A lot of things can change during a prospect’s recruitment, but for a long time one of the givens was the year an athlete would finish high school and start college. The occasional recruit would have academic issues and need to go to prep school. A few football players every year would graduate and enroll a semester early for spring ball. But for the most part, athletes were part of one recruiting class and one recruiting class only.
Times have changed. A combination of factors including kids specializing earlier in one sport, the growth of nontraditional education in high schools, earlier commitments, and more sophisticated ways of doling out financial aid have made which class an athlete is in much fuzzier.
Reclassifying is becoming commonplace enough that athletes need to be reminded about how big of a decision it is. When athletes decide to reclassify, they are refusing to follow the path that many NCAA rules are built around. Extra care is needed to make sure they still follow those rules.
What is Reclassifying?
Reclassifying is deciding to change the date you graduate from high school and/or enter college after you have started the ninth grade. Changing either is important. If an athlete graduates from high school early but do not change the date he or she goes to college, there are rules that might impact his or her eligibility. The same goes for athletes who graduate on time from high school but delay their college enrollment.
Academic Issues
The most important academic consideration when reclassifying is the NCAA’s core-curriculum time limitation, from Bylaw 14.3.1.2.1:
A prospective student-athlete must complete his or her core-curriculum requirements not later than the high school graduation date of the prospective student-athlete’s class [as determined by the first year of enrollment in high school (ninth grade) or the international equivalent…]. Graduation from high school or secondary school shall be based on the prospective student-athlete’s prescribed educational path in his or her country.
This generally means that a prospect must have finished the NCAA’s 16 require core courses by the time he or she finishes high school. A prospect’s GPA is also more or less locked in based on classes completed before graduation.
There is one exception. An athlete may take up to one core course after graduation, provided he or she graduates on time and completes the extra credit within one year. That could be one year of a course or one semester each of two courses. Athletes who do not graduate on time are not allowed to use this exception.
If an athlete graduates early, then they may use the one additional course exception, but the one-year time period starts when the athlete graduates, not the graduation date for the class. If the two dates are different, the NCAA counts the earlier date.
Note that Division II does not have this requirement. Athletes can use any courses completed prior to starting college to become a Division II qualifier.
Athletic Issues
While some athletes reclassify for academic reasons, more and more changes in when they graduate and enroll in college are for athletic reasons. Athletes want to enroll a semester early and acclimate to college; enrolling a year early or later has advantages in the recruiting process.
Critical to keep in mind is the NCAA’s delayed enrollment rule from Bylaw 14.2.3.2. Once athletes graduate from high school, the NCAA requires them to enroll in college within one year following high school graduation. If after a year, an athlete still has not enrolled in college and continues to compete in his or her sport, two things happen:
- The athlete is charged one season of competition for every year they continue to compete; and
- The athlete must sit out their first year after they enroll in college.
As an example, say a golfer graduates from high school, then takes two years to try and make it as a professional (but maintains his amateur status). After not making it on the tour, he enrolls in college. He would need to sit out his first year, after which he would only have three seasons to play. Tennis athletes have even less time to enroll. Their grace period is only six months, or basically one semester.
Like the academic rules, the NCAA uses the earlier of the expected graduation date or an athlete’s actual graduation date. So if an athlete graduates high school in three years, he or she does not get an additional year to delay enrollment. If athletes have to repeat a year of high school, then play a year at a prep school, they are in the same situation as the golfer above.
Tips for Athletes
If you think you might reclassify, you need to keep more things in mind than the average recruit.
- Make sure your academics are in order. Once you change the date you plan to graduate, either earlier or later, your options for fixing eligibility issues are reduced quickly.
- Check to see if you are allowed to graduate early or take classes after graduation. The need for tax dollars means some schools limit or prohibit students from graduating early. The lack of tax dollars means classes for students who have graduated are disappearing.
- Complete eligibility requirements in an academically sound manner. Graduating from high school early might seem like a good idea until rushing through school work leaves you ineligible.
- Consider other aspects of high school. Graduating early might mean no prom, no graduation ceremony, or even no senior year. Going to prep school might mean watching friends go off to college while you stay behind.
- Watch your athletic eligibility. Delaying your enrollment for more than a year or graduating early to focus on your sport before starting college can cause you to lose some of your eligibility.
IMPORTANT ADDITION. We have a new article about how to reclassify here.
Are you considering reclassification and have questions about it? Ask us in the comments section below, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+!
My son is the youngest in his high school class. While others are 17, my son has,just turned 16. He is a gifted athlete. We are considering allowing him to reclass to a private school. However, we do not want to jeopardize his NCAA eligibility. What do you suggest?
