Page 214 - (FINAL!) UPDATED 13.0) 2020-2021 HANDBOOK - SEPTEMBER 2020 EDITION_Neat

COVID-19 RELATED

ARTICLE V - ELIGIBILITY
Case 1
Submission of Online Eligibility
SITUATION: With cross country and half marathon competing in the fall 2020 semester should we use the automated eligibility process through
Connect or should we use that hardcopy eligibility submission that was used in the spring 2020 term?
ANSWER: For the fall 2020 term, member institutions should use the hardcopy process to submit eligibility.
Case 2
Participation Spring 2020
SITUATION: Student-athlete X participated in 10 games of the 2020 softball season prior to the NJCAA canceling all spring sport participation.
Has student-athlete X used a season of NJCAA softball eligibility?

ANSWER: No, the NJCAA is not charging a season of eligibility for any student-athlete regardless of participation in the spring 2020 season.

Case 3
Cancelation of Spring 2020 Athletic Season
SITUATION: Since the NJCAA has canceled all participation for spring sports for the 2020 season, what does a member institution have to do to
get the student-athlete's season of eligibility reinstated?

ANSWER: For spring 2020 sports only, it is not required to file a hardship or for the college president to submit a letter notifying the NJCAA National
Office of their decision to cancel the spring 2020 season as a result of COVID-19, as previously directed.

Case 4
Spring 2020 Eligibility Submission
SITUATION: Our college had not yet competed in the spring 2020 season at the time of the NJCAA announcement canceling all spring
participation. Does the college still need to file spring eligibility?

ANSWER: For the spring 2020 sport season, if the member institution has not yet filed eligibility, there is no reason to do so. No student-athlete
will be charged a season of eligibility for the spring 2020 NJCAA athletic season.

Case 5
Identifying Spring Sports in the NJCAA
SITUATION: What is considered a spring sport in the NJCAA?

ANSWER: Baseball, Beach Volleyball, Golf, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis (DI Men's, DI Women's, DIII Men's), Outdoor Track and Field

Case 6
Graduates Competing in Spring 2021
SITUATION: Student-Athlete-R is a softball player. She graduated at the end of the spring 2020 academic term. Because her spring 2020 season
was canceled, is she able to come back and compete in the spring 2021 season? If yes, how many credits must she be enrolled in since she has
already graduated?
ANSWER: As no student-athlete in the NJCAA was charged with a season of eligibility for the spring 2020 sports season. A student-athlete who
was enrolled at a college or university as a full-time student in the spring 2020 term, and graduates at the end of the spring 2020, summer 2020
OR fall 2020 term, may participate in the spring 2021 NJCAA sports season while enrolled in a minimum of six (6) credit hours. All six (6) credit
hours must begin before the end of the published regular-season schedule of the student-athletes chosen sport. The institution must document
that the student-athlete has completed all degree requirements, as determined by the institution. This one-time allowance is ONLY for students
who were enrolled full-time at a college or university in the spring 2020. Student-athletes must not have previously competed in two or more
seasons of the desired sport.
Case 7
Graduates Competing in Spring 2021
SITUATION: A student-athlete completes the degree requirements and earns an Associate Degree. They have NJCAA eligibility remaining in a
sport. Is a student-athlete who has earned a college degree, but has remaining NJCAA eligibility permitted to participate?

ANSWER: Yes, earning a college degree does not restrict a student-athlete from participating provided they have NJCAA eligibility remaining. In
the NJCAA, all student-athletes can participate in their first two (2) seasons of eligibility in a sport. This rule is not specific to COVID-19 but is
always the standard in the NJCAA.

Case 8
Enrollment Requirement for Participation – Dual Enrollment
SITUATION: Is it possible to be a dual-enrolled student, taking some classes/hours at the community college and taking some classes/hours at a
local four-year institution while playing at the community college.

ANSWER: Student-athletes may be dually enrolled, however, the enrollment requirement for all NJCAA student-athletes is to be a full-time
student at the school in which the student-athlete participates. This minimum standard applies to all participation except for the student-athletes
final academic term of participation prior to graduation. In the final term of participation, the student-athlete may enroll in a minimum of six hours to
be eligible to compete.

2020 – 2021: ONLY ACADEMIC EXCEPTIONS

Case 1
Two Full-Time Terms No Athletic Participation
SITUATION: A fall sport student-athlete who has not participated in athletics enrolls in their second full-time term during the spring of 2020. The
student-athlete passes 12 hours with a 1.75 GPA in the spring 2020 academic term. The student has a total accumulation of 16 credits hours with
a 1.78 GPA. Due to the COVID-19 virus and lack of a computer, the student-athlete cannot take and pass any more hours in the summer. What
does this student need to be eligible in the fall 2020 term?