Bylaw: Article I, Section H, Item 6
โPractice will be defined as follows: An activity organized and/or directed by an identified member of the coaching staff of that sport in which appropriate equipment is used or instruction and/or evaluation of the athlete takes place.โ
Interpretation
If a Competitive Cheer or Competitive Dance camp occurs on or after August 1, it will count both as a practice and a competition, triggering the 24-week season and frequency of play limits.ย This is due in part to the following:
- The NEC determined that the definition of practice is met per NAIA bylaws Article I, Section H, Item 6. It is evident that an activity has been organized and/or directed by an identified member of the coaching staff and instruction and/or evaluation of the athlete takes place.
- Additionally, the NEC has determined that the concept of a โjoint practiceโ does not exist in the NAIA.ย Per NAIA Bylaws Article V, Section B, Item 11, the definition of intercollegiate contest, an athletic competition will take place when students from an NAIA institution engage in sport related activities against individuals not identified with the institution. Therefore, the activities that occur in camp on or after August 1 will count towards competitive cheer and competitive dance frequency of play limits.
Background and Intent
Competitive Cheer and Competitive Dance teams have historically attended camps where their competitive routines are created and evaluated for the coming academic year. The NEC upheld the long-standing interpretation that NAIA teams cannot participate in โjoint practicesโ with other athletic teams. Therefore, any of these events that occur after August 1 would be considered to be both practice and competition.
Application
If a camp occurs on or after August 1, competitive cheer or dance teams that attend the camp will be participating in competition and therefore will be required to be certified for the upcoming academic term as meeting all NAIA eligibility rules and regulations. This means all first-time NAIA student-athletes will be required to have received an eligible decision from the NAIA Eligibilty Center in order to compete, and be certified within ECP. By attending camps on or after August 1, the competitive cheer and/or the competitive dance team will be subject to the frequency of play limits, it will count towards the teamโs 24-week season, and students will be charged a season of competition.
Related Bylaws
Article I, Section H, Item 1: Frequency of Play
Article I, Section H, Item 5: 24-Week Season
Related Interpretations
Competitive Cheer and Stunt
Joint Practice
NEC Interp – Creation date unknown. Current as of: August 1, 2017
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