This page has been created to help De La Salle student-athletes navigate this important time in their lives. Continuing an academic and athletic career in college requires a tremendous amount of work. While the information found on this page can assist student-athletes through the college recruiting and admission process, student-athletes are the generating force to assure that the necessary tasks get accomplished. The guidance counselors, coaches and teachers here at De La Salle Collegiate are here to help. The success of this process also depends upon realistic evaluations of ability, both in the classroom and in the sports arena. Please use this information to help further your athlete’s opportunities beyond high school. There are many people to assist you along the way. Do not hesitate to ask for help.
The Lasallian "L" is the most revered and prestigious award that any student-athlete can receive at De La Salle Collegiate. The letter jacket award represents over 94 years of interscholastic excellence and a bond between brothers that never fades. In order to ensure proper respect and consistency, the Collegiate requires that letter jackets and sweaters meet the standards listed below. De La Salle reserves the right to rescind the letter award if the standards are not met or are infringed upon.
1. The Varsity “L” to be placed on left side of the jacket/sweater.
2. Cardigan or “V” neck sweater in solid purple only.
3. Last name embroidered on the right side of jacket or v-neck sweater, or on the pocket of a cardigan sweater - no offensive nicknames.
4. “De La Salle” embroidered and arched across the upper back of jacket, the back of the sweater is to remain bare.
5. Student’s sport(s) embroidered across the bottom back of jacket.
6. Standard sport patches, if any, are to be placed in the center of the back of the jacket. The back of the sweater is to remain bare.
7. Graduation year patch on left upper shoulder of the jacket/sweater.
8. Captain star provided by the athletic department only on right upper shoulder of the jacket/sweater.
9. Stripes for individual accomplishments for winning Varsity Letter (gold), County (white), Catholic League (green), All American (red, white, blue) on left sleeve.
10. Team accomplishment patches such as Catholic League, District, Regional and State Championships on right sleeve.
11. De La Salle letter jacket/sweater is not to be used to display individual or team academic accomplishment(s).
12. No additional graphics, designs or wording allowed. Anything deemed inappropriate, offensive or in poor taste will necessitate the removal of the letter “L”.
13. An agreement below must be signed and turned in to the Athletic Office before the student-athlete may receive his letter.
EARNING A VARSITY LETTER
The general requirement for De La Salle students earning a varsity letter, is they must be in good athletic and academic standing, complete the season, and be eligible academically.
The following sport requirements will also contribute to the varsity letter awarding:
BASEBALL: Must participate in a minimum of three varsity games.
BASKETBALL: Must be a member of the varsity team for the entire season.
BOWLING: Must bowl a minimum of 10 games in Detroit Catholic High School League varsity competition.
CROSS COUNTRY: Must run under 18:00 in sanctioned 5K high school cross-country race during the season or run on the varsity squad (top 7) more than half the season or in championship meets or actively run four years on the cross-country team.
FOOTBALL: Be a member of the varsity team in good standing during the regular season.
GOLF: Must make initial varsity roster and play in a minimum of three varsity events. Coaches discretion may be used for athletes on varsity squad at any point in the season.
ICE HOCKEY: Must dress for a minimum of nine varsity games. An injury-shortened season must be rostered with varsity team for length of the season (i.e. injured early in season).
LACROSSE: Must participate in a minimum of five varsity games.
SOCCER: Must participate in a minimum of three varsity games.
SWIM & DIVE: Meet qualifying standards for the Macomb County Meet. Discretion of the coaching staff (attendance, attitude and contributions to team success may be considered).
TENNIS: Compete in three varsity match-day events.
TRACK & FIELD: Athletes must meet one of the standards listed below in order to receive a varsity letter:
Score 15 points in dual meets
Score six points in a varsity invitational or championship meets
Obtain the time or distance listed below in an event
Shot Put
41'0"
Discus
117'0"
Long Jump
18' 2"
High Jump
5' 10"
110m HH
16.8
100m Dash
11.50
200m Dash
23.50
300m IH
43.00
400m Dash
53.50
800m Run
2:04.9
1600m Run
4:44.9
3200m Run
10:35.0
Relays
.25/Person
WRESTLING: A wrestling letter will be awarded to any wrestler who meets one of the qualifications outlined below (80 points needed to letter):
WRESTLE IN A VARSITY MATCH: 2 POINTS
VARSITY VICTORY BY DECISION: 3 POINTS
VARSITY VICTORY BY PINS: 6 POINTS
VARSITY VICTORY BY TECHNICAL FALL: 5 POINTS
VARSITY VICTORY BY MAJOR DECISION: 4 POINTS
A senior wrestler who has been a member of the program for four seasons and has not met varsity criteria; Due to injury, illness, or other circumstances, an athlete who in the coach’s estimation would have lettered may receive a letter; and all wrestlers meeting lettering criteria are required to finish the season up to and including the last practice prior to regional competition regardless of qualified status.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Question: I'd like to buy my son's jacket for Christmas and surprise him with the varsity letter already on the jacket. Can we get the award early?
