How to get a track and field or cross country academic scholarship

High school track and cross country athletes  who wish to compete at the collegiate level and have excelled in the classroom will have the opportunity to qualify for academic scholarships.

Every elite high school athlete dreams of continuing their track and field or cross country dreams by competing for the college or university of their choice, and there is nothing more exciting than being part of a college or university and representing as a varsity track and field athlete.

However, all track and field and cross country athletes have to meet certain academic requirements set by the NCAA in order to be recruited, qualify for athletic scholarships, practice with the team, or be eligible to compete in track and field or cross country meets for the university they are attending.

 

The problem

Most high school track & field and cross country athletes are not aware of the academic requirements that are necessary in order to participate in collegiate level track and field.  It is a lot more common than you think.

I have seen college coaches who are frustrated when trying to recruit high school athletes who are amazing athletes, but can’t because they do not meet the academic requirements necessary for competing in collegiate level track and field.  This is because most of these elite high school track and field athletes are not aware of the academic requirements that are set by the NCAA, NAIA and the college or university of their choice.

 

The Solution:  In order to increase your chances in meeting the requirements to participate in track or cross country or qualify for a scholarship, you will need to know what the NCAA and the college or university is looking for academically.

 

Increase your chances

  • Understand what the academic requirements are for a Division 1 school.
  • Understand what the academic requirements are for a Division 2 school.
  • Understand when the school’s application deadline is for their academic scholarships.
  • Understand what the schools’ requirements are for an academic scholarship.
  • Understand what a Division 1 or Division 2 Qualifier is.
  • Understand what a Division 2 Partial Qualifier is.
  • Understand what a Division 1 or Division 2 Non-Qualifier is.

Division 1 Academic Requirements (click here)

Division 2 Academic Requirements (click here)

Division 3 Academic Requirements (click here)

 

The absolute worst case scenario

If none of the requirements by the NCAA are met, the prospect student athlete cannot be part of the team AT ALL with no exceptions.  This includes scholarships, practice, and track meets.  Remember, this is a worst case scenario.  A middle of the road kind of scenario would be if a track and field athlete qualifies as a “partial qualifier”, which limits what the student athlete is allowed to do.