Division III Eligibility and Student-Athlete Reinstatement

Jess RiglerAnne RohlmanMegan Ryther

Agenda

NCAA Bylaw 14.• Eligibility between terms.

• Exchange programs and study abroad.

• Transfers.

NCAA Division III Committee on Student-

Athlete Reinstatement (SAR).• SAR Process.

• Hardship Waivers.

Bylaw 14

Eligibility Between Terms

Eligibility Between Terms

Continuing student.• Must have been registered full-time at the

conclusion of the term immediately before the date of competition; or

Continuing or beginning student.• Student-athlete (SA) must be accepted for full-

time enrollment in the regular term immediately after the date of competition.

Bylaw 14.1.8.1.6

Membership Question

Facts

• Women’s basketball SA enrolled FT in fall term.

• Enlisting in the armed services and will not return for next term.

Question

• Can she participate between terms?

• When is last date she can participate?

Answer

• Yes, continuing student enrolled full-time in previous term.

• Must stop participation on date she officially withdraws.

Change in Eligibility StatusA SA shall become eligible or ineligible on the date eligibility is officially certified.

When Eligible?

• Not earlier than day after last scheduled exam as listed in official calendar.

When Ineligible?

• Not later than first day of classes of next term.

Bylaw 14.1.10

Membership Question

Facts

• Our SA will become eligible at the end of the term.

• Institution has multiple exam schedules for different colleges.

Question

• When may she become eligible?

Answer

• May use the exam schedule of the SA’s specific college.

• Cannot use different major schedules within a college.

Exchange and Study Abroad

Exchange and Study Abroad

SA who participates in a formal and established exchange/study abroad shall:• Not be considered a transfer upon return to

certifying institution.

• Does not use a season nor considered to have engaged in impermissible outside competition if participates in athletics.

Membership Question

Facts

• SA participating in official study abroad program in Australia.

• Will return in October.

• Considered full-time at our institution during fall term.

Question

• May he participate with a club team in Australia?

• May he participate on our team when he returns in October?

Answer

• Yes, SA may participate in athletics while abroad – does not use season nor count as outside competition.

• Yes, SA may participate on your team if considered full-time by your institution.

Transfers

Common Transfer Triggers

SA attended a class while enrolled full-time at a collegiate institution.

SA reported for a regular squad practice.

SA participated in athletics while enrolled less than full-time.

Bylaw 14.5.2

General Transfer Rule

A SA who transfers to a member institution from any collegiate institution is required to complete an academic year in residence at the certifying institution before being eligible to compete or receive travel expenses.

Bylaw 14.5.1

Transfer Exceptions

Identify type of transfer.

Create timeline.

Use resources.• Transfer tracer.

• Registrar’s office.

• Official transcripts.

• Internet search.

Key Questions

What type of transfer?

Did SA have an unfulfilled year of residence upon leaving previous institution(s)?

Did SA leave due to disciplinary suspension?

Transfer ExceptionsLocate legislation.

Typical Transfers

• 4-4 transfers.• Bylaw 14.5.5.1.1.

• 2-4 and 4-2-4 transfers.• Bylaw 14.5.4.1.

Other Exceptions

• Exchange student exception.• Bylaw 14.5.5.1.2.

• Two-year nonparticipation.• Bylaw 14.5.5.1.3.

Four-Year Transfers

4-4 Transfer Exceptions

• SA never participated in intercollegiate athletics; or

(A) Non- Participant

• SA athletically and academically eligible at time of transfer; or(B) Eligible

• Previous school did not sponsor sport; and• SA earned > 24 semester/36 quarter hours

of transferable degree credit.

(C) Non-sponsored Sport

Bylaw 14.5.5.1.1

SA could be immediately eligible if:

Membership Question

Facts

• 2-4-4 transfer.• Attended first four-

year last fall and participated in sport.

• SA wants to transfer to your institution for spring.

• Transfer tracer says SA would not have been eligible had he returned.

Question

• May SA enroll full-time at certifying institution (second four-year) and take online class to make himself eligible at previous institution?

Answer

• (B) - No, SA must be athletically and academically eligible upon transfer to certifying institution.

Divisions I and II 4-4 Transfers

Permission to contact.Athletically and academically eligible?• Progress-Toward-Degree (PTD) requirements.

• Divisions I and II PTD Waivers.

Questions to ask:• Why is the SA not eligible?

Membership Question

Facts

• 4-4 women’s lacrosse transfer from Division I school.

• We have permission to contact SA.

