The NCAA welcomes you into the family of college athletes, whose experiences on the field and in the classroom lead to sharper minds, stronger bodies and more fulfilling lives.

You’ve worked hard to get here. Now you might be asking: What’s next?

 

The NCAA welcomes you into the family of college athletes, whose experiences on the field and in the classroom lead to sharper minds, stronger bodies and more fulfilling lives.

You’ve worked hard to get here. Now you might be asking: What’s next?

 

What is the National Collegiate Athletic Association?

The NCAA is made up of 1,123 colleges and universities and more than 100 athletics conferences, plus 39 affiliated organizations.

Representatives from our member schools — including college presidents and chancellors, athletics directors, faculty members, health and safety personnel, coaches, academic support staff and, of course, college athletes themselves — serve on committees that guide college sports.

Their expertise shapes everything from recruiting rules and academic standards to the shot clock in a lacrosse game. Collectively, we work to ensure programs, teams and games operate as fairly as possible across the country.

Together, we are the NCAA.

 

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

“So often, when people — especially athletes — get busy, we forget to call Mom. We forget to call Dad. We forget to stay in touch with siblings or even our best friends. Those are the people who carry you through life’s challenges, so when you’re competing at the highest level, it’s important to maintain relationships with the people you love.”
Karissa Kouchis | Western Illinois
Softball | Journalism and mass communications major

Learn how the NCAA supports your journey through college.

Academics

Providing opportunities to earn a college degree is at the heart of our mission. We do that by setting standards that indicate readiness for the academic rigors of college and by tracking how student-athletes progress toward a degree once on campus.

Well-being

We were founded in 1906 to keep college sports safe. Today, the NCAA works to protect college athletes’ mental and physical health and help provide the best care possible.

Fairness

College sports should be built on a foundation of respect, integrity and responsibility. We are committed to providing a fair and inclusive environment for college athletes and sports fans.

 

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

“So often, when people — especially athletes — get busy, we forget to call Mom. We forget to call Dad. We forget to stay in touch with siblings or even our best friends. Those are the people who carry you through life’s challenges, so when you’re competing at the highest level, it’s important to maintain relationships with the people you love.”
Karissa Kouchis | Western Illinois
Softball | Journalism and mass communications major
 

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

“Respect your sleep. Sometimes you have to sacrifice to get seven to eight hours of sleep. When you give yourself a chance to recover, it gives you far more opportunities to excel.”
Noella Anyangwe | Maryland | Women’s track and field 
Neurobiology and physiology major

We work to protect student-athletes physically and mentally, on and off the field.

A head start

The NCAA has partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense to fund the most comprehensive clinical study of concussion and head impact ever conducted. Student-athletes from 26 participating universities and cadets from the four military academies are enrolled in the study.

Healthy minds

We provide resources for coaches and administrators to understand how to address mental health concerns among student-athletes. The goal? Create an environment where reaching out for help is normal and expected.

All for one

We work with leading medical organizations to research and create guidelines that athletics departments can use to keep college sports as safe as possible. The NCAA has guidance for cardiac care, concussion diagnosis and management, and mental health care, among others.

The right person in charge

All three NCAA divisions require schools to have health care providers, not coaches, make decisions about college athletes’ medical care. Only team physicians and athletic trainers can decide when it is safe and appropriate for an injured student-athlete to return to play.

The full picture

Hydration, sleep, proper strength and conditioning support — all aspects of a student-athlete’s well-being matter to us. We continually research health advancements that will benefit the college athlete community.

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

“Respect your sleep. Sometimes you have to sacrifice to get seven to eight hours of sleep. When you give yourself a chance to recover, it gives you far more opportunities to excel.”
Noella Anyangwe | Maryland
Women’s track and field | Neurobiology and physiology major
 

 

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

“When I got to the collegiate level, every single coach and player was as competitive as they could possibly be. We’re all committed to improving just as much as we can, and that creates a real family atmosphere.”
Sarah Girard | Swarthmore
Women’s volleyball | Mathematics major
 

We celebrate the accomplishments of college athletes with championship experiences that recognize hard work and mark successes. About 54,000 college athletes, or 1 in 9, participate in NCAA championships.

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

“When I got to the collegiate level, every single coach and player was as competitive as they could possibly be. We’re all committed to improving just as much as we can, and that creates a real family atmosphere.”
Sarah Girard | Swarthmore
Women’s volleyball | Mathematics major
 

What does fairness mean at the NCAA?

  • A belief that all student-athletes deserve a fair shot. We continually work to improve experiences in college sports.
  • An environment of equity, where differences in race, ethnicity, religion, gender and sexuality are treated with respect and dignity.
  • An emphasis on integrity and responsibility on and off the field.
  • Assurance that you and your competitors are playing by the same rules.
  • A voice in decisions that affect you most. Student-athletes are voting members of the top-ranking committees in each NCAA division.

 

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

“Being a part of groups on campus gave me the passion to want to lead. I told myself, ‘I’m going to be a person who changes things.’ I wanted to be at the helm and be in a position to make a difference.”
Ian Good | DePauw
Football | Communication and religious studies major
 

Manage your life as a student-athlete.

