NCAA Eligibility: Steps To Help High School Athletes Meet Every Requirement

A common question users have for us at GMTM is "How do I make sure I am eligible to be a college athlete?"

It's one of the most overlooked parts of becoming a college athlete - all of the hard work you need to do off of the field and outside the gym. But, with every success story, there is as much paperwork, meetings, and bureaucracy as there are touchdowns and trophies.

There's a reason there wasn't an episode of "The Last Dance" documenting Michael Jordan filling out paperwork in the Admissions building at UNC. Because it's not nearly as exciting as what he was doing on the floor in Chapel Hill.

But, behind every star athlete who dreams of playing on the biggest stage in amateur sports, there is a process. And even though it seems outdated, the NCAA's eligibility process is worth the reward - and it won't be changing much anytime soon, so it's best to learn what is expected.

The process does take four years of diligence before you can step on the field at a university, and there is no point which you can start slacking if you expect to have an easy ride to college. But, with this easy guide, you can see that a little extra work throughout your recruitment will pay off big time as college athlete.

So, here are the 10 steps to ensuring you'll meet all the requirements to become an NCAA athlete.

Step 1: Make The Decision That You Want To Play In College

Complete this before the end of Grade 9

This first step may be obvious, but it is certainly the most important - and unfortunately, the one that is ignored the most. And it's one you should be making before the end of your freshman year of high school (Grade 9).

You have to make a conscious decision that you want to play at the next level. There are thousands of other kids in your state trying to get a scholarship and play college sports, so it is very important to buy in early and know the sacrifices you need to make.

This means talking with your parents, coaches, and guidance counselors, if possible, to get advice and to help hold you accountable throughout your high school career.

Step 2: Get the list of the NCAA's Core Courses from your high school guidance counselor

Complete this before the end of Grade 9

As soon as you've made the commitment to yourself to try to play college sports, it's time to start thinking of the requirements that you need to be eligible.

This process should start in your freshman year by talking with your guidance counselor and getting an up to date list of the required classes for NCAA eligibility. Ensure you talk to your counselor because this list of Core Classes can change from year to year.

Another reason to make sure you do this early in your high school career is to help you get ahead in college. If you focus on the core classes early in high school, you could finish them and even get into college early. Or better yet, start taking college classes while you are still in high school to start getting the most out of your college experience.

Step 3: Create your online athlete profile with the NCAA Eligibility Center

Complete this before the end of Grade 10

Step 4: Meet with your guidance counselor to make sure are on track to graduate

Do this AT LEAST TWICE during Grade 11

This is another step that is often overlooked - and can lead to a bunch of problems for hopeful college athletes.

Make sure you talk to your guidance counselor often. They are there to help you succeed. And everyone struggles with school or at home, so talking to someone is usually the first step in fixing a problem.

During your junior year of high school (Grade 11), you should talk to your guidance counselors about your grades to make sure you are on track to graduate. Everyone struggles with something in class, but you junior year is the last opportunity you have to make big changes to your transcripts.

Additionally, you should also ask if you have completed a majority of the required NCAA core classes and ensure you will complete them all before graduation. This is a simple conversation and an easy thing to fix if you aren't on track.

Your junior year is where you can really make a jump with scouts on the field, but it is also where a majority of great athletes have made their mistakes in the classroom. Make sure your guidance counselor, teachers, or parents stay involved in your journey and help you stay on track.