Link to NAIA Bylaws – Season of Competition
Link to NAIA Bylaws Loss of Amateurism
When evaluating a student’s competition history, it’s important to understand whether their participation falls under the Outside Competitive Experience (OCE) rule or if it involves a violation of amateur status. While both can result in seasons of competition being charged, they stem from two distinct areas of NAIA legislation.
Outside Competitive Experience (OCE): Competing With or Against Professionals
OCE focuses on the level of competition, not the student’s amateur standing.
If a student competes with or against professional or semi-professional teams or athletes, that experience is evaluated under the OCE rule (Article V, Section B, Item 20b).
Key Points:
- Competing with or against professional/semi-professional participants is considered professional-level competition.
- The student will be charged one season of competition if this participation occurs on or after the 13th month following high school graduation.
- If a student was already charged a season of intercollegiate competition, they will not also be charged under OCE for the same time period.
- OCE charges do not mean a loss of amateur status.
Violating Amateurism: When a Student Becomes a Professional
Amateurism violations are a separate matter governed by Article VII of the NAIA Bylaws.
A student loses amateur standing if they engage in any of the following acts, regardless of whether they occurred before or after high school graduation:
- Receiving (directly or indirectly) expense reimbursement beyond actual expenses of travel, meals and lodging only. Expenses must be itemized and properly documented.
- Signing a contract with any professional team.
- Participating in any athletics contest as a professional or as a member of a team where the student in question receives remuneration exceeding the actual expenses of travel, meals and lodging only.
- Entering into an agreement of any kind to compete in professional athletics with a professional sports organization.
Once a student violates amateur status, they must go through the amateur reinstatement process, which includes:
- Submission of documentation to the NAIA Eligibility Center.
- A season of competition charged for each 12-month period of violation.
- Residency at the NAIA institution before competing again.
Common Scenarios
| Situation | Rule Applied | Season Charged? | Amateur Status Lost? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competing with a professional team 14 months after HS graduation | OCE | Yes | Pending Amateurism Review |
| Signing a professional contract before college | Amateurism | Yes (via reinstatement) | Yes |
| Playing in a semi-pro league that doesn’t pay athletes | OCE | TBD | Pending Amateurism Review |
| Receiving prize money above expenses | Amateurism | Yes | Yes |
Key Takeaways
- OCE = Competition level → May result in a season-of-competition charge.
- Amateurism = Student’s conduct → May result in loss of amateur status and need for reinstatement.
- A student can be charged under OCE without losing amateurism, but cannot violate amateurism without a reinstatement process.
