Page 275 - (FINAL!) UPDATED 13.0) 2020-2021 HANDBOOK - SEPTEMBER 2020 EDITION_Neat

Case 5

SITUATION: How Postseason Contests Affect the Hardship Rule

Community College A conducts a 30-game schedule in basketball which includes a conference championship at the end of the season.
Subsequent to the 30 games, Community College A participates in regional competition. When determining 30 percent and the first half of the
regular season schedule for the application of the hardship rule, does one include postseason contests such as the regional tournaments?
ANSWER:
No. For the purpose of this bylaw, the regular season schedule excludes any games or contests which are used to qualify teams for
national competition. In this case, a student-athlete must be incapacitated as the result of an illness or injury during the first 15 games of the
30-game schedule and he/she could not have participated in more than nine (9) games which is 30% of the regular season.

Case 6

SITUATION When to Apply for the Hardship

Student-Athlete R participates for Community College A in one wrestling match during the 2019-2020 season and is injured. Student-
Athlete R wants to participate for Community College A during the 2020-2021 season. When should Community College A file for NJCAA
hardship approval?
ANSWER:
Community College A should file for hardship approval immediately following the end of the 2019-2020 season in case the student-athlete
returns to participation during that season. Under no circumstance may Student-Athlete R begin a third season of wrestling under the
assumption that "approval will be granted". Prior hardship approval must be granted by the NJCAA National Office before Student-Athlete R
may begin participation in his hardship season.
NOTE: Hardships may not be granted retroactively after participation in a third season of competition has already begun.

Case 7

SITUATION: Application of the Hardship Rule for Multi-Team Events
A college offers individual sports (i.e.: cross country, golf, swimming, tennis, track and field, wrestling) as well as team sports (baseball,
basketball, lacrosse, soccer, softball, volleyball). For the purpose of determining the number of contests in which a student-athlete participates
prior to an incapacitating injury or illness, how are tournaments and multiple team vs. team events treated in terms of being considered a
contest?
ANSWER:
In individual sports as listed above, any competition involving participants from more than two institutions conducted and organized as
one event at one location on one calendar day (i.e.: triple dual meet in wrestling, team invitational track meet) shall count as one contest, even
though team scores against all participating colleges are kept separately or the student- athletes participate against more than one opponent.
Each day of an individual's participation in a tournament or meet in an individual sport shall count as one contest.
An institution's participation against another institution in each contest in a tournament, doubleheader or multiple team engagement in
team sports shall count as one contest. For example, a doubleheader on the same day in baseball would count as two games. A
doubleheader in softball would count as one date. (Please refer to NJCAA Sport Procedures for when to use games/contests and dates for
hardship submissions to the National Office.)

Case 8
Hardship During First Season
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R participates in the first cross country meet of his/her first term of college. Prior to the next scheduled meet, Student-
Athlete R becomes seriously ill and withdraws completely from the term and does not attend the following spring term. If Student-Athlete R
returns to college the following year, will he/she be eligible to participate in cross country?
ANSWER:
If a hardship is approved by the NJCAA Office of Eligibility, Student-Athlete R may participate in his/her first season of competition. To
participate in a second season, regardless of hardship approval, Student-Athlete R must have passed an accumulation of 24 semester credit
hours or 28/36 quarter credit hours with a 2.00 GPA or higher.

Case 9

SITUATION: Application of the Hardship Rule
Student-Athlete R is injured and incapacitated during the third game of a 30-game schedule. The NJCAA National Office grants a
hardship season. Are there any stipulations connected with the hardship?
ANSWER:
Yes. The hardship granted by the NJCAA only pertains to eligibility within the NJCAA and is not subject to automatic approval by any
other intercollegiate athletic organization. Hardships awarded by the NJCAA will grant an entire season of participation back to the student-
athlete.