determine where you are regarding the NCAA DI and DII Initial Eligibility process.
The first thing the worksheet asks for (and will help you find) are how many Core Courses (and in what areas) you have taken. If you do not have a list of your High School’s Core Courses, you can click on this link in the worksheet and it will take you a search engine that allows you to search by your school state and name.
This is site that will allow you to search for your high school Core Core list. You can also click on this link : Core Course Search Engine to see this site:
Once you have your school’s list of Core Courses, you will enter the number of units you have taken in each area, English, Math (Algebra 1 or above) Science, Social Science and Other, in the corresponding yellow cell. One year of a course equals 1 unit, One semester equals .5 units
The worksheet will automatically calculate the total number of Core Units you have taken and display the number here.
Keep in mind that in order to meet NCAA DI initial eligibility standards, you will need to earn 16 Core Course Units. The breakdown of the number of units needed in each area can be found at this link: NCAA DI Standards
In NCAA DII you will also need 16 Core Units, although the distribution of units in each area is slightly different. The DII breakdown can be found at this link: NCAA DII Standards
Next, the worksheet will help you calculate your Core GPA… which is the only GPA that the NCAA uses… not overall GPA which includes non-Core Courses.
You will enter the grades you received in your Core Courses here…. entering the number of A’s B’s C’s and D’s in each of the corresponding yellow cells.
Remember these two things
- The NCAA does not use + or – grades in determining GPA
- The grade for a year-long course is 1 unit, for a semester class it is .5 unit
The worksheet will calculate your Core GPA based on the number of Core Course units you have taken, and the grades (quality points) you earned in each of those courses. Your Core GPA will be displayed here:
The next factor determining Initial Eligibility is your score on either the ACT or SAT standardized test.
On the worksheet answer the question if you have taken either test, and if you have, enter your score in the corresponding yellow cell.
If you have not taken the ACT or SAT tests, clicking on the worksheet link will take you to this site that lists the national testing dates for the ACT and SAT in 2018-19.
You can also get to the site by clicking this link: ACT/SAT test dates
Determine a date you will take (or retake) the test and enter the date in the corresponding yellow cell
Enter the date! This is like making a contract with yourself and will increase the likelihood that you will take the test in a timely manner.
Now, using the NCAA DI and DII sliding scales you can determine what test score (or Core GPA with your current test score) you will need in order to meet NCAA Initial Eligibility standards.
Clicking on the worksheet link that says “NCAA DI Sliding Scale”
Will take you to the sliding scale used by the NCAA to determine you eligibility
By using the Core GPA that has already been calculated by the worksheet
And cross-referencing that value on the sliding scale, you can determine what test score (ACT or SAT) you will need to achieve to gain Initial Eligibility at the NCAA DI level.
Episode 16 – Your Academics – Part 1 – Explains how to use the NCAA DI and DII sliding scales.
Enter the test score you need (based on your Core GPA) in the corresponding yellow cell.
The process for figuring out the test score you will need at the NCAA DII level is identical. Clicking on the worksheet link that says “NCAA DII Sliding Scale”
Will take you to the sliding scale used by the NCAA to determine your DII eligibility.
By using the Core GPA that has already been calculated by the worksheet
And cross-referencing that value on the sliding scale, you can determine what test score (ACT or SAT) you will need to achieve to gain Initial Eligibility at the NCAA DII level.
Enter the test score you need (based on your Core GPA) in the corresponding yellow cell.
You can now see exactly where you are in regards to your Initial Eligibility at both the NCAA DI and DII levels… and determine if you …
- Are Eligible at the NCAA DI and DII levels
- Need more Core Courses in order to be eligible
- Need Core Courses in a different area to be eligible
- Need a higher Core GPA to be eligible
- Need a higher ACT or SAT test to be eligible
- Or need a combination of these items to be eligible
The next section of the worksheet looks at the process of registering for either (or both) the NCAA or NAIA Eligibility Centers.
Answer the question on the worksheet “Have you registered with the NCAA or NAIA Eligibility Centers?”
If you have NOT registered with the Eligibility Centers, clicking on the worksheet link “NCAA Center”
Will take you to the registration page for the NCAA Eligibility Center
And click on the worksheet link “NAIA Center”
Will take you to the Play NAIA site, which is the registration page for the NAIA Eligibility Center
You can also navigate the the Eligibility Centers by clicking on these links below:
Well, thats it!
A lot of information, clicking, calculating, evaluating…. I know!
But information that will help put you in the drivers seat when it comes to your (or you son or daughter) recruiting.
If you have any questions on how to download, save, navigate or use this worksheet in any way, please give me a shout… I will help!
As always, thanks for your support!
Remember – You Can Do More… your brain is lying to you…. Don’t Believe It!
Jeff Floyd – youcandomore1@yahoo.com