NCAA Eligible?
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN RECRUITING TO BROWN HOCKEY!
(CHECKLIST FOR NCAA ELIGIBILITY)
(EXAMPLES OF VIOLATIONS)
🧠 NCAA ELIGIBILITY FACTOR (NEF)
✅ COMPLETE FACTOR LIST
Think of NEF as 5 required domains (not 4).
Each one answers a different risk question.
🧩 1. 📜 NCAA AMATEURISM STATUS (NON-NEGOTIABLE)
🔑 Must Answer:
Is the player still an amateur under NCAA rules?
Factors to Check:
- ❓ Signed any professional contract
- ❓ Received salary / stipend beyond expenses
- ❓ Played on a professional team roster
- ❓ Accepted prize money beyond actual expenses
- ❓ Used an agent (improperly)
- ❓ Endorsed products / NIL violations (for internationals)
Output:
- ✅ Eligible
- ⚠️ At Risk
- ❌ Ineligible
👉 If ❌ → player is NOT NEF eligible
🧩 2. 🎓 ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY (IVY + NCAA)
🔑 Must Answer:
Can this player get into Brown AND stay eligible?
Factors:
- GPA / equivalent
- Academic rigor:
- IB
- AP
- A-levels
- Standardized tests (if applicable)
- English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS for internationals)
NEF Threshold:
- Minimum viable: Score ≥ 3
- Target (Brown): ≥ 4
🧩 3. ⏳ AGE & NCAA CLOCK STATUS
🔑 Must Answer:
Has the player’s eligibility clock started or been compromised?
Factors:
- Age (typically 18–21 window)
- Years since high school graduation
- Time spent in junior hockey AFTER graduation
- Delayed enrollment
Red Flags:
- Too many post-grad years
- Playing too long after graduation before enrolling
👉 Important for:
- Canadian juniors
- European players delaying NCAA entry
🧩 4. 🏒 COMPETITION & LEAGUE STATUS
🔑 Must Answer:
Was the league NCAA-compliant for amateur participation?
Factors:
- League type:
- ✅ USHL / NAHL / BCHL → safe
- ⚠️ European leagues → variable
- Team classification:
- Amateur vs professional
- Teammates paid? (can affect status)
- Player compensation within league
Key Insight:
👉 European leagues are the biggest hidden risk
🧩 5. 📈 DEVELOPMENT + PATHWAY VIABILITY
(This is YOUR value-add—not NCAA compliance, but critical)
🔑 Must Answer:
Is this player realistically on a path to NCAA hockey?
Factors:
- Current league level
- Trajectory (improving vs plateau)
- Physical development
- Ability to transition to:
- USHL
- NAHL
- Prep
📊 FINAL NEF DETERMINATION
✅ NEF ELIGIBLE PLAYER =
Must meet ALL: