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.]