Page 269 - 2019-20 NJCAA Handbook - May, 2020

Yes. Student-Athlete R, a first term freshman, is eligible if he/she is appropriately enrolled full-time in the spring term at
Community College A.

Case 7
Participation after Completion of Term
SITUATION:
The last day of the spring semester at Community College A is May 5 . The last regularly scheduled baseball game
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(excluding postseason competition) is May 3 . Student-Athlete R, a member of the baseball team, completes the spring
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semester having earned only 9 credit hours. Is Student-Athlete R eligible to compete in the Regional Tournament scheduled on
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May 10 and if his team wins, continue to play in the District and National Tournament?
ANSWER:
Yes. Because the last regularly scheduled game occurred on or before the last day of the spring semester, Student-
Athlete R remains eligible for the duration of the postseason tournaments. NJCAA bylaws state “if the regular season schedule
of a sport ends before the last day of the term, all student-athletes remain eligible for postseason competition (Regional and
National competition), provided full-time enrollment is maintained throughout the term.”

Case 8
Supplementing Individuals after Academic Probation
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R, a transfer from a four-year institution, is serving 16-calendar weeks of probation when the basketball
season at Community College A begins. Student-Athlete R's probation ends after the first semester but will be completed
before the beginning of the next semester. Can Student-Athlete R participate before the beginning of the next term?

ANSWER:
Yes. Student-Athlete R can be submitted on a supplemental online eligibility form after the first semester ends provided
the 16-calendar weeks of probation has expired. Student-Athlete R becomes eligible on the date in which he/she was
submitted online through the NJCAA online eligibility program. Student-Athlete R must also meet one of the academic progress
requirements to be removed from the ineligible transfer list.

Recertification

Case 1
When to Submit Eligibility for the Second Term of a Two-Term Sport
SITUATION:
Community College A ends their fall term on December 15 , the next upcoming games are on December 28 and 29 as
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well as January 5 and 10 . When must the recertification eligibility be submitted by?
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ANSWER:
NJCAA bylaws allow for the fall eligibility to cover the first 20 calendar days following the end of the fall term. With the fall
term ending on December 15 , the 20 calendar day window extends through the 4 of January. Community College A must
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submit the recertification of eligibility prior to the game on January 5 as it is the first game outside of the 20 calendar day
window. Failure to submit recertification prior to the game on the 5 will result in sanctions as Community College A does not
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have any eligible athletes for that contest without submitting the recertification of eligibility.

Case 2
When to File for the Second Term of a Two-Term Sport when Student-Athlete is Taking a Winter-Intercession Class
SITUATION:
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Community College A ends their fall term on December 20 , and conducts a winter intersession from January 2 to
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January 18 , with the spring term beginning on January 25 . What dates are key for the student-athlete who is trying to
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establish eligibility for second term basketball?
ANSWER:
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This student-athlete would remain eligible for 20 calendar days from December 20 based on their fall eligibility. Student-
athlete is not eligible for participation after January 9 unless recertified. If the student-athlete satisfactorily completes the
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course on January 18 and meets the eligibility progress requirements, he/she may be added to the eligibility form, the student-
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athlete becomes eligible on the online submission date. In addition, the course must be completed on or before the 15
calendar day of the spring term to use the intercession course to satisfy academic progress requirements for that spring term
participation.

Case 3
Recertification – Submitting Mid-Year Eligibility
SITUATION:
Community College A has a 30-game basketball schedule which spans both the fall and the spring semesters. Must an
eligibility form be submitted for the second term?
ANSWER:
Yes. The eligibility forms must be submitted through the online eligibility program prior to the first game outside of the
allowable 20 calendar day window of the spring term. Newly added athletes to the roster must be submitted on eligibility prior
to their initial participation. Any athletes who have maintained their eligibility from the fall term must be recertified in accordance
with the appropriate scenario listed below. (Please refer to Section 3.B.2.b for more Recertification information.)