Transcript Seasons of Competition: Five-Year Rule

Seasons of Competition
and
The Five-Year Clock
Bylaw 14.2
Virginia Tech Athletics Compliance
September 2010
Five-Year Clock

Any student-athlete who engages in
Division I intercollegiate competition must
cease all such competition no later than
five calendar years after initial full-time
collegiate enrollment at any college or
university.
Five-Year Clock

A sixth year (clock extension) may be
granted if a student-athlete is deprived of
the opportunity to compete for two
seasons, due to reasons beyond his/her
control.
Five-Year Clock

A sixth year will be granted if a studentathlete misses all or most of two seasons
for any of the following reasons:
– Incapacitating injury or illness.
– Life-threatening injury or illness suffered by
immediate family member.
– Extreme financial difficulties caused by a
specific event.
– Documented written advice from an academic
authority that proved to be erroneous.
Five-Year Clock

Missing seasons for these reasons will not
result in a sixth year:
– Redshirt year.
– A transfer year in residence.
– Reliance on misinformation from a coach.
– Attendance at a school that does not sponsor
the student-athlete’s sport.
– Failure to meet academic requirements.
– Disciplinary suspension.
Seasons of Competition

Per NCAA regulations, each student-athlete
enters college with the opportunity to
engage in a maximum of four seasons of
intercollegiate competition.*
* In some situations, it may not be permissible to
use all four at the Division I level.
Seasons of Competition

These four seasons represent a cumulative
total. Therefore, a student-athlete who
uses two seasons at a junior college only
has two seasons left to use at a Division I
four-year college.
Seasons of Competition

A Qualifier (as judged by Division I
standards) who does not transfer to/from
a non-Division I school is provided a
maximum of four seasons to use at the
Division I level.
Seasons of Competition

A Non-Qualifier (as judged by Division I
standards) enters college with the ability
to only use three seasons in Division I
competition.*
* If 80% of his/her degree requirements are
completed prior to the start of the fifth year, a
Non-Qualifier earns the opportunity for a fourth
season of competition in Division I.
Seasons of Competition

A student-athlete who is determined to
have violated NCAA amateurism
regulations prior to collegiate enrollment
may enter college with less than four
seasons of competitive eligibility, due to
withholding penalties.
Seasons of Competition
Q: What constitutes the use of a season of
competition?
A: Generally, any amount of competition, no
matter how limited (one play, one event,
one match, one point, one race, one
second on the clock), will result in the
use of a season.
Seasons of Competition

As with most NCAA regulations, exceptions
do exist. The following participation does
not result in the use of a season of
competitive eligibility:
– Annual participation in an alumni contest.
– During the student-athlete’s initial year of
enrollment at the current school, participation
in exhibitions/scrimmages.
– For volleyball and soccer only, participation in
spring matches.
Seasons of Competition

A fifth season of competition may be
granted in those instances where a
student-athlete’s season is ended after
limited participation. There are four
waivers of this type . . .
Seasons of Competition

1) Medical Hardship:
– Incapacitating injury or illness.
– Competed in no more than 30%* of team’s
contests.
– No competition during second half of season.
* Permissible fraction may mathematically equate to
more than 30%; always consult with the compliance
office to determine the actual number.
Seasons of Competition

2) Competition While Eligible – Extenuating Circumstances
– Examples: life-threatening injury or illness suffered by
immediate family member; extreme financial
difficulties caused by a specific event.
– Competed in no more than 30% of team’s contests.
– No competition during second half of season.
Seasons of Competition

3) Competition While Eligible – Coach’s Misunderstanding
– Misunderstanding must be documented.
– Competed in no more than 10% of team’s contests.
– All competition must be within the first 20% of the
team’s season.
Seasons of Competition

