LSDBi
Division I Proposal - 2019-23
ATHLETICS ELIGIBILITY -- SEASONS OF COMPETITION: FIVE-YEAR RULE -- WAIVER CRITERIA -- REDSHIRT DURING ANY YEAR
Status: Adopted Final
Intent: To eliminate the requirement that a student-athlete must be in the initial year of full-time, collegiate enrollment to satisfy the redshirt criterion of a five-year rule waiver.
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 12.02.6 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 under the following circumstances:
(a) The student-athlete did not use a season of intercollegiate competition in the student-athlete's 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. (The use of this provision is limited to one time in a student-athlete's period of eligibility); 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 through 12.8.1.7.1.4 unchanged.]
[12.8.2 through 12.8.6 unchanged.]
Source: Conference USA
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: Limiting waivers of the five-year period of eligibility to situations in which redshirts occur only in the initial year of full-time, collegiate enrollment is not supportive of student-athlete well-being. In most cases, a redshirt decision is made by the coaching staff with little or no choice afforded to the student-athlete. While the proposal would expand the criteria to allow the redshirt to occur in any year of enrollment it would maintain the requirement that a student-athlete would need a separate denied participation opportunity (non-redshirt year) to qualify for the five-year rule waiver. Expanding the criteria to allow the redshirt to occur in any year of enrollment is in the best interest of student-athletes.
Division I Commitment addressed by proposal: The Commitment to Student-Athlete Well-Being.
Is the proposal consequential or nationally significant?: Yes. The proposal is consequential and significant as it advances student-athlete well-being and the overall student-athlete experience by optimizing participation opportunities.
Is the proposal enforceable and how do the merits outweigh monitoring burdens?: Yes. The proposal would not increase monitoring burdens.
How does the proposal support student-athlete success/well-being?: The proposal would support student-athlete well-being by allowing additional participation opportunities.
Estimated Budget Impact: Minimal to none; a student-athlete may remain at an institution for an additional year if a five-year rule waiver is approved.
Impact on Student-Athlete's Time (Academic and/or Athletics): Could provide an additional year of eligibility.
Position Statement(s):
| Student-Athlete Experience Committee | Supports | |
| Student-Athlete Advisory Committee | Supports | |
| Football Oversight Committee | Supports | |
| Legislative Committee | Supports | |
| Women's Basketball Oversight Committee | Supports |
History
| Jun 28, 2019: | Submitted to National Office | |
| Nov 14, 2019: | In Progress | |
| Feb 7, 2020: | Ready for Vote | |
| Apr 1, 2020: | Tabled | Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council tabled the proposals that remained in the 2019-20 legislative cycle. |
| Jul 1, 2021: | In Progress | The Council moved the remaining tabled proposals from the 2019-20 legislative cycle to the 2021-22 legislative cycle. |
| Feb 7, 2022: | Ready for Vote | |
| Apr 13, 2022: | Tabled | Tabled based on the pending work of the Transformation Committee. |
| May 18, 2022: | Ready for Vote | |
| May 18, 2022: | Adopted by Council | |
| May 19, 2022: | No Board Action | |
| May 19, 2022: | Adopted Final |
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. |