1. Bowling Eligibility Rules Education
NAIA Legislative Services
Brenda White, Lendsey Thomson, & Jack Hilliard

2. NAIA Legislative Services
Brenda White
Associate Director
Lendsey Thomson
Manager
Jack Hilliard
Intern

4. Initial Eligibility Requirements

5. Entering Freshman Requirements
Bylaw Article V, Section C, Item 2
A student is considered an entering freshman until he/she has identified with a post-secondary institution of higher education for at least 2 semesters/3 quarters (or equivalent).
Freshman must meet 2 out of 3 requirements:
2.0 Cumulative GPA
Finish in top half of the student’s graduating class
Minimum standardized test scores of:
18 on the ACT (Minimum score of an 16 is required for tests taken between March 2016 and May 2019).
860 on the SAT
Early determinations are available after a student’s 6th and/or 7th semesters of high school.

6. Freshman Eligibility (ACT/SAT)
Important notes:
The date the student took the test is determining factor
Date ranges and corresponding minimums:

7. Freshman Eligibility: 9-Hour Rule
Bylaw Article V, Section C, Item 5
First term freshman are required to accumulate a minimum of nine institutional credit hours prior to identification for the second term of attendance.
Only credits earned after identification in the first term may be applied.

8. All first-time NAIA participants must register at www. playnaia
All first-time NAIA participants must register at and receive an eligible determination prior to participating in any contest (scrimmage, exhibition or regular season).
EC Reviews:
Terms of Attendance
Seasons of Competition
Academic Eligibility
Graduation
EC Does Not Review:
Amateurism
Transfer Releases
Suspension Residency
Eligibility Certification

9. Eligibility Center: Reactivation, Updates, Reviews, & Appeals
Reactivation –The process that institutions and students use to have the NAIA Eligibility Center provide an updated determination.
Part of Situational Analysis
Update – This can be requested by anyone, with no deadline.
IF – There are added courses from different institution (interim courses) to original institution transcript = Update
Review – An internal review by Eligibility Center management. Must be requested by AD or FAR within 45 days of the decision.
Ex: Check Seasons of Competition Charged!
IF – There was a letter grade change on transcript = Review
IF – There are more credits added from school = Review
Appeal – A review by the National Eligibility Committee (NEC). Must be requested by AD or FAR within 45 days of the decision.

10. Eligibility Center: Situational Analysis
Reactivation with the NAIA Eligibility Center
When a student-athlete is required to reactivate his/her PlayNAIA account the following must occur:
The student-athlete is required to update academic and athletic experience with any new information.
Eligibility Center must issue a new determination before the student-athlete can be certified on campus.
Reactivation does not incur additional registration fees.
The Situational Analysis Document can be found online at under “Legislative Resources”.

11. Emerging and Invitational Sports

12. Eligibility Center Exception: “Grandfathering Clause” for Emerging Sports
A student shall be exempt from the requirement of receiving an “eligible” determination from the Eligibility Center prior to competing if:
The student was certified under the eligibility rules of the sport governing body in the sport’s first year as a recognized invitational sport;
The student represented an NAIA institution in an intercollegiate contest in the sport’s first year as a recognized invitational sport;
The student’s institution sponsored the sport as a varsity intercollegiate sport and submitted a declaration of intent noting the sport’s varsity status; and
The student is properly certified as meeting all other NAIA eligibility requirements.

13. Terms of Attendance & Identification

14. Eligibility: Academic & Athletic
Academic Eligibility
Terms of Attendance (TOA)
Limit of 10 semesters; 15 quarters
Athletic Eligibility
Seasons of Competition (SOC)
Limit of 4 seasons of competition in a given sport
Bylaw Article V, Section E, Item 1
Bylaw Article V, Section B, Item 18

15. Terms of Attendance & Identification
Bylaw Article V, Section B, Item 8/ 20
An NAIA student may only compete during the first 10 semester terms of attendance or 15 quarter terms of attendance.
Term of attendance (TOA) is any term (excluding summer sessions) in which the student becomes identified with an institution.
Identification is an association between the student and institution recognized by the NAIA.
Represent an institution in an intercollegiate contest.
Enrollment in 12 institutional credit hours as noted on the student’s official transcript.
Freshman Exception allows a freshman to identify by enrolling in 12 credits.