Answer: Unfortunately, no. The varsity letter may be awarded at the conclusion of the season only upon the head coach's authorization.
Q. I just earned varsity captain status. When can I get the captain's star?
A. Upon authorization of the head coach, you can visit the athletic office to pick up your star.
Q. I don't have my graduation numerals. Where can I pick them up?
A. The athletic office only provides the varsity "L" letter, authorized TEAM championship patches and the captain's star. All other patches, embroidery and embellishments are the responsibility of the family.
Q. Where can I order a jacket or a sweater?
A. The two authorized dealers of jackets and sweaters are The Pilot Hangar and Burke's Sports Haven in Eastpointe.
For De La Salle Collegiate students who are interested in the possibility of playing intercollegiate athletics at a National Collegiate Athletic Association member institution, it is critical to follow the appropriate steps to ensure initial eligibility. While the De La Salle coaching staff and Athletic Department will assist you in the recruiting process, families are encouraged to speak with their De La Salle counselor to ensure their son is on the right track toward initial eligibility. For more information on eligibility center registration, see the information below of contact the De La Salle Counseling Department.
In order to be eligible to play NCAA sports at a Division I or II school, you must meet certain academic and amateurism requirements. To have your academic and amateurism evaluations completed, setting up a Certification Account with the NCAA Eligibility Center is required. If you are not sure if you will play at an NCAA Division I or II institution, or you are planning to play at a Division III institution, you may set up a free Profile Account, which can be transitioned to a Certification Account at a later date if needed. To register for a Certification Account or to create a free Profile Page, click here.
We recommend that you register with the NCAA Eligibility Center no later than the beginning of your sophomore year in high school. This should allow sufficient time to be sure you are on track to graduate on time and meet the NCAA's required initial-eligibility standards.
1. A valid email address. (Best practice is to use an email address that remains accessible after graduating from high school.) On eligibilitycenter.org, click on Create an Account, enter your email address, then click Send. This requests the system to send you an email with registration instructions, which will include a verification code and a link to the website. When you receive the email, click the link to be directed to a secure webpage that asks for the verification code included in the email. Once entered, you will be able to continue the registration process, including creating a password, which must be between 6-12 characters and a combination of letters and numbers.
2. Your education history, from age 11 onward.
3. Your sports participation history, from age 14 onward. For further information, review our Registration Checklist.
I want to play a sport at an NCAA Division III school; do I need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center?
Prospective student-athletes who plan to compete at an NCAA Division I or II institution must register with a Certification Account in order to determine if they are eligible. NCAA Division III schools set their own admissions and eligibility standards, so if you are attending a Division III school you are not required to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. However, you can create a free Profile Page that will provide you with an NCAA ID number and important reminders during high school. Some Division III schools may ask you to create a Profile Page for record-keeping purposes. You can transition your Profile Page to a Certification Account at any time if you decide to play a Division I or II sport. Visit the NCAA Division III website or contact the Division III school you are planning to attend for more information.
Hundreds of De La Salle Collegiate student-athletes have played intercollegiate athletics over the school's rich history. The recruiting process can be confusing and daunting to parents and student-athletes. While De La Salle coaches assist with the process, their role is to coach the school's team as their most important duty. It is the responsibility of the student and his family to ensure academic eligibility, maintain contacts with interested college coaches, and to familiarize themselves with the process. Of course not everyone will be recruited, but for students who qualify academically and have the skill to play intercollegiate athletics, we will assist you in the process.
Recruiting
The NCAA supports student-athlete well-being by promoting a fair recruiting environment that limits intrusions into the lives of student-athletes and their families.
Recruiting happens when a college employee or representative invites a high school student-athlete to play sports for their college. Recruiting can occur in many ways, such as face-to-face contact, phone calls or text messaging, through mailed or emailed material or through social media.
Recruiting Terms
CONTACT: A contact happens any time a college coach says more than hello during a face-to-face meeting with a college-bound student-athlete or his or her parents off the college’s campus. EVALUATION: An evaluation happens when a college coach observes a student-athlete practicing or competing. VERBAL COMMITMENT: A verbal commitment happens when a college-bound student-athlete verbally agrees to play sports for a college before he or she signs or is eligible to sign a National Letter of Intent. The commitment is not binding on the student-athlete or the school and can be made at any time. LETTER OF INTENT: When a student-athlete officially commits to attend a Division I or II college, he or she signs a National Letter of Intent, agreeing to attend that school for one academic year.
Campus Visits
Any visit to a college campus by a college-bound student-athlete or his or her parents paid for by the college is an official visit. Visits paid for by student-athletes or their parents are considered unofficial visits.
