Frequently Asked Questions

Division I men’s college hockey coaches are not allowed to have recruiting conversations with prospective student-athletes until Jan. 1 of their sophomore year (grade 10) in high school. That means they cannot reply to emails, text messages, or return phone calls prior to that date.

As of April 2019, this prohibition also includes in-person conversations and phone calls initiated by prospects. If a prospect does come in contact with a coach prior to Jan. 1 of their sophomore year, NCAA rules require that the coach not engage in a recruiting conversation.

No. As of April 2019, all recruiting conversations with prospects and their families, coaches and advisors are prohibited prior to Jan. 1 of the prospect’s sophomore year.

A college coach may have an evaluative conversation with a third party such as a coach or advisor at any time, but may not use these conversations to send recruiting messages (verbal offers, etc.) to prospective student-athletes prior to Jan. 1 of their sophomore (grade 10) year. Prospects may not listen to evaluative conversations between NCAA coaches and third parties until Jan. 1 of their sophomore (grade 10) year.

College hockey coaches must comply with NCAA rules, which prohibit coaches from actively recruiting players at that age. They may watch players play prior to that date, but they may not have recruiting conversations until then.

College hockey coaches spend a tremendous amount of time and energy scouting and recruiting potential student athletes. If you play for a competitive midget minor, midget major, junior, or high school team, and are an elite player, there is a good a chance that the college coaches know about you.

We highly recommend that American players try out for the USA select festivals that are held every summer. We also recommend you make a list of the schools you are interested in and visit their respective web sites and team pages. Most college hockey teams have a "recruiting questionnaire" on their team web site and it would be beneficial to fill out a questionnaire for each school that interests you.

It can also be worthwhile to create a "hockey resume" to introduce yourself to college coaches. Click here for tips on writing a hockey resume.

More than a dozen junior and high school leagues send players directly to Division I so, in simple terms, there is no right answer. If you are good enough, college coaches will find you.

Yes. If a college coach thinks you are physically and mentally prepared for the challenges of college hockey then they will recruit you straight from high school. College coaches often recommend that a player take extra time, following his graduation from high school, to play junior hockey so that player can mature both physically and mentally prior to jumping into the college game.

NCAA rule changes in 2018 and 2019 impacts when prospective student-athletes may visit with college coaches on their campuses.

An official college visit is a 48-hour, expense-paid visit. An official visit cannot be taken until August 1 of the prospective student-athlete's 11th-grade year in high school. There is no limit to the number of official visits a recruit can make to Division I schools, but they can only visit each school once. The exception is if the head coach changes after the recruit's first visit.

An unofficial visit is paid for by the student-athlete, can last any length of time and there is no limit to the number of unofficial visits a student can take. Unofficial visits may not take place until January 1 of the prospective student-athlete's 10th-grade year in high school. During an unofficial visit the coaching staff may meet with a prospective student athlete and provide him with a tour of the campus and facilities.

Prospective student-athletes may visit college campuses at any time, but prior to January 1 of their 10th-grade year they may not have recruiting conversations with college coaches during their visit.

In order for a prospective student athlete to be academically eligible to play in the NCAA a prospective student-athlete must have graduated from high school, fulfilled a core curriculum of at least 16 courses, and met a minimum index score. In order for a prospective student athlete to be academically eligible to play in the NCAA, a prospective student-athlete must have graduated from high school, fulfilled a core curriculum of at least 16 courses, and accrued a 2.3 GPA based on prospect's approved core-courses. Some college and universities may adhere to stricter admission requirements. A prospective student athlete should regularly meet with a college counselor, provided by their high school, in order to ensure they meet these requirements. All certified high school college counselors should be familiar with the necessary steps and minimum requirements set forth by the NCAA. More information can be found at the NCAA Eligibility Center (see below).

Many Division I teams will hold open tryouts of some sort for students who were not recruited and meet NCAA Eligibility Center standards, though the number of opportunities for these players are very limited. Check with the school's hockey office for more information.

Yes, players that compete in the CHL are now eligible for NCAA hockey and may participate on NCAA teams beginning August 1, 2025. CHL players are eligible for NCAA Hockey provided that they did not receive above actual and necessary expenses to compete in the CHL.

Actual and necessary expenses are any expenses necessary or required for your participation in practice or competition , including but not limited to: meals, lodging, transportation, apparel, equipment, supplies, coaching, ice time, medical treatment (health insurance), and entry fees.

No, generally, you are not allowed to reach an agreement (written, verbal or for future representation) with or receive benefits from an agent.

A men’s ice hockey prospect who is drafted by a professional team before enrolling full time at any college or university may be represented by an agent or attorney during contract negotiations. The prospect must pay the going rate for the agent’s services, and if the player does not sign a contract with a professional team, the agreement for representation must be terminated before enrolling full time at any college or university.