16. 12-Hour Enrollment Rule: Participation
Bylaw Article V, Section C, Item 3
To compete in any term, a student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 institutional credit hours.
Or enrolled in 9 institutional credit hours at the NAIA institution and at least 3 credits taken elsewhere.
All courses could be taken online.
Courses can be taken at any point in the semester
Example: 1st 8 week or 2nd 8 week courses

17. Repeat Course Rule
Bylaw Article V, Section C, Item 12
Courses previously passed with a “D” in any term, (including summer, non-term) and then passed with a “C” or better in the second attempt, can both count towards satisfying the 24/36-Hour Rule.
One repeat course/term previously passed with a “D” may be counted towards 12-Hour Enrollment Rule.
Excludes: Failed classes and classes for which student did not receive any credit.

18. 24/36-Hour Rule

19. Intent: 24/36-Hour Rule & Progress Rule
Bylaw Article V, Section C, Item 6/9
24/36-Hour Rule:
Intent: students must pass coursework and earn credits in a manner consistent with the expectations for a full time student.
Bylaw focuses on terms of attendance and earning required credits over previous 2 semester/3 quarter TOA.
Progress Rule:
Intent: students must earn credits so that one’s academic achievement aligns with one’s athletic experience.
Bylaw focuses on seasons of competition and earning expected credits prior to the start of the next SOC.

20. 24/36-Hour Rule Bylaw Article V, Section C, Item 6
To compete, a student must have earned:
24 credits during the student’s previous two semester TOAs; or
36 credits during the student’s previous three quarter TOAs.
This calculation may include:
“Non-term” hours earned between or after the student’s 2nd most recent TOA.
No more than 12 non-term hours can apply to the calculation.

21. 24/36-Hour Rule: Tricks of the Trade
Timing of Credits
Credits must be earned prior to the term in which the student wishes to compete
Cannot use mini-course within a TOA to earn eligibility
Cannot use summer credits if credits earned are prior to first of the two terms of attendance
If credits are transferred in, then those credits must be applied to the term of which the official transcript designates.
Example: Inter-term courses
Summer Credits
Non-identified student and summer classes:
A prospective student who has not identified with your institution prior may use all prior institutional credit taken at face value. Even if your institution does not accept the credit.
Identified student and summer classes:
Continuously identified students who enroll in summer courses outside of their institution and earn institutional credit not accepted by your institution cannot use these credits toward the 24/36-Hour Rule.

22. Progress Rule

23. Progress Rule Bylaw Article V, Section C, Item 9
To compete in a student’s 2nd SOC:
24 semester / 36 quarter institutional credits accumulated.
To compete in a student’s 3rd SOC:
48 semester / 72 quarter institutional credits accumulated.
2.000 cumulative GPA
To compete in a student’s 4th SOC:
72 semester / 108 quarter institutional credits accumulated.
48 semester / 72 quarter general education and/or major institutional credits accumulated.
2.00 cumulative GPA

24. Progress Rule: Exception
A freshman who initially becomes identified after the first term in the fall shall meet this requirement by having passed 12 semester or 20 quarter institutional credit hours. This exception shall only apply to the second season of competition.

25. Progress Rule: Transfers
First term of identification
Take all past transcripts at face value
Check for institutional credit hours, not just cumulative total
Second term of identification
Hours will be determined based on institution’s transcript
Credits will depend on what the institution allowed to transfer
Tip: Think ahead to prevent problems from loss of hours

26. 2.0 GPA Requirement
Bylaw Article V, Section C, Item 8
Junior Academically and/or 3rd Season of Competition
Senior Academically and/or 4th Season of Competition
Calculating GPA
First TOA at your institution: cumulative GPA from all transcripts
Total Quality Points achieved
Total GPA Hrs. attempted
After initial TOA at your institution: use institution's cumulative GPA policy for all students

27. Transfer & Prospective Students

28. Transfers
Bylaw Article V, Section B, Item 21
A transfer is a student who becomes identified with an NAIA institution after having previously been identified with a two-year or four-year institution of higher learning.
This does not include being identified while in a high school dual enrollment program.
Before a transfer competes for your institution a Transfer Player Eligibility Statement must be completed in the ECP software, no matter when the student transferred.

