Bylaw: Article I, Section H, Item 2
“The following number of scrimmage dates per sport will be allowed in addition to the maximum number of varsity games, contests, or playing dates which an institution may schedule or in/on which a student may compete.”
Interpretation
Article I, Section H, Item 2 allows varsity programs to schedule two additional scrimmages beyond the frequency of play limits outlined in Article I, Section H, Item 1. This bylaw does not permit junior varsity programs to compete in any additional scrimmage dates beyond the standard limits in Item 1 unless the program does not schedule the maximum number of allowable competitions listed in the sport’s frequency of play limits. Article I, Section H, Item 3 states, “In those sports where scrimmages are allowed, an institution that does not schedule or participate in the maximum number of allowable varsity games, meets, or playing dates may conduct additional scrimmages up to the NAIA limits. In no case can the combined number of scheduled contests and scrimmages exceed the maximum number listed in Article I, Section H of the NAIA Bylaws.”
If an institution schedules the maximum number of competitions listed in the sport’s frequency of play limits, then only the varsity program may add additional scrimmages as listed in Article I, Section H, Item 2.
Application
The number of junior varsity or freshman games, contests, or playing dates scheduled during the academic year cannot exceed the number of varsity games, contests, or playing dates scheduled during that academic year. For example, if the women’s varsity volleyball team chooses to schedule only 26 dates out of the 28 dates allowed per Article I, Section H, Item 1, then the junior varsity team can only compete in a maximum of 26 dates, including scrimmages. For the varsity volleyball team, the additional scrimmage dates allowed in Item 2 only become relevant if the team exhausts its entire frequency of play allotment listed in Item 1. Therefore, in this scenario, the two additional scrimmage dates found in Item 2 are not applicable.
