Link to NAIA Bylaws
Game and Contest Limits
The maximum number of varsity games, contests or playing dates an institution may schedule is listed in the NAIA handbook.
Game & Contest Limits
- Varsity Limits: The maximum number of varsity games, contests, or playing dates is listed in the NAIA handbook. Junior varsity or freshman games cannot exceed varsity limits.
- Student Limits: Students cannot compete in more games, contests, or dates than the varsity limits, excluding NAIA-approved postseason participation.
- Contest Limits & Countable Opponents: Contest limits can include games against countable and non-countable opponents. See Countable Opponents and Scheduling
Countable Competition: Holds a specific definition under NAC policy (see back of handbook). Countable competitions count towards the FOP limits and will count towards statistics, win/loss record, and postseason qualification.
Non-Countable Competition: Does not meet the definition of countable opponent as listed in NAC policy. A non-countable game can still occur and will count towards the FOP limits. It will not count for stats or postseason qualification.
Did you know?
For a contest of any kind (i.e. scrimmage, exhibition, game/meet, etc.), once the contest has commenced the designation of the type of contest will be officially recorded as such, and the designation cannot be changed retroactively.
Meaning, you cannot change a contest that is designated as an exhibition to a countable contest after the fact.
Exhibitions: Competition against competitors not identified with the institution &:
a. The competition does not meet the definition of a scrimmage;
b. The competition is noted as an Exhibition on the institutional schedule; and
c. The competition is against a Non-NAIA opponent.
- Allowed Sports: One exhibition per season in baseball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, indoor/outdoor track and field, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, and wrestling. One cheer and one dance exhibition per season in competitive cheer and dance.
- Basketball: Multiple exhibitions allowed, but total games, exhibitions, and scrimmages must not exceed 30. Exhibitions do not count as varsity games.
- Unlike other sports, an exhibition contest in the sport of basketball will not count towards the team’s 28-contest limit. However, an exhibition will count towards a student’s 20% limit. See Basketball Scheduling Limits
- Football: No exhibitions allowed.
- Designation Rule: Contest type designation is final once the contest has started.
Notable Exceptions:
- Tennis: Fall ITA regional and national singles and doubles tournaments do not count towards playing limits.
- Wrestling: Certain competitions do not count towards playing limits if criteria are met (e.g., conference champion, placing at NAIA nationals, national team qualification). Students can practice with NAIA coaches and one teammate per session before and during these events without affecting the 24-week season limit.
Did You Know? Helpful Casebook Examples:
- Requested forfeits will count towards a team’s frequency of play limits. See Calculating Forfeits & Rescheduled Games into FOP Limits
- Different types of contests will count towards a team’s frequency of play limits. See Frequency of Play: Types of Competitions
- An NAIA institution may schedule an exhibition against an NAIA club team. The club team will be considered a non-NAIA opponent for purposes of an exhibition, regardless of whether the institution has a varsity program in the same sport. See Non-NAIA Opponents & Exhibitions