• Transfer tracer says SA not academically eligible.

Question

• What do we do now?

Answer

• Ask why SA not eligible?

• Is PTD waiver appropriate?

• Will previous institution support your waiver?

Two-Year Transfers

2-4 Transfer ExceptionsCould be immediately eligible if:

• Never used season at Division III school; and• Never practiced/competed at non-Division III

school.

(A) Non-Participant

• Never attended four-year school; and• Athletically and academically eligible at two-

year at time of transfer.(B) Eligible

Or

2-4 Transfer ExceptionsCould be immediately eligible if:

• Athletically and academically eligible at first four-year institution at time of transfer to certifying institution.

(C) 4-2-4

• Attended two-year school for > two semesters or three quarters; and

• Earned > 24 semester or 36 quarter hours of transferable degree credit.

(C) 4-2-4

Or

Membership QuestionFacts

• Two-year transfer who never attended four-year school.

• Spent two years at two-year school and exhausted athletic eligibility.

• SA academically eligible.

Question

• Does the SA meet an exception?

Answer

• (B) Yes, if the SA is otherwise eligible, exhausting eligibility at the two-year school would not prevent him from using the transfer exception.

Membership QuestionFacts

• 4-2-4 transfer wants to return to his original school.

• Participated in football.

• Left four-year academically ineligible.

• Spent one term at two-year.

• Credits from two-year will transfer back to four-year.

Question• Does SA meet a

transfer exception?

Answer• If institution certifies

SA as academically eligible prior to SA triggering transfer status, the SA could use an exception.

Other Transfer Exceptions

Two-Year Nonparticipation

SA is eligible if he/she has not participated in their sport for at least two calendar years before the date the SA begins participation at the institution.

Bylaws 14.5.4.2 and 14.5.5.1.3

Two-Year Nonparticipation

Time before SA first enrolls in college does not count.

Two calendar years must be consecutive.

If SA practices or competes on a college or amateur team while enrolled in college would count as participation in athletics.

• e.g., YMCA team, community rec league, etc.

Nonparticipation is sport specific.

Membership Question

Facts

• SA was enrolled at a four-year school for 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years.

• SA participated in indoor track during fall 2013; quit the team on Dec. 6, 2013.

• Left four-year school academically ineligible.

Question

• The SA would like to transfer to your institution for fall 2015 and participate in both indoor and outdoor track and field, would he be immediately eligible?

Answer

• The SA would be immediately eligible in outdoor track and field.

• The SA would be eligible in indoor track on December 7, 2015.

Other Transfer Issues

Competition in Year of Transfer

Situation:• May a midyear transfer compete for second

school if she already competed in that sport at the first institution?

Answer:• Yes. While Divisions I and II have a rule

prohibiting this, Division III does not have this prohibition.

Graduate and “Postbac” Transfers

Graduate or postbaccalaureate SA may not transfer to another institution and participate in athletics.

Legislation recently reviewed by governance structure.

Possible waiver but requirements are stringent.

Bylaw 14.1.9

Graduate/“Postbac” Transfer Waivers

Subcommittee for Legislative Relief reviews these requests per established guidelines:• SA must have graduated early (i.e., less than four

years).

• SA must have a cumulative GPA of >3.00.

• Other extraordinary circumstances considered.

Questions

Student-Athlete Reinstatement

Student-Athlete Reinstatement

Part of academic and membership affairs (AMA).

Restore eligibility of SAs involved in violations that impact eligibility.

Also process some waivers:• Extensions; hardship waivers (appeals); season of participation

(eligible and ineligible).

Requests/Self Reports Online (RSRO).

SAR Process – Violations and Waivers

Institution determines whether violation occurred.• Interpretive assistance through conference office and/or

NCAA.

• Bylaws noted with [D] do not require reinstatement.

• Bylaws noted with [R] do not require reinstatement if value is $100 or less and SA makes repayment to charity prior to competing.

SAR Process – Violations and Waivers

Institution determines what waiver is needed.

Institution gathers relevant factual information, statements from involved individuals, documentation, etc.

SAR Process – Violations and Waivers

Institution enters information and documentation in RSRO and submits request for reinstatement or waiver.

Case is assigned to SAR staff member.

Staff member reviews case submission and contacts institution.

SAR Process – Violations and Waivers

Staff may ask additional questions to help clarify facts and mitigation.

Staff gathers relevant guidelines, case precedent, legislation, etc.

Staff reviews case and renders decision.

