Summer 2021 Rules Education Guide

Summer 2021 Rules Education Guide

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics 120 W. 12th Street, Suite 700 • Kansas City, Mo. 64105 • 816.595.8000 • NAIA.org

COVID-Related Decisions Regarding Eligibility Table of Contents

March 2020 – Present

Page 1: Overview Page 2: Entering Freshmen Page 3: Continuing Students

• Additional eligibility approved for 2020 spring sport student-athletes.

• Entering freshman are allowed to be eligible solely by having a 2.0 cumulative high school GPA. This is due to COVID restrictions on ACT/SAT testing.

• The fall 2020 term will be treated as a term of attendance per standard NAIA bylaws except the 10 semester/15 quarter limit.

• Current and prospective student-athletes will not be charged a season of competition for non-intercollegiate play in any sport from May 16, 2020-May 15, 2021.

• A fall sport, senior, student-athlete who graduate in December 2020 may compete following graduation without satisfying the 12-Hour Enrollment Rule, with the clarification that language regarding “minimum enrollment requirements” should be included.

• Extended the exception allowing for fall 2020 to not count as a term of attendance to winter 2020 and spring 2021.

Who to Contact For rules, hardships, request for exceptions, continuing eligibility Legislative Services naia.org/legislative legislative@naia.org 816.595.8180

For questions about NAIA Eligibility Center decisions and status PlayNAIA PlayNAIA.org ECinfo@naia.org 816.595.8300

• Approved the continuation of the 2020-21 requirements of a 2.0 high school GPA for eligibility purposes through the 2021-22 academic year.

• Allowed homeschool students to be granted automatic eligibility if they have passed nine or more institutional credit hours with a grade of C or better.

COVID-19 Related Exceptions for Entering Freshman Quick Hits

COVID-19 Exceptions for Entering Freshmen

• Home school students can become automatically eligible if they have earned 9 institutional credit hours with C’s or better prior to identification at any school.

Please note these are a collection of some of the most important scenarios arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. To find out more information please go to naia.org/COVID-19.

• I have a qualifying test score but do not meet class rank or GPA. Can I use this exception? ◦ No.

WHO Entering Freshmen

• A freshman is anyone who has not been identified for at least two semester terms of attendance or three quarter terms of attendance.

• I have a qualifying class rank but do not meet test score or GPA. Can I use this exception?

WHAT

◦ No.

Initial Eligibility Requirements

• I have a qualifying GPA and one of the other requirements. Do I have to use this exception? ◦ ◦ No. If you meet 2/3 then you will not be utilizing this exception.

• Generally, entering freshman have to meet two out of

three initial eligibility requirements: ACT/SAT test score; high school GPA; and/or high school class rank.

• Do I have to request the exception? ◦ No. The NAIA Eligibility Center will apply the exception automatically.

Who to Contact

WHEN • However, freshman seeking a decision for the 2020-2021 and 2021-

2022 academic year are able to meet initial eligibility requirements by having only a 2.000 final high school GPA.

For rules, hardships, request for exceptions, continuing eligibility Legislative Services naia.org/legislative legislative@naia.org 816.595.8180

WHERE/WHAT

For questions about NAIA Eligibility Center decisions and status

• However, after they are identified for two semesters

PlayNAIA PlayNAIA.org ECinfo@naia.org 816.595.8300

• If a student utilizes this exception, they would be

eligible to compete in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic year. or three quarters, they must have at least a 2.000 cumulative collegiate GPA.

COVID-19 Related Exceptions for Continuing Students Quick Hits

Exceptions arising out of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• I competed but am not being charged a season of competition (SOC). Am I subject to residency if I transfer?

Please note these are a collection of some of the most important scenarios arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. To find out more information please go to naia.org/COVID-19.

◦ Yes. • I play a fall sport and am graduating at the end of the fall 2020 term. Can I continue to compete in my fall sport in the spring of 2021? ◦ Yes, as long as you are enrolled in at least one institutional credit hour.

• I competed in my fall sport in the fall of 2020 and transferred to another NAIA school for the spring of 2021. If I compete at my second NAIA school, how many seasons will I be charged? ◦ None. We will continue to honor SOC charged by other athletic associations, but FWSAs will not be charged for NAIA competition, no matter when they compete.

