NCAA Eligibility Center for Track & Field and Cross Country Athletes
WANT TO PLAY COLLEGE SPORTS?
Creating an account is the first step toward becoming an NCAA student-athlete.
Create the Eligibility Center account that's right for you! If you want to compete in NCAA sports, you need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
To get started, review the three account options and choose the one that's right for you! You'll only need to create one account with the Eligibility Center. Starting with the free Profile Page is best practice, as you can transition it later to the Certification account needed for your circumstances. The information below will help guide you through the registration process.
Ivy League Track and Field Recruiting - Why We Chose Cornell
KAITLYN AND SARAH ROFFMAN - CORNELL TRACK & FIELD CLASS OF 2022
Why I Chose Cornell: Kaitlyn Roffman
The minute I stepped onto Cornell’s campus for the first time last February, I was pretty confident that it was the place I wanted to spend my next four years. Cornell, being comprised of numerous colleges within the school, provides an extensive list of majors and countless opportunities to pursue as an undergrad. Being undecided about my major, I know that I will have the flexibility to take classes and learn what I am passionate about. Additionally, the success of the track and field and cross country programs at Cornell is very impressive. Meeting Coach Artie and the girls on the track and cross country teams made me realize that Cornell was a place where I could grow and be challenged both academically and athletically. In addition, the size of Cornell is absolutely perfect as it can at times provide a big school feel that can immediately become more small school-like within the individual colleges. Finally, the food on campus is ranked in the top 10 out of all colleges in the country...which I confirmed on my official visit.
Why I Chose Cornell: Sarah Roffman
I chose Cornell University as it met all the criteria for what I was looking for in a college demographically, academically and athletically. Cornell’s rural yet slightly urban feel was extremely appealing to me, as I did not feel overwhelmed by a large city but also did not feel isolated. With the town of Ithaca nearby, I knew I could find more opportunities beyond the boundaries of Cornell University alone. The size of Cornell is ideal. I wanted to have access to a larger community, but also to be able to build relationships with my classmates (something that seemed more difficult with larger class sizes). Academically, Cornell caters well to an undecided high school student like myself. Cornell’s College of Arts and Science was attractive, as it will allow me to explore my interests in a variety of fields, and eventually help me to narrow in on a major. Finally, Coach Artie Smith and the girls on the team made me even more excited about the prospect of attending Cornell. Everyone on the cross country and track and field teams was extremely welcoming and had genuine friendships with one another. I feel that Coach Artie will be great in helping my transition to college running by emphasizing consistency and patience while I work to improve and grow as a runner. The team’s previous success, with high achieving individuals and teams, was also something I felt eager to be a part of. I did not want to sacrifice strong athletics for academics and vice versa, and with Cornell, I get the best of both worlds.
College Track and Field Recruiting - What Should I Be Doing In My Sophomore Year In High School?
In less than a year, college coaches will be allowed to start contacting you. On September 01 of your Junior year, your recruiting process will begin. As a result, it is imperative that you devise a plan of action now.
Below are three suggestions for you to consider during your sophomore year of high school to optimize your college recruitment experience:
DETERMINE THE BEST FIT FOR YOU
Create an expansive list of schools/programs that meet your specific needs and desires. Among factors to consider are affiliation level (NCAA I, II, III, NAIA, and JUCO), competitiveness of the program, cost of attendance, quality of education, geographical location, intended academic major, enrollment size, public vs private, and other factors that matter to YOU.
Do not be mesmerized by the name of a school. See beyond the prowess of their football and basketball programs or their academic reputation. Make sure the schools you choose meets your needs for reasons beyond it simply being cool to tell the world you will be running or studying at a particular school. There is much more to college track and field than simply Division I.
Create a list of schools that you would be happy at without track and field - just in case your athletic career does not go as planned.
TAKE CHARGE
Do not be passive. Start reaching out to college coaches now from the schools on your list. In my personal dealings with high school student-athletes, I often heard prospects state that the schools on their list were comprised solely of programs that contacted them. If a program you’re interested in does not reach out to you, reach out to them! You will be surprised at how effective personally reaching out will enhance your recruiting experience.
