Purpose

This article outlines the rules and interpretation surrounding NAIA-approved postseason competition and its relationship to the 24-week season and frequency of play limits. It also provides clarity on which postseason competitions are considered “approved” for exemption purposes and the rationale behind those determinations.

24-Week Season Overview

Per NAIA Bylaws, Article I, Section H, Item 5, each sport is allowed a maximum 24-week season for practice and competition, determined by the member institution. These weeks must fall between August 1 and May 15, during which frequency of play, practice, and scheduling rules are enforced. Outside of this window, the NAIA does not regulate activity.

Bylaw Citation:
“As an exception, a team participating in NAIA-approved postseason shall not count practice activities towards the team’s 24-week season…”

The 24-Week Season Exception for Approved Postseason

Teams that qualify for NAIA-approved postseason are granted an automatic exemption from the 24-week season for practices and competitions occurring after the national office–set deadline for completion of conference/A.I.I./unaffiliated grouping competition. This exemption allows qualifying teams to prepare for national competition without counting these activities against their season limits.

Note: Teams not selected for NAIA national championship competition must cease activity or resume participation under the standard 24-week season limits.

Important: If a regular season or non-qualifying event occurs during this exempt period, it must still be counted toward the team’s frequency of play limits, even if the week is exempt from the 24-week season due to postseason qualification.

Definition of NAIA-Approved Postseason

The NAIA Constitution and Bylaws do not explicitly define “NAIA-approved postseason.” As a result, the National Administrative Council (NAC) has historically determined which competitions qualify through policy discussions and precedent. These decisions have not always been formally documented, often relying on institutional memory.

Currently Recognized as NAIA-Approved Postseason

• NAIA conference/A.I.I./unaffiliated grouping championships that award automatic bids to NAIA national championships
• NAIA national championship competitions
• NCCAA national championship competitions

Not Recognized as NAIA-Approved Postseason

• USCAA national championship competitions
• Other governing body championships (e.g., UCA/NCA for cheer, UDA/NDA for dance, USBC for bowling)

Clarifying the Intent and Application

The exemption exists because teams cannot anticipate with certainty whether they will qualify for NAIA postseason or how far they will advance. Without the exemption, schools would have to reserve a portion of their 24-week season to accommodate an unpredictable outcome, which could unfairly limit their regular season activities.

However, events that are not tied to national championship qualification—even if they are held after the qualification deadline—must be treated like regular season competitions and count toward both the 24-week season and frequency of play limits.

Interpretation: What Is and Is Not Exempt

Only certified postseason events that determine advancement to NAIA national championships qualify for the 24-week exemption. Events that do not affect national qualification are considered regular season events and do not receive the exemption.

Examples

Example 1:
The ABC Conference Volleyball Tournament involves all six teams, and the tournament winner does not receive the automatic bid to nationals. Instead, the regular season determines the qualifier.
Result: Not approved postseason; must count toward 24-week season and frequency of play.

Example 2:
The ABC Conference Outdoor Track & Field Meet occurs in April, but participation does not provide special consideration for nationals beyond any other regular season meet.
Result: Not approved postseason; counts toward season and play limits.

Summary Takeaways

• Only NAIA-approved postseason competitions are exempt from the 24-week season.
• Approved postseason includes qualifying conference/group championships and NAIA national championships.
• Practice and competition during these approved events are exempt only if the team is selected for postseason.
• All non-qualifying competitions must be counted toward the team’s 24-week season and frequency of play.
• Other organization championships (e.g., USBC, UCA) are not exempt and must be treated like regular season events.

Article I, Section H, Item 1

Article I, Section H, Item 6

Related Interpretations

NEC Interp – Creation date unknown. Current as of: April 2016