LSDBi
Division II Proposal - NC-2026-6
ELIGIBILITY -- ATHLETICS ELIGIBILITY -- SEASONS OF COMPETITION: 10-SEMESTER/15-QUARTER RULE AND INVOLVEMENT WITH PROFESSIONAL TEAMS -- CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING SEASON OF ELIGIBILITY AND COMPETITION -- PARTICIPATION IN ORGANIZED COMPETITION BEFORE INITIAL COLLEGIATE ENROLLMENT AND COMPETITION WITH PROFESSIONALS -- ELIMINATION OF MAJOR JUNIOR ICE HOCKEY PENALTY
Convention Year: 2026
Date Submitted: November 21, 2024
Status: Adopted Final
Effective Date: August 1, 2025
Official Notice Number: NC-2026-6
Source: NCAA Division II Management Council (Legislation Committee).
Proposal Category: Noncontroversial
Topical Area: Eligibility
Intent: In men's ice hockey, to eliminate the penalty associated with an individual's participation on a Major Junior ice hockey team.
A. Bylaws: Amend 14.4.3.4.2, as follows:
14.4.3.4.2 Participation in Organized Competition Before Initial Collegiate Enrollment. An individual who does not cease participation by October 1 or March 1 (whichever occurs earlier) immediately after one calendar year has elapsed following their high school graduation date, shall use one season of intercollegiate competition for each consecutive 12-month period after October 1 or March 1 and before initial full-time collegiate enrollment in which the individual participates in organized competition per Bylaw 14.4.3.4.2.1.2.
[14.4.3.4.2.1 through 14.4.3.4.2.2 unchanged.]
14.4.3.4.2.2.4.1 Major Junior Ice Hockey -- Men's Ice Hockey. An individual who participates on a Major Junior men's ice hockey team shall use a season of intercollegiate competition for each consecutive 12-month period in which the individual participates, regardless of when such participation occurs. The individual shall fulfill an academic year of residence (see Bylaw 14.4.3.4.2.1.3) before being eligible to represent the institution in intercollegiate competition in men's ice hockey.
[14.4.3.4.2.3 unchanged.]
B. Bylaws: Amend 14.4.8, as follows:
14.4.8 Involvement With Professional Teams.
[14.4.8.1 through 14.4.8.3 unchanged.]
14.4.8.3.2.3 Major Junior Ice Hockey -- Men's Ice Hockey. An individual who competes on a Major Junior ice hockey team shall be subject to the seasons of competition regulations set forth in Bylaw 14.4.3.4.2, regardless of when such competition occurs.
[14.4.8.3.2.4 renumbered as 14.4.8.3.2.3, unchanged.]
[14.4.8.3.3 unchanged.]
[14.4.8.4 through 14.4.8.6 unchanged.]
Co-sponsorship - Conference:
None
Co-sponsorship - Institution:
None
Position Statement(s):
None
Review History:
Additional Information:
Currently, under the organized-competition legislation, a men’s ice hockey prospective student-athlete may participate in organized competition for a maximum of three years after they graduate high school, without being charged with a season of competition. However, if a men’s ice hockey prospective student-athlete participates on a Major Junior ice hockey team, they would be charged with a season of competition for each consecutive 12-month period that they participate on the team, regardless of the timing of participation. With there only being six Division II institutions that sponsor Division II men's ice hockey, eliminating the penalty tied to Major Junior ice hockey participation creates consistency in the application of the organized-competition legislation in men’s ice hockey for those institutions.
Convention Vote:
No Convention Record
Legislative References
| Division | Number | Title |
|---|---|---|
| II | 14.4.3.4.2 | Participation in Organized Competition Before Initial Collegiate Enrollment. |
| II | 14.4.3.4.2.2.4.1 | Major Junior Ice Hockey -- Men's Ice Hockey. |
| II | 14.4.8 | Involvement With Professional Teams. |
| II | 14.4.8.3.2.3 | Major Junior Ice Hockey -- Men's Ice Hockey. |