Tag Archive for: Waivers & Appeals

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New NCAA D2 Age-Based Eligibility Rule

On August 5, the NCAA Division II Executive Board adopted emergency legislation to approve a new age-based eligibility rule that basically duplicates the rule approved by Division I in June.

Key Points to Know About the NEW D2 Rule

D2 athletes will be able to compete during all five years of their eligibility clock. The five-year clock begins with the earlier of initial full-time college enrollment or the academic year immediately following the student-athlete’s 19th birthday.

The new rule eliminates the ability for D2 athletes to “manage” their 10 semesters or 15 quarters of full-time enrollment. Athletes not enrolled full-time in Spring 2026 must use their remaining terms of full-time enrollment consecutively once they re-enroll.

Waivers for medical redshirt seasons or to otherwise extend an athlete’s five-year period will be nearly eliminated.  If an athlete becomes injured and is not able to compete during a season, they will not be able to regain that year.

Under the new rule, waivers will be limited to pregnancy, active-duty military service, or an official religious mission, provided the athlete does not participate in organized competition during that time.

Current student-athletes who believe they have valid reasons to request a waiver for an additional season of D2 eligibility or an extension of their five-year eligibility period must have their waivers submitted by the following dates:

  • August 31, 2026 for student-athletes in Fall sports, as well as golf or tennis.
  • September 30, 2026 for winter and spring sport student-athletes.

How Student-Athletes Will Be Impacted:

Current college athletes who have already used four seasons of competition will not benefit from this new rule.

Current athletes with at least one season of competition remaining under the current “four seasons” rule will be eligible for a fifth season, provided they have time remaining on their eligibility clock.

Prospects enrolling full-time in college for the 2026–27 academic year may use either the new rule or the current eligibility rules, whichever is more beneficial. 

Prospects enrolling full-time in any college or university Fall 2027 or later must follow the new age-based rule. 

 Do You Have Questions?

If you have questions and are concerned how this new rule will impact your athlete, schedule a confidential eligibility consultation online, send an email to rick@informedathlete.com or call our office at 913-766-1235.

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NJCAA Hardship Waiver Rule Changes

The NJCAA recently changed the medical hardship waiver requirements.   The limitation on the maximum number of games or events is now 30% of a student-athlete’s season rather than 20%.

In addition, this rule change can be applied retroactively.  This is great news for current and past junior college athletes who may have just exceeded the limit by one or two games!

The Junior College must apply to the NJCAA on the athlete’s behalf.  However, the athlete will need to provide appropriate documentation to support the application.

During a confidential consultation, Rick Allen can determine if you have potential to qualify for this medical hardship waiver. If so, we can guide and support you through the process. Call us at 913-766-1235 or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com for more information.

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NCAA Legislative Relief Waivers Help Student-Athletes

An NCAA Legislative Relief Waiver is used to grant relief from the standard rules imposed in a particular situation.

An For example, when a student-athlete transfers a second time between four-year colleges, their options for immediate eligibility are limited.

In most cases the student-athlete will need to serve a “year in residence” and won’t be eligible to compete during their first year when they transfer to a third four-year college.

In this case, a Relief Waiver is an option that, if approved, could be used to grant relief to the student-athlete from needing to serve a year in residence.

Common reasons that a student-athlete needs a waiver as a 4-4-4 transfer include:

  • The athlete moved home to save money and didn’t consider the athletic reasons for their transfer
  • The athlete wants to improve their grades while they consider where they will transfer next for an athletic opportunity.

We routinely draft eligibility waivers for student-athletes so their schools can submit the documents to the NCAA in an effort to gain eligibility, whether as a 4-4-4 transfer or for other transfer situations.

If you are a student-athlete (or a parent) and would like to how an NCAA Legislative Relief Waiver could possibly help in your particular situation, you can schedule a confidential consultation session online or call us directly at 913-766-1235.

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Extension of Eligibility Waiver – Do you qualify?

NCAA Division I just passed a new rule effective in the 2018-19 school year that can benefit student-athletes who redshirted in their freshman year and then in a subsequent season are deprived of a season of competition for reasons beyond their or their school’s control (illness, injury, etc).

If a student-athlete meets all the required criteria, they could apply for an Extension of Eligibility Waiver and if approved by the NCAA,  receive a 6th year of competition in their sport.

While this rule has been in place at DII universities, it has previously not been available at DI schools because the redshirt year was not accepted as a reason to extend the clock. With this rule change, the redshirt year is now accepted as a reason to extend the clock.

To learn more about all the required criteria for this new rule and determine if you or your student-athlete are eligible to apply for this Extension of Eligibility, schedule a private consultation with us.  You can schedule online or call our office at 913-766-1235.

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