LSDBi
Division III Proposal - 2027-
ELIGIBILITY -- FIVE-YEAR PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY -- AGE-BASED ELIGIBILITY MODEL
Convention Year: 2027
Date Submitted: June 30, 2026
Status: POPL
Effective Date: Immediate. Applicable to all student-athletes who initially enroll full-time in any collegiate institution during the 2027-28 academic year and thereafter. The age-based model may also be applied to student-athletes: (1) who would have eligibility remaining (seasons and term(s) of full-time enrollment) following the 2026-27 academic year; and (2) who would have exhausted seasons but have term(s) of full-time enrollment remaining following the 2026-27 academic year. Previous rules may be applied to student-athletes who enroll before the 2027-28 academic year; however, no waivers will be available. Additionally, the legislated exceptions to the previous season of participation rules do not apply to participation that occurs during the 2027-28 academic year through the exhaustion of the student-athlete's Division III eligibility.
POPL Number: 2
Official Notice Number: 2027-
Source: American Rivers Conference and Ohio Athletic Conference.
Proposal Category: Membership Proposal
Topical Area:
Intent: To transition from a season-based eligibility and waiver-driven framework to a continuous, five year age-based eligibility model that mirrors the framework adopted by Division I. The period of eligibility will be triggered by either a student-athlete's initial full-time collegiate enrollment or the start of the regular academic year following their 19th birthday (whichever occurs earlier), operating continuously for five years with limited, clear exceptions (e.g., pregnancy, military service, and religious missions). Furthermore, this proposal intends to establish an equitable implementation timeline providing current student-athletes with eligibility remaining after the 2025-26 academic year the benefit of whichever model is most advantageous, while exploring avenues to protect student-athletes finishing their eligibility during the 2026-27 academic year.
A. Bylaws: Amend 12.1, as follows:
12.1.1.4.1 Temporary Certification. If a prospective student-athlete reports for athletics participation before the student's amateur status has been certified, the student may practice, but not compete, for a maximum period of 45 days. After this period, the student's amateur status must be certified in order to continue to practice or to compete. See Bylaw 14.2.4.1.1, for determining use of a season.
[12.1.1.4.1.1 unchanged.]
B. Bylaws: Amend 13.1, as follows:
13.1.1.2.4 Transfer from Institution on Probation. It is not necessary for an institution to obtain authorization through the notification of transfer process to recruit a student-athlete at an institution that has been placed on probation with sanctions that preclude it from competing in postseason competition during the remaining seasons period of the student-athlete's eligibility. However, the student-athlete's institution must be notified of the recruitment [see Bylaw 14.13.1.2-(c)]. [D]
C. Bylaws: Amend 14.1, as follows:
14.1 General Eligibility Requirements.
[14.1.1 through 14.1.7 unchanged.]
14.1.8 Graduate Student/Postbaccalaureate Participation. A student who has graduated from an NCAA Division III institution may participate as a graduate or postbaccalaureate student at the Division III institution they most recently attended as an undergraduate or another Division III institution, provided:
(a) The student is enrolled and seeking a second baccalaureate or graduate degree; and
(b) The student's has participation occurs within the applicable eligibility remaining period set forth in Bylaw 14.2.; and
(c) The student's participation occurs within the applicable 10-semester/15-quarter period set forth in Bylaw 14.2.
14.1.8.1 Graduates of a non-NCAA Division III Institution. A student who has graduated from a non-NCAA Division III institution may participate as a graduate or postbaccalaureate student provided they meet the criteria set forth in Bylaw 14.1.8(a) through (c) (b) and additionally meet the following:
[14.1.8.1-(a) unchanged.]
(b) The student-athlete has seasons of participation eligibility remaining based on Bylaw 14.2.4.1 (minimum amount of participation)14.2, regardless of where (e.g., other NCAA division, NAIA) the participation occurred; and
[14.1.8.1-(c) unchanged.]
[14.1.8.2 unchanged.]
[14.1.9 unchanged.]
14.1.10 Male Practice Player Eligibility. A male student who practices with a women's team is considered to be a student-athlete in that women's sport. The male student-athlete must be certified as eligible under all applicable NCAA eligibility requirements to participate (e.g., the individual must be enrolled in a minimum full-time program of studies, sign a student-athlete statement and drug-testing consent form and have eligibility remaining under the 10-semester rule all participation occurs during the applicable eligibility period). The male student-athlete is subject to all other NCAA legislated restrictions. See Bylaw 14.2.4.8 for use of a season of participation and Bylaw 16.8.1.4 for benefits that a male practice player may receive.
[14.1.10.1 unchanged.]
14.1.11 Recognized Foreign Exchange/Study Abroad Program. A student-athlete who participates in a formal and established educational foreign exchange or study abroad program recognized by the certifying institution’s academic authorities shall not be considered a transfer student-athlete upon return to the certifying institution. A student-athlete who also participates (practices or competes) in athletics while participating in the recognized study abroad program does not use a season of participation nor is not considered to have engaged in impermissible outside competition. All amateurism regulations still apply.