Spring Sport Athletes – SPRING 2021 WHO • Baseball, golf, outdoor track & field, softball, tennis, lacrosse, and men’s volleyball.

• Spring sport athletes are not charged for any amateur

competition (intercollegiate or non-intercollegiate) from May 16, 2019, to May 15, 2020.

WHAT • Spring sport athletes will not be charged for non-intercollegiate competition from May 16, 2019, to May 15, 2021.

• Spring sport athletes will only be charged SOC for the 2020-2021

academic year if they play in more than 50% of the frequency of play limits for their sport OR by competing in postseason competition.

• Spring sport athletes will not be charged a term of attendance for winter or spring terms in the 2019-2020 academic year and will not be charged any terms for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Who to Contact For rules, hardships, request for exceptions, continuing eligibility Legislative Services naia.org/legislative legislative@naia.org 816.595.8180

For questions about NAIA Eligibility Center decisions and status PlayNAIA PlayNAIA.org ECinfo@naia.org 816.595.8300

Fall and Winter Sports 2020-2021 ACADEMIC YEAR

WHAT/WHEN • Fall and winter sport athletes will not be charged a season of

competition for any competition from May 16, 2020, to May 15, 2021.

• Fall and winter sport athletes will not be charged a term of attendance for the 2020-2021 academic year.

How to Certify in ECP with COVID Exceptions 2020-2021 Academic Year COVID Exception: No student-athlete will be charged a term of attendance.

Winter 2020 (quarter term) Spring 2020 (quarter & semester term) COVID Exception: For spring sport athletes only, winter 2020 (quarter term) and spring 2020 (quarter and semester term) will not count as a term of attendance.

COVID Exception: Spring sports athletes will not be charged a season of competition for either outside competitive experience or for intercollegiate competition.

Important ECP Technology Note The TOA exceptions will result in the potential for a student to have different terms of attendance for different sports.

The ECP certification system does not allow for a student to be certified for two different quantity of terms under two different sports. By adjusting terms for one sport, it will automatically change the term for the other sport. Unfortunately, the only work-around for this is to create two separate profiles for each student who competes in multiple sports across different seasons.

How to Certify Terms of Attendance (TOA) SEMESTER EXAMPLE This student is a Women’s Cross Country and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field athlete.

Certifying the student for Women’s Cross Country Fall 2020 semester: Current terms of attendance will be calculated as normal for Fall 2020 certification period. As cross country is a fall sport, all previous terms will count for this student. She is currently in her 7th term of attendance.

Fall 2020 certification: 7 total terms of attendance 15 enrolled credits fall 2020 9 hours earned spring 2020 15 hours earned fall 2019

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Certifying this student for Women’s Cross Country Spring 2021 semester: Spring 2021 certification: 7 TOA – this number will stay as-is from the fall as Fall 2020 will not count as a TOA. Hours earned in previous terms will be updated as normal as the 24/36-Hour Rule will be applied as normal.

12 enrolled credits spring 2021 15 hours earned fall 2020 9 hours earned spring 2020

Certifying the same student for Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Spring 2021 semester: Spring 2021 certification: Term will be different as Spring 2020 did not count as a term of attendance for spring sport athletes. The 6th TOA will be “frozen” for three cycles of certification = Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021.

Hours earned in previous terms will be updated as normal as the 24/36-Hour Rule will be applied as normal.

12 enrolled credits spring 2021 15 hours earned fall 2020 9 hours earned spring 2020

Restrictions In ECP Technology + COVID Exceptions 9-Hour Rule: An athlete that is being certified in their 1st TOA for the second time, the student will still need to meet the 9 hour rule in order to compete. The ECP system may not flag this since it does not show the student in their 2 TOA. 24/36-Hour Rule: For students who are technically in their 3rd semester TOA or 4th quarter TOA, the ECP will not catch whether a student needs to meet the 24/36-Hour Rule.

The certificate will show the student is technically in their 2nd TOA. Since the ECP system sees the student as in their 2nd TOA, the system will not flag if the athlete has not met the 24/36-Hour Rule.

