Medical Hardship Waivers – Does Your Student-Athlete Qualify?
- They have competed for their team during the season.
- Or in the case of Division III they’ve continued practicing with their team after the first game of the season.
If your athlete has already received a significant injury or illness early in the Fall season, you may be wondering about the possibility of a Medical Hardship Waiver.
- It’s important to know that there are specific conditions and restrictions that apply for these types of waivers, and they vary between the NCAA, NAIA and JUCO rules.
- In fact, even within the NCAA, the conditions and guidelines for such a waiver can differ between Division I, Division II, and Division lII.
Examples of some of the questions we are asked during a confidential consultation about Medical Hardship Waivers include:
- If I missed out on a large portion of the early-season schedule with my injury but then am re-injured after playing in the second half of the season, can I still receive a Hardship Waiver?
- What can I do if my doctor hasn’t cleared me to return to competition but our team trainer is telling our coach that I’m able to play?
- How much medical documentation will I need for my Hardship Waiver to be approved?
- If I sat out this past Spring season due to injury but couldn’t see my doctor until after the season was over, can I still receive a Hardship Waiver?
- Is the “off-season” portion of our team schedule included in the calculation of the 30% requirement or the midpoint of the season?
- Are the requirements the same for a Hardship Waiver for mental health issues?