A family advisor can be a helpful and informative resource, but it is not necessary that you have one unless you are a player who is projected to be drafted in the NHL. If you are going to make a decision on an advisor we recommend you interview at least a few different advisors and as a family decide who you feel most comfortable with.

More information on family advisors can be found here.

Prior to initial full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual may participate in a tryout with a professional team or league, provided not more than actual and necessary expenses are received to participate. After initial full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual may participate in practice sessions conducted by a professional team, provided you do not:

(a) Receive any compensation for participation in the practice sessions;

(b) Enter into any contract or agreement with a professional team or sports organization; or

(c) Take part in any outside competition (games or scrimmages) as a representative of a professional team.

Finally, an enrolled student athlete should always check with their athletic department’s compliance office for approval.

Prior to full-time enrollment, you may attend as many training camps or tryouts with professional teams as you like. However, the team cannot supply you beyond actual and necessary expenses that include travel, hotel, food, equipment, and all costs associated with practice and off-ice training. The team may not provide actual and necessary expenses for your travel party (parents/care givers).

Before initial full-time collegiate enrollment, you may compete on a professional team, provided the team did not provide you with more than actual and necessary expenses to participate on the team.

Prior to initial full-time collegiate enrollment, a prospect can attend as many NHL development camps as they would like and receive their actual and necessary expenses for the duration of camp, including return travel immediately at the conclusion of camp.

Post-enrollment: A student-athlete (post enrollment) can participate in NHL development camp, professional camps, tryouts, and practice sessions held by a professional club. A student-athlete (post enrollment) cannot represent a professional club in any outside competition / games under any circumstances (i.e. a student-athlete cannot participate in NHL Rookie Tournaments.)

A student-athlete (post enrollment) participating in one of the aforementioned professional opportunities must ensure that he does not:

(a) Receive any compensation for participation in the practice sessions;

(b) Enter into any contract or agreement with a professional team or sports organization; or

(c) Take part in any outside competition (games or scrimmages) as a representative of a professional team

Further – student-athlete’s (post enrollment) cannot miss class to participate in these professional opportunities (pre-approval from compliance will ensure class is not missed). The student-athlete (post enrollment) may receive actual and necessary expenses in conjunction with one 48-hour tryout per professional team (or a combine including that team). This includes NHL development camps.

Effect on NCAA Student-Athlete (SA) with eligibility remaining:
An NCAA SA who declares for the PWHL draft will lose their amateur status (Bylaw 12.2.4.2), regardless of remaining eligibility. The SA will lose their NCAA eligibility effective the date they declare for the draft, with limited exceptions. A SA may use the one-time exception (Bylaw 12.2.4.2.5) to retain their remaining eligibility in one of two ways.

- The SA remains in the draft but does not get drafted and, within 72 hours, notifies their AD via formal letter announcing their return to NCAA hockey, for their remaining eligibility.

- The SA opts-out prior to the draft with a formal letter to their AD, [and the PWHL,] stating the SA is withdrawing their name from the draft, resulting in the SA not being drafted.

The time frame between draft declaration and application of the exception must be reviewed by athletic compliance (on-campus analysis) to determine if the student-athlete participated (practice, competition, etc.) while their amateur status was compromised.

- Any student athlete with remaining eligibility should consult with their Coaches, Campus Compliance Officer, and or professional Sports Counseling Panel before declaring for the draft.

Generally, it is permissible for a PSA to declare for a professional league draft without impacting the PSA's amateurism status. Specifically, Bylaws 12.1.2-(f) (Amateur Status) and 12.2.4.2 (Draft List) apply to individuals following initial full-time enrollment. Therefore, it is permissible for a PSA to enter a professional league draft and maintain their amateurism. Staff notes, PSAs should be made aware that they may impact their amateurism status if they sign with an agent (12.3.1 -- General Rule), sign a contract with a professional team (12.2.5 -- Contracts and Compensation) for more than actual and necessary expenses, or receives above actual and necessary expenses while participating on a professional team (Bylaw 12.2.3.2.1-- Exception).

Starting with the 2024-25 academic year, prospective student-athletes in their senior year of high school will still have the opportunity to sign an athletics aid agreement with the recruiting NCAA Division I or II school but will not sign a separate National Letter of Intent. Once a prospective student-athlete signs the member school’s athletics aid agreement, coaches from other NCAA schools must cease communication with the prospective student-athlete and individuals associated with the signed prospect (e.g., family members, scholastic coach, non-scholastic coach, advisor). This signed athletics aid agreement establishes the recruiting commitment between the college-bound student-athlete and school.

