Kids Sports News Network

NCAA changes the required GPA

LSU

Over the past half-decade the NCAA has been taking quite a bit of flack for the loose usage of the all so famous term of “student athlete.” Former players have filed lawsuits against the NCAA in terms of it’s unfair use of athletes past and present to make profit that they can’t earn in the name of them being labeled a student athlete that receives a free education. Many attest that this is only conveniently used as a rationalization when the NCAA stands to benefit financially, while its athletes are subjected to laughable education standards that aren’t benefiting them after their eligibility has expired. The new 2.3 Rule is formed to fix this in some respects. It should be noted, this won’t affect our superstar one year and done basketball or baseball stars, but for everyone else it’s a huge deal.

Notable changes

  • During the first year, and athlete must maintain a 2.3 GPA in core subjects to remain eligible.
  • All 10 core subjects must be completed before the start of senior year.
  • Lost and low core classes can’t be recovered to improve scores senior year as previously allowed.

In addition to these, there are minor changes on the SAT/ACT scale that matches an incoming freshman’s GPA (none of which too significant to mention, refer to 2point3.ncaa.org for complete changes).

Who’s affected by the change?

If the changes were applied today, it’d potentially make 25-30% of current and future student-athletes ineligible. This is quite alarming considering that would account for thousands of student-athletes. Albeit two long years away, colleges and universities across the country are scrambling to brace for the NCAA’s big change.

Bigger schools, with more staff (Namely Division I universities) are least likely to suffer from these changes being that they have budgets to create positions and train staff to accommodate the need for personnel to adjust to the new rule. The way to counteract the potential loss of athletes is obviously a matter of strengthening the graduating plans. The big issue is: are the smaller school ready?

Not your grandfather’s NCAA

The good ole days of lazy scholastics are over, and students had better break those old bad academic habits fast.  I’m talking Hussein Bolt fast. Gone are the days of leisurely taking a minimum of 12 hours of classes, loosely following a degree plan and hoping for the best. That won’t cut it.

Counselors are the catalysts

Justin Shade, linebacker for Samford University, is majoring in accounting.

Justin Shade, linebacker, majored in accounting at Samford University .

The role of the advisors and counselors is now paramount in making sure athletes are on course to remain eligible. Strict individual plans must be formulated; constant monitoring of progress, and keen foresight of implementation measures of the graduation plans must all be in place. The true casualties here will be the schools of NCAA Division II and III affiliation. Naturally this is because of the fact that they are commonly understaffed at these positions as is. These schools have the complete and utter disservice of playing by the same rules as “the big boys” of Division I with a fraction of their budget.

What this spells for non-NCAA affiliated schools

The silent winners in this change are schools affiliated in non-NCAA entities like the NAIA and CIAA. These associations have long benefited from having less restricting eligibility requirements and lenient transfer policies– and it’s only going to get better. Expect to see an influx of ineligible athletes to trickle down to these schools because of the allure of being able to play immediately.

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Author: Clifford Franks

Cliff formerly played for Stephen F. Austin State University & Prairie View A&M University.  He holds a BA in Criminal Justice & Master’s of Education in Curriculum & Instruction/Media Technology. In addition to his collegiate experience, Cliff played professional basketball in Germany, Switzerland and Portugal (FIBA) and coached at the Division 1 level.

One Comment

  1. RevisJr

    October 15, 2014 at 10:36 pm

    This is a good paragraph for college students but I think there should be higher like 3.0-3.5 or 4.0

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