Page 316 - (FINAL!) UPDATED 13.0) 2020-2021 HANDBOOK - SEPTEMBER 2020 EDITION_Neat

Case 7

SITUATION: Fall Club Declaration in a Spring Sport

Community College A conducts their regular baseball season during the spring term. They also conduct a season during the fall term
and schedule a few games. Is it possible for Community College A to declare their fall program as a club and also have a regular
intercollegiate program during the spring, all of which takes place during the same academic year?

ANSWER:
No. Once a college designates a sport as being club, they cannot revert to a varsity intercollegiate program during the same academic
year.

Case 8

SITUATION: Club Participation and Transferring

Community College A has a varsity sport that shifts to club status after 2 games. If student-athletes transfer from Community College A
to Community College B, will Student-Athlete R lose a year of eligibility?
ANSWER:
Yes. NJCAA bylaws state that participation in a fraction of any regularly schedule contest during the academic year constitutes one
(1) season of participation in that sport. The NJCAA charges a season of eligibility for participation on a collegiate club team.

Case 9
Eligibility Charged for Club Participation
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R participates in basketball at Community College A for one season on a club level basis. Community College A plans
to participate on a varsity level the following year. What requirements must Student-Athlete R meet to be eligible the following season?
ANSWER:
Student-Athlete R has used one season of eligibility for his/her participation on the club team the previous season.
Therefore Student-Athlete R must meet the academic progress requirements as well as requirements for second season of participation.
NOTE: Participation on a “club team” at the four-year and/or two-year non-member college level will constitute a season of NJCAA eligibility
in that sport.

Case 10

SITUATION: Participation on a Club Team at a Four-Year Institution

Student-Athlete R participates in lacrosse at Four-Year Institution X during the previous academic year. Does his/her participation on
this team constitute as using a season of eligibility even though the club lacrosse team is not affiliated with the athletic department at the
university and that the team’s coach is not employed by the athletic department?
ANSWER:
Yes. As the bylaw states, any participation on a collegiate club team in any one of the certified sports of the NJCAA is counted as using
a season of eligibility. Therefore Student-Athlete R would be an incoming second season athlete at the NJCAA member college he/she is
transferring to.

Case 11
Participation on Club Teams before Becoming a Member of the NJCAA
SITUATION:

Student-Athlete R participated on a club team for Community College A during the last two (2) basketball seasons. Community College A
was not a member of the NJCAA during that time and therefore was not required to file the Club Declaration Form in the NJCAA. Community
College A is now a member of the NJCAA and is planning to sponsor a varsity basketball team. How many seasons of eligibility does
Student-Athlete R have remaining within the NJCAA in the sport of basketball?
ANSWER:
None. Student-Athlete R would not be eligible for varsity participation within the NJCAA because of the two previous seasons of
participation on Community College A’s club team. Even if the college was not a member of the NJCAA and/or the Club Declaration Form
was not filed with the NJCAA National Office, Student-Athlete R will still be charged with a season of eligibility for each season of participation
on a college sponsored club team.

Case 12

SITUATION: College “Club” Team Participation
Student-Athlete R attended University X for two semesters and participated on the “club” soccer team during the fall semester. The club
soccer team at University X regularly competes against other university club teams in the area but never