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 seasons of participation in all sports within the time periods specified below:

[12.8.1 through 12.8.2 unchanged.]

12.8.3 Criteria for Determining Season of Competition.

12.8.3.1 Minimum Amount of Competition. Any competition, regardless of time, during a season in an intercollegiate sport shall be counted as a season of competition in that sport, except as provided in Bylaws 12.8.3.1.1, 12.8.3.1.2, 12.8.3.1.3, 12.8.3.1.4, 12.8.3.1.5 and 12.8.3.1.6. This provision is applicable to intercollegiate athletics competition conducted by a two-year or four-year collegiate institution at the varsity or subvarsity level.

[12.8.3.1.1 through 12.8.3.1.6 unchanged.]

12.8.3.1.7 Exception -- Men's Wrestling. In men's wrestling, a student-athlete representing a Division I institution may compete in up to five dates of competition during the student-athlete's initial year of collegiate enrollment without using a season of competition.  Competition in a conference championship tournament, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, or any other season-ending championship event shall not be exempted from counting as a season of competition.

[12.8.3.2 through 12.8.3.7 unchanged.]

[12.8.4 through 12.8.6 unchanged.]

14.4 Progress-Toward-Degree Requirements.

[14.4.1 through 14.4.2 unchanged.]

14.4.3 Eligibility for Competition.

[14.4.3.1 through 14.4.3.2 unchanged.]

14.4.3.3 Fulfillment of Minimum Grade-Point Average Requirements. A student-athlete who is entering the second year of collegiate enrollment shall present a cumulative minimum grade-point average (based on a maximum 4.000) that equals at least 90 percent of the institution's overall cumulative grade-point average required for graduation. A student-athlete who is entering the third year of collegiate enrollment shall present a cumulative minimum grade-point average (based on a maximum of 4.000) that equals 95 percent of the institution's overall cumulative minimum grade-point average required for graduation. A student-athlete who is entering the fourth or later year of collegiate enrollment shall present a cumulative minimum grade-point average (based on a maximum of 4.000) that equals 100 percent of the institution's overall cumulative grade-point average required for graduation. If the institution does not have an overall grade-point average required for graduation, it is permissible to use the lowest grade-point average required for any of the institution's degree programs in determining the cumulative minimum grade-point average. The minimum grade-point average must be computed pursuant to institutional policies applicable to all students.

[14.4.3.3.1 unchanged.]

14.4.3.3.2 Timing of Certification -- Sports Other Than Men's Wrestling. A In sports other than men's wrestling, a student-athlete's eligibility under this provision shall be certified by the first date of competition or contest of each regular term of an academic year beginning with that student's second or later academic year (third semester or fourth quarter) of full-time enrollment (see Bylaw 14.02.12). The certification shall be based on the student-athlete's academic record in existence at the beginning of the applicable term.

[14.4.3.3.2.1 unchanged.]

14.4.3.3.3 Exception -- Men's Wrestling. In men's wrestling, a student-athlete who has completed an academic term in residence at the certifying institution shall present either a cumulative minimum grade-point average or a term minimum grade point average of at least 2.000.  A student-athlete's eligibility under this provision shall be certified by the first date of competition or contest of each regular term of an academic year beginning with that student-athlete's second term of full-time enrollment.  The certification shall be based on the student-athlete's record in existence at the beginning of the applicable term.

[14.4.3.4 through 14.4.3.10 unchanged.]

15.5 Maximum Institutional Grant-in-Aid Limitations by Sport.

[15.5.1 through 15.5.2 unchanged.]

15.5.3 Equivalency Sports.

15.5.3.1 Maximum Equivalency Limits.

15.5.3.1.1 Men's Sports. There shall be a limit on the value (equivalency) of financial aid awards (per Bylaw 15.02.5.2) that an institution may provide in any academic year to counters in the following men's sports:

15.5.3.1.1.1 Minimum Equivalency Value -- Men's Wrestling. In men's wrestling, an institution shall provide each counter athletically related and other countable financial aid that is equal to or greater than 20 percent of an equivalency.

15.5.3.1.1.1.1 Exception -- Need-Based Athletics Aid Only. In men's wrestling, an institution that awards athletically related financial aid based solely on demonstrated financial need, as determined for all students by the institution's financial aid office using methodologies that conform to federal, state and written institutional guidelines (including institutional financial aid that is considered athletically related financial aid based on the intervention of athletics department staff), is not subject to the 20 percent minimum equivalency value per counter.

15.5.3.1.1.1.2 Exception -- Final Two Years of Eligibility and Not Previously Aided. An institution may provide less than 20 percent of an equivalency to a student-athlete, provided the student-athlete is in the final two years of eligibility and has not previously received athletically related financial aid in men's wrestling at any collegiate institution.

[15.5.3.1.2 through 15.5.3.1.4 unchanged.]

[15.5.3.2 unchanged.]

[15.5.4 through 15.5.11 unchanged.]

17.33 Outside Competition, Effects on Eligibility. The eligibility of a student-athlete who engages in outside competition (see Bylaw 17.02.11) is affected as set forth in the following regulations.

17.33.1 Outside Competition -- Sports Other Than Basketball. A student-athlete in any sport other than basketball who participates during the academic year as a member of any outside team in any noncollegiate, amateur competition becomes ineligible for intercollegiate competition unless eligibility is restored by the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement. A student-athlete is permitted to practice on such a team.

[17.33.1.1 unchanged.]

17.33.1.2 Exception -- Women's Wrestling. In women's wrestling, a student-athlete may compete outside the institution's declared playing and practice season as a member of an outside team in any noncollegiate, amateur competition during any official vacation period, except a vacation period that occurs between the beginning of the institution's academic year and November 1. The number of student-athletes from any one institution shall not exceed the applicable limits set forth in Bylaw 17.31.2.

17.33.1.3 Exception -- Men's Wrestling. In men's wrestling, a student-athlete may compete outside the institution's declared playing and practice season as a member of an outside team in any noncollegiate, amateur competition during any official vacation period, except a vacation period that occurs between the beginning of the institution's academic year and November 1 and any vacation period that occurs during the student-athlete's first academic term of full-time enrollment. A student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade-point average, as specified in Bylaw 14.3.3.3.3, to participate in outside competition. The number of student-athletes from any one institution shall not exceed the applicable limits set forth in Bylaw 17.31.2.

[17.33.1.3 through 17.33.1.7 renumbered as 17.33.1.4 through 17.33.1.8, unchanged.]

17.33.1.89 Competition as Individual/Not Representing Institution. It is permissible for a student-athlete to participate in outside competition as an individual during the academic year in the student-athlete's sport, as long as the student-athlete represents only the student-athlete in the competition and does not engage in such competition as a member of or receive expenses from an outside team.

[17.33.1.8.1 renumbered as 17.33.1.9.1, unchanged.]

17.33.1.9.2 Exception -- No Competition During First Term -- Men's Wrestling. In men's wrestling, a student-athlete shall not participate in outside competition as an individual during the student-athlete's first full-time term of collegiate enrollment.  Thereafter, a student-athlete shall meet the minimum grade-point average requirement specified in Bylaw 14.3.3.3.3 in order to be eligible to compete in outside competition as an individual.

[17.33.1.9 through 17.33.1.12 renumbered as 17.33.1.10 through 17.33.1.13, unchanged.]

[17.33.2 through 17.33.5 unchanged.]