Start to visit colleges during your sophomore year. Take a campus tour, check out the athletic facilities and eat lunch at a local restaurant. Start to get an idea of what it is you want in a college. You can’t sit down and speak with the coach until your Junior year, but you if you happen to bump into them you can say, hi.
COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY
Over the span of my thirty-year coaching career, I learned that communication is the most important element to reaching your goals. It is imperative that you learn to communicate openly and effectively with your parents, high school coach, and college coaches.
Because it is only your sophomore year college coaches are not allowed to respond to your emails and other forms of communication, but now is still a good time to start reaching out. Fill out their online questionnaire. Send an email expressing your interest in their program and give them a brief overview of who you are as an athlete and student.
Your sophomore year is a great time to begin readying yourself for the process that is about to begin. You should view this time as your pre-season training. Although there will be no meets during this time the work and preparation that you do now will be critical to future success.
For more recruiting information click below:
What Should I Be Doing in My Senior Year
What Should I Be Doing in My Junior Year
College Track and Field Recruiting: What Should I Be Doing In My Junior Year In High School?
RECRUITING ADVICE FOR CURRENT JUNIORS –
Your Junior year of high school has arrived. With the new NCAA recruiting rules in place, coaches were allowed to start contacting you on September 1st. Many programs are in the midst of finalizing their recruiting classes for this year and will begin focusing their efforts on next year’s class – this year’s juniors.
To ensure that you take full advantage of this process, here are a few suggestions to help you find the right fit for you.
1. Cast A Wide Net
Your junior year is about seeing what’s out there and what kind of school might be a good fit for you. If you have not yet done so create an expansive list of schools/programs that meet your specific needs and desires. Among factors to consider are affiliation (NCAA I, II, III, NAIA and JUCO), competitiveness of the program, cost of attendance, quality of education, geographical location, intended academic major, enrollment size, public vs private, and other factors that matter to you.
Think about what may impact your athletic experience the most like coaching style, athlete retention, and success of the program. Determine if you are a good fit athletically – many schools post their recruiting standards online.
Know what the academic requirements are for the schools you are considering to determine if you are potentially admissible.
Continually revise your list. During my coaching career, I often saw recruits close doors too early. They would rule out programs in their junior year of high school based on a variety of factors and then end up scrambling in the end when Plan A did not work out. Make sure to keep Plan B in play as to not have to settle for Plan C at the last minute.
2. Fill Out Online Recruiting Questionnaires
The online recruiting questionnaire is a good first and simple means to initiate communication with a program. It allows the coach to assess if you are a good fit for their program. In a recent interview with the Recruiting Code, Duke University Head Women’s Cross Country Coach, Rhonda Riley was asked, “What are the important steps for an athlete to get noticed by you?” She responded, “The two ways to get on my radar are to fill out our online questionnaire and to follow up with an email. When a high school athlete takes the time to send an email with their contact information, personal best marks, academic information etc. it means they are serious about considering Duke as a potential university.” Online recruiting questionnaires are typically very easy to find on individual schools’ track and field websites.
3. Contact College Coaches
Over the span of my 30-year coaching career, I learned that communication is the most important element to reaching your goals. If you have not yet started - start reaching out to college coaches from the schools on your list. You will be surprised at how effective personally reaching out to coaches will enhance your recruiting experience.
Proofread every email before hitting send. A great deal of communication in the early phases of the recruiting process is going to be cut and paste on both sides, however, making a simple mistake can dehumanize the process and render the remainder of your communication less credible. Make sure you are addressing the proper institution and coach. I cannot tell you how many emails I received from recruits specifically addressed to a rival coach expressing their interest in a rival school.
Send updates on a regular basis. Most coaches receive dozens of emails from recruits each day so it’s important that you keep yourself on their radar.
