Page 288 - 2019-20 NJCAA Handbook - May, 2020

No. If Student-Athlete R competed during the second half of the season schedule, he/she will not be granted a hardship
season even though his/her competition during the conference championship was on a limited basis and came as a result of
the original injury. The original injury did not result in incapacity to compete for the remainder of the season.

Case 5
How Postseason Contests Affect the Hardship Rule
SITUATION:
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
When to Apply for the Hardship
SITUATION
Student-Athlete R participates for Community College A in one wrestling match during the 2018-2019 season and is
injured. Student-Athlete R wants to participate for Community College A during the 2019-2020 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 2018-2019 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
Application of the Hardship Rule for Multi-Team Events
SITUATION:
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 2.000 GPA or higher.

Case 9
Application of the Hardship Rule
SITUATION:
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.