N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Basics ofEligibility NAIALegislative Services

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Topics

Eligibility Center Freshman Eligibility Continuing Eligibility Seasons of Competition Transfer Students Amateurism Eligibility Forms

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

NAIA Eligibility Center

All first-time NAIA participants must register at www.PlayNAIA.org and receive an Eligibility Center determination.

Must receive determination prior to participating in any contest (scrimmage, exhibition or regular season).

Update your short lists with regularity.

Encourage students to submit transcripts and applicable test scores as soon as possible.

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Eligibility Basics

An NAIA student:

May compete during his/her first 10 semesters/15 quarters only Must meet freshman and/or continuing eligibility requirements Must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours
Must be making normal progress toward a baccalaureate degree

Must have a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (for juniors and seniors, athletically or academically)

Must meet transfer eligibility requirements (if applicable) May compete during four seasons only
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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section B, Item 19

TermsofAttendance

An NAIA student may only compete during the first 10 semesters/15 quarters of full-time enrollment.

Any term (excluding summer sessions) in which the student becomes identified will be considered a term of attendance.

Exceptions: V.E.1a-b Pregnancy Debilitating illness

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section B, Item 8 Identification

A student identifies with an institution if:

Competes in a contest

Is enrolled in 12 hours and attends one

class while being enrolled in 12 hours

Charged with season Charged with term

Charged with term

Upon identification the term immediately counts as one of the student’s 10 semesters or 15 quarters.

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section C, Item 2

FreshmanEligibility

Freshman:A student who has not been previously identified at any institution of higher learning for 2 semesters/3 quarters.

To be eligible for competition, a freshman must be:

Graduate of accredited high school or be accepted as regular student in good standing, AND
Meet two of three requirements:

Test Score Minimum score of: ACT — 18

SAT — 860 (Critical Reading and Math
Sections only)

High School GPA Minimum overall high school GPA of 2.000 on
4.000 scale

Class Rank Top 50% of high
school graduating class

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section C, Item 2 FreshmanEligibility

International Students

Must meet 2 of 3 requirement, but those requirements are calculated differently than domestic students

Academic records required will vary per country

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section C, Item 2 FreshmanEligibility

GPA

Multiple variations of GPA

GPA used to determine class rank

If multiple ranks, use rank used to determine valedictorian If no valedictorian, use weighted over unweighted
If don’t rank:

Academic vs. Overall GPA

Use Overall GPA: Academic GPA does not include activity or elective classes

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section C, Item 2 FreshmanEligibility

Class Rank

Multiple variations of class rank

Rank used to determine valedictorian No class rank given
Can accept a letter from the principal/head master certifying student graduated in top 50%

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section C, Item 2 FreshmanEligibility

Home-Schooled Students

Home-schooled students must meet both: State certificate
Minimum test scores: 18 ACT / 860 SAT Exception
Elevated test scores: 20 ACT / 950 SAT

Request for Exception

ACT/SAT results, including subsection scores Any college coursework
Home School transcripts

Student’s schedule at NAIA institution	‹#›

N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

FreshmanEligibility

Learning Disabilities

Information required for Learning Disability exception:

Student’s diagnosis

IEP or 504 plan, if applicable

ACT/SAT results, including subsection scores

Accommodations institution commits to make for this student, particularized to student’s specific disability and needs

All transcripts

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section C, Item 5 2nd TermFreshmen

9 Hour Rule

Student must meet entering freshman requirements (2 of 3)

Student must also have passed at least 9 hours prior to the second term

Can’t count pre-identification hours

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section C Continuing Eligibility

Applies to any student who has previously identified for 2 semesters/3 quarters

To be eligible for competition, must meet:

12 Hour Rule

24/36 Hour Rule

AND if applicable

Progress Rule

2.0 GPA for Juniors

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section C, Item 3 Continuing Eligibility

12 Hour Rule

To compete, a student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 institutional credit hours.

At least 9 hours must be at the NAIA institution

Maximum 3 hours may be from another institution (with prior permission from registrar)

If a student drops below 12 hours at any time, student must immediately stop competing.

