This article consolidates common scenarios related to mid-year transfer student-athletes and their eligibility to compete, as well as clarifying important eligibility rules for those participating between academic terms.
Mid-Year Transfer Scenarios
1. Transfer – No Season Charged in Previous Term
Scenario: A student-athlete currently attends an NAIA school for the fall term and participated in 4 women’s basketball games. She plans to transfer to a new NAIA institution for the spring term. Can she compete immediately at the new institution, and what about her eligibility and seasons of competition?
Answer:
According to the bylaw amendment passed in Spring 2023, transfer students within the NAIA can transfer and compete immediately at the next institution without serving a residency period, unless a conference mandates such a requirement.
- Eligibility Center: The student must have received an eligible decision from the Eligibility Center before, so there’s no need to revisit it unless a new eligibility review is required.
- Competition: Upon transferring, the student can compete immediately if the following conditions are met:
- She must be listed on the eligibility certificate for the upcoming term.
- She must be certified as eligible for the spring term.
The student can begin competition immediately following the “end of term” date for the fall term at the new institution. The student might be the first one listed on the spring certificate, as the other team members would be undergoing recertification within the 30-day window.
Seasons of Competition: According to Article V, Section B, Item 20, a student-athlete is not charged a season of competition if they compete in fewer than 20% of the sport’s frequency of play (for basketball, that would be less than 7 games). In this case, since the student only participated in 4 games at the previous institution, she will not be charged a season of competition for the fall term.
2. Transfer – One Season of Competition Charged in Previous Term
Scenario: If the same student-athlete had participated in 7 or more games (exceeding the 20% limit for basketball) in the fall at the first institution and then transferred to the next NAIA school in the spring, she would be charged with two seasons of competition within the same academic year.
Answer: According to Article V, Section G, Item 8, a student-athlete who competes in the fall and then transfers to another institution to compete in the spring will be charged two seasons of competition for that academic year. This is common for fall sport athletes who transfer and play in the spring scrimmage season.
For instance, a student who competed in soccer in the fall and was charged a season of competition will need to be recertified as if entering a new season in the spring. The student may still not meet the Progress Rule for the spring season, especially if they haven’t accumulated enough credits.
Key Scenarios Involving Participation Between Terms
1. Non-Traditional Student
Situation: Quinn, who has attended multiple schools and used nine terms of attendance but only three seasons of competition, transfers to an NAIA institution for the fall 2017 term. She goes part-time to save her final term for spring 2018. Her fall semester ends on December 1, 2017, and the spring semester begins on January 18, 2018. Can she compete on December 1, 2017?
Answer: No. Quinn cannot compete until December 2, 2017, the day after her fall term ends, as per NAIA rules regarding establishing residency.
2. Early High School Graduate
Situation: Kevin finishes high school early and plans to enroll at an NAIA institution in spring 2018. He needs to complete one more AP class taught online by the NAIA institution. Can he compete in spring 2018?
Answer: No. Kevin cannot compete until he officially graduates from high school, as he remains a prospective student until then, per eligibility rules for high school graduates.
3. Returning Student
Situation: Kevin takes two years off after deciding not to attend college. He enrolls in 12 credits for spring 2021 and wants to play baseball. The fall 2020 term ends on December 1, 2020. When can Kevin start competing?
Answer: Kevin can start competing on December 2, 2020, as long as he meets all eligibility requirements. This follows the exception allowing competition between academic terms.
Key Bylaws to Understand
- Prospective Student (Article V, Section B, Item 17): A student cannot practice or compete until officially identified with the institution. However, exceptions exist for practicing between terms or during the summer if enrolled in required institutional credit hours.
- Establishing Eligibility (Article V, Section D, Item 2): A student is eligible to participate starting the day after the close of a term, provided they meet all eligibility requirements and are certified as eligible for the upcoming term.
- Postseason Competition (Article V, Section D, Item 4): A student who is eligible during the regular season and remains eligible at the end of the season can participate in NAIA postseason competition if they were in attendance the term immediately preceding the postseason.
By understanding these scenarios and bylaw provisions, athletic departments can better navigate the eligibility complexities associated with mid-year transfers and participation between academic terms.
Additional articles worth noting for potential mid-year transfers:
2. 2023 Bylaw Update for Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field and Wrestling