D. Bylaws: Amend 14.2, as follows:
14.2 Seasons of Participation: 10-Semester/15-Quarter Rule.Five-Year Period of Eligibility. A student-athlete shall not engage in more than four seasons of intercollegiate participation in any one sport (see Bylaw 14.2.4.1).An individual’s period of eligibility for practice and competition shall be limited to five academic years. An individual’s five-year period of eligibility begins with the earlier of the following:
(a) The regular term (semester or quarter) of an academic year in which the individual enrolls in a collegiate institution (domestic or foreign; see Bylaw 14.02.2) in a minimum full-time program of studies and attends a class in that term while enrolled full-time; or
(b) The beginning of the regular academic year immediately after the individual’s 19th birthday.
14.2.1 Start of the Five-Year Period and Timing of 19th Birthday. The start to an individual's five-year period of eligibility and the timing of their 19th birthday shall be determined as follows:
(a) Start of the Five-Year Period.
(1) The period of eligibility of an individual whose initial full-time enrollment occurs on or after May 1 but before November 1 shall begin with the fall term of that year.
(2) The period of eligibility of an individual whose initial full-time enrollment occurs on or after November 1 but before May 1 shall begin with the first regular academic term (e.g., spring semester, winter quarter) that begins on or after January 1.
(b) Timing of 19th Birthday.
For an individual who turns 19 years old on or after September 1 but before January 1, the period of eligibility begins at the start of the subsequent academic year (the fall term that begins in the calendar year following the individual's 19th birthday), unless the individual enrolls full-time in a collegiate institution earlier.
14.2.1.1 Eligibility Following Final Fall Term. If a student-athlete’s period of eligibility ends with a fall term, the student-athlete’s period of eligibility shall extend through the day before the first day of classes of the following regular semester or quarter.
14.2.1.1.1 Exception -- Eligibility for Postseason Competition. If an NCAA championship or football postseason bowl period begins during a student-athlete’s period of eligibility, the student-athlete’s period of eligibility is extended through the institution or student-athlete's final competition in the championship or postseason bowl period.
14.2.2 Service Exception to the Five-Year Period of Eligibility. A regular academic term that occurs during time spent in active duty in the armed forces, on official religious missions or with recognized foreign aid services of the U.S. government is excepted from the application of the five-year period of eligibility.
14.2.2.1 Use of Semester or Quarter. A student-athlete is considered to have used a semester or quarter under this rule when the student attends any class while officially registered in a collegiate institution (domestic or foreign) in a regular term of an academic year for a minimum full-time program of studies, as determined by the institution, even if the student-athlete drops to part-time status at any time during the term, including their first day of attendance (see Bylaw 14.2.3).
14.2.2.2 Fraction of 10 Semesters/15 Quarters Remaining. A student-athlete whose combination of semesters and quarters of previous enrollment leaves them with any fraction of the 10th semester or 15th quarter of eligibility at the beginning of their final semester or quarter may remain eligible for the entire semester or quarter.
14.2.12.1 Collegiate Enrollment Concurrent with Service Assignment. Any time in which a student-athlete is enrolled for a minimum full-time program of studies as a regular student in a collegiate institution while simultaneously on active duty in the U.S. military, on an official religious mission or with a recognized foreign aid service of the U.S. government shall count against the individual's period of eligibility 10 semesters/15 quarters in which the four seasons of participation must be completed.
14.2.23.3 Pregnancy Exception to the Five-Year period of Eligibility. A member institution may approve a two-semester or three-quarter extension of this 10-semester/15-quarter extend the five-year period of eligibility for a student-athlete for reasons of pregnancy.
14.2.3.1 Application. The pregnancy exception applies to any condition related to pregnancy (e.g., miscarriage, postpartum depression).
14.2.3.2 Medical Documentation. Contemporaneous or other appropriate medical documentation, from a physician (medical doctor) who administered care at the time of the pregnancy or related condition shall be submitted to establish the application of the pregnancy exception. For a case involving a psychological or mental illness, the required contemporaneous or other appropriate medical documentation may be provided by an individual (e.g., psychiatrist, psychologist) who is qualified and licensed to diagnose and treat the particular illness.
14.2.24 Ten-Semester/15-Quarter Rule.Alternate Academic Calendar. A student-athlete shall complete their seasons of participation during the first 10 semesters or 15 quarters in which the student is enrolled in a collegiate institution in at least a minimum full-time program of studies, as determined by the regulations of that institution. For an institution that conducts registration other than on a traditional semester or quarter basis, the Management Council shall determine an equivalent enrollment period.
14.2.35 Additional Applications of the 10-Semester/15-Quarter Rule Five-Year Eligibility Period.
14.2.35.1 Athletics Competition. Even though a student is enrolled for less than a minimum full-time program of studies at a collegiate institution, a student shall use a semester or quarter under the 10-semester/15-quarter their five-year period of eligibility begins if they individual represents the institution in intercollegiate athletics.