Workouts, practices and games. Clubs and classes. Tutoring sessions and some social time. College athletes have a lot to juggle.

Manage your life as a student-athlete.

Workouts, practices and games. Clubs and classes. Tutoring sessions and some social time. College athletes have a lot to juggle.

Hank Davis, a guard for the La Salle men’s basketball team, graduated last year after maintaining a 3.75 GPA as a biology major. As part of his studies, he wrote a scholarly essay about time management published by the journal Adolescent Health and Wellness.

Here are Davis’ five tips for managing time.

1. Maximize the day

Block off periods of the day specifically to accomplish a particular task, even if it is only an hour. “That way, you kind of have a goal,” he says, “and you can work diligently for that time period.”

2. Take some “me” time

All the hours of classwork and practices can build up a lot of stress and affect your athletic and academic performance. Davis recommends setting aside a small amount of time for something you love. “It can really help you clear your mind,” he says.

3. Communicate clearly

Talk to every coach, professor and close friend and share your academic, athletic and personal schedules. Explain your commitments. “They want to help you,” Davis says. “But if they don’t know what you’re doing outside of what you’re specifically doing with them, they can’t help you.”

4. Don’t be passive

Unlike in high school, when teachers or counselors may nudge along underperforming students, college requires personal responsibility. To develop that, teach yourself after class or seek out supplemental information to help you understand better. “Instead of being so passive about receiving an education,” he says, “it’s more going out and obtaining it.”

5. Sacrifice

Athletes understand the term when it is applied to training and practices. But sacrifice is important outside of sport, too. Set priorities and trim excess time in your athletic, academic or social life to create room in another area. “It’s not a set balance; it’s more of a fluid, constantly changing balance,” Davis says of college athletes’ daily demands. “It’s important to know what to sacrifice at that moment.”

 

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

“What surprised me the most is the travel — you think about class and practice, but you also need the amount of time that it takes to get from Point A to Point B, then back to school. I have to manage my time in order to fit in the travel schedule.”
Terrell Smith | Kansas State
Men’s track and field | Kinesiology major
 

Get involved on your campus.

College athletes help make decisions for the NCAA, and their opinions are first heard at the campus level. Want to get involved as a leader among student-athletes? Seek out your Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Get involved on your campus.

College athletes help make decisions for the NCAA, and their opinions are first heard at the campus level. Want to get involved as a leader among student-athletes? Seek out your Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

SAAC works to build community among college athletes and gather input on NCAA rules, regulations and policies that affect the daily lives of college athletes. Your conference has a SAAC, too, made up of student-athletes from each of the conference’s member schools. And each division has a national committee of student-athletes who sit alongside the college presidents and athletics administrators who set the course for the NCAA.

 

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

“SAAC is one of the best ways to get involved with athletics outside of your respective sport. I am still growing as an athlete, leader and a person, thanks to my time on SAAC. I have seen myself emerge as a leader on my campus, on my team, and in my conference.”
Kelsi White | Co-vice chair, National Division I SAAC
Miami (Ohio) | Field hockey | Political science major
 

You know where you’re going to college. But what do you plan to study?

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

“Once you find out what you’re passionate about, make some goals and prioritize it. Make sure your work ethic matches your goals.”
Fran McMenamin | East Stroudsburg
Football | Sport management major

You know where you’re going to college. But what do you plan to study?

If you’re still looking for a major, think about the skill that all athletes develop — working as part of a team — and all the careers where you can put that skill to work.

Business

Even a high-powered business mogul needs a team to finance, market and sell his or her plan — and an accountant to keep things straight. You could be: a marketing professional, advertising executive, accountant, banker, real estate agent, hotel manager, shop owner or entrepreneur.

Environmental affairs

Creating a sustainable world is hardly a one-person job. You could be: a climatologist, environmental consultant, park ranger, conservationist, arborist, geologist or outdoor educator.

Education

There is no “I” in team. No “I” in teacher, either. You could be: a college professor, kindergarten through 12th-grade teacher, higher education administrator, school counselor, coach or librarian.

Engineering and computer science

In the manufacturing and tech worlds, multiple minds make good ideas better. You could be: a system administrator, engineer, app developer, information technology specialist, product designer or urban planner.

Public service

Do for others while working with others. You could be: a nonprofit administrator, political consultant, foreign-service officer, clergy, state or local government employee, police officer, firefighter, national security agent or social worker.

Law

The legal world is built on collaboration. You could be: a paralegal, corporate lawyer, lobbyist, legal-aid attorney or judge

Health sciences/biotech

What’s better than a second opinion? A coordinated team of health professionals, putting their heads and skills together to ensure the best outcome. You could be: a physician, nurse, pharmacist, veterinarian, biologist, chemist, pharmaceutical sales representative, hospital administrator, alternative medicine practitioner, dentist, nutritionist or physical therapist.

 

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

“Once you find out what you’re passionate about, make some goals and prioritize it. Make sure your work ethic matches your goals.”
Fran McMenamin | East Stroudsburg
Football | Sport management major