To be academically eligible to play any sport on the intercollegiate level, each student-athlete must meet the following requirements:

The student-athlete must:

§         if an entering freshman (defined as a student who, upon becoming identified with an NAIA institution, has not been previously identified with an institution of higher learning for two semester or three quarters), meet two of three entry-level requirements:

1.     Achieve a minimum score of 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SAT.  Tests must be taken on a national testing date.  Scores must be achieved on a single test.

2.     Achieve a minimum overall high school grade point average of 2.000 on a 4.000 scale.

3.     Graduate in the top half of your high school graduating class.

§         be making normal progress toward a recognized baccalaureate degree and maintain the grade points required to remain a student in good standing, as defined by the institution you are attending.

§         be enrolled in a minimum of 12 institutionally approved or required credit hours at the time of participation.  Should participation take place between terms, you must have been identified with the institution the term immediately preceding the date of participation.

§         if a second term freshman, have accumulated a minimum total of nine institutional or required credit hours before identification for the second term of attendance.

§         have accumulated a minimum total of twenty-four (24) institutional or required credit hours the two immediately previous semester terms of attendance, or 36 credit hours in the immediately previous three (3) quarter terms of attendance.  Up to 12 institutional credit hours earned during the summer and/or non-term may be applied to meet the 24/36 hour rule, provided such credit is earned AFTER one of the two immediately previous terms of attendance and only in certain instances toward the 12 hour enrollment rule.

§         NOT count repeat courses previously passed in any term toward the 24 credit-hour rule.  In certain instances, repeat courses may count toward the 12-hour enrollment rule; see your athletics director or faculty athletics representative for more specific information.

§         be eligible in her own conference.

§         if a transfer student from a four-year institution, have eligibility remaining at the institution from which she is transferring to be eligible for further intercollegiate competition.

§         if a transfer student having ever participated in inter-collegiate athletics at a four-year institution, reside for 16 consecutive calendar weeks (112 calendar days), not including summer sessions, at the transferred institution before becoming eligible for intercollegiate competition in any sport in which you participated while attending the previous four-year institution.  The institution's faculty athletics representative will explain exceptions to the 16 calendar-weeks residency. 

§         be within her first 10 semesters, 12 trimesters, or 15 quarters of attendance as a regularly enrolled student.  A term of attendance is any semester, trimester or quarter in which you enroll for twelve or more institutional credit hours and attend any class or participate in an intercollegiate contest.  (Summer sessions are not included, but night school, extension or correspondence courses are applicable to this ruling.)

§         upon reaching junior academic standing as defined by the identified institution, have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 on a 4.000 scale as certified by the institutional registrar.

§         to participate the second season in a sport, have accumulated at least 24 semester/36 quarter institutional credit hours.

§         to participate in the third season in a sport, have accumulated at least 48 semester/72 quarter institutional credit hours.

§         to participate in the fourth season in a sport, have accumulated at least 72 semester/108 quarter institutional credit hours.

§         NOT participate for more than four seasons in any one sport.  A season of competition is defined as participation in one or more intercollegiate contests, whether as a freshman, junior varsity or varsity participant, or in any other athletic competition in which the institution, as such, is represented during a sport season.*

§         be an amateur as defined by the NAIA in the sport(s) in which she participates.  See the athletics director or faculty athletics representative for all amateur regulations as printed in the NAIA Bylaws.

§         to participate the third and/or fourth season in a sport, have and maintain a total cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 on a 4.000 scale.

*Should the student-athlete be charged a season of competition in one sport by different institutions, in the same academic year (example—basketball or fall golf at a junior college and then transfer to an NAIA school and participate in basketball and participate in basketball or spring golf), she shall be charged two seasons of competition in that sport unless you earned an associate degree at the junior college in the term immediately preceding the transfer.

HARDSHIPS deal only with seasons of competition.  A hardship is a request for an exception to the season-of-competition regulation (see Item 15 above).  Hardship requests will be considered only if the following criteria are met:

§         The injury or illness is beyond the control of the student-athlete and/or coach, and incapacitates the student-athlete from competing further during the season.  Verification by an M.D. is required.

§         The athlete shall not have participated in more contests or dates than the Association's allowable number in any sport recognized by the NAIA during the school year.

§         Participation after being examined by a physician and before receiving written medical clearance shall nullify hardship consideration.

§         If the student-athlete is granted a hardship at a previous (non-NAIA) institution, the request must be resubmitted by an NAIA institution.

§         Remember, athletes, as well as member institutions, are responsible for knowing and abiding by NAIA rules and regulations as outlined in the NAIA Official Handbook. 

Violations of any eligibility regulations by you, as an athlete, shall:

§         Make you ineligible, resulting in your immediate withdrawal from intercollegiate competition in that sport for that season;

§         Find you charged with a season of competition and a term of attendance for participating;

§         Cause an investigation by the NAIA National Eligibility Committee that could charge you with a second season of participation or the loss of all future eligibility for playing while ineligible;

§         Disallow any honors, or consideration of such honors, awarded by the NAIA; and/or

§         Cause your institution to forfeit all contests in which you participated.