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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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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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Tryouts with Prospective Students & 24-Week Season
Approved Ruling: Tryouts of prospective students, in accordance with NAIA Bylaws, shall not constitute practice per Article I, Section H, Item 6, although institutional team members may be involved. Such activity if conducted outside of the team’s 24-week season will not trigger the 24-week season. The National Eligibility Committee has ruled that the “prospective student”…
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Competitive Cheer and Competitive Dance Camps
Bylaw: Article I, Section H, Item 6 “Practice will be defined as follows: An activity organized and/or directed by an identified member of the coaching staff of that sport in which appropriate equipment is used or instruction and/or evaluation of the athlete takes place.” Interpretation If a Competitive Cheer or Competitive Dance camp occurs on…
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Practice and Competition Breaks During Natural Disasters
Bylaw: Article I, Section H, Item 5 “There shall be no more than three break periods during the 24 weeks. NAIA-approved postseason participation shall not be counted as part of the 24-week period. A week is defined as Monday (12:00 a.m.) through Sunday (11:59 p.m.). Any practice or competition during this period shall constitute one…
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24-Week Season Exemption – Approved Postseason
When a conference, A.I.I., or unaffiliated grouping qualifying competition occurs, any practice activities occurring during the week(s) of the competition will be exempt. Once teams are selected for NAIA national championship competition, institutions not selected must cease practice activities or comply thereafter with the restrictions of the 24-week rule. Any regular season or non-qualifying events…
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Two NAIA Teams Competing Internationally
Bylaw: Article I, Section H, Item 4 “A maximum of two contests against teams from foreign countries (excluding Canada and Mexico) played in the United States and/or Canada/Mexico will be permitted without counting against the frequency of play limits. Contests held in a foreign country (except Canada and Mexico) will not apply to the limitation.…