14.2.35.2 Nonrecognized College. Enrollment in a postsecondary, noncollegiate institution (e.g., technical school, seminary or business college) in the United States that is not accredited at the college level by an agency or association recognized by the Secretary of the Department of Education and legally authorized to offer at least a one-year program of study creditable toward a degree, constitutes enrollment in the application of the 10-semester/15-quarter five-year period of eligibility rule only if:
[14.2.5.2-(a) through 14.2.5.2-(b) unchanged.]
14.2.35.3 Joint College/High School Program. A student-athlete's five-year period of eligibility under the 10-semester/15-quarter rule does not begin while a student is enrolled in a collegiate institution in a joint high school/college academic program for outstanding high school students, in which the courses count as both high school graduation credit and college credit, provided the student has not officially graduated from high school and does not participate in intercollegiate athletics while enrolled in the joint program. (See Bylaw 14.2 for when an individual's five-year period of eligibility begins.)
14.2.35.4 Vocational Program. A student-athlete's five-year period of eligibility under the 10-semester/15-quarter rule does not begin while the student is enrolled in a minimum full-time program of studies as a part of a special vocational program that combines enrollment in regular college courses and participation in vocational training courses, provided the student is not considered to be regularly matriculated by the institution, does not go through the customary registration and testing procedures required of all regular entering students and is not eligible for the institution's extracurricular activities, including athletics. (See Bylaw 14.2 for when an individual's five-year period of eligibility begins.)
14.2.6 Waivers. There shall be no waivers of the application of the five-year period of eligibility legislation.
14.2.47.1.4 Transfer from a Non-Division III Institution.
The season of participation five-year eligibility standard does not apply to a transfer student-athlete's previous participation at a non-Division III institution. A transfer student-athlete is subject to the legislation that applied to the previous institution during the term(s) of participation.
14.2.2.4 Ten-Semester/15-Quarter Rule Waiver. The Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, by a two-thirds majority of its members present and voting, may approve waivers to the 10-semester/15-quarter rule as it deems appropriate.
14.2.2.4.1 Waiver Criteria. A waiver of the 10-semester/15-quarter period of eligibility is designed to provide a student-athlete with the opportunity to engage in four seasons of intercollegiate participation within a 10-semester/15-quarter period. This waiver may be granted, based upon objective evidence, for reasons that are beyond the control of the student-athlete and the institution, which deprive the student-athlete of the opportunity to participate for more than one season in their sport within the 10-semester/15-quarter period. The Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement reserves the right to review requests that do not meet the more-than-one-season criteria detailed in this bylaw for extraordinary circumstances or extreme hardship.
14.2.2.4.1.1 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:
(a) Situations clearly supported by contemporaneous medical documentation, which states that a student-athlete is unable to participate in intercollegiate competition as a result of incapacitating physical or mental circumstances;
(b) The student-athlete is unable to participate in intercollegiate athletics as a result of a life-threatening or incapacitating injury or illness suffered by a member of the student-athlete's immediate family, which clearly is supported by contemporaneous medical documentation;
(c) Reliance by the student-athlete on written, contemporaneous, clearly erroneous academic advice provided to the student-athlete from a specific academic authority from a collegiate institution regarding the academic status of the student-athlete or prospective student-athlete, which directly leads to that individual not being eligible to participate and, but for the clearly erroneous advice, the student-athlete would have established eligibility for intercollegiate competition;
(d) Natural disaster (e.g., earthquakes, floods); and
(e) Extreme financial difficulties as a result of a specific event (e.g., layoff, death in the family) experienced by the student-athlete or by an individual on whom the student-athlete is legally dependent, which prohibit the student-athlete from participating in intercollegiate athletics. These circumstances must be clearly supported by objective documentation (e.g., decree of bankruptcy, proof of termination) and must be beyond the control of the student-athlete or the individual on whom the student-athlete is legally dependent.
14.2.2.4.1.2 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:
(a) A student-athlete's decision to attend an institution that does not sponsor their sport or decision not to participate at an institution that does sponsor their sport;
(b) An inability to participate due to failure to meet institutional/conference or NCAA academic requirements, disciplinary reasons or incarceration culminating in or resulting from a conviction;
(c) Reliance by a student-athlete on misinformation from a coaching staff member;
(d) Redshirt year;
(e) An inability to participate as a result of an academic year of residence (see Bylaw 14.02.10) or fulfilling a condition for restoration of eligibility; and
(f) A student-athlete's lack of understanding regarding the specific starting date of their 10-semester/15-quarter period of eligibility.
14.2.2.4.2 Practice While Waiver is Pending. A student-athlete, who has exhausted their 10-semester/15-quarter period of eligibility, may practice, but not compete, provided the institution has filed a 10-semester/15-quarter extension waiver request with the NCAA national office. If the request is denied, the student-athlete must cease all practice activities upon the institution's notification of the denial and may not continue to practice during the appellate process.
