Bylaw: Article I, Section H, Item 1
“The maximum number of varsity games, contests or playing dates an institution may schedule is listed in Article I, Section H, Item 1… Further, no student may compete in a sport in an academic year in more than the number of games, contests or playing dates listed below (this includes varsity, junior varsity, freshman, etc.), excluding NAIA-approved postseason participation.”
Interpretation
When an athletic squad (be it varsity or JV team) is split into two or more teams to compete in different competitions on a single day, and no individual athlete competes in more than one competition on that day, these competitions will be counted as only one varsity contest as it applies to the frequency of play limits.
Example
A varsity women’s soccer team plans to split their team into two squads in order to compete in two different scrimmages on one day. The team is split into squad A and squad B. Squad A travels to a local junior college to compete in a scrimmage, while squad B stays at the NAIA institution to host a club team. As long as these two competitons happen on the same day, both scrimmages will be counted as only one varsity contest as it applies to the frequency of play limits.
Related Bylaws
Article I, Section H, Item 2: Additional Scrimmages-Varsity
Article I, Section H, Item 3: Scheduling Scrimmages
Article I, Section H, Item 5: 24-Week Season
Related Interpretations
Scrimmages for JV Teams
Contest Limits: Scheduling More Scrimmages
NEC Interp – Creation date: April 2016