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section C, Item 6 Continuing Eligibility

24/36 Hour Rule

To compete, a student must have earned:

24 hours during the student’s previous two semesters, or 36 hours during the student’s previous three quarters
Includes:

Up to 12 non-term hours

Any non-term hours must be earned after the student’s 2nd most recent term

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hours
hours
N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section C, Item 6 Continuing Eligibility

24/36 Hour Rule

4th academic year


3rd academic year

2nd academic year

8	Fall 2011
earned
12 hours enrolled

Certify for Spring 2012

4 hours Summer 2011

24 hours

1st academic year

hours
12	Fall 2010 earned

12 Spring 2011 earned

To compete, must have earned 24 hours during the student’s previous two semesters or 36 hours during the student’s previous three quarters.	‹#›

N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section C, Item 6 Continuing Eligibility

24/36 Exceptions

Student participation and withdrawal from institution prior to start of academic term (Note: Progress Rule still applies)

Junior College transfer who needed less than 24 hours during last two semesters to get associate’s degree IF:
Identified in no more than five semesters

Passed all hours during term in which degree was earned First term of collegiate competition:
If in first 4 semesters:

Must meet freshman eligibility rules If in semesters 5+:
2.0 GPA in all courses attempted at all institutions	‹#›

N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section C, Item 12 Continuing Eligibility

Repeat Classes

Repeat courses previously passed with a “D” or better in any term, (including summer, non-term) cannot count towards 24/36 hour rule.

Excludes: Failed classes
Classes student did not receive any credit for Repeat: sufficiently similar in content and description
Course catalog description and registrars on campus Structure, credits awarded, supplementary components, for
majors or non-majors, where the course is in the sequence One repeat course/term previously passed with a “D” may be counted
towards 12 hour enrollment rule.	‹#›

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section C, Item 9 Continuing Eligibility

Progress Rule

4th Season of
Competition

72 total hours

A student must have earned: 2nd SOC: 24 semester hrs

3rd Season of
Competition

2nd Season of
Competition

1st Season of
Competition

48 total hours


24 total hours

36 quarter hrs 3rd SOC: 48 semester hrs

72 quarter hrs 4th SOC: 72 semester hrs

108 quarter hrs At least 48 semester/ 72

quarter hours must be

general education and/or in

the student’s field of study

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Continuing Eligibility

2.0 GPA for Juniors

4th academic year

3rd academic year

2.0 GPA required

2.0 GPA required

4th Season of
Competition

3rd Season of
Competition

2.0 GPA required

2.0 GPA required

2nd academic year

1st academic year

2nd Season of
Competition

1st Season of
Competition

For a student to participate after attaining junior status

(academically or athletically):
Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale	‹#›

N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section C, Item 8-9 Continuing Eligibility

Calculating GPA

First TOA at your institution: cumulative GPA from all transcripts

Cum GPA =

Total Quality Points achieved

Total GPA Hrs attempted

After initial TOA at your institution: use institution's cumulative GPA policy for all students

Retention/Graduation GPA is only used if it is the only GPA

If multiple “cumulative GPAs” appear, use whichever GPA

institution uses to determine honors, graduation, etc.
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semesters
semesters
semesters
N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section C FixContinuing Eligibility

Putting it All Together

What an FAR should be on the lookout for

4th academic year

3rd academic year

12	24	2.0 hours                 hrs in last 2                 GPA

12	24	2.0 hours                 hrs in last 2                 GPA

4th Season of
Competition

3rd Season of
Competition

72	2.0 total hours                     GPA

48	2.0 total hours                    GPA

2nd academic year

1st academic year

12 hours

12 hours

24 hrs in last 2

nd
9 hours prior to

2nd Season of
Competition

1st Season of
Competition

24 total hours

2
semester
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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section B, Item 18 SeasonsofCompetition

A student may compete in 4 seasons of competition in any sport

4th
season
Includes:


Intercollegiate competition Varsity, JV or Freshman

2ndTransfer students’ SOC are determined by previous association season

Non-intercollegiate “elite level” competition

Can include collegiate club play Does not include U19 leagues

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section B, Item 18 SeasonsofCompetition

A student is charged with a season of competition for any participation in an exhibition or contest

Includes:

3rd
on

seasOne pitch

on

One play 2nd
seasOne second

1st season

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section B, Item 18 Competitive Experience