14.2.2.4.3 Use of Additional Terms. Any additional terms (semesters or quarters) provided as part of a 10-semester/15-quarter rules waiver must be used by the student-athlete in consecutive regular academic terms at the certifying institution.
14.2.4 Criteria for Determining Season of Eligibility.
14.2.4.1 Minimum Amount of Participation. A season of intercollegiate participation shall be counted in the student-athlete's sport when a student-athlete participates (practices or competes) during or after the first contest in the traditional segment following the student-athlete's initial participation of that academic year at that institution or when the student-athlete engages in intercollegiate competition during the nontraditional segment in that sport. This provision is applicable to intercollegiate athletics participation (practice or competition) conducted by a Division III collegiate institution at the varsity, junior varsity or freshman team level. (See Bylaw 14.1.11, for student-athletes participating in a recognized foreign exchange/study abroad program).
14.2.4.1.1 Exceptions. A season of participation shall not be counted:
(a) During the traditional segment when a student-athlete participates in a preseason scrimmage or preseason exhibition conducted before the first contest following the student-athlete's initial participation of that academic year at that institution;
(b) During the traditional segment when a student-athlete participates in an alumni contest conducted before the first regular-season contest following the student-athlete's initial participation of that academic year at that institution;
(c) When a student-athlete participates (practices or competes) during the nontraditional segment; and
(d) During the traditional segment when an international student (see Bylaw 12.1.1.1) practices during the temporary certification period per Bylaw 12.1.1.4.1, even if such practice occurs during or after the first contest in the traditional segment.
14.2.4.1.2 Exception -- Pending Subcommittee for Legislative Relief Waiver. A student-athlete who is eligible for practice may practice, but not compete, after the first contest or date of competition without using a season of participation while a Subcommittee for Legislative Relief waiver is pending. To be eligible for this exception, the institution must have received official notification that the national office has received the institution's completed waiver application and all relevant supporting documentation. If the waiver request is denied, the student-athlete must cease practicing immediately on notification to the institution of the decision or the student-athlete shall be charged with the use of a season of participation. If the institution chooses to appeal a waiver denial, the student-athlete shall not resume practice until the institution receives official notification that any information required for appeal has been received. If the subcommittee denies the appeal, the student-athlete must cease practicing immediately upon notification to the institution of the decision or the student-athlete shall be charged with the use of a season of participation.
14.2.4.1.3 Student Managers and Student Coaches. A season of participation shall be counted when a student manager or student coach participates as a team member in practice or other physical activities during the time frame set forth in Bylaw 14.2.4.1. A student coach or student manager's role should be limited to performing traditional coaching or managerial duties.
14.2.4.2 Track and Field and Cross Country. For the purposes of determining a season of intercollegiate participation, cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field shall be considered separate sports.
14.2.4.2.1 Participation on Triathlon Team. Participation in triathlon shall not use a season of participation in cross country, swimming or track and field.
14.2.4.3 Volleyball and Beach Volleyball. For the purposes of determining a season of intercollegiate participation, volleyball and beach volleyball shall be considered separate sports.
14.2.4.4 Participation in Organized Competition Before Initial Collegiate Enrollment. An individual who does not enroll in a collegiate institution as a full-time student by October 1 or March 1 (whichever occurs earlier) immediately after one calendar year has elapsed following their high school graduation date (or the international equivalent as specified in the NCAA Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility) shall use a season of intercollegiate participation for each consecutive 12-month period after October 1 or March 1 and before the initial collegiate enrollment in which the individual participates in activities that meet the criteria set forth in Bylaw 14.2.4.4.1.
14.2.4.4.1 Activities Constituting Use of Season. An individual shall use a season of participation per Bylaw 14.2.4.4 if the individual engages in activities that meet any of the following criteria:
(a) Any team competition or training in which pay in any form is provided to any of the participants above actual and necessary expenses;
(b) Any individual competition or training in which the individual accepts pay in any form based on their place finish or any competition or training in which the individual accepts pay in any form above actual and necessary expenses;
(c) Any competition pursuant to the signing of a contract with a professional team for athletics participation or entering a professional draft; or
(d) Any competition funded by a representative of an institution's athletics interests that is not open to all participants.
14.2.4.4.1.1 Competition Exceptions. A maximum one-time, one-year exception for participation in the following activities:
(a) Preparatory School Exception. Participation in organized competition while enrolled in a postgraduate college preparatory school shall be exempted; and
(b) Athletics Activity Exception.
