Unattached Criteria (Effective May 1, 2018)
At the 2018 National Convention, membership voted to eliminate the transportation criteriaon adjustments to the unattached criteria. The new criteria will have a significant impact on student-athletes that compete in non-intercollegiate leagues, teams, and/or event. The new criteria will now read as follows:
1. A coach or representative of the athletics department does not enter the student(s) or pay the student's entry fee for the event;
2. The student(s) does not wear an institutional uniform nor use the institution's name in the event;
3. All competition and participation must conform to NAIA amateur status regulations; and
4. Student(s) are academically and athletically eligible for intercollegiate competition, in accordance with all applicable NAIA, conference, and institutional eligibility regulations.*
5. An identified member of the coaching staff does not provide coaching, evaluation and/or feedback to the student(s) on site and/or for the duration of the event.
*This criteria states that in order to be considered an unattached student-athlete (during an academic school year and summer), the student-athlete must have a determination of eligible by the Eligibility Center and meet all other academic requirements that a traditional student-athlete must meet in order to be eligible to participate (i.e. 24/36-Hour Rule, Progress Rule, Initial Eligibility Requirements, 12-Hour Enrollment Rule, etc.).
Please note that if a student meets ALL five of the listed criteria above and if ONLY parrticipates as an unattached student-athlete, they will NOT be charged a season of competition for that season.
Information provided as a tool to determine whether a student-athlete meets criteria of unattached. This is
NOT an official determination of eligibility or use of seasons od competition. For an official determination based on your institiutions unique circumstances contact the NAIA legislative services.