Page 271 - 2019-20 NJCAA Handbook - May, 2020

When a Sport has been Dropped or the College will not be Fielding that Sport?
SITUATION:
Community College A has indicated it will sponsor the sport of women’s lacrosse for the 2019-2020 academic year. Prior
to the start of the lacrosse season, Community College A determines they do not have enough players to field a team and
cancels the sport for that season. Therefore, the college will not be submitting an online eligibility form. When should the
NJCAA National Office be notified that the college has cancelled the season or cannot field the sport?
ANSWER:
The NJCAA National Office should be notified of Community College A’s decision to officially cancel the sport for the
season as soon as the college has made this decision. That way, the Office of Eligibility can update the NJCAA website as well
as other office records to avoid having to ask for Community College A’s women’s lacrosse eligibility form during the season.

Case 3
When to Submit Eligibility for Fall Golf and Tennis when the College’s Main Season is in the Spring
If any of the following occur for any team, eligibility must be submitted:
1. The college pays for any or all expenses for a team or individual student-athlete participating in an open competition.
Expenses include, but are not limited to the following: food, lodging, transportation, gas money and entry fees.
Expanding further on #1: students cannot travel in college provided transportation or in a coaches’ vehicle. Students
cannot borrow a coach’s vehicle for transportation to an open competition.
2. Student-athletes are representing the college by wearing college uniforms and/or showing in the results as
representing the college.
3. Any member of the coaching staff coaches the student-athlete before, during and/or after the competition.

4. Due to this bylaw, eligibility must be submitted for those players/teams that participate in competitions that are outside
of the regular season. This rule does not only apply to fall tennis and golf - this is the same rule for any sport:
wrestling, track, baseball and softball, etc.
If any of the four items above apply, eligibility must be submitted online prior to the first competition date even if the team’s
main season occurs in a different term.
Eligibility is not required to be submitted for a scrimmage season, however be aware that in order for a scrimmage to be
counted as a scrimmage, it must meet the requirements for a scrimmage including, all teams/colleges participating in the
competition must distinguish the competition as a scrimmage. One team/college cannot count the competition as a scrimmage
and all other teams/colleges count it as a regular season game. Therefore prior to going to an invitational or tournament, please
know how to count the competition.

Ineligible Players Dressing in Uniform

Case 1
Ineligible Student-Athletes Not Allowed to Dress for Competition
SITUATION:
Community College A competes against four-year institution junior varsity teams as part of their regular basketball
schedule. Can Community College A allow student-athletes, who are ineligible, to dress or participate in those contests with
the four-year institution junior varsity team?

ANSWER:
No. All student-athletes participating in official contests must meet all provisions of the NJCAA eligibility. This is applicable
to all member colleges that are competing against any outside team regardless if they are a member or not, in an official
contest.

Case 2
Red-Shirt Student-Athletes Dressing for a Competition
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R is “red-shirting” during the 2019-2020 basketball season, however he/she is dressed for competition. Is
this a violation of NJCAA bylaws?
ANSWER:
If Student-Athlete R has not been submitted on the eligibility form, he/she is technically an ineligible athlete. A student-
athlete is not eligible until his/her eligibility has been officially submitted online. Therefore, the student-athlete in this example
may not dress for competition. An NJCAA redshirt is someone who has practiced with the team but has not been certified.

Case 3
Ineligible Player Participating in Pre-Game Warm-Ups
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R is not certified on the baseball team’s eligibility roster and therefore is ineligible. The baseball team takes
batting practice two hours prior to the official start of the game. Is it permissible for the ineligible player to be in uniform taking
batting practice with the team?
ANSWER:
The batting practice, although two hours prior to the game, is still part of the game activities. It would not be permissible for
the ineligible player to be in uniform and participate in pregame activities.