Chapman Athletics
Frequently Asked Questions

What sports does Chapman offer?
What NCAA division does Chapman participate within?
What should prospective student-athletes and their parents know about Division III?
Does Chapman offer any athletic scholarships?
Why did Chapman move from Division II to Division III?
What conference does Chapman compete in?
How do Chapman teams qualify for NCAA playoffs?
How many students participate in sports at Chapman?
Do I need to be recruited out of high school in order to tryout or make the team?
What type of academic standards must a student-athlete maintain in order to compete in intercollegiate athletics?
Where do Chapman's sports teams play?
Does Chapman offer insurance to athletes in case of injury?

What sports does Chapman offer?

Chapman offers 21 intercollegiate (varsity) athletic teams and eight club teams. Fall sports include: men’s/women’s cross-country, football, men’s/women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, and men’s water polo. Winter sports include: men’s/women’s basketball and men’s/women’s swimming. Spring sports include: baseball, women’s lacrosse, men’s/women's golf, softball, men’s/women’s tennis, men's/women’s track, and women’s water polo. Club sports include: cheerleading, men’s lacrosse, and men’s ice hockey.

What NCAA division does Chapman participate within?

Chapman is affiliated with the NCAA’s Division III which is the NCAA’s largest division. There are 400-plus schools nationwide within Division III, all similar to Chapman as far as student population and academic standards. The university began its membership in Division III during the 1994-95 school year, following a transition from NCAA Division II.

What should prospective student-athletes and their parents know about Division III?

Student-athletes will continue to compete in a highly-competitive athletics program and retain the full spectrum of college life.
Student-athletes will focus on academic achievement while graduating with a comprehensive education that builds skills beyond the classroom.
Student-athletes have an opportunity and are encouraged to enjoy the full array of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Student-athletes will have access to financial aid for college without obligation of an athletics scholarship.
There are opportunities to play more than one sport.
Student-athletes are responsible for their own paths and will discover their potential through opportunities to pursue many interests.

For more information on Division III, visit its official website and take a look this informational video. Also, take a look at this infographic to learn some differences between the three divisions.

Does Chapman offer any athletic scholarships?

The NCAA does not allow members of Division III to award any type of scholarship or financial aid based on athletic ability. Although our coaches do recruit students to play sports at Chapman, all incoming athletes are considered “walk-ons” and must tryout for each individual sport. However, the vast majority of students at Chapman do receive some financial aid in one form or another but the aid is not awarded because of athletic accomplishment, rather academic achievement.

Why did Chapman move from Division II to Division III?

When Chapman participated at the Division II level and offered athletic scholarships, there were just nine athletic teams and approximately 150 students involved in sports. One of President Doti’s visions when he took over at president in 1991 was to get more students involved in sports and to compete against schools academically and financially like Chapman, instead of the Cal State and U.C. schools. Under the direction of David Currey, the Director of Athletics, the athletic department made the switch and used part of the scholarship money the university was now saving to fund new athletic programs. Chapman has gone from nine varsity sports to 21 with over 500 student-athletes since making the transition from Division II. Among those sports added: football, water polo (men’s and women’s), cross-country (men’s and women’s), men’s golf, women’s lacrosse, men’s swimming, and most recently beginning in the fall of 2016, women's golf.

What conference does Chapman compete in?

After years competing as a Division III Independent, Chapman became a member of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) on July 1, 2011. In addition to Chapman, members of the SCIAC include Cal Lutheran, Caltech, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, La Verne, Occidental, Pomona-Pitzer, Redlands, and Whittier. Chapman teams compete in a full conference schedule and against some non-conference opponents. Teams from Chapman also compete against top teams on a regional and national level during non-conference play.

How do Chapman teams qualify for NCAA playoffs?

In most sports, the SCIAC champion will receive an automatic bid (Pool ‘A’) into the NCAA Championships. If a team does not earn the conference’s automatic playoff berth, it becomes possible to earn an at-large berth (Pool ‘C’) into the playoffs should the team meet the eligible criteria and be selected by the NCAA Championships selection committee.

How many students participate in sports at Chapman?

Approximately one in four Chapman students participates in athletics in one form or another, between our 21 intercollegiate teams, club teams, intramural sports and our physical activity classes.

Do I need to be recruited out of high school in order to tryout or make the team?

You need not be in prior contact with Chapman’s coaching staff in order to tryout or make the team. However, if you have not yet been in touch with the coaches here at Chapman and are interested in participating in a sport, it is recommended that you visit the Staff Directory to get the coach’s contact information and contact them as soon as possible.

What type of academic standards must a student-athlete maintain in order to compete in intercollegiate athletics?

Once you have been admitted to the university, you must maintain good academic standing in order to participate in Chapman athletics. Chapman strictly enforces its own, and the NCAA’s academic standards. Student-athletes must maintain a minimum 2.0 grade-point average and be enrolled in (and complete) a minimum of 24 units over a full academic year. The NCAA also requires all students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 academic units when your sport is in season.

Where do Chapman’s sports teams play?

Currently there are seven different facilities that act as home to various Chapman sporting events. The completion of the Erin J. Lastinger Athletics Complex in Fall 2007 included upgrades to Ernie Chapman Stadium and Holly & David Wilson Field and include locker rooms, offices, a laundry room, training room and state-of-the-art press box. The stadium/field hosts Chapman’s men’s and women’s soccer teams, football, men’s and women’s lacrosse as well as a number of intramural activities, club sports practices and physical activity classes. In the fall of 2017, Chapman completed the Erin J. Lastinger Tennis Center to host the men's & women's tennis as well as physical activity classes. Located across from the film school on Cypress and Palm, the Lastinger Tennis Center is equipped with seven tennis courts, covered spectator viewing, a team room, locker rooms and an administrative area. The Harold Hutton Sports Center houses Chapman’s women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball teams along with intramurals, club sports and activity classes. The Hutton Center locker room and shower facilities were upgraded in the fall of 2011 and a new gym floor was added in May 2012. The Panther baseball team plays its home games at Hart Park, about one mile south of the campus in Orange while the softball team plays its home games at the softball complex at El Camino Real Park which was completed in 2010. Chapman’s newly built Allred Aquatics Center is home to men’s water polo, women’s water polo along with men’s and women’s swimming. The men’s and women's golf teams call Tustin Ranch Golf Course its home.

Does Chapman offer insurance to athletes in case of injury?

Chapman Athletics insurance covers every athlete, varsity or club, (in-season only) as a secondary excess policy, free of charge. This insurance is separate from any other policy, including the Wellness Center, and covers up to 100 percent of what the student’s primary policy doesn’t cover. Student-athletes must have a current physical and primary insurance information on file with the athletic training staff in order to participate in athletics. If a student does not have a primary insurance carrier, the Chapman insurance will cover 100 percent of any injury suffered in practices or games. For more information, visit Chapman’s Athletic Training website.

Chapman Athletics Frequently Asked Questions