There are several boxes to check when preparing for and going through the college recruiting process.

MORE: IMG Academy’s tips for college placement | What to consider in a college program

Some are obvious, from identifying the right criteria, finding the appropriate level and the right coaching staff. But one of the more mundane, but easier pieces of the process is understanding the NCAA guidelines and Initial Eligibility.

The experts at IMG Academy Soccer share four key points of the process to keep in mind.

• Register for the NCAA Eligibility Center: When registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center, students and families must know there are two accounts to choose from. Our younger students (9th and 10th) are recommended to sign up for a Profile Page as they may not know if they will play at the Division I or II level. This option is free. Students that plan on competing collegiately at the DI or DII level will need a certification account. Certification accounts are required to be reviewed and certified for initial eligibility with the NCAA. Certification accounts are also needed to make official visits to DI and DII schools and to sign a NLI.

• Send NCAA your SAT/ACT scores and transcripts: As of publication, the NCAA Eligibility Center is waiving test scores due to COVID-19. Previous to that, students had to meet test scores per a sliding scale. Transcripts must be uploaded by each high school to the Eligibility Center. International documents are also required for students that have attended high school in a different country. Transcripts can only be uploaded for students with certification accounts. Transcripts must be submitted by the high school; Students or parents cannot submit these documents.

• Understand Testing Processes & Requirements: SAT, ACT, TOEFL. Familiarize yourself with dates, requirements, and preparation – TOEFL is not needed for NCAA initial eligibility. This is more for admissions, depending on the circumstances. Prior to COVID-19 waiver of test scores, having a test score per the sliding scale may declare a student initially eligible but does not always guarantee admission to the college or university. These are separate from each other.

• Familiarize with the NCAA Regulations at All Levels. Div I, II, III – Each level has specifics for initial eligibility. We make sure our students meet requirements for Division I initial eligibility so they can also meet Division II if that is their placement. Division III is not certified by the NCAA Eligibility center. Division III Initial Eligibility Requirements are determined by each college/university for Admission, Financial Aid, and Practice and Competition.

“IMG Academy students meet regularly with their college counselors, assigned by sport to review not only graduation requirements but also how to stay on track for NCAA Initial Eligibility,” IMG Academy College Counselor & NCAA Initial Eligibility Specialist Kelli Hinton said. “Students are able to get individualized college planning feedback based on sport recruiting calendar, academic progress, and the college list that is provided by students and their families. Students are able to find the best fit for both academics and athletics after high school.”

Some of these points can seem confusing, but taking care of it early in the process leaves one less thing to take care of during the recruiting process. To learn more about the recruiting process or about IMG Academy’s offerings, register for a free account with TopDrawerSoccer where you can learn more about their soccer development opportunities.

Did you know NCSA offers free college recruiting resources? As the official college recruiting services partner of IMG Academy, you also have access to their tools to help you manage your recruiting journey, make connections, and get recruited. It’s all available when you click here!

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