Countable Competition

4th
season
Additional SOCs must be charged for each year after high school graduation in which a student does not play college sports and

3rd
participates in NAIA-level “countable” competition

season
2nd
FAR should review the student’s competitive experience on the Competitive Experience Form

season
Cannot be charged more than 1 SOC in 12-month period for outside

competition 1st

season
When to use the Competitive Experience Form: Student has a break in continuous NAIA enrollment

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Competitive Experience

Directory of Competition Check the Directory of

Competition within

PlayNAIA Manager to see if a league/event is countable. Directory is not exhaustive

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section B, Item 18 Competitive Experience

Competitive Experience Review

4th
Additional Steps: season

3rd
n

Interview the student thoroughly seasoTeams played on

season

2ndContact information for coach Internet search


1stInvolvement on a team or league

on

seas Contact information for coach/league director

Bylaws or published policies on leagues/clubs

Apply the Evaluative Criteria to any league, team or event	‹#›

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section G-H Transfers

Students who identified previously at any other collegiate institution

If came from a four-year institution and played

If attended only two-year institutions before

Never competed at the immediately

previous four-year institution

16-week residency required

No residency period

No residency period



If previous four-year institution provides

“release” and has a 2.0 GPA	No residency period

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If within an NAIA conference	Conference rules may apply ‹#›

N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section G-H Transfers

Continued

Can be charged 2 SOCs in 12-month period

Student who represents 2 institutions in one academic year

JuCo Exception: JuCo grad who participated at JuCO, transfers to NAIA school in same sport season and is otherwise eligible

Mid-Year transfers and Spring events

Student must be certified as eligible to participate

Applies even for spring scrimmages, where student won’t be charged a SOC	‹#›

N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Sections E&J Recertification

Any student-athlete certified as eligible in the fall semester must be recertified if the student will participate in the winter (quarter only) or spring terms.

Student-athletes must be properly recertified by mid-night on the 21st day after the official close of the previous term.

A student-athlete must stop participating immediately upon discovering the student no longer meets continuing eligibility requirements.

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article VII, SectionA Amateur Status

Amateurism is sport specific Except if the student is professional in:

Cross Country Indoor Track & Field
Outdoor Track & Field

Indoor orArena Football

Indoor Soccer

Pro in all three

Pro in football Pro in soccer

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article VII, Section D Amateur Status

Acts that result in a loss of amateur standing: Cash awards

Sign contract with any pro team Remuneration for use of name and picture Reimbursement over actual expense amount
Participating in any athletics contest where remuneration exceeds actual expenses of travel, meals and lodging only

Agreeing to compete in professional athletics, with either pro sports organization or with those authorized to represent the athlete

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article VII, Section D Amateur Status

Examples

Playing with an amateur team against a pro team

Trying out for pro team

Submitting highlight video to win a contest with a cash prize

Competing in ITF events, earning cash prize, but not accepting prize and completing amateurism forms

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section M MedicalHardship Waivers

4th
sea on
Medical hardships restore a student’s season of competition when the sstudent sustains a season-ending injury or illness.

Must be verified by medical doctor treating the student.

Student must not have competed in more than permissible number of contests.

Injury cannot occur in last regular season contest or postseason.

Restores a season of competition but does not restore any terms toward the 10 semester/15 quarter rule.

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section M Hardship WaiverForms

Coach /AD / FAR must complete portions 1-4

Transcript is required

Competition dates – be prepared to submit
verifying stats

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Signatures	

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section M Hardship WaiverForms

Doctor (M.D. or D.O only) must complete portion 5

Answer and initial all questions

Date for return must be given – must be at least specific to
the month

  



Signature

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section J CertificationofEligibility Forms

Required:

NAIA Official Eligibility Certificate

NAIA Certificate of Clearance

When applicable:

Students may not compete until all necessary forms are

Transfer Eligibility Statement

Eligibility Certificate for Entering Freshmen

Competitive Experience

Form

completed and sent to conference eligibility chair

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Article V, Section L Forms	Article VI, Section B&E

Self Report Violation	Exception Request

	
	
Send to: Conference Eligibility Chair

Appeal of Previous Ruling

		
		
Send to: National Office

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F I N T E R CO L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S

Resources

 NAIA.org

 PlayNAIA.org

 NAIAHelp.com

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