INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES AND PARENTS 

In accordance with bylaw 13.02.11, the NCAA's definition of a prospective student-athlete is anyone who has started classes for the ninth grade, or above, as well as students who have officially withdrawn from a four year institution and plan to transfer to another institution. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individual's relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally. An individual remains a prospective student-athlete until one of the following occurs (whichever is earlier): 

(a) The individual officially registers and enrolls in a minimum full-time program of studies and attends classes in any term of a four-year collegiate institution's regular academic year; or 

(b) The individual participates in a regular squad practice or competition at a four-year collegiate institution that occurs before the beginning of any term; or 

(c) The individual officially registers and enrolls and attends classes during the summer prior to initial enrollment and receives institutional athletics aid. 

Provided below are links to various websites which can help you with the admissions process as well as answer questions concerning NCAA academic standards. The link to the Guide for College Bound Student-Athlete contains information regarding NCAA academic eligibility, core courses, SAT/ACT test, Initial Eligibility Center (Clearinghouse) to name just a few. This can be a very helpful tool and we encourage you to read the guide. 

Remember that it is extremely important for you to continue giving all your effort to your academics as you conclude your high school attendance. In order to practice or compete during your freshmen year at college, you must meet provisions of NCAA Bylaw 14.3, which includes: 

• Graduating from high school
• Achieving a minimum cumulative grade point average in the 16 core courses
• Achieving a corresponding minimum combined score on the SAT, or a minimum sum total on the ACT 

You must also register with the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse certifies all incoming freshmen student-athletes as being academically eligible having met all the requirements of Bylaw 14.3.

Cal Poly Links 

• Cal Poly Admissions Office
• Cal Poly Financial Aid Office
• Graduation Rates
• APR Information
• GSR Report

NCAA Eligibility and Information Links

• College Board
• Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete
• Division 1 Academic Eligibility Requirements
• NCAA Eligibility Center (Clearinghouse)
• NCAA Banned Substance List 

Below is a short summary of key NCAA definitions for prospects: 

Contact
A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect, or the prospect's parent or legal guardian, and an institutional staff member or athletic representative during which any dialogue occurs. 

Evaluation 
An evaluation is any off-campus activity designed to assess the academic qualifications or athletics ability of a prospect, including any visit to a prospect’s educational institution or the observation of a prospect participating in any practice or competition at any site.
Recruiting
Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or a prospect's family member (or guardian) by an institutional staff member or by athletic representative of the institution, for the purpose of securing the prospect's enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution's intercollegiate athletic program.  Only those Cal Poly coaches who have successfully passed the annual NCAA Coaches Certification exam may be involved in the recruitment of prospects. 

Dead Period
A dead period is a period of time when it is not permissible for coaches to make in-person recruiting contacts or evaluations on or off the institution’s campus. Official and unofficial visits are not allowed on the institution’s campus.

If you are interested in becoming a student-athlete in any of the 20 intercollegiate sports Cal Poly has to offer, please select a sport from the options below and fill out the prospective student athlete questionnaire and hit submit.