Are you ready to be recruited to play in college? Do you understand the recruiting process to make sure you’re ready to make the most of every opportunity? Or are you more likely to reduce your chances because you haven’t bothered to learn the necessary rules and expectations? Take the following quiz and find out if you’re ready to be recruited.
College Recruiting Quiz
1. You have to sign the National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play in college.
TRUE or FALSE?
2. It’s easier to get an academic scholarship than an athletic scholarship.
TRUE or FALSE?
3. Some of your required high school courses may not be accepted by the NCAA Eligibility Center for credit.
TRUE or FALSE?
4. Less than half of all NCAA D1 athletes receive athletic scholarships.
TRUE or FALSE?
5. Scholarships are guaranteed for four years.
TRUE or FALSE?
6. The NCAA and NAIA set the minimum number of scholarships that schools can offer.
TRUE or FALSE?
7. College coaches cannot have any official contact with players until the summer after their junior year.
TRUE or FALSE?
8. If you have a verbal commitment, you cannot sign the National Letter of Intent with a different school.
TRUE or FALSE?
9. Athletes can receive both athletic and academic scholarships.
TRUE or FALSE?
10. A letter from a college coach inviting you to a camp means you’re being recruited.
TRUE or FALSE?
11. D1 Recruited walk-ons can transfer to another D1 schools without sitting out a year.
TRUE or FALSE?
12. Most sports offer only partial scholarships.
TRUE or FALSE?
13. If a coach leaves a college, freshman can transfer to another school.
TRUE or FALSE?
14. Athletes injured while participating in college sports are not automatically covered by the college’s health insurance.
TRUE or FALSE?
15. If you sign the National Letter of Intent, you’re guaranteed the scholarship money as a freshman.
TRUE or FALSE?
16. The largest division in the NCAA does not offer athletic scholarships.
TRUE or FALSE?
17. Athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center if they want to play in college.
TRUE or FALSE?
18. Athletes can contact coaches at any time.
TRUE or FALSE?
19. All schools in a division offer the same number of scholarships.
TRUE or FALSE?
20. Colleges will provide all necessary equipment for the athlete.
TRUE or FALSE?
College Recruiting Quiz Answers
1. You have to sign the National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play in college. FALSE
NLI is only for students who are receiving scholarships. It is also a voluntary program, students do not have to sign the NLI to receive a scholarship. Most coaches expect students to sign the NLI. However, there have been some high profile recruits who have refused to sign and still played and received the scholarship.
2. It’s easier to get an academic scholarship than an athletic scholarship. TRUE
There 22 times more academic scholarships than athletic scholarships.
3. Some of your required high school courses may not be accepted by the NCAA Eligibility Center for credit. TRUE
Not all high school courses are accepted by the NCAA as core classes. You need to check with the NCAA Eligibility Center to see which courses at your high school are NCAA approved.
4. Less than half of all NCAA D1 athletes receive athletic scholarships. TRUE
Overall, approximately one-third of D1 athletes receive athletic scholarships.
5. Scholarships are guaranteed for four years. FALSE
An increasing number of schools are offering four-year scholarships. However, most students receive one year scholarships that may be renewed each year.
6. The NCAA and NAIA set the minimum number of scholarships that schools can offer. FALSE
They only set the maximum number of scholarships allowed. Most colleges do not fully fund the allowable number of scholarships.
7. College coaches cannot have any official contact with players until the summer after their junior year. FALSE
Each sport has different rules for when and how coaches can contact players.
8. If you have a verbal commitment, you cannot sign the National Letter of Intent with a different school. FALSE
According to the NCAA: The NLI program does not recognize verbal commitments. It is not uncommon for a student to verbally commit to one institution and subsequently sign an NLI with another intuition. And, on some occasions, a school may accept your verbal commitment and later offer the NLI to another prospective student-athlete.
9. Athletes can receive both athletic and academic scholarships. TRUE
Athletes can receive both types of scholarships if they meet certain NCAA requirements.
10. A letter from a college coach inviting you to a camp means you’re being recruited. FALSE
Prospect camps are a way for college coaches to make money. Coaches do recruit from their camps, but simply being invited to one doesn’t mean you are being recruited.
11. D1 Recruited walk-ons can transfer to another D1 schools without sitting out a year. FALSE
Recruited walk-ons are subjected to the transfer rules for the sport they were recruited.
12. Most sports offer only partial scholarships. TRUE
There are only six sports that are required to offer full scholarships which are known as headcount sports.
13. If a coach leaves a college, freshman can transfer to another school. FALSE
Athletes commit to the school, not the coach, and subject to all transfer rules regardless of coaching changes.
14. Athletes injured while participating in college sports are not automatically covered by the college’s health insurance. TRUE
While some colleges offer some health care, they are not required to.
15. If you sign the National Letter of Intent, you’re guaranteed the scholarship money as a freshman. FALSE
The NLI stipulates that they will receive the money only if it is available.
16. The largest division in the NCAA does not offer athletic scholarships. TRUE
Division 3 has the most schools and the most athletes and does not offer athletic scholarships.
17. Athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center if they want to play in college. FALSE
Division 3 athletes do not have to register with Eligibility center since they don’t offer athletic scholarships.
18. Athletes can contact coaches at any time. TRUE
NCAA contact rules apply to coaches. Players can initiate contact with coaches at any time.
19. All schools in a division offer the same number of scholarships. FALSE
Colleges are not required to fully fund the allowable scholarships.
20. Colleges will provide all necessary equipment for the athlete. FALSE
Especially in D3, athletes may have to provide some of their own equipment or pay for certain expenses depending on the school and the sport.
What’s Your Score?
Number of correct answers
17 or more: Ready to be recruited. You may not know all of the answers but you know to ask questions.
14-16: You have a good understanding of the basics but still have some assumptions you need to check.
10-15: You could be better informed about the process. Check out 11 Things You Need to Know About Athletic Scholarships and How to Start the College Athletic Recruiting Process.
Less than 10: You’re missing a lot of information which can seriously hurt your chances of being recruited. Start with New Hampshire’s free College Planning Guide for Student Athletes and College Recruiting: What Athletes Need to Know Before Starting.
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