Page 328 - 2019-20 NJCAA Handbook - May, 2020

No. A member college may not sponsor a club team and a varsity team in the same sport even if the teams are
administered by different areas of the college. The member college is the member and must adhere to all NJCAA rules not just
the college’s athletic department.

Case 7
Fall Club Declaration in a Spring Sport
SITUATION:
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
Club Participation and Transferring
SITUATION:
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
Participation on a Club Team at a Four-Year Institution
SITUATION:
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
College “Club” Team Participation
SITUATION:
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