4) Waiver – Competition While Ineligible:
– Student-athlete was erroneously declared eligible
and competed, but in fact was ineligible at the
time.
– Competed in no more than 10% of team’s
contests.
– All competition occurred within 60 days of
reporting for athletics.
Case
Studies
Student-Athlete No. 1
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
Redshirted. Competed. Competed
and was
injured.
Was
granted a
medical
hardship
waiver.
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
Competed. Competed. ?????
Student-Athlete No. 1
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
Redshirted. Competed. Competed
and was
1
injured.
Was
granted a
medical
hardship
waiver. #
2
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
Competed. Competed. May NOT
Compete.
3
4
Hardship
Waiver
provides
fifth season
of
competition,
but clock
extension
not
available.
Student-Athlete No. 2
2010-11
2011-12
Redshirted. Competed
and was
injured.
Was
granted a
medical
hardship
waiver.
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
Competed. Competed. Does not
attend
college.
2015-16
?????
Student-Athlete No. 2
2010-11
2011-12
Redshirted. Competed
and was
injured.
Was
granted a
medical
hardship
waiver. #
1
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
Competed. Competed. Does not
attend
2
3
college.
2015-16
Unknown.
Has fourth
season
remaining.
Clock
extension
depends
on reason
for nonattendance
in 2014-15.
Student-Athlete No. 3
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Did not
compete
due to
injury
sustained
prior to
season.
Competed. Competed. Competed
and was
injured.
Was
granted a
medical
hardship
waiver.
2014-15
2015-16
Competed. ?????
Student-Athlete No. 3
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
Did not
compete
due to
injury
sustained
prior to
season. #
Competed.
1
Competed.
2
Competed
and was
injured.
Was
granted a
medical
hardship
waiver. ##
3
Competed. May
Compete.
4
Hardship
Waiver
provides
fifth season
of
competition.
Qualifies for
clock
extension.
Student-Athlete No. 4
2010-11
Competed
at School A
(four-year,
Division I
school).
2011-12
2012-13
Transferred Competed
to Virginia
at VT.
Tech.
Did not
compete due
to residence
requirement.
2013-14
Did not
compete
due to
injury
sustained
prior to
season.
2014-15
Competed
at VT.
2015-16
?????
Student-Athlete No. 4
2010-11
Competed
at School A
(four-year,
Division I
school).
1
2011-12
2012-13
Transferred Competed
to Virginia
at VT.
Tech.
2
Did not
compete due
to residence
requirement.
2013-14
Did not
compete
due to
injury
sustained
prior to
season. #
2014-15
Competed
at VT.
3
2015-16
Clock
extension
(sixth
year) not
available.
Student-Athlete No. 5
2010-11
Competed
at School B
(two-year
school).
2011-12
2012-13
Competed at Transferred
School B.
to Virginia
Tech.
Competed.
2013-14
Competed
at VT.
2014-15
?????
2015-16
?????
Student-Athlete No. 5
2010-11
Competed
at School B
(two-year
school).
1 @ 2-year
2011-12
2012-13
Competed at Transferred
School B.
to Virginia
2 @ 2-year Tech.
Competed.
1 @ Div. I
3 total
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
Competed
at VT.
2 @ Div. I
4 total
All four
seasons of
competitive
eligibility
used.
Non-issue.
Note: Answer would be the same regardless of Qualifier status coming out of high school.
Student-Athlete No. 6
2010-11
NonQualifier.
Did not
compete at
School C
(four-year,
Division I
school).
2011-12
2012-13
Transferred Competed
to Virginia
at VT.
Tech at
midyear.
Competed at
VT.
2013-14
Competed
at VT.
2014-15
?????
2015-16
?????
Student-Athlete No. 6
2010-11
NonQualifier.
Did not
compete at
School C
(four-year,
Division I
school).
2011-12
2012-13
Transferred Competed
to Virginia
at VT.
Tech at
2
midyear.
Competed at
VT.
1
2013-14
Competed
at VT.
3
2014-15
May
compete
ONLY if
he/she
reaches
80% of
degree
program.
2015-16
Non-issue.