6d • Coaching & Parents
College eligibility rules - ALL DIVISIONS
Eligibility Rules are Changing: What College Athletes & Parents Need to Know
NCAA Divisions I & II
By now, most of you are familiar with the new age-based eligibility model adopted by NCAA Division I and Division II, commonly referred to as the “5-for-5” eligibility rule.
Under this new model, Division I and II athletes will have the opportunity to compete in all five years of their five-year eligibility clock.
An athlete’s five-year eligibility clock will begin at the earlier of these two points:
- Their initial full-time enrollment at a college or university, or
- The academic year immediately following their 19th birthday.
Here’s a reminder of the current rules for the other levels of college athletics:
NCAA Division III
NCAA Division III student-athletes are allowed four seasons of participation during their first 10 semesters (or 15 quarters) of full-time college enrollment.
In Division III, an athlete does not have to compete in a game or other intercollegiate contest to use a season of participation. Simply practicing with the team after the season beginswill count as using one of their four seasons.
Therefore, the only way for a Division III athlete to redshirt is to completely stop participating with the team before the first contest of the regular season.
NAIA
The NAIA generally charges an athlete with a season of competition if they participate in more than 20% of the maximum number of allowable contests or dates for their sport. Scrimmages are not included in that calculation.
Participation on a junior varsity or freshman team at an NAIA school also counts toward the 20% limit.
NAIA athletes must complete their four seasons of competition within their first 10 semesters (or 15 quarters) of full-time college enrollment.
There is an important exception to the 20% rule: An athlete who participates in an NAIA-approved postseason event will be charged with a season of competition, even if they competed in 20% or less of their team's contests during the regular season.
The NAIA also provides an opportunity for an athlete to receive a medical hardship waiverfor a season-ending injury or illness that occurred while the athlete was enrolled at a non-NAIA college or university.
To qualify, the athlete must have participated in no more than 20% of the season and must provide documentation from an attending physician confirming that the injury or illness was season-ending.
NJCAA and CCCAA
Any appearance – even if only for one or two minutes or for one or two plays – in a regular-season or post-season contest (varsity, JV or freshman team) will count as a season of competition used.
Medical hardship waivers are possible for a season-ending injury or illness that occurs before the midpoint of the season (and when an athlete has not participated in more than 30% of the team’s maximum permissible number of contests or events).
However, note that an athlete receiving a hardship waiver from the NJCAA or the CCCAA will not gain any additional eligibility if they transfer to an NCAA D1 or D2 program given the new “5 for 5” eligibility rules.
Provided by Rick Allen at informedathlete.com
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College eligibility rules - ALL DIVISIONS
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