Page 27 - 2020-2021 HANDBOOK - AUGUST 2020 EDITION

2. Any athlete suspected of having a concussion should be removed from play immediately and evaluated by a licensed
healthcare provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions.
3. Once an athlete is symptom free, they take the post-injury concussion test with the results and the baseline test sent to the
doctor.
4. Return to practice after a concussion should occur only with medical clearance from a licensed healthcare provider trained
in the evaluation and management of concussions.
5. A return-to-play step progression would be followed. It involves a gradual increase in physical demands, sport specific
activities and the risk for contact. The step progression would require a minimum of 24 hours between steps.
a. Step one - they can do strength and conditioning drills only.
b. Step two - (if no symptoms return after day one activities) they can do sport specific activities but must avoid
contact.
c. Step three - (with no symptoms) they can return to full practice.
d. Step four - (with no symptoms) an athlete can return to competition.
6. If symptoms return with activity, the progression should be halted and restarted at the preceding symptom free step.
G. Insurance:
1. NJCAA Liability: The NJCAA and sponsoring organization(s) shall not be held liable or responsible for any injury to any
individual, or damages of any nature resulting from participation in any regular season or postseason event sponsored by the
NJCAA.
2. Member Institution Liability: The NJCAA highly recommends that each NJCAA member college purchase a lifetime
catastrophic insurance policy for their student-athletes.
H. Off-Campus Facilities: A member college which does not have a sport’s primary facility on campus must request an exemption from
the NJCAA National Office to practice at the off-campus facility during the offseason.
I. Four Year Programs: Member colleges may not sponsor athletic programs which participate beyond the two-year level.
J. Multi-Campus College: Includes the main campus, branch campuses, satellite campuses and locations that offer college credit
instruction. (A member institution may consist of multiple-campuses)
Section 5. Gender Regulations
A. Female Participation on Male Team: The NJCAA will allow women to participate with men on the same team providing that the female
participant(s) are otherwise eligible NJCAA student-athletes and providing that the participant(s) college of participation does not have
a women’s team in the participant(s) sport or category.
1. Female student-athletes participating on a male team shall be listed on the men’s eligibility form for that sport.
i. This declaration must be signed by the athletic director and the student-athlete.
B. Male Participation on Female Team: Males may not participate on women’s teams in any sport.
C. Transgender: individuals whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. A
transgender male [Female To Male (FTM)] is someone who identifies as male but was assigned the sex of female at birth; a
transgender female [Male To Female (MTF)] is someone who identifies as female but was assigned the sex of male at birth.
C.1. Transgender Athletes Undergoing Hormonal Treatment:
C.1.a. A transgender male (FTM) student-athlete undergoing hormonal treatment associated with gender
transition, must obtain a medical exception from the NJCAA for such treatment, prior to the student-
athlete competing while undergoing hormonal treatment.

C.1.b. A FTM student-athlete who has received a medical exception for treatment with testosterone for gender
transition, must compete on a men’s team/ competition and is no longer eligible to compete on a women’s
team/competition after commencing medically prescribed hormone treatment.

C.1.c. A FTM student-athlete who has received a medical exception for treatment with testosterone for gender
transition, may compete on a women’s team/ competition after commencing medically prescribed hormone
treatment only if the team is changed to a mixed team status.
C.1.d. A MTF student-athlete being treated with testosterone suppression medication, may continue to compete on
a men’s team/competition prior to their completion of one calendar year of testosterone suppression
treatment.