Players entering college at semester?

CaBB,
I'm not an experienced college parent, but for this particular situation, that may be an advantage, because the rules regarding transfer students changed significantly effective August 1, 2008.

A transfer student cannot enter mid year and play D1 baseball. From the NCAA D1 manual:
"14.5.1 residence requirement—general Principle.
...... In baseball and basketball, a transfer student-athlete who satisfies the applicable transfer requirements or qualifies for an exception as set forth in this section, but initially enrolls as a full-time student after the first term of the academic year shall not be eligible for competition until the ensuing academic year."

On the othe hand, freshman can play immediately and don't need a year or even a term of residence (think of freshman football players). They only need to be a qualifier, which basically means a high school diploma combined with adequate grades and test scores.

Additionally there are two paths by which a player can become a qualifier sooner than usual.

14.3.1.1.1 Exception—Early Academic Certification may apply. The student needs 1000/85 SAT/ACT scores and a 3.0 GPA for a particular list of 13 (rather than the usual 16) core courses. I think, but don't know for sure, that this path assumes that the player did graduate. I'm don't have a clear idea of why this rule exists.

I'll quote the verbiage associated with the second path: "14.3.1.4 Early Admission Program Waiver. A waiver may be granted by the Academics Cabinet for a student who left high school after completion of the junior year or during the senior year to enter a member institution under an early admissions program (open to students solely on the basis of outstanding academic performance and promise), provided the following conditions are met:
(a) For the last four semesters completed in high school, the student maintained a cumulative, minimum grade-point average of 3.500 (based on a maximum of 4.000) and ranked in the top 20 percent of the student’s class;
(b) The student has not met the requirements for graduation from high school; and
(c) Any remaining deficiency must be in the core-course area of English (the student is lacking only the fourth year of English)."

While not baseball, this is becoming much more common in football. The player graduates early via a GED exam or other means and enrolls in the university for the spring semester on a part time basis. This allows them to participate in spring practice but avoids starting their NCAA 5 to play 4 clock. Then when the fall semester comes around, they are a few units ahead of the other incoming freshman - and already are a part of the system.

According to the NCAA rep I was talking to, this was the origin of "gray shirting" - and is especially common for linemen who coaches want to get on a weight and nutrition program sooner rather than later.

quote:

Originally posted by 3FingeredGlove:
I'll quote the verbiage associated with the second path: "14.3.1.4 Early Admission Program Waiver. A waiver may be granted by the Academics Cabinet for a student who left high school after completion of the junior year or during the senior year to enter a member institution under an early admissions program (open to students solely on the basis of outstanding academic performance and promise), provided the following conditions are met:
(a) For the last four semesters completed in high school, the student maintained a cumulative, minimum grade-point average of 3.500 (based on a maximum of 4.000) and ranked in the top 20 percent of the student’s class;
(b) The student has not met the requirements for graduation from high school; and
(c) Any remaining deficiency must be in the core-course area of English (the student is lacking only the fourth year of English)."

I don't know about the first, but under the above my son considered entering early.
Although this happens occasionaly I'll predict that this practice will become more popular with coaches who need players as college transfers now have to sit out one year. They'd rather bring in their future and get them started early.
If you want to look more attractive to a coach, having met most of your graduate requirements senior fall is a good thing. If the coach has some extra money, he may just offer you an early opportunity. Though I was always opposed to this and that senior season in HS is important, sons goal was to get drafted, he could have been drafted one season earlier. Depends on where you want to go and how soon you might want to get there.

I don't know the details but Robert Stock skipped his full Sr year and enrolled at USC after his Jr season.

quote:

Originally posted by CaBB:
A
Does this mean an "eligible" player can transfer in @ the semester and play in the spring? Or is this only applicable to high school seniors graduating early?

an incoming freshman is not a transfer so transfer rules shouldnt apply.

But, what about the rule that states a player must be academically eligible by fall??

quote:

Originally posted by baseballtoday:
an incoming freshman is not a transfer so transfer rules shouldnt apply.
But, what about the rule that states a player must be academically eligible by fall??

I'm not sure what you are asking, but a player entering college with no previous full-time college attendance may enter at any term, and his eligibility to play and practice is based on whether he is a "qualifier", as defined in 14.3.1, and paraphrased in my post above.

Other players are either continuing at or have transferred into the college, and they must meet academic eligibility requirements based on their college grades. For baseball, some of the academic progress requirements must be met by the beginning ot the fall term, but this doesn't apply to freshmen.