NCAA LSDBi

Division I Proposal - 2017-21

ATHLETICS ELIGIBILITY -- FIVE-YEAR RULE WAIVER -- WAIVER CRITERIA -- REDSHIRT YEAR PROVISION

Status: Adopted Final

Intent: To specify that a waiver of the five-year rule may be approved in a situation in which a student-athlete did not participate in his or her initial season of intercollegiate competition due to an institutional decision to redshirt a student-athlete when he or she was listed on the institution's squad list and eligible for competition, and the student-athlete was deprived of the opportunity to participate in one other season for reasons beyond the control of the student-athlete or institution.

Bylaws: Amend 12.8, as follows:

12.8 Seasons of Competition: Five-Year Rule. A student-athlete shall not engage in more than four seasons of intercollegiate competition in any one sport (see Bylaws 12.02.5 and 14.3.3). An institution shall not permit a student-athlete to represent it in intercollegiate competition unless the individual completes all of his or her seasons of participation in all sports within the time periods specified below:

12.8.1 Five-Year Rule. A student-athlete shall complete his or her seasons of participation within five calendar years from the beginning of the semester or quarter in which the student-athlete first registered for a minimum full-time program of studies in a collegiate institution, with time spent in the armed services, on official religious missions or with recognized foreign aid services of the U.S. government being excepted. For international students, service in the armed forces or on an official religious mission of the student’s home country is considered equivalent to such service in the United States.

[12.8.1.1 through 12.8.1.6 unchanged.]

12.8.1.7 Five-Year Rule Waiver. The Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, or its designated committee, by a two-thirds majority of its members present and voting, may approve waivers of the five-year rule as it deems appropriate.

12.8.1.7.1 Waiver Criteria. A waiver of the five-year period of eligibility is designed to provide a student-athlete with the opportunity to participate in four seasons of intercollegiate competition within a five-year period. This waiver may be granted, based upon objective evidence, for reasons that are beyond the control of the student-athlete or the institution, which deprive the student-athlete of the opportunity to participate for more than one season in his or her sport within the five-year period. The Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement reserves the right to review requests that do not meet the more-than-one-year criteria detailed in this bylaw for circumstances of extraordinary or extreme hardship. A student-athlete who has exhausted his or her five years of eligibility may continue to practice (but not compete) for a maximum of 30 consecutive calendar days, provided the student-athlete's institution has submitted a waiver request. The student-athlete may not commence practice until the institution has filed such a request. Further, if such a request is denied prior to exhausting the 30-day practice period, the student-athlete must cease all practice activities upon the institution's notification of the denial. under the following circumstances:

(a) The student-athlete did not use a season of intercollegiate competition in his or her initial year of full-time, collegiate enrollment due to an institutional decision to redshirt the student-athlete; the student-athlete was listed on the institution's squad list and was eligible for competition during the segment of the season that concludes with the NCAA championship; and the student-athlete was deprived of the opportunity to participate in intercollegiate competition in one other season due to circumstances beyond the control of the student-athlete or institution; or

(b) The student-athlete is deprived of the opportunity to participate for more than one season in his or her sport within the five-year period  of eligibility for reasons that are beyond the control of the student-athlete or the institution.

12.8.1.7.1.1 Circumstances Beyond Control. Circumstances considered to be beyond the control of the student-athlete or the institution and do not cause a participation opportunity to be used shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

[12.8.1.7.1.1-(a) through 12.8.1.7.1.1-(e) unchanged.]

12.8.1.7.1.2 Circumstances Within Control. Circumstances that are considered to be within the control of the student-athlete or the institution and cause a participation opportunity to be used include, but are not limited to, the following:

[12.8.1.7.1.2-(a) through 12.8.1.7.1.2-(f) unchanged.]

12.8.1.7.1.3 Circumstances of Extraordinary or Extreme Hardship. The Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement reserves the right to review requests that do not meet the more-than-one-year criteria of this waiver for circumstances of extraordinary or extreme hardship.

12.8.1.7.1.4 Practice While Waiver is Pending. A student-athlete who has exhausted his or her five years of eligibility may continue to practice (but not compete) for a maximum of 30 consecutive calendar days, provided the student-athlete's institution has submitted a waiver request.  The student-athlete may not commence practice until the institution has filed such a request.  Further, if such a request is denied prior to exhausting the 30-day practice period, the student-athlete must cease all practice activities upon the institution's notification of the denial.

[12.8.2 through 12.8.6 unchanged.]

Source: Sun Belt Conference

Effective Date:Immediate; applicable to a student-athlete who qualifies for a waiver that would provide the opportunity to participate in four seasons of competition within a five-year period.

Proposal Category: Amendment

Topical Area: Athletics Eligibility

Rationale: Under the current extension-waiver criteria, a student-athlete who is redshirted one season and, due to circumstances beyond his or her control, is only able to participate in three of his or her four seasons of competition prior to the expiration of the five-year period of eligibility, will be denied a one-year extension for a fourth season of competition. This proposal recognizes that many redshirt decisions are made by a coaching staff member for a variety of reasons beyond the control of the student-athlete and may have a negative impact on a student-athlete's five-year period of eligibility. If adopted, this proposal would provide the opportunity for a student-athlete who was otherwise eligible for competition but was redshirted during his or her initial season, to receive an extension of the five-year period of eligibility, provided the student-athlete was denied an opportunity to participate in one additional season for reasons beyond the control of the student-athlete or institution. An immediate effective date is recommended with application to a student-athlete who may qualify for a waiver to provide the opportunity to participate in four seasons of competition within a five-year period.

Estimated Budget Impact: None.

Impact on Student-Athlete's Time (Academic and/or Athletics): None.

Position Statement(s):

Legislative Committee Supports

History

Aug 30, 2017: Submitted to National Office
Sep 29, 2017: In Progress
Dec 13, 2017: In Progress Sponsor modified the proposal to clarify that the institutional decision to redshirt the student-athlete must occur in his or her initial year of full-time collegiate enrollment.
Feb 8, 2018: Ready for Vote
Apr 18, 2018: Adopted by Council
Apr 25, 2018: Adopted Final
Apr 25, 2018: No Board Action

Legislative References

Division Number Title
I 12.8 Seasons of Competition: Five-Year Rule.
I 12.8.1 Five-Year Rule.
I 12.8.1.7 Five-Year Rule Waiver.
I 12.8.1.7.1 Waiver Criteria.
I 12.8.1.7.1.1 Circumstances Beyond Control.
I 12.8.1.7.1.2 Circumstances Within Control.
I 12.8.1.7.1.3 Circumstances of Extraordinary or Extreme Hardship.
I 12.8.1.7.1.4 Practice While Waiver is Pending.
References