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Football Practice Guidelines: Acclimatization, Activity Limits, and FAQs
FB Acclimatization Period (Article I, Section H, Item 6 – Practice) This simplified guide aims to ensure that both coaches and athletes understand the regulations, ensuring safe and compliant football practice sessions. All student-athletes in football must undergo a five-day acclimatization period at the start of practice: Daily Activity Limits Before First Competition Before the…
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NAIA Day-Off Policy for Student-Athletes
Article I, Section H, Item 7 Each institution must establish a written policy providing every student-athlete with one day off per week from athletic participation. Institutions have the autonomy to determine how such policies are defined, implemented and enforced. Each institution’s policy must be published in its student-athlete handbook and on its athletics webpage, and…
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24-Week Season Exception
24-Week Rule and Postseason Participation Overview: The 24-week rule allows each sport 24 weeks between August 1st and May 15th for practice and competition. Each team can have up to three break periods within this 24-week season. Postseason participation, under certain conditions, does not count against these 24 weeks. Key Definitions: 24-Week Rule Exception: Practices…
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24-Week Season: Basics for Coaches
24-Week Season Guidelines A 24-week season during which the institution’s teams (varsity, junior varsity, or freshman) may conduct practices and competitions. Here are a few key points for coaches when establishing the 24-week season: Summer vs. Academic Year Any practices or competitions during the academic year (August 1st through May 15th) must count toward a…
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International Travel and Mission Trips – FAQs
International competition and mission trips offer valuable experiences for institutions and student-athletes, expanding exposure and providing new perspectives. Here are answers to common questions about international travel and mission trips. Team Travel: Q: Does the NAIA restrict when a team can travel and compete internationally?A: No. Teams can compete internationally anytime during the calendar year.…
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Countable Opponents and Scheduling
Countable Opponents and Scheduling Scheduling games can be challenging for coaches and athletic directors. To help, here is a summary of countable opponents, scheduling, and scrimmage rules. Countable Opponent Criteria: Non-Countable Opponents: Scrimmages: Countable Opponent Requirements: By adhering to these guidelines, NAIA institutions can ensure proper competition, accurate records, and compliance with NAIA policies. For…
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Basketball Scheduling Limits
CASEBOOK EXAMPLE – Basketball, Exhibitions, & Frequency of Play In the sport of basketball, an exhibition game will not count towards the total frequency of play limits. Basketball is allowed 28 games with an additional two games that can be filled with scrimmages or exhibitions. However, an exhibition will count towards the calculation of the…
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Frequency of Play: Types of Competitions
The maximum number of varsity games, contests or playing dates an institution may schedule is listed below. 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. Further, no student may compete…
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Additional Scrimmage Dates & New Bylaw Amendment
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.” Additional Scrimmage Dates Effective Fall 2024: Sport Number of Scrimmage Dates Baseball…
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Calculating Forfeits & Rescheduled Games into FOP Limits
Bylaw: Article I, Section H, Item 1 “The maximum number of varsity games, contests or playing dates an institution may schedule is listed in Article I, Section H, Item 1… Further, no student may compete in a sport in an academic year in more than the number of games, contests or playing dates listed below…