Remember, we are calculating the student’s 24/36-Hour Rule per the bylaws. You will see here the athlete did not meet the 24/36-Hour Rule. You will need to be diligent to catch this specific subset of athletes as the system will not catch an actual ineligible athlete.

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How to Certify Terms of Attendance (TOA) QUARTER EXAMPLE This student is a Women’s Cross Country and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field athlete.

Certifying the student for Women’s Cross Country Fall 2020 quarter term: Current terms of attendance will be calculated as normal. As cross country is a fall sport, all previous terms will count for this student. She is currently in her 10th term of attendance.

Fall 2020 certification: 10 total terms of attendance 12 credits enrolled credits Fall 2020 9 hours earned Spring 2020 15 hours earned Winter 2020 12 hours earned Fall 2019

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Certifying this student for Women’s Cross Country Winter 2021 quarter: Winter 2021 certification: 10 TOA – this number will stay as-is from the fall as Fall 2020 will not count as a TOA. Hours earned in previous terms will be updated as normal as the 24/36-Hour Rule will be applied as normal.

15 enrolled credits Winter 2021 12 hours earned Fall 2020 9 hours earned Spring 2020 15 hours earned Winter 2020

Certifying the same student for Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Winter 2021 quarter: Winter 2021 certification: Term will be different as Winter & Spring 2020 did not count as a term of attendance for spring sport athletes. The 8th TOA will be “frozen” for four cycles of certification = Winter 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Winter 2021.

Hours earned in previous terms will be updated as normal as the 24/36-Hour Rule will be applied as normal.

15 enrolled credits Winter 2021 12 hours earned Fall 2020 9 hours earned Spring 2020 15 hours earned Winter 2020

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Suggestions of items you might need prior to sitting down to certify.

• • • •

Roster of athletes who participated during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Review EC decisions to see who was given a decision under the COVID FR exception.

Manually mark who will need a 2.00 CGPA after 2 sem/ 3 quart TOA. Note who were spring sport athletes during Spring 2020. Note that they may have different TOA if they are a fall/ winter sport athlete.

How do we know if a sport is a fall, winter, or spring sport?

We categorize the sport by the traditional championship season: • • •

Fall: M&W Cross Country, Football, M&W Soccer, and Women’s Volleyball.

Winter: M&W Basketball, M&W Bowling, Competitive Cheer, Competitive Dance, M&W Indoor Track, M&W Diving, Men’s Wrestling Spring: Baseball, M&W Golf, Women’s Lacrosse, M&W Outdoor Track, Softball, M&W Tennis, Men’s Volleyball

FAQs for ECP Q: When certifying our students this past year, we chose not to “freeze” the TOA. Instead, we certified each student with their actual TOA. Is this wrong?

A: No! It is completely your decision how you wish to proceed with certification. Understand, however, that when a student hits his/her 10th semester or 15th quarter term of attendance, the ECP system will not automatically allow for you to continuing adding additional terms. So either you will be forced to repeat the terms (10 or 15) again or force the student eligible with additional terms.

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FAQs for Freshmen Initial Eligibility Q: Are there going to be any exceptions for incoming freshman for the 2021-2022 academic year since ACT/SAT testing dates have been impacted by the pandemic?

A: Yes. In conjunction with the National Eligibility Committee and Council of Faculty Athletics Representatives, the Council of Presidents has approved an exception to initial eligibility rules for incoming freshmen in 2020-21 and the 2021-2022 academic years.

A student that does not have a satisfactory test score can satisfy freshman eligibility standards and become eligible by having at least a 2.000 final high school GPA. The student will receive an eligible determination from the eligibility center. However, any student using this exception will be required to earn at least a 2.000 cumulative collegiate GPA after the student’s second semester or third quarter term of attendance in order to maintain eligibility and compete in that following season. This additional collegiate GPA requirement is required as part of the student’s ability to gain eligibility immediately by use of solely a high school GPA, and is in addition to any applicable continuing eligibility rules that would normally apply. Institutions will verify satisfaction of the college GPA requirement within the ECP software.

All 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 entering freshmen can still become eligible by satisfying two out of the three requirements, as normal. Any freshmen gaining eligibility through traditional bylaw wording will not be required to meet a collegiate 2.00 GPA in order to be certified and compete the following season of competition.