A verbal commitment is a non-binding agreement between a prospect and a coach to attend that coach's institution.

Funds for tuition and fees, books, room and board, and sometimes living expenses.

Thanks to a change in NCAA rules in 2011, scholarship agreements may be made for anywhere from one to five years.

Signing an athletics aid agreement, even for a scholarship promised for four years, commits a student-athlete to that school for one year.

Even those scholarship agreements made for one season are almost always renewed annually; they are very rarely cancelled and never for on-ice performance.

Athletic scholarships may not be reduced or cancelled year-to-year based on your ability or performance, because an injury prevents you from participating or for any other athletic reason.

If you are receiving an athletic scholarship, the scholarship may be reduced or cancelled only if you:

• render yourself ineligible for NCAA competition;
• misrepresented any information on your application, letter of intent or financial aid agreement;
• commit serious misconduct which warrants a substantial disciplinary penalty; or
• voluntarily quit the team for personal reasons.

Coaches. Although admissions offices can refuse the admission of any student, thereby effectively refusing an athletic scholarship, coaches and athletic departments typically have a good sense of what to expect from their admissions office. This allows coaches to scout and recruit players who they can reasonably expect to earn admission.

Financial aid is a grant from the university that is not based on athletic ability or participation on an athletic team.

Financial aid can be granted for tuition and fees, room and board, books and transportation.

Although determining financial aid varies between universities, it is typically calculated based on the student and his parents' ability to contribute to the cost of post-secondary education. This is determined by evaluating the current savings and expected earnings of the student over the summer and the student's parents' overall wealth (i.e. earnings, savings, investments, etc.). Based on these types of criteria, the institution makes a judgment on the amount that the student and parents are able to contribute toward a university education. In theory, any shortfall between the expected contribution and the expected university expenses is covered by financial aid.

Other forms of financial aid include academic aid, which can be granted based upon a student's academic ability.

The NCAA Eligibility Center, often referred to as the "clearinghouse", certifies the academic and amateur credentials of all college-bound student-athletes who wish to compete in NCAA Division I or II athletics. Prospective student-athletes should register at eligibilitycenter.org by 11th grade to help ensure that they are on the right path to qualify academically. Click here for more information on NCAA eligibility.

Students should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at the beginning of their junior year in high school. At the end of the student's junior year, a transcript, including six semesters of grades, should be sent to the NCAA Eligibility Center from the high school. Additionally, students should have their SAT or ACT scores forwarded directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center (by using code "9999") whenever they take the exam.

It may be beneficial to review your school's core courses during grade 9 or 10 to ensure that you are taking the proper classes to ensure your future eligibility.

It is free to create a profile page. Transitioning to a certification account, which is required for Division I or II athletes, costs $110 for U.S. or Canadian prospective student-athletes and $170 for all other international students. An amateurism-only certification account has a fee of $75 for both domestic and international student-athletes.

All fees are nonrefundable after successful registration. No refunds will be given due to nonparticipation or disinterest at an NCAA Division I or II college or university. In the event a duplicate registration was completed and duplicate payment was processed, you may be eligible for a refund of the duplicate registration fee(s).

Students who have their status requested by an NCAA college or university are prioritized by the NCAA Eligibility Centerfor processing. If a student's eligibility status is never requested by a college or university, the NCAA Eligibility Center may not process such a student's certification.

If you have additional questions or need further assistance, please contact the NCAA Customer Service Center at (877) 262-1492.

You need to complete the following to be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center:

1. Graduate from high school;
2. Complete a minimum of 16 (for Division I) or 14 (for Division II) core courses;
3. Present the required grade-point average (GPA);
4. Request final amateurism certification from the Eligibility Center (beginning April 1 for fall enrollees or beginning October 1 for spring enrollees).

You need to look at your high school's list of NCAA courses. Follow these steps:

1. Go to the NCAA Eligibility Center website at www.eligibilitycenter.org;
2. Click on the "NCAA College-Bound Student-Athletes" link to enter;
3. Click on "Resources";
4. Click on the appropriate link for "U.S. Students" or "International Students";
5. Click on "List of NCAA Courses";
6. Input your high school's CEEB code (if you know it) or search by your high school's name and state; Canadian students can find CEEB codes for each province here;
7. Review the list.

*Very important: If a core course you took is not on the list, it will not be used in your eligibility determination. Courses that appear on your transcript must exactly match what is on the list.

See your high school counselor immediately. Someone at your high school is responsible for keeping your high school's list updated. It is important your high school does this each year to make sure the core courses you are taking appear on the list.

Follow your high school's policy regarding its lowest passing grade. If the NCAA Eligibility Center does not have this policy, the lowest passing grade that will be used is D.