Deciding to reclassify is a big decision. As a family you need to discuss the advantages and disadvantages- in all you want to find out if its the best option for your son. Answer these questions: would he be doing it for academic reasons or athletic reasons? How will this help him in his college career? Is he for sure going to compete at a division I college? He also needs to make sure he has all his core courses and eligibility requirements in order before making the decision. Set up a meeting with him and his guidance counselor to make sure his academics are set. This is a big decision, so figuring out what he needs as a family is best. We are here to support, but it will be up to him to make the final decision. Please let us know if you have any other questions we can help with.
My son reclassified as a 8th grader because he was a year a head in school at that point. As a 12 year old 8th grader he was moved up to the JV/Varsity in his favorite sport. We told the AD we planned to reclassify him and did not want to do anything to negatively affect his eligibility going forward and were assured that it would not be a issue. The school denied our reclassification request and we sent him to a private school for the 8th (repeat) and 9th where he played JV for 15 games as a 8th grader the rest varsity. As a 9th grader he played on limited role on the varsity. Since things did not work out he went back to a public school and now we heard there a is a obscure rule that says his clock started and he won’t possibly be able to play his sport as a senior. Our state says kids can have 6 years to compete at the JV/Varsity level and his Junior year will be his 5th. We believe the rule was put into place to stop older kids was gaining an advantage not a kid that was ahead in school. He is and will be in good academic standing going forward and is on course to graduate with his regular class that he was recalssified to. Needles to say we believe the issue is political (private school) and plan to petition so that when he is a 17 year old senior he can play with his age appropriate peers.
How do you see our case? I have never seen a case like it and I think the only way it will be rejected is if politics are in play. I saw a case where a parent wrote a letter about their kid have depression issues and the kid recieved a extra year sight unseen. Plus a private school in our state got a kid a extra year to play football becasue the kid missed a season due to academics at his public school prior to transferring as was not in good academic status therefor had to come back the extra year to graduate.
First off you are great parents for considering this this is something I wish my parents would have done for me as I was in the same boat as far as age and grade. If I could have been an 18 year old senior as most what a difference that would have made , transfer to a private school and reclassify. He will forever love you. You are great parents for being in your child’s life and supportive of him . God Bless
My son is 15 years old in the 10th grade. He is an excellent athlete, but want to give him a better chance at getting a Division 1 scholarship. We are considering that he reclassify from the Class of 2015 to the Class of 2016. But with the new eligibility rules, I am confused if he will be able to. Can anyone help me understand this?
Reclassifying is a big decision. You are right to wonder if this is the best decision for your son. Which rules specifically are you concerned about? As a 10th grader he should be on track to meet all his core courses, plus he will still have time to make up courses if needed- is he on the right track?
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/7885522/new-incoming-eligibility-standards-create-term This is a link for the new academic standards. I am confused if he re classes would he have to sit out a year in college
The article is for academic red-shirting which is different from reclassifying.
If your son reclassifies, then he will need to meet the 2016 initial eligibility requirements, but do so by 2015.
The 2016 requirements are for any athlete who first enrolls in college after August 1, 2016. So he reclassifies and enrolls in Fall 2016, he will fall under the new rules. But because of the core course time limitation, he will still need to finish those requirements in four years after starting ninth grade. So he will need to meet the new requirements by the end of Spring 2015, especially if he plans on not graduating high school until 2016.
If he graduates in 2015, then he can use the one course exception. But he will still need to meet the higher GPA/test score requirements, and have 10 courses done by the end of junior year (which would be the end of 2013-14).
You may want to explore the possibility of reclassifying by one semester, especially if he plays a fall sport. That leaves additional time to be recruited, but it also will mean enrolling in Spring 2016, which is before the new rules come into effect. And if he is a fall sport, the scholarship situation may work to his favor if he can enroll in the spring.
Can you elaborate on the one course exception?
An athlete may take up to one core course after graduation, provided he or she graduates on time and completes the extra credit within one year.That could be one year of a course or one semester each of two courses. Athletes who do not graduate on time are not allowed to use this exception.
My son graduated from high school at age 15 and has is currently a sophomore in college. He has always been academically and athletically gifted. He has recently been approached by a D1 school who says they are interested in him (as a pitcher) but are concerned about his eligibility. What exception has the NCAA made to allow gifted students to excel academically without negatively affecting their eligibility? My son could not have competed at a college level at age 15. He would have physically been too underdeveloped to compete with/against 20+ year old men. It would seem most colleges would encourage accademic excellence rather than taking away 2-3 years of his eligibility while he goes to college and matures to compete with his 18 year old, first year counterparts. Is there an academic exception which would allow my son to have his full 5 years of eligibility even though he has already attended two years of college? If not, what
steps can we take to appeal to the NCAA?
