Difference between Divisions:
Division I Schools must:
Offer at least seven sports for men and women – or six for men and eight for women
Offer
two team sports for each gender
Have both male and female teams or participants for each
sports playing season
Offer a certain number of financial “awards” to student-athletes,
without going over maximum amount allowed
Play at least the minimum number of contests
against division I opponents
Meet attendance requirements for basketball and football
Division II Schools must:
Offer at least five sports for men and five for women or four for men and six for women
Offer
two team sports for each gender
Have both male and female teams or participants for each
sports playing season
Have at least the minimum number of contests and participants for each sport
Division III schools must:
Offer at least five sports for men and five for women
Offer two team sports for each gender
Have both male and female teams or participants
for each sports playing season
- Have student-athletes who do not
get sports-related financial aid
Recruiting
Rules: Division I
Sophomore
Year
You may make calls to coach at your expense ONLY
No off-campus contact allowed
No official visits allowed
Unlimited number of official visits
Junior Year
Depending on your
sport, you may begin receiving recruiting materials after sophomore year
You may
still make calls to the coach at your expense
Coach is limited to phone calls –
depending on sport (i.e. football – only one phone call is allowed junior year, men’s basketball – once
per month from end of sophomore through July 31st after junior year
Official
visits are still not allowed
Unlimited number of official visits
Senior Year
You may make calls to the coach at YOUR expense
College coaches may call you (depending on the sport) once per week for most
Off-campus contact – depending on the sport – allowed but check date for sport
Official visit – allowed beginning opening day of classes your senior year
Limited to one official visit per college up to five maximum of five visits to divisions 1I and II (check sport for
specifics)
Coaches may make contact with you and your parents/guardians not more than
3 times during your senior year (except football – 6 times)
Some things to consider for Division
I vs. II
Did you know that…
-
a Division II athlete is allowed to enter into a contract with a professional team while a Division I athlete
is not
- A
Division II athlete is allowed to accept salary while a Division I athlete is not?
- A Division II athlete can
receive expenses from a professional team while a Division I athlete may not?
- A Division II athlete may
practice with a Professional team while a Division I athlete may not?
Student Athlete Handouts:
College Bound Student Athletes:
Other Helpful Links:
Division III College Student Athletes: A guide to Division III athletics at the college level. Why
play Division III athletics? The difference between Divisions and tips and tools on how to get noticed.
Athletic Resume : Sample of athletic resumes, and suggestions for letters
to coaches