(1) Official Pan American, Parapan American, World Championships, World Cup, World University Games (Universiade), World University Championships, Olympic and Paralympic training, tryouts and competition or the junior level equivalents (e.g., Youth Olympic Games, U20 World Cup, junior national teams);
(2) Officially recognized training and competition directly qualifying participants for final Olympic and Paralympic tryouts or the junior level equivalents (e.g., Youth Olympic Games, U20 World Cup, junior national teams); or
(3) Official tryouts and competition involving national teams sponsored by the appropriate national governing bodies of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (or for student-athletes representing another nation, the equivalent organization of that nation, or for student-athletes competing in a non-Olympic or Paralympic sport, the equivalent organization of that sport) or junior level equivalents (e.g., Youth Olympic, U20 World Cup, junior national teams).
14.2.4.4.1.2 Service Exceptions. 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 and the period between completion of the service commitment and the first opportunity to enroll as a full-time student in a regular academic term is exempt from the application of Bylaw 14.2.4.4.
14.2.4.4.2 Volleyball and Beach Volleyball. Volleyball and beach volleyball are considered the same sport for the purposes of Bylaw 14.2.4.4.
14.2.4.5 Intercollegiate Participation. A student-athlete is considered to have engaged in a season of intercollegiate participation when they compete in an athletics event involving any one of the conditions characterizing intercollegiate participation (per Bylaws 14.02.6 and 14.2.4.1).
14.2.4.6 International Competition/Summers. Competition by a student-athlete representing an institution in international competition during the summer-vacation period shall not affect the student-athlete's seasons of participation, provided the competition has been certified by the institution per Bylaw 17.33.1 or sanctioned by the Management Council, by a two-thirds majority of its members present and voting, and the request for Management Council sanction has been made by the institution at least 30 days before the competition.
14.2.4.7 Foreign-Tour Competition. A student-athlete who did not participate during the institution's season just completed and who represents the institution in a certified foreign tour after that intercollegiate season and before the start of the next academic year shall not be charged with a season of participation for the preceding season.
14.2.4.8 Male Practice Player. A male student who practices with a women's team in a sport that is also sponsored as a men's sport by the NCAA or is considered the same sport under amateurism regulations, is charged with a season of participation in the men's sport. If a male student practices with a women's team in a sport that has no equivalent men's sponsored sport, the male student is charged with a season of participation in the women's sport.
14.2.5 Hardship Waiver. A student-athlete may be granted an additional year of participation (per Bylaw 14.2.4) by the conference or the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement for reasons of "hardship." Hardship is defined as an incapacity resulting from a season-ending injury or illness (including a mental health condition) that has occurred under all of the following conditions:
(a) The season-ending injury or illness occurs before the completion of the first half of the traditional playing season in that sport for the season being waived and results in incapacity to compete for the remainder of the traditional playing season. The first half of the traditional playing season is measured by the maximum contest or date of competition (whichever is applicable to that sport) limitation in each sport as set forth in Bylaw 17 plus one contest or date of competition (excluding exempted scrimmages, exhibitions and/or joint practices). For cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field, see Bylaw 14.2.5.2.5.1; and
(b) The season-ending injury or illness occurs when the student-athlete has not competed in more contests or dates of competition than a number equivalent to one-third of the standard denominator, where the standard denominator is determined by the maximum number of contests or dates of competition plus one contest or date of competition (see Bylaw 14.2.5.2.5.1). For cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field, see Bylaw 14.2.5.2.5.1. Only competition (excluding exempted scrimmages, exhibition contests and/or joint practices ) against outside participants during the traditional playing season, or, if so designated, during the official NCAA championship playing season in that sport (e.g., spring baseball, fall soccer), shall be countable under this limitation in calculating the number of contests or dates of competition in which the student-athlete has competed. [See Figure 14-1]
14.2.5.1 Administration of Hardship Waiver. The hardship waiver shall be administered by the member conferences of the Association or, in the case of an independent member institution, by the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement. An institution may appeal a decision by its conference to the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement.
14.2.5.2 Criteria for Administration of Hardship Waiver. The following criteria are to be employed in the administration of the hardship waiver:
14.2.5.2.1 Nature of Injury/Illness. It is not necessary for the incapacitating, season-ending injury or illness to be the direct result of the student's participation in the institution's organized practice or game competition.
14.2.5.2.2 Medical Documentation. Contemporaneous or other appropriate medical documentation from a physician (i.e., a medical doctor), who administered care at the time of the injury or illness, that establishes the student-athlete's inability to compete for the remainder of the traditional playing season as a result of that injury or illness shall be submitted with any hardship-waiver request. Chiropractic records do not constitute medical documentation for purposes of administering a hardship-waiver request.
14.2.5.2.2.1 Exception for Mental Health Condition. Where the assertion for the hardship waiver is based on a mental health condition, the information submitted may be contemporaneous or noncontemporaneous medical documentation provided by an individual who is licensed to diagnose the mental health condition (e.g., psychiatrist, psychologist).