My son graduated from high school at age 15 and has is currently a sophomore in college. He has always been academically and athletically gifted. He has recently been approached by a D1 school who says they are interested in him (as a pitcher) but are concerned about his eligibility. What exception has the NCAA made to allow gifted students to excel academically without negatively affecting their eligibility? My son could not have competed at a college level at age 15. He would have physically been too underdeveloped to compete with/against 20+ year old men. It would seem most colleges would encourage accademic excellence rather than taking away 2-3 years of his eligibility while he goes to college and matures to compete with his 18 year old, first year counterparts. Is there an academic exception which would allow my son to have his full 5 years of eligibility even though he has already attended two years of college? If not, what
steps can we take to appeal to the NCAA?
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Hello, I’m a high school student studying in Qatar and play basketball for a club. I just turned 15 and I’m in the 10th grade. I will be graduating from high school in 2015 and I don’t understand the need for reclassifying. Is it necessary for me to reclassify to be eligible to play at a Division 1 NCAA college?
No. You will not need to reclassify. This is something some high school athletes in the US choose to do. It is not a required step.
Thanks for your help :)
I’m a 17 year old senior and I moved from Texas to North Carolina. My credits didn’t transfer and I have to stay another year. Can i reclass?
Will I Be Eligible To Play Football If I Reclassify From 2013 – 2014?
Will my son be eligible to play football if he reclass from class of 2013 to class 2014 ?
That is too complex of a question to be able to answer with 100% certainty. In short, it is possible. Many athletes have reclassified to a later graduation, and as long as it doesn’t effect his status as a high school graduate it should be okay. It is best to check with the high school councilor at your high school and have them check with the NCAA. They would better understand the rules for your state about reclassifying.
My daughter plays tennis and runs track. She is hoping for a Division l scholarhip. She is currently a young Sophomore (10th grader) with a December birthday just turning 15 years old, so we are considering reclassifying her. I just want to make sure that I’m following the correct procedure. She is on track academically.
You are going to want to check with your high school. Additionally, have her begin to contact the college coaches she is interested in playing for. She will want to make sure that what ever schools are recruiting her are made aware of her desire to reclassify and usually they will help make sure she meets the academic requirements. Good luck.
I would like to get information about how to Reclassify in High School. Please forward any information to the e-mail address provided, thank you
Because each state has different rules on how to reclassify, you will want to contact the counselor and athletic director at your high school. Good luck.
My daughter is a 16 year old sophomore and wants to graduate early to go play college tennis. She can finish at the end of her junior with her requirements. Does she need to reclassify? The college coach wants her to sign in November 2013.
She won’t be able to sign until her senior year. If the coach is asking her to reclassify then you want to get as much help from him as possible. Additionally, contact your high school athletic director and counselor to see what is required to reclassify in your state.
If you’re a senior can you reclassify?
Typically you are not able to reclassify your senior year. Each state has different rules around reclassifying, so you want to check with your high school about what your options might be.
Ok so, i have a very late birthday (DEC 29) and i started school early meaning when i graduate from high school i will be 17, and for the first semester in college i will be 17. I sat out last year (2012) season. I am pretty good at football but my father was thinking i should reclass and i agree with him, i get more time to grow and i didnt play last year. My mom on the other hand agreed but since i take all honors classes with a 3.54 GPA she said she didnt want me to graduate later than my original class. Is there a way i could reclass this year in the tenth after switching countys(schools) i can still graduate early but still get my senior year to play high school ball without the high school courses? We are currently in maryland,
That is if, i finished all my required credits and everything by the end of junior year.
Please review this page where our NCAA expert covers the process of reclassifying http://www.athleticscholarships.net/2013/04/12/how-to-graduate-early-from-high-school.htm. Thanks.
Thats really helped me with the graduating early part but what if i decide to reclass does the graduating early still an option or not
It’s possible. As the article says, the most important aspect of graduating early or reclassifying is that you are gong to need the help of a college compliance office. You are going to need to be a highly valued recruit in order to get that kind of help.
I am a 10th grader , and is planning to reclassify and graduate 2016 enstead of 2015. I was wondering if you reclassify do you still need 10 core classes after my 10 grade year next year ? Or would it fall under my reclassified junior year.
You will want to be very careful reclassifying to graduate in 2016. The new academic requirements set by the NCAA for the class of 2016 are much more difficult. Here are the NCAA eligibility requirements for the class of 2016, make sure you understand them and will have no trouble meeting them.
If you delay your graduating year , do you have to meet your junior year requirements a year early , or whenever your a junior in highschool
It depends if you are already in high school and what year you are graduating. If you are not in high school yet, it doesn’t matter. If you are graduating in the class of 2016 or later, the new NCAA requirements are much more difficult. If you are graduating in the class of 2015 or sooner, you will need to meet the academic requirements set by the NCAA in the same amount of time whether you delay or not.