12 Amateurism and Athletics Eligibility

[12.01 through 12.7 unchanged.]

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 unchanged.]

12.8.3.2 Delayed Enrollment -- Seasons of Competition.

12.8.3.2.1 Sports Other Than Men's Ice Hockey, Skiing and Tennis. In sports other than men's ice hockey, skiing and tennis, a student-athlete who does not enroll in a collegiate institution as a full-time student in a regular academic term during a one-year period (by October 1 or March 1 immediately after one year has elapsed) after the student-athlete's high school graduation date or the graduation date of the student-athlete's class (as determined by the first year of high school enrollment or the international equivalent as specified in the NCAA Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility and based on the prescribed educational path in the student-athlete's country), whichever occurs earlier, shall be subject to the following: a delayed enrollment condition based on the number of contests (or dates of competition) in which the student-athlete participated as a percentage of the maximum number of permissible contests (or dates of competition) in the sport per NCAA Bylaw 17 for each calendar year after the one-year period and prior to full-time collegiate enrollment in which the student-athlete has participated in organized competition per Bylaw 12.02.9. (See Figure 12-2.)

[12.8.3.2.1.1 through 12.8.3.2.1.5 unchanged.]

12.8.3.2.2 Tennis. In tennis, a student-athlete who does not enroll in a collegiate institution as a full-time student in a regular academic term within six months (by October 1 or March 1 immediately after six months have elapsed) after the student-athlete's high school graduation date or the graduation date of the student-athlete's class (as determined by the first year of high school enrollment or the international equivalent as specified in the NCAA Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility and based on the prescribed educational path in the student-athlete's country), whichever occurs earlier, shall be subject to the following:a delayed enrollment condition based on the number of dates of competition in which the student-athlete participated as a percentage of the maximum number of permissible or dates of competition in the sport per NCAA Bylaw 17 for each calendar year after the six-month period and prior to full-time collegiate enrollment in which the student-athlete has participated in organized competition per Bylaw 12.02.9. (See Figure 12-2.)

[12.8.3.2.2.1 through 12.8.3.2.2.3 unchanged.]

12.8.3.2.2.4 Matriculation After 20th Birthday -- Tennis. In tennis, a student-athlete who is eligible under Bylaw 12.8.3.2.2, but who participates in organized tennis events after the student-athlete's 20th birthday and before full-time enrollment at the certifying institution shall be subject to the following: a delayed enrollment condition based on the number of dates of competition in which the student-athlete participated as a percentage of the maximum number of permissible dates of competition in the sport per NCAA Bylaw 17. (See Figure 12-2.)

[12.8.3.2.2.4 unchanged.]

12.8.3.2.3 Low-level and Minimally Organized Participation. A student-athlete may be granted relief from delayed enrollment conditions during the amateurism certification process for participation that meets the definition of organized competition (see Bylaw 12.02.9) but is determined to be low-level or minimally organized participation.

[12.8.3.3 through 12.8.3.4 unchanged.]

12.8.3.5 Participation After 21st Birthday -- Men's Ice Hockey and Skiing. In men's ice hockey and skiing, any participation as an individual or a team representative in organized sports competition by a student during each 12-month period after the student's 21st birthday and prior to initial full-time enrollment in a collegiate institution shall count as one year of varsity competition in that sport result in a delayed enrollment condition based on the number of contests (or dates of competition) in which the student-athlete participated as a percentage of the maximum number of permissible contests (or dates of competition) in the sport per NCAA Bylaw 17. (See Figure 12-2.). Participation in organized competition during time spent in the armed services, on official religious missions or with recognized foreign aid services of the U.S. government shall be excepted.

[12.8.3.6 through 12.8.3.7 unchanged.]

[12.8.4 through 12.8.6 unchanged.]

[12.9 through 12.12 unchanged.]

2 Delayed Enrollment Conditions.