14.2.5.2.3 First-Half-of-Season Calculation. In determining if an injury or illness occurs in the first half of the traditional season, any computation that results in a fractional portion of a contest or date of competition shall be rounded up to the next whole number. The first contest or date of competition immediately following the rounded value is the first contest or date of competition in the second half of the season (e.g., 50 percent of a sport with a standard denominator of 11 contests -- 5.5 contests -- shall be considered 6 contests and an injury or illness must have occurred prior to the start of the seventh contest). [See Figure 14-1]
14.2.5.2.4 Reinjury in Second Half of Season. A student-athlete who suffers an injury in the first half of the traditional season, enters competition during the second half of the traditional season and then is unable to participate further as a result of aggravating the original injury does not qualify for the hardship waiver.
14.2.5.2.5 Percent Calculation. The following requirements are to be met in determining the percent calculation under this waiver provision: (Note: The percent calculation requirements set forth in Bylaws 14.2.5 and 14.2.5.2.3 apply only to the waiver provisions of this section and do not apply to the maximum- and minimum-contests requirements in Bylaw 20.)
14.2.5.2.5.1 Denominator in Percent Computation. The denominator in the institution's percent calculation shall be based on the maximum contest or date of competition (whichever is applicable to that sport) limitation in each sport (as set forth in Bylaw 17) plus one contest or date of competition. For the sport of cross country, the denominator in the institution's percent calculation shall be based on the maximum dates of competition (as set forth in Bylaw 17) plus two dates of competition. For indoor and outdoor track and field, the denominator in the institution's percent calculation shall be nine for each sport. [See Figure 14-1]
14.2.5.2.5.2 Fraction in Percent Computation. Any computation of the percent limitation that results in a fractional portion of a contest or date of competition shall be rounded to the next whole number (e.g., 33 percent of the standard basketball denominator of 26 -- 8.6 games -- shall be considered nine games).
14.2.5.2.6 Foreign-Tour Competition. A student-athlete who qualifies for a hardship for the previous academic year would not use a season of participation if the student-athlete represents the institution on a certified foreign tour during the summer-vacation period at the conclusion of that academic year.
14.2.5.2.7 Transfer Student-Athletes. The hardship-waiver criteria for a transfer student-athlete who suffers an injury or illness while attending an NCAA Division I or Division II institution may be based on the rule that would be most favorable to the student-athlete (the rule applicable to the division in which the injury or illness occurred or the Division III rule). The application of a particular division's legislation must include all the applicable elements of that division's legislation, as opposed to selected elements of the legislation of each division.
14.2.5.3 Eligibility for Practice. A student-athlete who meets the criteria for receipt of a hardship waiver may practice and/or participate in rehabilitative activities for the remainder of the season and still qualify for a hardship waiver. A student-athlete who competes in that sport during the remainder of the season shall use a season of participation, unless the competition meets an exception per Bylaw 14.2.4.1.1.
14.2.5.4 Practice While Waiver is Pending. A student-athlete, who has exhausted their seasons of participation but suffered a hardship during one or more of those seasons, may practice, but not compete, provided the institution has filed a hardship waiver request with the conference office or, in the case of an independent member institution, the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement. If the request is denied, the student-athlete must cease all practice activities upon the institution's notification of the denial and may not continue to practice during the appellate process.
14.2.6 Season-of-Participation Waiver -- Participation While Ineligible. In conjunction with a request for restoration of eligibility and any conditions imposed thereon per Bylaw 14.12, a student-athlete may be granted an additional season of participation by the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement when they engaged in a limited amount of participation as a result of a good-faith, erroneous formal declaration of eligibility by the institution's appropriate certifying authority or a student-athlete's good-faith, erroneous reliance on a coaching staff member's decision to put the student-athlete into participation before the coaching staff member receiving a formal declaration of the student-athlete's eligibility from the institution's appropriate certifying authority. The participation must have occurred under all of the following conditions:
(a) The participation occurred while the student-athlete was representing an NCAA member institution;
(b) The participation occurred within 60 days of the date the student-athlete first reported for athletics participation;
(c) The student-athlete did not participate in more than two events or 10 percent (whichever number is greater) of the institution's completed or scheduled (not exceeding the maximum limitations in each sport as set forth in Bylaw 17 as set before the first scheduled contest or date of competition) events in their sport. All competition (including a scrimmage) against outside participants shall be countable under this limitation in calculating both the number of events in which the student-athlete participated and the number of completed or scheduled events during that season (traditional and nontraditional) in the sport;
(d) The student-athlete was involved innocently and inadvertently in the erroneous determination or declaration of eligibility, which permitted the student-athlete to participate while ineligible; and
(e) In the case of a coaching staff member's erroneous decision, the student-athlete had reason to believe they would be eligible to participate and the student-athlete did not contribute to the coaching staff member's erroneous decision to allow the student-athlete to participate.
14.2.6.1 Percent Calculation. The requirements specified in Bylaw 14.2.5.2.5 shall apply to the 10-percent calculation specified in this waiver.
14.2.6.2 Practice While Waiver is Pending. A student-athlete, who has exhausted their seasons of participation, may practice, but not compete, provided the institution has filed a season-of-participation waiver request. If such a request is denied, the student-athlete must cease all practice activities upon the institution's notification of the denial and may not continue to practice during the appellate process.
