Why It Matters:
Eligibility certification isn’t just a box to check — it’s a critical process that protects your institution, your student-athletes, and the integrity of competition. When mistakes happen in this area, the consequences can be significant: lost games, postseason disqualification, and reputational damage. That’s why understanding and practicing due diligence is essential.
What Is Due Diligence?
At its core, due diligence means:
“The level of care, attention, and investigation a reasonable person would exercise under the circumstances.”
In other words, the process of certifying eligibility isn’t about doing what’s typical — it’s about doing what is reasonable given the situation at hand. Sometimes that means going above and beyond your standard checklist.
Why It’s Not Enough to “Do What We Always Do”
Routine processes work well for routine cases. But eligibility situations are not always routine. Transfers, special eligibility rulings (e.g., COVID waivers), or limited competition history can create gray areas. In these instances, relying solely on:
- Public-facing bios
- An athlete’s self-report
- A lack of stats in public databases
…is not enough to fulfill your due diligence responsibilities.
If something seems unclear or doesn’t add up, you are expected to ask more questions and seek clarity.
Best Practices for Due Diligence in Eligibility Certification
✅ Ask, Verify, Document
- Contact prior institutions directly to confirm a student’s participation history.
- Use formal communication channels when seeking guidance from governing bodies or conferences.
- Keep a paper trail of eligibility decisions, supporting documentation, and sign-offs.
- The Eligibility Center does not evaluate issues of suspension or residency. They may flag issues if they see evidence from transcripts/ tracers. But it is up to the NAIA school to determine residency from suspension or dismissal.
- This makes the Transfer Player Eligibility Statement especially important!
🔍 When to Dig Deeper
- Conflicting information across bios, stats, and transcripts
- Requests for an extra season after graduation
- Special cases like medical hardships, COVID waivers, or multiple transfers
- Changes to previous eligibility rulings or unclear student history
What Due Diligence Looks Like in Action
- Don’t stop at one source: Verify claims through official records and reaching out to prior institutions, if applicable.
- Double-check postseason participation: One postseason appearance may trigger a season-of-competition charge.
- Escalate unclear cases: Involve the FAR, registrar, or reach out to Legislative Services when needed.
Final Takeaway: The Responsibility Belongs to the Institution
Eligibility certification is an institutional responsibility. Even if an athlete provides incomplete information or someone outside your department gives informal guidance, your school is still accountable for the final certification.
When the stakes include forfeits, tournament bans, and lost student opportunities, the investment in thorough review and cross-checking is well worth it.