Q: How is “entering freshman” defined? In other words, who can use the COVID-19 freshman exception?

A: The bylaws define “entering freshman” as any student who has not previously used two semester / three quarter terms of attendance. As it relates to the COVID-19 freshman exception, any student who has not already been identified for two semester or three quarters is eligible to use the exception, regardless of when they graduated high school and whether they have been charged any seasons of competition.

Q: I am not seeing a decision updated through the Eligibility Center that reflects my student-athlete is eligible with a 2.00 HS GPA. Is this not automatic?

A: No. The EC will have to manually update the student’s decision.

Q: What if an athlete was certified as eligible based off of the 2.00 HS GPA, but will not meet the 2.00 CGPA after two semesters. Can the athlete add a qualifying test score to not have to have the collegiate CGPA? A: It would depend on whether the athlete competed. If the athlete competed under the 2.00 exception, this locks the athlete in to require a 2.00 collegiate CGPA. Q: A student-athlete received an EC decision with just a 2.00 HS GPA. But the student did not participate in any intercollegiate contest during the 2020-2021 academic year. Are they required to meet a 2.00 CGPA after two semesters/ three quarter TOA? NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

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A: No – since the athlete did not “opt-in” to the COVID exception. They can be certified as normal for the 24/36-Hour Rule.

Q: As an FAR, how do I know who received an EC decision based only on the 2.00 HS GPA and competed. Is there a way to pull this information from the EC to the ECP? A: No. The only ability between the two technology systems is the ability to know whether an athlete received a decision of eligible. There is not a way for the system to tell you under what criteria the athlete was determined eligible.

Q: Do Home School students qualify for the COVID-19 freshman exception?

A: As an exception for the remainder of 2020-21 and for the duration of 2021-22, a home-schooled student who has completed a home-schooling program (in accordance with state laws) will be granted automatic eligibility if the student has passed 9 or more institutional credit hours (per the institution where the courses were taken) with a grade of C or better. These credits may be earned at any higher education institution prior to identification to the student’s first term of attendance.

If home school students do not meet the automatic requirements, they can request a Home School Committee Waiver once their decision has been posted. Documents needed for a Home School Committee Waiver request are: the student’s fall 2020 course schedule (required), recommendation letters, academic success plan at the NAIA institution, official dual credit transcripts (if applicable), and any other documentation that you feel would help the student’s case with the committee.

Q: We are recruiting a student from a junior college who has used one term of attendance (spring of 2021) and one non-intercollegiate season of competition (competed in a chargeable league in 2018). How does this COVID-19 freshman exception work for this student?

A: The student is still considered an entering freshman because she will be in her second semester term of attendance, and therefore the COVID-19 freshman exception can apply. The student can be certified to play in 2020-21 based off a 2.000 HS GPA, even though it will be her second season of competition. Prior to competing in her third season of competition, she will be required to have a 2.000 collegiate GPA because she used the COVID-19 exception, and because she is officially considered a junior athletically and is required to do so per NAIA Bylaws Article V, Section C, Item 9.

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FAQs for 24/36-Hour Rule Q: A women’s volleyball student-athlete enroll in her remaining nine credits and graduates December 2020. Per the COVID exception, fall sport student-athletes who graduate in the fall 2020 term, can maintain eligibility and compete by being enrolled in one credit for the spring 2021 academic term and continued to compete. Now the student wishes to come back for the 2021-2022 academic year and compete. Can the student be eligible?

A: Yes. Note that the COVID exception provided for fall sports’ senior student-athletes who graduated at the conclusion of the fall or winter 2020 academic term, were given a ONE-TIME exception to continue to compete for the 2020-2021 academic year following graduation without satisfying the 12Hour Enrollment Rule. The institution and/or conference could determine additional appropriate standards regarding the number or type of credits in which the student must be enrolled in order to compete.

Moving into the 2021-2022 academic year, it is understandable that this exception has left many students who will not meet the 24/36-Hour Rule. Therefore, the National Eligibility Committee has determined that fall sport student-athletes who took advantage of this one-time exception (by not enrolling in 12 institutional credit hours either fall, winter, or spring terms) will be certified to meet the 24/36-Hour Rule by reverting back to the two semesters or three quarter terms of attendance prior to the 2020-2021 academic year.

