Article V, Section B, Item 20: Seasons of Competition – Definitions
Link to NAIA Bylaws
Intercollegiate Contests & 20% Rule
Season of Competition defined as: Participation in more than 20% of the maximum allowable number of intercollegiate contests or dates (excluding scrimmages) at an NAIA institution, whether in a varsity, junior varsity or freshman program, during the 24-week season. Any participation in NAIA-approved postseason shall result in a season of competition. The NAIA shall count seasons of competition based on intercollegiate participation charged by another intercollegiate athletic association.
Note “at an NAIA institution”
- A student-athlete’s season of competition is specific to the participation at the NAIA institution.
- Article V, Section G, Item 8: A student charged with a season of competition in one sport by different institutions in the same academic year shall be charged with two seasons of competition. A student could amass two seasons of competition within one academic year.
- In order for this to occur, a student must meet the 20% limit and/or compete in postseason at two institutions in one academic year in order to be charged two SOCs.
What is the 20% based off of?
The 20% is evaluated against the maximum number competitions allowed under Bylaws Article I, Section H, Item 1. The 20% limit is published per sport under the Season of Competition bylaw Article V, Section B, Item 20. This limit will not change if the team schedules fewer games than the stated limit.
See also: 20% Season of Competition Rule
FAQ – Can the 20% Rule apply to Non-NAIA Intercollegiate Participation?
Participation vs. SOC
Being charged a season of competition is an outcome of participation.
Participation: Defined as representing an NAIA institution in any intercollegiate contest (including scrimmages).
Participate in Scrimmage: A student can participate in a scrimmage, but participation in a scrimmage does not apply to determinations about seasons of competition. Therefore, the 20% limit reflects the games, competitions, dates, tournaments and meets in which a student could be charged a season of competition.
SOC: Being charged a season of competition may be the result of participating in the required number of competitions in order to be charged.
Intercollegiate SOC Based on Practice
The NAIA shall count seasons of competition charged by another intercollegiate athletic association at face value unless the season was charged based solely on participation in practice.
This bylaw adjusts how student-athletes’ competitive experience while at a non-NAIA institution are evaluated by honoring seasons of competition charged by another athletic association unless the season charged is based solely on the student participating in practice at the prior institution.
OCE & Non-Intercollegiate Participation
See also: OCE vs. Violating Amateurism: Knowing the Difference
See also: Outside Competitive Experience Review
Participation in any professional-level competition on or after the first day of the thirteenth month following high school graduation. A student will be charged a season of competition for participating in at least one professional-level event within a 12-month period.
Non-Intercollegiate Participation
The NAIA shall take at face value the determination of a student’s previous intercollegiate athletic association regarding whether the student participated as an independent or unattached individual while identified within that association. Additional seasons of competition, based on professional-level participation, will be charged when the student is not enrolled in a collegiate institution, or is enrolled but does not represent the institution in intercollegiate competition.
This bylaw aims to eliminate the practice of honoring another athletic association’s determinations regarding non-intercollegiate seasons of competition, and instead evaluate all non-intercollegiate participation by applying the NAIA’s criteria. The only prior determination that will be honored is the prior athletic association’s evaluation of a student’s unattached status while enrolled at the prior institution.
Competitive Experience Review
The Competitive Experience Rule requires a student to be charged a season of competition for participating in elite-level, non-intercollegiate competition.
Applies for each student beginning the first day of the thirteenth month following a student’s high school graduation.
Competition after May 15 by a student who transfers institutions or has a break in enrollment is subject to a competitive experience review if the student was not charged with a season of intercollegiate participation during the preceding academic year.
Summer competition by a student charged with a season of intercollegiate competition during the preceding academic year is not subject to a competitive experience review unless the summer participation falls outside of the student’s 12-month window.
What Constitutes Pro-Level Competition?
Team Sports
A team, league or event will be defined as professional-level competition and result in charging a student a season of competition if any one of the following is met:
i. Competition on a team or within a league (all sports) shall result in a season of competition if the team or league self-declares as professional.
ii. Competition on a team or within a league (all sports) shall result in a season of competition if both of the following are met:
1) The team or league self-declares as semi-professional; and
2) Team(s) within the league pay or reimburse participants beyond actual expenses of travel, meals and lodging.
Individual Sports
For individual sports, a student’s participation will be evaluated based on the student’s specific division, series or group/heat within the event. If that division, series or group/heat within the event is self-declared as professional or semi-professional, the student’s competition shall result in a season of competition charged.
See also: Outside Competitive Experience Update – As of 2021-2022
Unattached Competition
The bylaw amendment that passed in October 2020 removed the blanket exception to the seasons of competition (SOC) ruling, commonly known as the “unattached criteria”. All outside competitive experience will be evaluated under the Competitive Experience – Evaluative Criteria.
- Student-athletes are free to compete in outside competition.
- Since the 2021-2022 academic year, a student-athlete who competes in outside, elite-level competition will be subject to being charged per the outside competitive criteria.
- They do not need to be eligible to compete in outside competitive experience.
See also: Unattached Criteria – As of 2021 – 2022
Caveat for Wrestling & Track and Field Athletes
- In the sports of indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and wrestling, a student-athlete’s participation in competitive experience(s) when not representing their institution will count towards the student’s 20% threshold if the student was identified at the NAIA institution at the time of competition and the student is certified at the NAIA institution in the academic year during which the competition occurred.
- If the student was never certified at the NAIA institution during the academic term in which the competition occurred, then the competitive experience(s) will not be included in the 20% calculation while the student is identified at the NAIA institution.
- If the student transfers during the academic year, only competitive experience(s) that occur while the student is identified at the certifying NAIA institution will be considered in the 20% calculation for a season of competition.
- If the student was not identified at the time of the competitive experience(s), then the student’s participation will be evaluated per part b of this bylaw (outside competitive experience).
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Can NAIA Student-Athletes Receive a Medical Hardship?
Short answer, no.
Impact on Medical Hardships
- The medical hardship process is no longer applicable for NAIA seasons starting August 1, 2021 and beyond.
- Medical hardship requests will not be accepted for NAIA participation after this date.
- Exception: Requests may still be submitted for:
- Seasons prior to August 1, 2021
- Athletes who were not in the NAIA at the time of injury
Comparison to Old Process
- The 20% limit mimics the old medical hardship game limits—so the threshold hasn’t changed.
- The new rule is more lenient:
- No requirement for a doctor’s evaluation
- No requirement to prove a season-ending injury
- Example: A football player could play in 2 games (within 20%), skip others, and still not be charged a season, even without an injury.
See this article for further information!