4. Take The ACT / SAT
Register and take the SAT/ACT during your junior year. If you feel adequately prepared, I would suggest taking the test in the fall of your junior year. This will allow you plenty of time to take it for the second time in the spring. Everyone's test prep is going to vary based on their own strengths, weaknesses, schedule, and goals. At the very minimum, though, all students should try to put in 10 hours of focused test prep, at least to get familiar with the format and timing of the test. Realistically, you would need to put in much more time over a sustained period to do well.
However, if you are not ready to take the test do not view it as a test-run. Do not take the test until you have prepared to do so at a level that is reflective of your academic potential.
If you are considering attending a highly selective academic institution taking the test earlier will significantly enhance your recruitment. Most selective schools will not vigorously pursue a potential-student athlete without test scores to determine admissibility.
5. Utilize Unofficial Visits
Unofficial visits can help you gather significant information about individual programs and schools. This time will allow you an opportunity to meet the coach in person, tour the college, check out the athletic facilities, and possibly meet current team members.
Do your homework - know who and where you are visiting. Have a keen understanding of the unique strengths of each school and team, as it will show the respective coaching staff how serious you are about their program.
Use this time to learn as much as you can about the program and coaching staff. Identify the factors that will be most important to you in determining if you will return for an official visit. Have a short list of specific questions ready that address the most critical factors in your college decision.
There is no imposed limit on the number of unofficial visits you may take, so take as many as possible. There is no better tool to help you hone in on the best school/program for you.
In summary:
Do not be passive – start reaching out to college coaches now. Be aggressive in your outreach and email every program that you are interested in, regardless of the perceived reach. Be your own greatest advocate and take charge of your future.
SENIORS - What should you be doing? CLICK HERE
COLLEGE TRACK AND FIELD SCHOLARSHIP STANDARDS
Below you will find the general track and field recruiting standards NCAA I Power 5 Schools are using to determine how much scholarship money to offer a current prospect. Most schools have three standards that they adhere to:
1. WALK-ON - For more information on NCAA I Walk-On Standards (CLICK HERE)
2. PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP - For more information on NCAA I Partial Scholarship Standards (CLICK HERE)
3. FULL SCHOLARSHIP - SEE BELOW
Below you will find the performances that are needed to get a full-ride to an NCAA I school.
FULL SCHOLARSHIP TRACK AND FIELD STANDARDS
EVENT MEN / WOMEN
100m 10.35 11.50
200m 21.00 23.50
400m 46.90 53.00
800m 1:49 2:07
1600m 4:04 4:47
3200m 8:50 10:30
110HH 13.65 13.50
300IH 36.50 41.80
400IH 51.50 58.50
PV 17' 13' 3"
LJ 25' 20'
TJ 51' 41' 6'
HJ 7' 6'
SP 63' 50'
Dis 200' 170'
Jav 225' 160'
Ham 225' 185'
How Good Do I Need To Be To Get a Partial Scholarship for Track and Field at an NCAA I (Power 5) School ?
TRACK AND FIELD SCHOLARSHIPS
In the sport of track and field/cross country getting a full athletic scholarship is extremely difficult. Men's Track and Field programs are allowed a maximum of 12.6 scholarships while the women are allotted 18. However, with over 20 events contested at the collegiate level, programs need to spread out their scholarship money. As a result, it is extremely common for track and field and cross country programs to offer partial athletic scholarships.
Below you will find the general recruiting standards NCAA I Power 5 Schools are using to decide whether or not to offer a partial athletic scholarship. Remember, these standards are from "big-time" division one programs. Mid-major programs will have slightly lesser standards depending on their level competitiveness.
TRACK AND FIELD STANDARDS FOR A PARTIAL ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP
EVENT MEN WOMEN
100m 10.50 11.70
200m 21.40 24.00
400m 47.50 54.20
800m 1:52 2:12
1600m 4:12 4:55
3200m 9:10 10:45
110HH 14.00 14.00 (100H)
300IH 37.50 43.00
400IH 52.80 60.00
PV 16' 12' 6"
LJ 24' 19'
TJ 49' 40'
HJ 6' 10" 5' 8"
SP 60' 47'
Dis 185' 155'
Jav 205' 145'
Ham 225' 185'
WALK-ON STANDARDS - For more information on NCAA I TRACK AND FIELD Walk-On Standards (CLICK HERE)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON IVY LEAGUE TRACK AND FIELD STANDARDS (CLICK HERE)
NCAA DIVISION I TRACK AND FIELD WALK-ON STANDARDS
Below you will find general Walk-On Standards for Power 5 (NCAA I) teams. The standards below are not specific to any particular school, but rather an aggregate of numerous unpublished walk-on standards from college coaches at Power 5 schools. Obviously, the standards will vary from school to school slightly based on their particular strengths, weaknesses and conference affiliation, but the standards listed below will give you a good idea regardless of where you are looking.
EVENT MEN WOMEN
100M 10.75 11.90
200M 21.65 24.60
400M 48.70 56.50
800M 1:54 2:15
1600M 4:19 5:09
3200M 9:20 11:20
110HH 14.40 14.40 (100H Hurdles)
300IH 38.50 44.50
400IH 54.00 62.50
LJ 23’ 18 ‘ 6”
TJ 47’ 38 ‘ 6”
HJ 6’7” 5’6”
PV 15’6” 11’6”
SP 57’ 42’
Discus 165’ 140’
Jav 180’ 125’
Hammer 190’ 150’
USC TRACK AND FIELD RECRUITING STANDARDS
TRACK AND FIELD RECRUITING
How hard is it to compete for the USC Trojan Track and Field Team? Check out the standards below for the 2018 NCAA National Champion Women and the 4th Place Men. It is no easy task to run for the Trojans, but if you have what it takes to fill out their recruiting questionnaire below.
USC MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD RECRUITING QUESTIONNAIRE
USC WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD RECRUITING QUESTIONNAIRE
USC TRACK AND FIELD RECRUITING STANDARDS
NYU Track and Field Recruiting Standards
NYU Track and Field Recruiting Standards
Interested in competing in Track and Field/Cross Country at NYU – check out their preliminary recruiting standards at the bottom of this article.
2018 NYU Top Performers -
Men – 48.04 – 400m, 1:52.92 – 800m, 31:15.66 – 10000m
Women – 17:56.22 – 5000m, 400IH – 62.39, 38 ‘ 2” – Triple Jump
Coaching Staff – Amazingly Accomplished Former Athletes
Head Coach – Erison Hurtault – 2008 and 2012 Olympian, NCAA I All-American, Ivy League Champion – BIO
Assistant Coach – Nicole Traynor – NCAA I All-American and USA Olympic Trials Qualifier – BIO
Assistant Coach – John Trautman – 1992 Olympian, Former DMR World Record Holder, NCAA I All-American – BIO
Did You know that 19% of NYU’s Class of 2018 are non-US citizens –NYU actually has the highest number of International Students of any school in the United States.
#2 BEST COLLEGES FOR FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHY
CURRENT US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT NATIONAL RANKINGS – 30th
NYU RECRUITING STANDARDS:
Event Men Women
100m 11.20 12.90
200m 23.00 26.50
400m 51.50 60.00
800m 2:01.00 2:25.00
110 / 100mH 15.50 15.80
300mIH 42.25 48.70
400mH 58.00 65.00
1600m 4:35 5:25
3200m 10:00 11:45
Long Jump 21' 17’
Triple Jump 42’6” 35’
High Jump 6’ 0” 5’ 2”
Shot Put 42’ 35’
Discus 120’ 105’
Javelin 154' 2" 95' 1"
Hammer 140’ 125’
Pole Vault 13' 10'
5k XC 16:30 19:45
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RECRUITING STANDARDS AT SIMILAR SCHOOLS CLICK BELOW
IVY LEAGUE RECRUITING STANDARDS