Recruiting 101 Rules and Calendars NCAA National

Transcript:Recruiting 101 Rules and Calendars NCAA National:
Recruiting 101 Rules and Calendars NCAA National Collegiate Athletic Association NAIA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics NJCAA National Junior College Athletic Association USCAA United States Collegiate Athletic Association NCCAA National Christian College Athletic Association 5 Governing Bodies So what are the differences between the different governing bodies? D1 soccer colleges are known for their competitive teams and athletic rigor. For many student-athletes, the allure of competing at the D1 level lies in wanting to play against the best athletes. While there are tremendous athletes at every level, D1 college soccer teams will have the deepest bench, and the average level of competition will usually be higher than the other division levels. They tend to have larger athletic budgets and can often spend more money on their sports teams. At the D1 level, student-athletes will likely be on a large campus with thousands of other students. On D1 college soccer teams, athletes are often very serious competitors in which players were likely the best athletes on their club and high school teams. They’ll be competing and practicing year-round. NCAA Division 1 As a D2 student-athlete, one will find similar athletic talent as the D1 level with more balance of expectations related to athletics, academics and a social life. D2 soccer colleges have teams that are nearly as competitive as D1 but without some of the demands of a D1 schedule. They tend to have more time to spend on academics or other extracurricular activities. Athletes are more likely to see playing time in their sophomore or even freshman year. Many D1-caliber athletes will opt to play on a D2 college soccer team so that they can get playing time earlier on in their collegiate career. At the D2 level, there are campuses that are both big and small, so it gives more options when choosing a school. Student-athletes looking for a competitive soccer program with a more relaxed environment that allows athletes time for other interests might find their best fit at the D2 level. NCAA Division 2 D3 is actually the NCAA’s largest division. Of all the NCAA divisions, D3 provides the most flexibility for their student-athletes. While D3 soccer programs don’t offer athletic scholarships, they have plenty of other scholarship opportunities students can take advantage of as long as they have the grades and the talent to back it up. D3 soccer teams have the most flexibility in their