During an official visit the college can pay for transportation to and from the college for the student-athlete, lodging and three meals per day for the student-athlete and his or her parents or guardians, as well as reasonable entertainment expenses including three tickets to a home sports event.
The only expenses a college-bound student-athlete may receive from a college during an unofficial visit are three tickets to a home sports event.
National Letter of Intent
A National Letter of Intent (NLI) is signed by a college-bound student-athlete agreeing to attend a Division I or II college for one academic year. Participating colleges agree to provide financial aid for one academic year to the student-athlete as long as the student-athlete is admitted to the school and is eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules. Other forms of financial aid do not guarantee the student-athlete financial aid.
The National Letter of Intent is voluntary and not required for a student-athlete to receive financial aid or participate in sports. However, it is not possible to sign a NLI without receiving aid from the institution.
Signing a NLI ends the recruiting process because participating schools are prohibited from recruiting student-athletes who have already signed letters with other participating schools.
A student-athlete who signs a NLI but decides to attend another college may request a release from his or her contract with the school. If a student-athlete signs a National Letter of Intent with one school but attends a different school, he or she loses one full year of eligibility and must complete a full academic year at the new school before being eligible to compete.
Division III institutions are permitted to use a standard, NCAA provided, non-binding celebratory signing form. A college-bound student-athlete is permitted to sign the celebratory signing form at any point, including high school signing events, after the student-athlete has been accepted to the institution. Institutions are not permitted to publicize a student-athlete’s commitment to the institution until the student-athlete has submitted a financial deposit.
Each year, De La Salle celebrates the accomplishments of our student-athletes that commit to play intercollegiate athletics. In general, De La Salle may hold a ceremony in mid-November surrounding the initial signing period for Division II sports as well as the initial early signing period date for Division I basketball and all other DI sports besides football. In addition, the Athletic Department may schedule a ceremony corresponding with the Division I and II regular signing period on the first Wednesday in February. A final photo ceremony will be held in the spring corresponding to the final Division I basketball signing date.
The dates mentioned are rough estimates based on the level and sports that recruited athletes participate in. Ceremonies are open to all college-bound student-athletes, regardless of level, who have been offered a bona-fide opportunity by a college program to participate. See the athletics director for more information. In addition, please contact the athletic office to tell us about your son's college of choice. In many cases, we are simply not aware that an offered has been extended and accepted.
NCAA-member institutions are not the only outlets for high school athletes who want to continue their academic and athletic careers at the next level. Excellent colleges and universities that conduct competitive, high-level athletic programs exist as members of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as well as the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).
De La Salle Collegiate has enjoyed a rich athletic tradition that spans over 94-years and includes many team and individual accomplishments. You are invited to contact our Admissions Department to determine if transferring to De La Salle is the right choice for you academically, socially, and spiritually. There are a number of ways to explore De La Salle including Pilot for a Day (shadowing), the Coffee Talks, Open House or regional school visits. The Admissions Department can help families explore the mission of the school, affordability, and any other questions they may have. Please contact:
Frequently Asked Questions for Potential Transfers:
Q. My son is a talented athlete. Can he earn a scholarship to attend De La Salle? A. No. De La Salle does NOT award any athletic or talent based scholarships. In addition, the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) prohibits aid to students from any source on the basis of athletic ability or achievement. To lower tuition costs, parents may apply for need-based Tuition Assistance as determined by an independent organization, participate in the SCRIP program, earn an academic scholarship based on the High School Placement Test, or receive a sibling discount. No students receive athletic scholarships.
Q. Will De La Salle coaches recruit my son? A. No. In fact, the MHSAA considers this "undue influence" and is a serious violation of the rules. Please understand that our coaches can only discuss the program they conduct in general terms with you and cannot discuss athletic potential with you, your son or an intermediary. The best way to learn more about the program is to come to a game, speak with an admissions representative or contact the athletic office for more information.
Q.If my son transfers to De La Salle can he play immediately? A. In most cases, no. The MHSAA and the Catholic High School League (CHSL) define rules for students that transfer from one high school to another. There will be a transition to the rule between the 2018-19 and the 2019-20 school school years. Beginning August 1, 2019, students who transfer from one high school to another and are not eligible under one of the 15 stated MHSAA exceptions (see athletic administrator) will be ineligible for any sport the student participated in (scrimmage or contest) at their previous school. It is imperative that families considering a transfer speak to their current school athletic administrator or contact the De La Salle athletic office to gain a complete understanding of the rule and how it may pertain to their son's situation.
to follow the appropriate steps to ensure initial eligibility. While the De La Salle coaching staff and Athletic Department will assist you in the recruiting process, families are encouraged to speak with their De La Salle counselor to ensure their son is on the right track toward initial eligibility. For more information on eligibility center registration, see the information below of contact the De La Salle Counseling Department.