14.2.7 Season-of-Participation Waiver -- Participation While Eligible. A student-athlete may be granted an additional season of participation by the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement when, due to extenuating circumstances (per Bylaw 14.2.7.1.2), the student-athlete, while eligible, engaged in a limited amount of participation. The participation must have occurred under all of the following conditions:
(a) The participation occurred within the first half of the traditional segment; and
(b) The student-athlete did not compete in more contests or dates of competition than a number equivalent to one-third of the standard denominator, where the standard denominator is determined by the maximum number of contests or dates of competition plus one contest or date of competition. All competition (including a scrimmage) against outside participants shall be countable under this limitation in calculating the number of contests or dates of competition in which the student-athlete participated.
14.2.7.1 Administrative Criteria. The following criteria shall be employed in the administration of this season-of-participation waiver:
14.2.7.1.1 Percent Calculation. The requirements specified in Bylaw 14.2.5.2.5 shall apply to the percent calculation specified in this waiver.
14.2.7.1.2 Extenuating Circumstances. Extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) The student-athlete is unable to compete as a result of a life-threatening injury or illness suffered by a member of the student-athlete's immediate family, which clearly is supported by contemporaneous medical documentation;
(b) The student-athlete is unable to compete as a result of extreme financial difficulties as a result of a specific event (e.g., layoff, death in family) experienced by the student-athlete or an individual on whom the student-athlete is legally dependent. These circumstances must be clearly supported by objective documentation (e.g., decree of bankruptcy, proof of termination) and must be beyond the control of the student-athlete or the individual on whom the student-athlete is legally dependent; and
(c) The student-athlete's institution dropped the sport (in which the student has practiced or competed) from its intercollegiate program.
14.2.7.1.3 Review Authority. In cases in which a student-athlete does not meet the extenuating circumstances listed in Bylaw 14.2.7.1.2, the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement shall have authority to review and grant waivers based on additional documented extenuating circumstances.
14.2.7.2 Practice While Waiver is Pending. A student-athlete, who has exhausted their seasons of participation, may practice, but not compete, provided the institution has filed a season-of-participation waiver request. If such a request is denied, the student-athlete must cease all practice activities upon the institution's notification of the denial and may not continue to practice during the appellate process.
E. Bylaws: Amend Figure 14-1, as follows:
Figure 14-1 Hardship Waiver Calculations -- Standard Denominators Based on Bylaw 17 Maximums Sport Standard Denominator
F. Bylaws: Amend 17.1.6, as follows:
17.1.6.4 Mandatory Medical Examination. Before participation in any practice, competition or out-of-season conditioning activities (or, in Division I, permissible voluntary summer conditioning or individual workouts, or permissible required summer athletic activities in basketball and football), student-athletes who are beginning their initial season period of eligibility and students who are trying out for a team shall be required to undergo a medical examination or evaluation administered or supervised by a physician (e.g., family physician, team physician). A nurse practitioner whose medical licensure allows for health care practice independent of physician supervision may complete the medical examination without supervision by a physician. The examination or evaluation must be administered within six months before participation in any practice, competition or out-of-season conditioning activities. In following years, an updated history of the student-athlete's medical condition shall be administered by an institutional medical staff member (e.g., sports medicine staff, team physician) to determine if additional examinations (e.g., physical, cardiovascular, neurological) are required. The updated history must be administered within six months before the student-athlete's participation in any practice, competition or out-of-season conditioning activities for the applicable academic year.
[17.1.6.4.1 unchanged.]
G. Bylaws: Amend 18.4, as follows:
18.4.1 Student-Athlete Eligibility. To be eligible for NCAA championships, a student-athlete shall meet all applicable individual-eligibility requirements set forth in NCAA legislation. The general and academic eligibility requirements are set forth in detail in Bylaw 14.
[18.4.1.1 through 18.4.1.5 unchanged.]
18.4.1.5.1 Penalty -- Banned Drug Classes Other Than Narcotics. A student-athlete who, as a result of a drug test administered by the NCAA, tests positive for use of a substance in a banned drug class other than narcotics (in accordance with the testing methods authorized by the Board of Governors), shall be charged with the loss of one season of participation in all sports, in addition to the use of a season of participation, pursuant to Bylaw 14.2.4.1, during the same academic year. The student-athlete shall remain ineligible for all regular-season and postseason competition during the time period ending one calendar year (i.e., 365 days) after the collection of the student-athlete's positive drug-test specimen and until they test negative (in accordance with the testing methods authorized by the Board of Governors).
[18.4.1.5.1.1 unchanged.]
18.4.1.5.2 Penalty -- Narcotics. A student-athlete who, as a result of a drug test administered by the NCAA, tests positive for use of a substance in the banned drug class narcotics (in accordance with the testing methods authorized by the Board of Governors) shall be ineligible for competition during 50 percent of a season in all sports (i.e., 50 percent of the Bylaw 17 maximum regular-season contests or dates of competition). The student-athlete shall remain ineligible from the time the institution is notified of the test result until the prescribed penalty is fulfilled and they test negative (in accordance with the testing methods authorized by the Board of Governors).
