Hello, I am currently a freshman in college and am very certain I want to grad school to get a PhD after undergrad. I am currently enrolled at a division 1 school playing baseball on the club team in the ncba. How does division 3 eligibility work in this situation if I were to pursue baseball during grad school at a d3 and if anyone has any experience with this I would love for a reply or dm. Thank you
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I don't think you would be eligible because you would be considered a graduate transfer and D3 grad transfers must be transferring from another D3 school. I think it's designed to prevent higher level athletes from playing D3 after playing D1/D2 as undergrads, but unfortunately you fall into the same category. See section 14.1.9 of the D3 manual. Beyond that issue, you would still be subject to the "four seasons of participation spread over 10 full-time semesters" eligibility rules. Your undergrad semesters count toward the 10 full-time semesters even though you aren't playing NCAA sports.
Adding @Rick at Informed Athlete in case there are applicable waivers, or he has advice, or in case I have this wrong.
You will need a waiver to be eligible at the D3 level if you receive your undergrad degree from a non-D3 university.
Also, if your D1 university sponsors an NCAA baseball team as well as the club team that you're playing for, be aware that if you compete for the club team for 4 years you won't have any NCAA eligibility remaining for the D3 school.
Thank you all for the information. How does playing club impact your ncaa eligibility since it is a separate thing?
@Mg19 posted:Thank you all for the information. How does playing club impact your ncaa eligibility since it is a separate thing?
The teams are separate, but the entire institution belongs to the NCAA. They're protecting the student athletes from themselves [sarcasm]. Stupid rule, IMO. See 14.02.6 Intercollegiate Competition.
@Mg19 posted:Thank you all for the information. How does playing club impact your ncaa eligibility since it is a separate thing?
The bigger gaiting factor for you is the clock. It seems your clock to play 4 years of baseball started when your education started (and you have to play all 4 years of ball in a 5-year window). Based on these facts, you could play 3 years of club in undergrad and then hopefully get a waiver and play 1 year when you get to grad school if you go right after graduation. 1 year is the max you can save for graduate school due to the clock.
Given the rules as set by the insane NCAA my advice to you would be to go play club this year and don't think twice about it. You might be excited to play again as a Sophomore, or maybe not. By Junior year, your priorities might have changed, and you might not even decide to get a master's, or you might be done playing baseball.
There are too many variables between 1st semester of Freshman year and getting into a D3 for a master's program the year immediately after graduating undergrad AND getting a look to even play on that team. Enjoy college. Play club. Have fun.
Just an opinion, but this is what I would tell my son.
@Gunner Mack Jr. posted:The bigger gaiting factor for you is the clock. It seems your clock to play 4 years of baseball started when your education started (and you have to play all 4 years of ball in a 5-year window).
Agree with most of that Gunner, but he has a little more flexibility at D3 bc it’s 10 full-time semesters, not 5 consecutive calendar years. So if mixing in a part-time semester or a semester off would fit into his academic plans, that could prolong things. Lots of unknowns for a freshman, but good to know the rules in advance.
@MidAtlanticDad posted:Agree with most of that Gunner, but he has a little more flexibility at D3 bc it’s 10 full-time semesters, not 5 consecutive calendar years. So if mixing in a part-time semester or a semester off would fit into his academic plans, that could prolong things. Lots of unknowns for a freshman, but good to know the rules in advance.
But he's D1 now thus the clock starts on 5 consecutive calendar years I would think. Not sure how it all works when you transition that to D3 but too many unknowns. I think just play club!
@Gunner Mack Jr. posted:But he's D1 now thus the clock starts on 5 consecutive calendar years I would think. Not sure how it all works when you transition that to D3 but too many unknowns. I think just play club!
Pretty sure when he gets to D3, they apply the D3 rules to his academic history. Definitely worth verifying, though.
Again thank you all for the help it's been really insightful. Since I have had previous contact with a specific coach as I was recruited for undergrad but didn't get in, would it be beneficial reaching out to the coach if he had any information about eligibility requirements?
It's great that you have this academic goal as a freshman, and I suggest that, if you haven't done so, you start talking to your professors already about your PhD goals.
But you're missing some important points. D3 baseball has practices or games six days a week in season. PhD programs are also really intense; graduate classes or TAing are often scheduled in the late afternoons and evenings. That would conflict with baseball. No PhD program would excuse students from classes or teaching because they were playing a sport. I doubt a coach would encourage you to do a PhD and play baseball, but no need to contact anyone yet, you've still got 3 years to go.
If you eventually make it work, great, but I completely agree with Gunner, for now, play club and enjoy it, and focus on your grades.
