When certifying for the second semester or the second or third quarter of the academic year, each institution has until the 30th day following the close of the preceding term to certify students. Following the 30-day window, all students must be certified as eligible before participation may occur. Please refer to this article on mid-year certification for more information.
Unlike fall and winter sports whose postseasons are typically held during a traditional term, there are a few spring sports whose postseasons occur after the conclusion of the spring term. In some cases, the postseason may expand past the 30 day recertification window. However, because we are talking specifically about postseason play, the requirement for recertification within 30 days is lifted. Bylaw V.D.4 speaks to this point:
“A student who is eligible during the regular sport season for a particular sport and who is eligible at the end of the regular sport season shall retain eligibility in that particular sport for participation in NAIA postseason competition provided the student was in attendance the term immediately preceding the postseason competition.”
As an example of how this bylaw applies we will take a closer look at the sport of baseball. The NAIA Baseball World Series plays its final game on June 3rd. The teams who make it deep into the postseason may extend their seasons past the 30-day window typically required for recertification. However, because we are speaking specifically about postseason the above bylaw comes into play. Students who are eligible at the conclusion of the regular season may retain their eligibility through the close of postseason. Conversely, students who are ineligible at the conclusion of the regular season, may not gain eligibility for postseason play. This holds true even if the postseason play happens after the conclusion of the spring term in which a student was able reestablish their eligibility. Finally, students who will be identified as ineligible at the conclusion of the spring term (going into the next academic year) will not lose their eligibility for postseason play.