29. Identification & Prospective Students
Bylaw Article V, Section B, Item 15
A Prospective Student remains a prospective student until they meet the definition of Identification.
A Prospective Student must identify first with an institution in order to:
Practice and compete with an institution’s team during the summer (May 16th- July 31st).
Practice and compete prior to the start of the institution’s academic term or between regular academic terms (inter-term).

30. Season of Competition

31. Declaration of Intent Article I, Section M.
Must be completed by April 1 each year
Three options for every sport:
A: means that you will participate in NAIA post- season if qualified and selected.
If chosen you MUST honor this commitment.
B: means that you are sponsoring a varsity team but will not participate in post-season.
C: means you are not sponsoring an NAIA varsity team.
You can undeclared by notifying the NAIA national office at least four weeks prior to the beginning of post-season.
If done three years in a row, you will be suspended from post-season play.

32. Declaration of Intent

33. Athletic Eligibility: Season of Competition
Bylaw Article V, Section B, Item 18
Students are allowed 4 seasons of competition per sport
A student is charged one season of competition for any participation in an exhibition or intercollegiate contest.
“One pitch, one play, one second”
Intercollegiate competition
Varsity and non-varsity (JV and/or freshman)
Transfer students’ SOC are determined by previous association
Non-collegiate competition (elite-level)
Participation in leagues or experiences that meet the evaluative criteria for determining a chargeable league.
PSAY – No SOC charged during 12 month “grace period” after high school graduation date.

34. Season of Competition: Exceptions
Exception 1: Prep School
An individual who trains or who competes as a member of a non-collegiate postsecondary education team will not be charged a season of competition.
Exception 2: PSAY
The date of a student’s 18th birthday will be used as the date of high school graduation if:
The date of high school graduation cannot be ascertained; or
The student earned a high school equivalency through the GED or other exam(s) without otherwise graduating high school.

35. Season of Competition: Exceptions
Exception 3: Unattached
While enrolled as a full time collegiate student at an NAIA institution, a student will not be charged a season of competition based on participation as an unattached student-athlete. A student is considered to be competing as an unattached student-athlete if the following seven criteria are met:
A coach or representative of the athletics department does not enter the student(s) or pay the student’s entry fee for the event;
The student(s) does not wear an institutional uniform nor use the institution’s name in the event;
All competition and participation must conform to NAIA amateur status regulations;
Student(s) are academically and athletically eligible for intercollegiate competition, in accordance with all applicable NAIA, conference and institutional eligibility regulations; and
An identified member of the coaching staff does not provide coaching, evaluation and/or feedback to the student(s) on site and/or for the duration of the event.

36. “U-19” Competition “U-19” Exception:
The below language comes from the Competitive Experience form found on our website.
A league considered “U-19” shall not be considered “elite-level” competition and is not subject to competitive experience criteria, provided:
Participants competing in the league are age 19 or younger, and
Competition in the league does not regularly include contests against teams with 50% or more current college players or teams with 10% or more current professionals.

37. Outside Competition: “Adult Leagues”
Participation in outside leagues are dependent on a few factors:
Was the student-athlete charged a season of competition within the previous 12-month window?
Is the student-athlete continuously identified?
Is the league chargeable (elite level)?

38. 12-Month Window

39. Athletic Eligibility: Non-Collegiate Competition
12-Month Window
In general, a student cannot be charged two seasons of
competition in a single 12-month period.
Exception: Mid-year transfer
In-progress Season: participation after May 15th
Non-collegiate participation after May 15th (summer or fall) may be charged with participation occurring in the subsequent academic year.

40. Seasons of Competition: 12-Month Window
Academic
1st SOC
1st SOC
Athletic
1st
season
HS Grad.
Fall 2015
Sp. 2016
Sm. 2016

41. Seasons of Competition: 12-Month Window
Identified Fall Semester
Break in Enrollment
Identified Both Semesters
Academic
1st SOC
2nd SOC
2nd SOC
Non-Collegiate
Athletic
1st
season
HS Grad.
Fall 2014
Sp. 2015
Sm. 2015
Fall 2015
Sm. 2016
Sp. 2016

42. Seasons of Competition: Participation after May 15th
Identified Fall Semester
Academic
Break in Enrollment
1st SOC
1st SOC
Athletic ?
1st
season
HS Grad.
Fall 2014
Sm. 2015
Fall 2015

