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Summer Activities with Prospective Student-Athletes
Who is considered a prospective student? Article V, Section B, Item 16: A prospective student is any individual, regardless of age or stated commitment to a school, who has never identified with your institution or whose most recent collegiate identification is with another institution. All incoming freshmen and transfers are considered prospective students until the […]
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Summer Participation & Seasons of Competition
Article V, Section B, Item 19 Note 4: Unless specified elsewhere in the NAIA Bylaws (i.e. Article V, Section F, Item 9) no student shall be charged more than one season of competition during any 12-month period. Participation in elite-level competition after May 15 shall be charged within the 12-month period that includes the subsequent […]
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Unattached Criteria – As of 2021-2022
Unattached Criteria no longer appicible as of May 1, 2021 The new bylaw amendment that passed in October 2020 removed the blanket exception to the seasons of competition (SOC) ruling, commonly known as the “unattached criteria”. As of May 1, 2021, there will no longer be a way for a student-athlete to get a “free […]
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20% Season of Competition Rule
Effective: August 1, 2021 a. Participation in more than 20% of the maximum allowable number of intercollegiate contests or dates (excluding scrimmages) at an NAIA institution, whether in a varsity, junior varsity or freshman program, during the 24-week season. Any participation in NAIA-approved postseason shall result in a season of competition. The NAIA shall count […]
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Medical Hardship Update – As of 2021-2022
The new 20% Season of Competition bylaw that went into effect August 1, 2021 instituted a minimum number of intercollegiate contests a student must participate in before they would be charged a season of competition. This change has made the current medical hardship process for NAIA athletes non-applicible. Note that the contest limits under the […]
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Outside Competitive Experience Update – As of 2021-2022
Elite-Level Criteria & Chargeable Outside Competitive Experience Effective May 1, 2022 as applied to eligibility decisions for NAIA competition in August 2022 or beyond. Applied to eligibility decisions for NAIA competition in August 2022 and beyond. This means that this criteria is not retroactive. If a student was charged for a league prior to May […]
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Progress Rule GPA & Exception
Bylaw Article V, Section C, Item 9b and exception Amended at the 2021 National Convention – Applicible for all eligibility decisions May 1, 2022 and thereafter. “To participate in a second, third and/or fourth season in a sport, all students must have and maintain a total cumulative GPA of at least 2.000 on a 4.000 […]
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Discontinuance of a Sport During a Season
Bylaw: Article V, Section B, Item 19 “Season of Competition: Participation in one or more intercollegiate contests whether in a varsity, junior varsity or freshman program. The NAIA shall count seasons of competition based on intercollegiate participation charged by another intercollegiate athletic association. Casebook Example When an NAIA institution discontinues a sport immediately, during the […]
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Elite Level Competition – Gender Specific Competition
Bylaw: Article V, Section B, Item 19 “b. Participation in any elite-level competition on or after the first day of the thirteenth month following high school graduation. The NAIA shall count seasons of competition based on non-collegiate participation charged by another intercollegiate athletic association. Additional seasons of competition, based on non-collegiate participation, will be charged […]