Q: I have an athlete who did not meet the 24/36-Hour Rule after two semesters of attendance. They were a FB athlete who did not participate in a single game. Can the student-athlete be certified as eligible with the 24/36-Hour Rule exception 3?

A: See the following two flow charts to answer this question.

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Was the FR student-athlete certified under the FR COVID Exception during the 2020-2021 academic year?

NO Did the SA compete in 2020-2021?

NO

Yes

Apply the 24/36-Hour Rule as stated in the bylaws.

Apply the 24/36-Hour Rule as stated in the bylaws.

If SA does not meet the 24/36Hour Rule, Exception 3 can be used.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Use the traditional 2/3 FR eligibility requirements to meet Exception 3.

Use the COVID FR exception (2.00 HS GPA) to meet Exception 3. HOWEVER, this will also require the SA to show a 2.00 collegiate GPA after 2 sem/ 3 quart in order to be eligible.

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Was the FR student-athlete certified under the FR COVID Exception during the 2020-2021 academic year?

Yes Did the SA earn a 2.00 CGPA nd

after 2

rd

sem/ 3 quart?

Yes

NO SA ineligible for the first term* of 2021-2022.

Did the SA compete in 2020-2021?

* Note – if the student’s sport spans multiple academic terms, the athlete can gain eligibility after one term if GPA improves.

Yes NO

Apply the 24/36-Hour Rule as stated in the bylaws

If SA does not meet the 24/36Hour Rule, see previous slide for Exception 3 options.

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FAQ: Transfer Residency Q: We have a student transferring to us for the 2020-2021 academic year. She was not charged a season in the spring of 2020, but did compete before the season was cancelled.

Will she have to serve the 16-week residency since she competed?

A: Yes, standard NAIA transfer residency rules will still apply. This particular student could serve the residency in the fall term, or receive the exception to residency by having at least a 2.000 GPA and a release from her previous athletic director.

I m portant Note re: P articipation vs. Being Charged a SOC • • • •

It is important to note with many of the NAIA bylaws that participation is different from whether a student was charged a season of competition.

A student can compete and receive an exception to being charged an SOC. However, participation is the act of competing in an intercollegiate contest (scrimmage, exhibition, or game).

This is important when looking at whether an athlete will be subject to the residency requirement, 24/36-Hour Rule exceptions, etc.

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Specific for student-athletes who have completed 2 semesters/ 3 quarters

SOC Charged in 2020-2021?

2.00 Collegiate GPA Required after 2 sem/3 quarter

Yes – if the participated.

Fall Sport Athletes

Winter Sport Athletes

Spring Sport Athletes

No

Not required if the student did not participate.

Yes – if the participated.

No

Yes, If SA competes in 50% or more of FOP &/or postseason

Not required if the student did not participate.

Yes – if the participated.

Not required if the student did not participate.

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24/36-Hour Rule

Progress Rule

If they competed – it is required per normal.

If they did not compete – apply exception 3 using the 2.00 HS GPA or the 2/3 traditional option for FR requirements.

Not applicable

If they competed – it is required per normal.

If they did not compete – apply exception 3 using the 2.00 HS GPA or the 2/3 traditional option for FR requirements.

If they competed – it is required per normal.

If they did not compete – apply exception 3 using the 2.00 HS GPA or the 2/3 traditional option for FR requirements.

Not applicable

Only applicable if athlete competes in more than 50% FOP &/or postseason

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Life After COVID-19...

Remind me, what are the rules again for 2021-22?

1. Seasons of Competition during COVID-19

Students’ eligibility in 2021-22 will be impacted by the seasons they were (or were not) charged in this past year. As a reminder:

• Spring sport students were not charged a season of competition for

Spring 2020 only. Fall and Winter sport students were not charged a season of competition for the 2020-2021 academic year.

• Students who played intercollegiate Spring 2021 sports were

charged with a season of competition only if they competed in more than 50% of that’s sport’s maximum allowable contest limit.

2. Seasons of Competition in 2021-22

Student-athletes in all sports will be charged a season of competition for competing in more than 20% of that sport’s maximum allowable contest limit in the NAIA.