43. Transfers

44. Transfers: Residency Bylaw Article V, Section B, Item 18 Residency
A Transfer is a student who becomes identified with an NAIA institution after having been previously identified with another institution.
Residency
A student with prior participation at a 4-year institution must sit a 16-week residency period prior to NAIA participation.
Exceptions:
The student’s most recent intercollegiate participation was at 2-year institution
The student did not participate at the most recent 4-year institution
The student has a 2.0 GPA and written release from AD
Bylaw Article V, Section G, Item 1

45. Transfers: Suspensions
Bylaw Article V, Section D, Item 6 & Article V, Section F, Item 6
Transfer dismissed, suspended for any reason, including athletic dept. policy:
Student must sit 2 semesters/3 quarters of residency at NAIA school, OR
Fulfill terms/period of original suspension
Not required if:
Suspension was academic but student-athlete meets NAIA rules, and student has not played college sports for 1 calendar year from suspension.
Suspended for team rule or coach rule.

46. Transfers: Tricks of the Trade
When student-athlete’s transfer mid-year, they open themselves up to being charged a second SOC based on their previous participation.
Competitions before transfer:
Scrimmage = not chargeable
Exhibition = chargeable
Contest = chargeable
Exception: junior college grad who participated at the JC, transfers to NAIA school in same sport season and is otherwise eligible
Competitions after transfer
Student must be certified as eligible to participate in next SOC
Applies even for spring scrimmages where student won’t be charged a SOC

47. Amateurism

48. Amateurism Article VII, Section B Acts permitted by NAIA Amateur Code.
Article VII, Section C
Recognized awards received by students.
During the academic term must not exceed $500 in nature and cannot receive cash awards.
Smart Funds are allowable but cannot be more than $500.
Outside of the academic term (summer) must meet the amateur regulations of the sport governing body (USBC).
Article VII, Section D
Acts that result in loss of amateur standing
Article VII, Section E
Reinstatement application procedures

49. Sponsorships Article VII, Section B, Item 8:
Students can be receive reasonable compensation for use of their name or picture to promote any commercial product or enterprise if:
There is no reference to the student’s intercollegiate athletic participation in any promotion of the product or enterprise;
The use of the student’s name or picture in no way references any institution with which the student has established identification, including but not limited to the use of logos, marks, or names; and
Remuneration is consistent with standard rates for any individual participating in comparable promotional activities.

50. Sponsorships Article VII, Section B, Item 8: Example:
Stacy has been contacted by Storm bowling about appearing in a magazine ad for Storm.
This is allowable as long as:
there is no reference made about her status as a collegiate bowler,
there is no reference to her NAIA school, and
she is paid a rate that is consistent with the going standard.

51. Amateurism Timeline

52. Recruitment
Article II, Section C
Article II, Section D

53. Recruiting: Contact High School Students
Coaches may contact prospective students once they begin high school
Junior College Students
Contact allowed at the conclusion of the academic year in which the student participates in their first season of competition
Graduate School Students
Contact allowed the day after the student graduates or completes all requirements of undergraduate degree (whichever is later)
If an athlete contacts you
You can communicate with them if notification is provided in writing from the AD/FAR to the institution’s AD/FAR within 10 days of the contact.

54. Providing Notification
Bylaw Article II, Section D
Must notify within 10 days following first contact, if contacted by a student-athlete who is enrolled at another institution of higher learning.
Cannot respond to contact by student-athlete until notification has taken place.
A coach or representative of a member institution shall not initiate contact with an enrolled student-athlete (or drawn equipment).
A release provided by a student does not negate the requirement for notification.
Exceptions:
If a student has graduated and earned a baccalaureate degree
If a student enrolled at a two-year institution after completion of their academic year in which they finish their first SOC.

55. Frequency of Play

56. Frequency of Play Bylaw Article I, Section F
24-week season for all practices and competition:
Practice is an activity organized and/or directed by an identified member of the coaching staff of that sport in which appropriate equipment is used or instruction and/or evaluation of the athlete takes place.
The maximum contest limit for bowling is 14 contests.
There are no scrimmages or exhibitions.
Countable opponents criteria:
Regionally accredited;
4-year degree granting institution; and
Varsity program.

57. Contact us with any bylaw questions!
Phone: