NAIA Eligibility

Recruiting Reminder

During the past few months, various collegiate institutions have announced that they will be either suspending their athletics programs or ceasing operations entirely.  The purpose of this message is to remind you that all NAIA recruiting rules apply in these instances.

As a reminder, NAIA institutions are not permitted to initiate contact with athletes at other collegiate institutions.  This is true even when the student’s institution has announced it will not have an athletics program or will close its doors after this year.  The restriction applies to coaches, athletics administrators and anyone acting on behalf of the athletics department. 

Also, if you are contacted by a student from one of these institutions, your athletics department is required to send notice to the student’s institution within 10 days.

Please contact your FAR, conference eligibility chair or the National Office with any questions.

Contact with Prospective Students

We have received numerous questions regarding contact with parents of students currently enrolled at other collegiate institutions. 

As a reminder, NAIA Bylaws Article II, Section D, Item 1 states,

”If, during the school year or summer vacation period, the athletics director, faculty athletics representative, or coach of a member institution is contacted or becomes aware of contact by an athlete who enrolled at another institution of higher learning (two-year or four-year), it shall be the responsibility of the contacted institution (athletics director or faculty athletics representative) to notify, in writing, the institution (athletics director or faculty athletics representative) where the athlete is presently enrolled within 10 days following the first contact.

 A coach or another representative of a member institution shall not initiate contact with an athlete who has enrolled at another four-year institution. It is permissible to contact a student who is currently enrolled at a two-year institution once the student completes the academic year in which the student utilizes his/her first season of competition.

 A coach or another representative of a member institution may respond to a contact by an athlete only after the enrolled athlete's institution (athletics director or faculty athletics representative) has been notified as prescribed above.”