SAR Process – Violations and Waivers

Institution can accept staff decision or appeal staff decision.• 30 days to appeal from date decision is provided

in RSRO.

Appeals reviewed by Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement.

Committee decision is final.

Hardship WaiversWhat Does a Hardship Waiver Do?

• Provides SA a season back due to his/her injury or illness after competing limitedly.

General Rule.• SA may be granted an additional year of participation for medical

hardship (must have triggered use of a season).

Waiver Criteria.• Injury is incapacitating;

• Injury occurs during first half of season; AND

• SA does not compete in more than 1/3 of season as noted in Figure 14-1.

Bylaw 14.2.5

Hardship Waivers

Administration.

• Administered by conference office.○ If denied by conference office, may submit appeal to SAR

staff.○ If denied by SAR staff, may appeal to Committee on

Student-Athlete Reinstatement.

• If independent institution, submit directly to NCAA SAR staff.

○ If denied by SAR staff, may appeal to Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement.

Bylaw 14.2.5.1

Hardship WaiversIncapacitation.

• Must be season-ending and supported by contemporaneous medical documentation from a physician.

Other supporting documentation:• Physical therapy notes.

• Rehab notes.

• Noncontemporaneous statement from treating physician.

• Practice logs.

Bylaw 14.2.5.2.2

Hardship Waivers

Chiropractic records do not suffice (legislated).

Mental and psychological illness may be supported by appropriate individual licensed to diagnose and treat the specific illness (legislated).

Bylaw 14.2.5.2.2

Hardship Waivers

First-half of season calculation.• Figure 14-1 at end of Bylaw 14 sets forth the first-

half calculation for each sport.

Re-injury in second half of season.

• Aggravation of original injury in second half of season does not qualify.

1/3 Participation.

• Figure 14-1 at end of Bylaw 14 sets forth the hardship participation limits for each sport.

Bylaws 14.2.5.2.2, 14.2.5.2.3 and 14.2.5.2.5

Hardship Waivers - ExampleEllen - women’s basketball SA at The Generous University. Enrolled 2012-13.

2013-14 season, competes in

eight contests, all in first-half.

January 9, 2014 - SA involved

in a collision in practice with

teammate Portia.

SA visits team physician, Dr.

Rossi, January 9.

Hardship Waivers - ExampleDr. Rossi believes just a right knee sprain.

Orders MRI January 9 for

precautionary reasons. MRI

completed same day.

Clears Ellen to compete in

contest January 10 prior to

reviewing MRI.• First contest of second half of season.

Ellen competes January 10, her

ninth contest of season.

Hardship Waivers - ExampleDr. Rossi reviews MRI results January 10 after the game.

MRI reveals Ellen has a torn

right ACL.

Ellen has surgery January 12

and is out for the remainder of the

season.

What’s next?

Hardship Waivers - ExampleSubmit hardship waiver to conference office.

Conference office will deny the request given it does not meet legislation.• Participation during second-half of season.

Conference office may submit appeal to SAR staff on behalf of institution, or institution can submit on its own to NCAA staff through RSRO.

Hardship Waivers - Example

Staff Analysis.• Injured during one of four seasons-of-

participation • Competed in one-third (Bylaw 14 chart) • Injury is season-ending• All competition occurred during first-half of

season

Hardship Waivers - Example

Injury is season-ending • Contemporaneous medical

documentation.

• Training room notes.

• Rehabilitation notes.

• Noncontemporaneous

statement from treating

physician.

Hardship Waivers - Example

All competition occurred during first-half of season • SA competed in first contest of second-half.

• Mitigation as to why SA competed in second-half?○ SA cleared to compete.○ Had MRI January 9, results of which were available and

indicated SA had torn ACL.○ Dr. Rossi did not review until after SA competed January

10

Hardship Waivers - ExampleStaff Analysis.• Ellen clearly has season-ending injury (documented).

• Ellen was medically cleared to compete in second-half of season (documented).

• But for Dr. Rossi not reviewing MRI until after Ellen competed in second-half of season, SA would not have competed January 10 (documented).

Decision?

Hardship Waivers – Best PracticesEvaluation of Injury.• See physician as close to date of injury as possible, especially given

first-half requirement.

Documentation.• Contemporaneous documentation from physician visits; surgical

reports.

• Physical therapy notes.

• Rehab notes.

• Noncontemporaneous statement from treating physician (not sufficient in and of itself).

• Practice logs.

Student-Athlete Reinstatement

Division III Eligibility and Student-Athlete Reinstatement

Jess RiglerAnne RohlmanMegan Ryther