The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a member-led organization dedicated to the well-being and lifelong success of college athletes.
Colleges, universities, athletic conferences, and other affiliated organizations are NCAAmembers. The NCAA national office staff in Indianapolis supports the members. Together, the members and the national office staff are known as the NCAA.
For the majority of student-athletes, college is the first opportunity to begin maturing into adulthood. You will encounter several new experiences, including living alone or living with teammates or classmates from near and far. In a recent NCAA research study, more than 70% of student-athletes across all three divisions said they prefer to live with their teammates or a combination of other student-athletes and nonathletes.
One of the biggest adjustments to college life is learning how to manage your time between academics, athletics, employment, social life and perhaps most importantly, sleep.
Based on our research, we have learned a lot about the time demands of our Division I, II andIII student-athletes. When it comes to sleep, or lack thereof, you have told us that student- athletes are averaging six hours and 15 minutes of sleep nightly in season, while eight hours of sleep are recommended. The consequences? Sixty-one percent of student-athletes report daytime fatigue at least three or more days a week. Our Sport Science Institute has developed materials on sleep and wellness for collegiate athletes and continues to make it a top priority for improving the health and well-being of our student-athletes.
Perhaps one of the most telling pieces of feedback we have learned from listening to you is despite all the new experiences that come with going to college and being a student-athlete, it is important to you to remain grounded and remember the people who helped you get to where you are today. Even as college seniors, over a third of student-athletes remain in close contact with high school teammates and coaches, while 55% of student-athletes communicate with their parents or guardians once or more per day for support across a wide range of issues. Click here for a closer look into that research.
The NCAA has developed and made available a multitude of mental health educational resources. The Association, its member schools and core stakeholder associations remain committed to prioritizing the critical challenge of creating and maintaining an environment where student-athletes can obtain mental health services without stigma while thriving in an environment that promotes mental and physical well-being. More >>
practice, compete and receive an athletics scholarship in your first year of full-time enrollment, you must meet the requirements listed in the linked document.
practice, compete and receive an athletics scholarship in your first year of full-time enrollment, you must meet the requirements listed in the linked document.
Division 3 Information
Division III Amateurism Standards Fact Sheet - International college-bound student-athletes (first-year enrollees and transfers) who initially enroll full time at an NCAA Division III school on or after Aug. 1, 2023, must have their amateur status certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. (Academic documents may be requested to establish your official graduation timeline for amateurism certification purposes.)
No. The association’s belief in student-athletes as students first is a foundational principle. As such, college-bound and continuing student-athletes must meet academic standards to participate in NCAA sports. NCAA student-athletes as a group annually outperform counterparts in the general student body in graduation rates. The NCAA funds many programs that directly support the educational, financial, and health and safety needs of student-athletes.
The rules governing NCAA sports are developed through a member-led governance system. Using this collection of committees led by college and university presidents, athletics directors and college athletes, NCAA members introduce and vote on proposed legislation. The national office staff provides administrative help, continuity, research and legal expertise.
The money is distributed in more than a dozen ways — almost all of which directly support NCAA schools, conferences and nearly half a million student-athletes.