No. Courses completed through credit-by-exam will not be used.

No. Traditional vocational courses (e.g., typing, auto mechanics, driver's education and health) are not acceptable.

These grades may satisfy your core-course requirements. The NCAA Eligibility Center will assign your high school's lowest passing grade for a pass/fail class so long as the course receives credit toward graduation.

A high school course taken in the eighth grade may be used if the course is on the high school transcript with a grade and credit and if the course is on the high school's list of NCAA courses.

Yes, if the following four conditions are met (beginning August 1, 2010):

1. Courses that are taught through distance learning, online, credit recovery, etc. need to be comparable in length, content and rigor to courses taught in a traditional classroom setting. Students may not skip lessons or test out of modules. The course must be four-year college preparatory.
2. All courses must include ongoing access between the instructor and student, as well as regular interaction for purposes of teaching, evaluating and providing assistance. This may include, for example, exchanging of e-mails between the student and teacher, feedback on assignments, and the opportunity for the teacher to engage the student in individual instruction. Any course taken must have a defined time period for completion. For example, it should be clear whether the course is meant to be taken for an entire semester or during a more condensed time frame, such as six weeks, etc.
3. Nontraditional courses should be clearly identified as such on the high school transcript. Nontraditional courses completed prior to August 1, 2010, will be reviewed under NCAA standards in place prior to August 1, 2010. It is important to remember that all courses need to be rigorous and four-year college preparatory in nature.
4. Students should be encouraged to take courses that are quantitatively and qualitatively the same as courses offered through traditional means, and to take courses that will prepare them for the academic rigors they will face at a four-year college or university.

College courses may be used to satisfy core-curriculum requirements if the courses are accepted and awarded credit by the high school for any student and meet all other requirements for core courses. For NCAA Division I only, such courses must be placed on the student's high school transcript. Courses taken at a college will NOT appear on the high school's list of NCAA courses. The high school's list of NCAA courses will include only those courses taught/offered by the high school.

A one-year course that is spread over a longer period of time is considered one course and will receive a maximum of one core-course credit. (Example: Algebra 1, spread over two years, would receive one unit of credit.)

If you attended a secondary school outside the United States for all or part of grades nine through 12, different evaluation procedures will be applied to your international education documents. You must submit original-language documents with certified translations for NCAA Eligibility Center evaluation.

Your core-course GPA is the average of your best grades achieved for all required core courses. If you have taken extra core courses, those courses will be used in your GPA, only if they improve your GPA.

A school's normal practice of weighting honors or advanced courses may be used, as long as the weighting is used for computing GPAs. Weighting cannot be used if the high school weights grades for the purpose of determining class rank. Additionally, in no instance may the student receive greater than 1.000 additional quality point for purposes of calculating the GPA for initial eligibility.

The NCAA core-course GPA is calculated using only NCAA-approved core courses in the required number of core units. High school GPAs generally include the grades from most or all courses attempted in grades nine through 12.

For Division I, maybe. Only courses completed in grades nine through 12 will qualify as core courses for Division I. If you graduate from high school on time (in eight semesters) with your incoming ninth grade class, you may use one core course completed in the year after graduation (summer or academic year) prior to full-time collegiate enrollment. You may complete the core course at a location other than the high school from which you graduated and may initially enroll full time at a collegiate institution at any time after completion of the core course.

For students with diagnosed disabilities:

• For Division I only, beginning August 1, 2010, a student must graduate "on time" in order to use up to three (3) additional approved core courses taken before full-time enrollment in college.
• For Division II only, students may use any approved core courses taken before full-time enrollment in college.
• For Divisions I and II, students may use courses for students with education-impacting disabilities that are designated on the high school's list of NCAA courses.

Many future NCAA hockey players will take university courses prior to enrollment; this can help them stay academically sharp and those credits may transfer in to their future NCAA school. It is important, however, not to enroll full-time in a post-secondary institution. NCAA athletes have five years to complete their four years of eligibility, and that five-year "clock" starts upon full-time enrollment at any post-secondary school, with the definition of full-time being determined by that institution. (One exception to this is the 21-year-old rule, above.)

There has been new legislation introduced with regards to the SAT and ACT. These tests are no longer required for initial eligibility into the NCAA. However, College Hockey Inc. recommends a student still take one of these exams for two reasons: A) Some schools may still require it for admission, and B) Academic scholarship money can be tied to these exams at some institutions.

Some schools also accept the ACT, another form of standardized test. Click here for more information on the ACT.

You do not have to take both the SAT and ACT.

Yes. Students with diagnosed education-impacting disabilities may take a nonstandard ACT or SAT exam. The test score must be provided to the NCAA Eligibility Center from the testing agency, just as any other test score.