18.4.1.5.2.1 Second Positive Test. If a student-athlete who previously tested positive for the use of a substance in the banned drug class narcotics tests positive a second time for the use of a substance in the banned drug class narcotics, they shall be charged with the loss of one additional season of participation in all sports, in addition to the use of a season of participation, pursuant to Bylaw 14.2.4.1, during the same academic year. The student-athlete shall remain ineligible for all regular-season and postseason competition during the time period ending one calendar year (i.e., 365 days) after the collection of their second positive drug-test specimen or until the period of ineligibility for any prior positive drug tests has expired, whichever occurs later. If a student-athlete who previously tested positive for the use of a substance in the banned drug class narcotics tests positive for use of a substance in a banned drug class other than narcotics, they shall be ineligible for one season of participation in all sports, in addition to the use of a season of participation, pursuant to Bylaw 14.2.4.1, during the same academic year. The student-athlete shall remain ineligible for all regular-season and postseason competition during the time period ending one calendar year (i.e., 365 days) after the collection of the student-athlete's positive drug test specimen and until they test negative (in accordance with the testing methods authorized by the Board of Governors).
18.4.1.5.3 Breach of NCAA Drug-Testing Program Protocol. A student-athlete who is in breach of the NCAA drug-testing program protocol (e.g., no show) shall be considered to have tested positive for the use of any drug other than a narcotic.
18.4.1.5.3.1 Tampering With a Drug-Test Sample. A student-athlete who is involved in a case of clearly observed tampering with an NCAA drug test sample (e.g., urine substitution and related methods), as documented per NCAA drug-testing protocol by a drug-testing crew member, shall be charged with the loss of two seasons of participation in all sports if the season of competition has not yet begun for that student-athlete or the equivalent of two full seasons of participation in all sports if the student-athlete is involved in tampering with a drug-test sample during their season of participation (the remainder of contests in the current season and contests in the following two seasons up to the period of time in the initial season in which the student-athlete was declared ineligible). The student-athlete shall remain ineligible for all regular-season and postseason competition during the time period ending two calendar years (i.e., 730 days) after the student-athlete was involved in the tampering with a drug test sample and until they test negative (in accordance with the testing methods authorized by the Board of Governors.
[18.4.1.5.4 through 18.4.1.5.7 unchanged.]
H. Bylaws: Amend 21.9.5.4, as follows:
21.9.5.4 Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement.
[21.9.5.4.1 unchanged.]
21.9.5.4.2 Duties. The committee shall have the authority under Bylaw 14.12 to determine all matters pertaining to the policies and procedures for the reinstatement of eligibility of a student-athlete who is ineligible for intercollegiate competition as a result of an NCAA rules violation, and for waivers of legislation that the Management Council or the membership has authorized the committee to grant. The procedures for processing such appeals or requests shall be established by the committee and approved by the Management Council. The committee may reinstate eligibility immediately, may reinstate eligibility at a future time or may determine that eligibility should not be reinstated. The committee also may impose conditions for reinstatement of eligibility.
[21.9.5.4.3 through 21.9.5.4.5 unchanged.]
Rationale: This proposal initiates a necessary legislative debate within Division III following Division I's landmark shift toward a continuous, age-based eligibility framework. Introducing this proposal ensures our division can evaluate how this model aligns with or challenges our distinct divisional philosophy before risking long-term misalignment. Proponents highlight significant operational benefits. A standardized, time-bound framework would drastically reduce administrative burdens on compliance staff by eliminating the tracking of athletic redshirts, delayed enrollment, and complex competition variables. It replaces unpredictable, case-by-case waiver pipelines, such as medical hardships and extensions, with clear, predefined rules that offer upfront transparency for student-athletes. However, a shift of this magnitude introduces challenges that run counter to traditional Division III values. Moving away from a flexible, enrollment-driven framework provides less flexibility for student-athletes who pause their participation to focus on rigorous academics, study abroad opportunities, or financial constraints. Consequently, a continuous "clock" could negatively impact non-traditional, older, or transfer student-athletes whose journeys do not follow a rigid timeline. Given our membership's diverse institutional missions, proactive engagement is essential. This proposal utilizes the legislative comment and amendment periods to provide a structured platform to thoroughly evaluate this model's intersection with the student-athlete experience and the core values of Division III.
Budget Impact:
Primary Contact Person:
Marie Stroman
, Commissioner
Email: mstroman@rollrivers.com
Alternate Co-sponsorship Minimums:
No
Co-sponsorship - Conference:
Ohio Athletic Conference
Co-sponsorship - Institution:
None
Position Statement(s):
None
Review History:
None
Convention Vote:
No Convention Record
Legislative References