PLAY IN COLLEGE

Division I or Division II athletics, students must register and be certified by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. More information is available on the NCAA website at NCAA Eligibility Checklist.

NCAA Division III schools are generally the smallest in the NCAA.

While DIII schools do not offer athletic scholarships, students can receive financial aid based on need up to the cost of attendance, including tuition and fees, room and board, books, transportation and incidental expenses.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, (NAIA) was started to offer a sports organization for smaller and less wealthy schools.  After the NCAA started Division II and III, size and money were less of a factor in the NCAA.

The NAIA offers fewer sports and has fewer recruiting restrictions than the NCAA.  The level of play is somewhere between Division II and III of the NCAA.

To participate in NAIA athletics you need to register at the NAIA Eligibility Center: PLAY NAIA.

Another governing organization is the NJCAA. The NJCAA (the National Junior College Athletic Association) is made up of two year and junior colleges.  Many of its members are community colleges.

NJCAA is divided into three divisions.  Division I can offer full athletic scholarships.  Division II can offer athletic scholarships limited to tuition, fees, and books.  Division III may not provide athletically-related financial assistance.

		Laurie Lokash, Slippery Rock University (NCAA II)  I think many people are surprised by the fact that only 6% of the current Club/HS population goes on to play collegiate volleyball.  I think many families believe that playing club volleyball is an automatic ticket to playing at the next level.  Talent and work ethic are better indicators of success at the next level than the reputation of the club or coach.  Don’t cast too wide of a net to find schools and playing opportunities instead of finding the schools that meet your criteria such as academic major, cost, location, size of school, etc.  Take time to understand the differences between Divisions I, II and III; there are quality and sub-quality programs at each level.
Do your homework with regard to schools and programs BEFORE sending out emails.  I don’t appreciate athletes who express an interest in our school only to have to send a return email indicating we don’t have your major.  Send CURRENT video via the internet so a coach can evaluate your potential.  Have the student athlete speak for herself instead of having a parent act as an “agent”.  Be the communicator.  You contact the coach and you represent yourself.  As much as they like think they are objective, I’ve never met an objective parent when the subject was his or her child.