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Coach Resource Hub: Understanding Seasons of Competition
Link to NAIA Bylaws Knowing when a student is charged a season of competition (SOC) is critical for roster management, eligibility tracking, and avoiding costly errors. This overview highlights what counts as participation, when the 20% rule applies, and how outside competition factors in. The 20% Rule: When Participation Becomes a Season Under Article V,
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Basics of NAIA Seasons of Competition
Article V, Section B, Item 20: Seasons of Competition – Definitions Link to NAIA Bylaws Intercollegiate Contests & 20% Rule Season of Competition defined as: 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
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OCE vs. Violating Amateurism: Knowing the Difference
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,
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Understanding the Outside Competitive Experience (OCE) Rule: What Counts as a Season of Competition?
Effective May 1, 2022, the NAIA adopted an important change to how student-athletes are charged seasons of competition for participation outside of intercollegiate athletics. The change—part of the work of the Competitive Experience Committee—raises the standard from “elite-level” competition to “professional-level” participation. This shift is designed to improve fairness, clarity, and transparency for students and
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Does the 20% Rule Apply at Non-NAIA Schools? What You Need to Know About Season of Competition and Medical Hardships
A frequent question we receive in NAIA Legislative Services is whether a student-athlete’s limited participation at a previous non-NAIA institution—such as a junior college or NCAA school—qualifies under the NAIA’s 20% rule or if a medical hardship can be granted. The 20% Rule Only Applies to NAIA Participation Beginning August 1, 2021, the NAIA adopted
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Participation Prior to Enrollment in the Fall
Approved Ruling: When an institution has scheduled an intercollegiate contest prior to the opening of school in the fall, a student shall be allowed to represent the institution although the student is not officially identified at the time of participation. The NAIA Official Eligibility Certificate must be filed with the eligibility chair with the column
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Summer Participation & Seasons of Competition
Article V, Section B, Item 20 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 applicible 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