The Eligibility Center Game Plan 2026–27 (Digital Download)

The NCAA Eligibility Center, explained step by step by a former Division I head coach.

The Eligibility Center Game Plan is a 21-page printable guide for potential student-athletes and their families. It shows you how to register, which account to choose, how core courses and core GPA work, and what to do at each step until the athlete is certified to play.

What's inside

• 5 Levels of Play: NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA and JUCO compared side by side
• Meet the Eligibility Center and Pick the Right Account
• Registration Day: what you need before you sign up
• Grade-by-Grade Timeline of Eligibility Center tasks
• Core Courses Decoded and Your Core GPA
• D1 vs. D2 Academic Standards and Certification Decisions
• Athletics Certification, Gap Years and Grace Periods, and Special Situations
• Visits, Offers and Signing
• Fill-in tools: a Core GPA Worksheet, a Course Tracker, a Game Plan checklist and Key Terms

How it works

This is a digital download. You'll get the PDF right after checkout, and you can read it on any device or print it at home. No physical item ships.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by the NCAA or any college. Rules change often, so always confirm with each school's compliance office and eligibilitycenter.org.