🏒 NCAA Eligibility Checklist (Division I Hockey)

🧠 1. NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER (NON-NEGOTIABLE)

• ☐ Registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center
• ☐ Submitted:
  • ☐ High school transcripts
  • ☐ SAT/ACT (if required by school policy)
• ☐ Completed amateurism questionnaire
• ☐ Final certification received (Academic + Amateurism)

👉 Without this → player cannot compete

📚 2. ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY (CORE REQUIREMENT)

• ☐ Completed 16 NCAA-approved core courses
  • ☐ At least 10 before senior year
• ☐ GPA meets NCAA sliding scale requirements
• ☐ On track for admission to Brown University
• ☐ Strong academic profile (Ivy-level—this is above NCAA minimum)

👉 NCAA only certifies minimums; Brown admissions are much stricter

🧾 3. AMATEURISM STATUS (CRITICAL FOR HOCKEY)

• ☐ No professional contract signed (or reviewed under new rules)
• ☐ No salary/pay-for-play received
• ☐ Any compensation = only “actual and necessary expenses”
• ☐ No improper agent agreements
• ☐ NIL deals compliant (allowed if properly structured)

🔄 IMPORTANT NEW RULE (2025+)

• ☐ CHL (major junior) participation is now allowed
• ☐ BUT must NOT exceed expense-based compensation

👉 This is a major shift—CHL is now viable for NCAA D1

🏒 4. HOCKEY PARTICIPATION PATHWAY CHECK

• ☐ Played in eligible leagues:
  • USHL / NAHL / Prep / High School / International equivalents
  • CHL now allowed (with conditions)
• ☐ No disqualifying professional play beyond allowed limits
• ☐ Maintained eligibility timeline (see below)

⏳ 5. AGE & ELIGIBILITY CLOCK (HOCKEY-SPECIFIC)

• ☐ Enroll in Division I school before age 21
• ☐ No excessive delay after high school graduation
• ☐ No participation that triggers loss of seasons (pro play issues)

📅 6. RECRUITING COMPLIANCE

• ☐ Communication followed NCAA timelines:
  • Coaches contact after Jan 1 of sophomore year
  • Offers after Aug 1 of junior year
• ☐ Official visits compliant
• ☐ No impermissible benefits or inducements

💰 7. FINANCIAL / BENEFITS COMPLIANCE

• ☐ No improper benefits (cash, gifts, housing, etc.)
• ☐ Expenses received are documented and legitimate
• ☐ NIL deals transparent and compliant

🧩 8. CHARACTER / COMPLIANCE SCREEN (YOUR VALUE-ADD)

(Not NCAA-required—but critical for Brown + your NEF model)

• ☐ No academic misconduct
• ☐ No major disciplinary issues
• ☐ Strong coach references
• ☐ Cultural fit for Ivy League environment

🎯 9. FINAL ELIGIBILITY DECISION GRID (NEF STYLE)

👉 All must be GREEN for full clearance

🚀 KEY STRATEGIC INSIGHT (For Your BrownHockey.tv Project)

The biggest recent change you should build into your system:

🔥 “Hybrid Pathway Athlete” is now viable:

• CHL → NCAA (allowed)
• Junior + limited pro exposure → NCAA (allowed if unpaid)

👉 This dramatically expands your recruiting pool globally