3. Non-collegiate Seasons of Competition

For all sports, students were not charged for non-intercollegiate play occurring May 16, 2019 – May 15, 2021 for Spring sport athletes and May 16, 2020 – May 15, 2021 for Fall and Winter sport athletes.

Who to Contact For rules, hardships, request for exceptions, continuing eligibility Legislative Services naia.org/legislative legislative@naia.org 816.595.8180

For questions about NAIA Eligibility Center decisions and status PlayNAIA PlayNAIA.org ECinfo@naia.org 816.595.8300

4. Eligibility Center Decisions

For the 2020-2021 academic year, students who received an eligible fall 2020 decision were not required to reapply through the eligibility center for a winter/spring 2020-21 decision if they did not enroll full-time or compete. This exception will not move forward for the 2021-2022 academic year. Ensure all first-time NAIA athletes are receiving an eligible decision under the Situational Analysis.

5. Initial Freshman Eligibility

A student can satisfy freshman eligibility standards in 2021-22 by having a 2.0 final high school GPA. However, the student will also be required to earn a 2.000 cumulative collegiate GPA after the student’s 2nd semester/3rd quarter term of attendance, in order to maintain eligibility and compete the following season. All 2021-22 entering freshmen can still become eligible by satisfying standard freshmen eligibility requirements as normal, and would not be required to meet a collegiate 2.000 GPA prior to their next season of competition.

6. Home-School Students

Home-schooled students who complete a homeschooling program in accordance with state laws can be eligible if they have passed nine or more institutional credit hours (per the institution providing the courses) with a grade of C or better. These credits may be earned at any higher education institution prior to identification of the student’s first term of attendance.

7. Terms of Attendance

The following academic terms constitute terms of attendance (TOAs) if the student-athlete identified in the term, and are treated as TOAs for all intents and purposes EXCEPT the 10-semester / 15-quarter limit (NAIA Bylaws Article V, Section E, Item 1).

These terms will not count as terms of attendance towards the maximum limit, but will otherwise continue to count as TOAs for applying things like the 24/36-Hour Rule, transfer residency requirements, the Progress Rule and so on.

• Winter 2020 and Spring 2020 quarters: Term(s) will not count towards the total 15 quarter TOA limit for spring sport athletes only.

• Spring 2020 semester: Term will not count

towards the total 10 semester TOA limit for spring sport athletes only.

• All academic terms in the 2020-2021 academic year: No terms will be counted towards the maximum TOA limits for any student-athlete, regardless of sport.

8. Scheduling & Competition Regulations Restored

Exceptions to the following scheduling and competition rules were made for 2020-21 only.

For 2021-22, standard regulations are restored.

• Maximum/Minimum frequency of play limits: All standard limits for the minimum and maximum amount of competitions per sport are restored.

• 24-Week Season and break periods: Unlimited break periods are no longer permitted; a maximum of three break periods is restored.

• Soccer Spring Dates: Soccer may use its three spring dates for any type of competition and are no longer restricted to scrimmages.

• Per-Sport Membership in the A.I.I.: An institution may only join the AII on a per-sport basis if the institution’s home conference has fewer than six institutions sponsoring the sport in question.

• Conference Automatic Qualifications: Standard thresholds for receiving a 1st AQ (6 teams), 2nd AQ (10 or 12 teams, depending on sport) and 3rd AQ (15 teams) are restored. A conference may lose an AQ if it drops below these thresholds at any point prior to the championship.

9. Financial Aid Limits

As a reminder, beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year and moving forward, varsity student-athletes who compete in more than 20% of the sport’s maximum frequency of play limit will count towards a team’s financial aid limits.

10. Sport Rules Updates

Rule implementations delayed due to COVID-19:

• Men’s Basketball – Three-point line to extend

to international distance (22 feet, 1¾ inches) delayed to the 2021-22 season.

• Baseball – Bat barrel compression testing

prior to each baseball series or single date of competition delayed to the 2021-22 season.

Upcoming Rule Changes of Note

• Softball – Will also implement bat testing in the 2022 season.

• Men’s Lacrosse – Must have two shot clocks able to reset to two different times for the 2022 season.